Top 10 Free and Paid HR Ticketing Systems to Streamline Employee Requests

In today's dynamic work environment, HR departments are at the forefront of supporting employees, managing inquiries, and ensuring smooth operations. As organizations grow, the volume and complexity of employee requests can overwhelm HR teams.

leading to delayed responses, missed deadlines, and decreased employee satisfaction. This is where HR ticketing systems become indispensable.An HR ticketing system centralizes all employee requests, inquiries, and issues into a single, organized platform. It allows HR professionals to track, manage, and resolve tickets efficiently, ensuring no request falls through the cracks. This article explores the top 10 free and paid HR ticketing systems that can help your organization streamline employee requests and elevate HR service delivery.

Understanding HR Ticketing Systems

An HR ticketing system, often referred to as an HR help desk or HR service delivery platform, is a software solution designed to manage the communication between employees and the HR department. Instead of relying on scattered emails, phone calls, or walk-ins, employees submit their requests through a dedicated portal, which then creates a "ticket." Each ticket is assigned, tracked, and resolved within the system, providing transparency and accountability.

Benefits of HR Ticketing Systems

Implementing an HR ticketing system offers numerous advantages for both HR teams and employees:


  • Improved Efficiency: Automates the routing and tracking of requests, reducing manual effort and processing time.

  • Enhanced Transparency: Employees can track the status of their requests, providing clarity and reducing follow-up inquiries.

  • Better Organization: Centralizes all requests, documents, and communications in one place, preventing information loss.

  • Consistent Service: Ensures standardized processes for handling common requests, leading to consistent and high-quality service.

  • Data-Driven Insights: Provides analytics on request types, resolution times, and HR team performance, enabling data-informed decision-making.

  • Increased Employee Satisfaction: Faster, more accurate, and transparent resolution of issues leads to happier employees.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an HR Ticketing System

Before selecting a system, consider the following:


  • Budget: Evaluate whether a free, freemium, or paid solution best fits your financial constraints.

  • Features: Look for features like self-service portals, workflow automation, knowledge bases, reporting, and integration capabilities.

  • Scalability: Choose a system that can grow with your organization's needs.

  • Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface is crucial for both HR staff and employees.

  • Security and Compliance: Ensure the system meets data privacy and security standards, especially concerning sensitive employee information.

  • Support: Assess the vendor's customer support options.

Top 10 Free and Paid HR Ticketing Systems

1. Zoho Desk

Zoho Desk is a popular customer service software that can be effectively adapted for HR. It offers a free plan for up to three users, making it a great entry point for small teams. Its features include a multi-channel ticket management system, a self-service knowledge base, and basic reporting. Paid plans unlock advanced automation, AI capabilities, and extensive customization, suitable for growing HR departments.

2. Freshservice

Freshservice is an IT service management (ITSM) tool that extends its capabilities to HR service delivery. It provides a freemium model for small teams, allowing organizations to experience its core features before committing to a paid plan. Key functionalities include a self-service portal, incident management, service request fulfillment, and comprehensive reporting, all designed to streamline internal operations.

3. Jira Service Management

Developed by Atlassian, Jira Service Management is a versatile service desk solution often used for ITSM but highly adaptable for HR. It offers a free plan for up to 3 agents, providingbasic request management, a knowledge base, and automated workflows. Paid tiers introduce advanced features like asset management, incident management, and deep integrations with other Jira products, making it ideal for teams needing robust project and service management.

4. Spiceworks Help Desk

Spiceworks Help Desk is a completely free, cloud-based help desk solution that can be configured for HR. It allows organizations to manage tickets, create a knowledge base, and track employee issues without any cost. While it may not have HR-specific functionalities out-of-the-box, its flexibility and zero price point make it an attractive option for small businesses or those with limited budgets looking for a basic ticketing system.

5. ServiceNow HR Service Delivery (HRSD)

ServiceNow HRSD is an enterprise-grade platform specifically designed for human resources. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing all aspects of the employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding. This paid solution provides a unified service portal, intelligent routing, case management, knowledge management, and extensive analytics, making it ideal for large organizations with complex HR needs.

6. Zendesk Suite

Zendesk is a leading customer service platform that is highly adaptable for internal HR operations. As a paid service, Zendesk Suite offers powerful ticketing, a customizable help center, live chat, and robust automation capabilities. Its flexibility allows HR departments to tailor workflows, integrate with other business tools, and provide a seamless support experience for employees.

7. HappyFox

HappyFox is a dedicated help desk software known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. It is a paid solution offering multi-channel support, automated ticket assignments, service level agreement (SLA) management, and detailed reporting. HappyFox can be easily configured to handle various HR requests, ensuring timely resolutions and improved HR service efficiency.

8. Help Scout

Help Scout is a customer-centric help desk solution that excels in providing personalized support. While primarily used for external customer service, its simple and intuitive design makes it an excellent choice for internal HR teams. This paid platform offers shared inboxes, a self-service knowledge base (Docs), and detailed reporting, helping HR deliver human-centric support efficiently.

9. Kissflow HR Cloud

Kissflow HR Cloud is an HR-specific platform that includes robust workflow automation and a service request management module. As a paid solution, it focuses on digitizing HR processes, from onboarding to performance management. Its ticketing component allows employees to submit requests through a self-service portal, which are then routed, tracked, and resolved according to predefined workflows, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

10. BambooHR

BambooHR is a comprehensive HR information system (HRIS) that includes features for employee self-service and request management. While not a standalone ticketing system, its paid platform allows employees to update their information, access documents, and submit various HR-related requests through a centralized portal. This streamlines common HR tasks and reduces the burden on the HR team by empowering employees with self-service options.

Making the Right Choice

Selecting the right HR ticketing system depends heavily on your organization's size, budget, specific HR needs, and existing technology stack. Whether you opt for a free solution to start small or invest in a comprehensive paid platform, the goal remains the same: to create a more efficient, transparent, and employee-friendly HR service delivery model. By carefully evaluating the options presented, you can choose a system that truly streamlines employee requests and empowers your HR team.