HarbourPoint vs MHR: pricing and features

HarbourPoint vs MHR: pricing and features is a HarbourPoint page for UK small businesses on HR and Health & Safety, with practical guidance and links to official sources. MHR publishes a People First small-business starting price of £5.25 per employee per month and offers HR, talent, engagement and payroll capabilities. HarbourPoint offers HR £49/month; H&S £49/month; both £79/month, excluding VAT, up to 20 staff. Compare the exact staff band, selected modules, tax and contract before deciding: the lowest HR price is not necessarily the price of HR plus safety.

By HarbourPoint Connections · Updated 2026-11-01

MHR pricing: People First from £5.25 per employee/month
HarbourPoint plans: HR £49/month; H&S £49/month; both £79/month, excluding VAT, up to 20 staff
Growing teams: Above 20 staff, add £2 per employee per month. The self-service limit is £199/month; quotes that exceed it require bespoke pricing, rather than unlimited staff at the cap.
Source check: 1 November 2026. Published supplier information, not a binding quote.

MHR pricing: what is actually published?

MHR's small-business page publishes this starting rate. It describes HR as the foundation and additional modules as optional; do not assume every advertised capability is included at that rate.

The cited page offers People First for under 100 employees on a 12-month contract. Confirm the exact package, staff count, minimum charges, setup and VAT with MHR; the starting-price statement does not establish the tax treatment. iTrent is a separate MHR product, not the package priced here.

HarbourPoint vs MHR: feature comparison

Supplier features are described on the official sources below. Availability and package inclusion need confirmation. HarbourPoint HR functions require the HR plan; safety functions require the H&S plan or the combined plan.
Requirement	HarbourPoint	MHR
HR and employee lifecycle	Staff records, onboarding and team hierarchy in HR	People First HR, onboarding and talent capabilities described
Absence and working time	Holiday, absence and clocking in HR	Absence, scheduling and time/attendance capabilities described; confirm package
Payroll	Use your existing payroll provider	Payroll and real-time payroll offered; confirm selected module
Learning	Training records and expiry tracking in HR	Learning capability offered; confirm selected module
Safety documents	Risk assessments, COSHH, RAMS and staff sign-off in H&S	Dedicated risk assessments, COSHH, RAMS and safety sign-off were not verified on the cited pages. Ask the supplier about modules and integrations; this is not a claim that the features are unavailable.
Contract and pricing	Monthly rolling; HR £49/month; H&S £49/month; both £79/month, excluding VAT, up to 20 staff	From £5.25 per employee/month; under-100 offer describes 12 months

When MHR may be the better fit

You want to evaluate HR and payroll from one supplier.
You need MHR's workforce management, learning or reporting capabilities and have confirmed the appropriate package.
You are a small business: MHR has a dedicated People First offer, as well as products for larger organisations.

When to consider HarbourPoint

You want staff records, holiday, absence, clocking and team reporting alongside risk assessments, COSHH, RAMS and safety records.
You want a published per-business price for up to 20 staff, with a 7-day free trial and monthly rolling plans.
You need staff to review and sign issued safety documents in their portal, and want branded PDF evidence for your own checks or tenders.
You already use a payroll provider. HarbourPoint does not replace a payroll engine or professional legal and safety advice.

How to compare the total cost fairly

Ask for the same employee count, HR features, safety workflows, support level and payment period from each supplier. Include implementation, integrations, optional modules, tax, minimum charges and renewal terms. Do not extrapolate a supplier's starting rate into a guaranteed quotation.

HarbourPoint HR and H&S costs £79 per month for 20 staff, excluding VAT. Above 20 staff, add £2 per employee per month. The self-service limit is £199/month; quotes that exceed it require bespoke pricing, rather than unlimited staff at the cap.

This comparison is written by HarbourPoint, not an independent reviewer. It uses official product descriptions, not hands-on competitor testing. Features and prices can change; confirm the current offer directly before purchasing. Software organises evidence but does not certify your business as compliant.

Moving staff records without losing evidence

Before switching, export your staff records, holiday balances, documents and any signature or review history. Check which data the new system can import, agree a cutover date and retain original evidence where needed. Contact HarbourPoint to agree the migration scope; no one-day transfer, free migration or identical feature coverage is promised here.

Sources

MHR People First small-business price and contract FAQ

MHR package pricing

MHR People First product

MHR workforce management

HiBob pricing and comparison

BrightHR pricing and comparison

Breathe HR pricing and comparison

HR software

HR and Health & Safety

HarbourPoint pricing

FAQs

How much does MHR cost?

People First from £5.25 per employee/month MHR's small-business page publishes this starting rate. It describes HR as the foundation and additional modules as optional; do not assume every advertised capability is included at that rate. The cited page offers People First for under 100 employees on a 12-month contract. Confirm the exact package, staff count, minimum charges, setup and VAT with MHR; the starting-price statement does not establish the tax treatment. iTrent is a separate MHR product, not the package priced here.

Is HarbourPoint cheaper than MHR?

Not in every case. HarbourPoint offers HR £49/month; H&S £49/month; both £79/month, excluding VAT, up to 20 staff. Compare your actual supplier quote, selected add-ons and tax treatment rather than assuming a saving.

Does HarbourPoint include payroll or an expert advice retainer?

No payroll engine or equivalent expert advice retainer is included in this comparison. Keep your payroll provider and obtain qualified advice where needed.