3 Best European Gusto Alternatives in 2026

Factorial is a Barcelona-based all-in-one HR software platform for SMEs, covering payroll, time tracking, recruitment, performance reviews, onboarding, and IT asset management in a single product. Built for teams without a dedicated HR department, it automates administrative work that typically consumes hours of manager time each week.

An employee self-service portal handles time-off requests, shift changes, expense submissions, and document signing without HR intervention. Payroll automation calculates gross-to-net and generates compliant payslips, while a recruitment module tracks candidates from application to signed offer. Integrations connect to Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and major payroll providers.

Key benefits:

• Payroll automation with compliant payslip generation and expense management
• Time tracking and shift scheduling with mobile clock-in and overtime calculation
• Recruitment module for managing job postings, applications, and hiring pipelines
• Performance reviews with 360° feedback, goal setting, and development tracking
• Automated onboarding with document templates, task checklists, and e-signatures
• IT asset management for tracking devices and SaaS subscriptions per employee
• Employee self-service portal for time-off requests, payslips, and documents
• ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certified for information security and data handling

Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, Factorial is fully GDPR-compliant with all data hosted in the EU. It holds ISO/IEC 27001 certification and SOC 2 Type I and II reports. Founded in 2016 by Jordi Romero and Bernat Farrero, it now serves 15,000+ companies across Europe.

Companies report a 60% reduction in administrative hours — ideal for European SMEs that need full HR infrastructure without enterprise complexity or cost.

WorkFlex automates the compliance paperwork behind international business travel, workations, and cross-border assignments — generating A1 certificates, posted worker notifications, and visa documentation in minutes rather than weeks. Used by 500+ enterprises including Deel, BioNTech, Otto Group, and Flix, it handles more than 100,000 trips annually and turns a fragmented mess of tax, social security, and immigration rules into one automated workflow for HR and Global Mobility teams.

The platform runs pre-trip compliance assessments covering work entitlement, tax, social security, and labour law across 25+ countries, files Posted Worker Notifications automatically for EU/EEA destinations, and manages visa applications end-to-end. Integrated travel health insurance through ALH Group Hallesche, 24/7 SOS support, and a full audit trail close the loop, backed by €250K financial liability coverage for social security and tax risks.

Key benefits:

• Automated A1 certificates and Certificates of Coverage across 25+ countries
• Posted Worker Notifications auto-filed for EU/EEA business trips
• Visa handling including document prep and submission
• Risk monitoring with 24/7 SOS emergency support
• Full audit trail of trips, approvals, and compliance documents
• €250K liability coverage for social security and tax risks

WorkFlex is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2022 by Pieter Manden and Patrick Koch, and recently raised €37 million in Series B funding from Spectrum Equity. The platform is ISO 27001 certified, aligned with ISO 31030 risk standards, and fully GDPR compliant with data transfer impact assessments — making it a European-built answer to cross-border compliance rather than a US-rooted mobility tool.