Quick answer: is IceHrm free?

Yes — IceHrm has a genuinely free, open-source core that you can download, self-host, and run for as many employees as you like, with no licence fee and no per-user cost. It lives on GitHub and is community-supported. Where money comes in is optional: some advanced modules are paid add-ons, and if you'd rather not host it yourself, there are two paid editions — a one-time IceHrmPro licence and a fully managed Cloud plan.

So the honest, complete answer is: the core is free; specific advanced modules and the done-for-you options are paid. This guide shows exactly what falls on each side so you can pick the right path.

What you get for free (the open-source core)

The IceHrm Open Source Core is free forever and self-hosted — you own the data and the deployment. It covers the day-to-day HR essentials that replace spreadsheets:

• Employee records and management
• Attendance & time tracking
• Basic reports and a company overview
• Staff directory
• A mobile app for your team

If your main goal is to get employee records, attendance, and time tracking off spreadsheets without paying for software, the open-source core does that on its own. See our complete guide to self-hosted HR software for how self-hosting works in practice.

What's free vs what's paid — at a glance

Some of the more advanced modules — notably Leave Management, Recruitment, and Expense Management — are not part of the free core. They're available as one-time paid extensions you can install on top of it, or bundled into the paid editions.

The paid modules (buy only what you need)

If the free core covers most of your needs but you want one or two extras, you can buy individual modules and auto-install them on your self-hosted instance from the IceHrm modules marketplace. Approximate one-time prices:

• Team View — $99
• Asset Management — $149
• Workforce Insights — $149
• Task Management — $199
• Learning Management — $299
• Expense Management — $399
• Payroll — $549
• Recruitment & Applicant Tracking — $699
• Leave and Performance — $799

Advance Reports, Staff Directory, and Company Overview are free modules. This à-la-carte route keeps costs low when you only need a couple of extras.

If you'd rather not self-host: Cloud vs IceHrmPro

Self-hosting is free but it's still your server to run, patch, and back up. If that's not where you want to spend time — or you'd rather own everything outright — there are two paid editions.

Managed Cloud — we host it

IceHrm Cloud is fully hosted by IceHRM with backups, security, and updates handled for you. Pricing starts at $12/month for up to 6 employees, then $1.10 per employee/month beyond that, and includes the leave, performance, time-tracking, recruitment, payroll, and training modules out of the box. Best if you want the lowest-friction start and no servers to manage.

IceHrmPro — own the code

IceHrmPro is a one-time $2,499 perpetual licence for unlimited employees, self-hosted, with the premium modules bundled and the first year of updates included. There are no per-user fees. An optional $499/year renewal keeps you receiving upgrades after year one, but the licence itself never expires. Best if you want to own the software, control your data, and avoid recurring per-employee costs.

Cloud or Pro? Choose managed Cloud if you'd rather not run servers and want to start small. Choose IceHrmPro if you have IT to self-host and want to own the code with no per-user tax. Both give you the full module set without buying pieces individually.

So which should you pick?

• Just need the basics, and happy to self-host? Start with the free open-source core.
• Need one or two advanced modules? Add them from the marketplace for a one-time fee.
• Want everything, self-hosted, owned outright? IceHrmPro ($2,499 one-time, unlimited).
• Want zero maintenance? Managed Cloud from $12/month.

For a wider view of the market, see our roundup of the best open-source HR software and self-hosted HR options for 2026, or the full HR software pricing guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is IceHrm really free?

Yes. The open-source core is free to download and self-host, with no licence fee and no per-user cost. Advanced modules and the managed/hosted editions are the paid parts.

What's included in the free version?

Employee management, attendance and time tracking, staff directory, company overview, advance reports, and a mobile app.

Which IceHrm features are paid?

Modules such as Leave & Performance, Recruitment, Payroll, and Expense Management are paid add-ons on the free core, or come bundled in IceHrmPro and Cloud.

How much does IceHrmPro cost?

IceHrmPro is a one-time $2,499 perpetual licence for unlimited employees, self-hosted, with the first year of updates included. Renewal for continued upgrades is an optional $499/year.

How much is IceHrm Cloud?

Managed Cloud starts at $12/month for up to 6 employees, then $1.10 per employee/month, with hosting, backups, security, and updates included.

Yes. IceHrm exposes a REST API, so you're free to build your own mobile app — or any custom integration — on top of your IceHrm system. Because the open-source core is self-hosted and you own the data, you have full access to the API on your own installation. That said, before you commit engineering time, it's worth trying the official IceHrm mobile apps — they work out of the box and may already do everything you need.

First, the shortcut: the official IceHrm mobile apps

IceHrm ships native mobile apps that connect to your installation with no development effort. For most teams — employees checking in/out, requesting leave, viewing payslips — these cover the day-to-day without a line of code:

• App Store (iOS): IceHrm on the App Store
• Google Play (Android): IceHrm on Google Play

They're also linked in the footer of icehrm.com. Start here — build custom only if you have a requirement the official apps don't meet.

When building your own makes sense

A custom app or integration is the right call when you need something specific, for example:

• A branded, white-labelled app for your company or your clients.
• Deep integration with an internal system (a field-service app, a factory kiosk, a custom onboarding flow).
• Workflows or screens that differ from the standard HR app.
• Pushing or pulling HR data to/from another platform on a schedule.

If you just want the standard experience on mobile, use the official apps. If you're extending IceHrm as a platform, the REST API is there for you.

The IceHrm REST API

The REST API lets you read and write your HR data programmatically — employees, attendance, leave, and more — from any language or framework. Point your app at your own installation's API endpoint and authenticate as documented.

Developer documentation: icehrm.com/docs/api-docs. Start there for endpoints, authentication, and request/response formats.

Getting started, step by step

• 1. Stand up IceHrm. Self-host the open-source core (you control the server and the API) or use a hosted installation.
• 2. Read the API docs. Review authentication and the endpoints you need at the API documentation.
• 3. Authenticate. Obtain the credentials/token your installation requires, as described in the docs.
• 4. Build against the endpoints. Pull employee, attendance, and leave data (and write back where supported) from your app.
• 5. Test on a staging install before pointing your app at production data.

Because you're self-hosting, you can also customize the open-source code itself if the API alone isn't enough — a level of control cloud-only HR platforms don't offer.

Self-hosted vs Cloud for API/mobile work

Both editions expose the API, but they suit different builders.

Cloud or Pro? Choose managed Cloud if you want to build an app against a maintained, hosted API without running servers — great for a quick integration. Choose IceHrmPro (self-hosted, one-time licence, unlimited employees) if you want full control of the installation and the code — ideal for white-label apps, deep integrations, or deploying across multiple clients.

New to self-hosting? See our complete guide to self-hosted HR software and, if you're assessing it for a larger org, how to evaluate open-source HR software for enterprise use.

Frequently asked questions

Can I build my own mobile app for IceHrm?

Yes. IceHrm provides a REST API you can build a custom mobile app or integration against. With the self-hosted open-source core you have full access to the API on your own installation.

Does IceHrm have a REST API, and where are the docs?

Yes. The developer documentation is at icehrm.com/docs/api-docs, covering endpoints, authentication, and data formats.

Is there an official IceHrm mobile app?

Yes — official IceHrm apps are available on the App Store and Google Play and connect to your installation out of the box. Try these before building your own.

Do I need IceHrmPro to use the API?

No. The API is available on the open-source core too. IceHrmPro (self-hosted) or managed Cloud add bundled modules and support, but the API itself works on the free core.