SmartHR

SmartHR is a project management product operated by SmartHR, Inc.. This 2026 review covers operator background, the current tier ladder and the buying signals to weigh before subscribing. The service competes in the project management category against regional and global alternatives, and the practical decision usually comes down to feature mix, regional availability and renewal economics rather than headline price alone.

Quick facts

• Operator: SmartHR, Inc.
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
• Public-market status: privately held (~JPY 100B+ valuation 2022; Sequoia + Light Street investors)
• Founded: 2013
• Category: project management
• Current tiers: Free (up to 50 employees) / Standard / Professional / Enterprise
• Anchor price (2026): Standard from JPY 500/employee/month; Professional from JPY 1,000/employee/month

What is SmartHR?

SmartHR is a SaaS product that delivers its core workflow through a web app with per-seat billing and enterprise upgrades. Its product surface covers web app for the operator's core workflow alongside API and integrations with common business tools, with the recurring subscription paid through the operator's direct billing or App Store / Google Play / partner-billing surfaces. Customers buy a tier matching their usage profile; the entry tier is suitable for testing the product and higher tiers add features such as mobile companion app.

Why choose SmartHR

Operator and ecosystem context

SmartHR is run by SmartHR, Inc. out of Tokyo, Japan, established 2013. That matters because the project management category is increasingly consolidated and the operator's ownership structure (public vs. private, parent group, regulatory footprint) shapes how aggressively the product is supported and how stable the subscription terms are over multi-year renewals.

Plan structure and pricing tiers

The tier ladder splits across Free (up to 50 employees) for testing the service, Standard for everyday use, and Professional for power users or households. Anchor pricing for 2026: Standard from JPY 500/employee/month; Professional from JPY 1,000/employee/month. Consult Subger's true-price tracker for SmartHR for all-in renewal costs after taxes and FX conversion.

Product capabilities and integrations

Beyond the headline features, the 2025-2026 differentiator for SmartHR is Largest Japanese HR-SaaS unicorn; 2024-2025 expanded SmartHR Talent Management modules and AI-assisted onboarding. That gives the subscription a credible roadmap for the year ahead and distinguishes it from operators that are running their project management catalog on autopilot.

SmartHR features that matter in 2026

Highlights of the current feature set:

• web app for the operator's core workflow
• API and integrations with common business tools
• mobile companion app
• team or workspace seats with role-based access
• audit log and admin controls on higher tiers
• standard support channels (email, in-app chat)

Buyers should treat this list as a baseline for SmartHR in the project management category — confirm specific feature availability for your region on the operator's site, since some features and tier names vary between countries.

SmartHR pricing in 2026

Reference pricing for SmartHR in 2026: Standard from JPY 500/employee/month; Professional from JPY 1,000/employee/month. The tier ladder typically looks like:

Subger pairs the public price with the actual all-in cost (taxes, FX conversion, promotional first-period anchors that step up at renewal):

SmartHR apps and platform support

Surface availability for SmartHR can vary by region and tier — confirm current app availability and supported devices on the operator's site before subscribing.

Who SmartHR fits

SmartHR is most likely a good match for the following buyers:

• Teams who want a focused web app for the operator's category rather than building the workflow in-house — the core target audience for the product.
• The category-focused subscriber who specifically wants web app for the operator's core workflow from a project management operator rather than a generalist platform.
• The household subscriber evaluating the tier ladder (Free (up to 50 employees) / Standard / Professional) and willing to pay up for API and integrations with common business tools.
• The cross-device user who needs apps across the surfaces listed above plus a credible upgrade path as new devices are added.
• The price-sensitive shopper who wants to track promotional anchors via Subger's true-price tracker and deals page before committing to annual billing.

Frequently asked questions

What is SmartHR and who runs it?

SmartHR is a project management product operated by SmartHR, Inc. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, founded 2013. It is sold via direct subscription on the operator's website and apps, with payments processed through the operator's billing surfaces.

How much does SmartHR cost in 2026?

Current tiers are Free (up to 50 employees), Standard, Professional, Enterprise. Anchor reference pricing for 2026: Standard from JPY 500/employee/month; Professional from JPY 1,000/employee/month. Confirm the live regional price on the operator's site before committing, since promotional cycles and FX conversion can shift the all-in renewal cost.

Is there a free tier or free trial for SmartHR?

Yes — Free (up to 50 employees) is available without an immediate paid commitment.

Where is SmartHR available?

Availability follows the operator's licensing and service footprint anchored on Tokyo, Japan. Confirm regional availability on the official site before subscribing, especially for products that have country-specific catalog or pricing rules.

What 2025-2026 features set SmartHR apart right now?

The current 2025-2026 differentiator is Largest Japanese HR-SaaS unicorn; 2024-2025 expanded SmartHR Talent Management modules and AI-assisted onboarding. Together with the headline features listed above, that gives buyers a concrete signal that the subscription is being actively developed rather than coasting on a legacy catalog.

Which devices and platforms does SmartHR support?

Coverage spans the surfaces shown in the platform table above. The current mobile, web and (where applicable) Smart TV apps are the recommended way to consume the service; older devices may be deprecated in successive releases as the operator focuses engineering effort on supported platforms.

How do I cancel SmartHR?

Cancel through the account or subscription settings on the surface where you bought the plan: the operator's website for direct subscriptions, the App Store or Google Play for in-app purchases, or the partner billing portal for bundled subscriptions. Subger's cancellation guide for SmartHR walks through each route step-by-step.

Does SmartHR offer a family or multi-user plan?

Family or multi-account structures depend on the tier. The Enterprise tier commonly adds multi-profile or multi-device support; the entry Free (up to 50 employees) tier may restrict simultaneous usage. Confirm the per-tier seat limit on the live pricing page before committing to annual billing.

Is SmartHR worth it compared to project management alternatives?

Value depends on three factors: the specific feature mix you'll use (see the features list above), the regional price after taxes (Subger's true-price tracker for SmartHR reconciles the headline price with the actual all-in renewal cost), and the credibility of the operator's 2025-2026 roadmap. Buyers should weigh these together rather than relying on headline price alone.

How can I track price changes for SmartHR?

Subger's renewal tracker for SmartHR records list-price changes plus promotional anchors over time. Pair it with the deals page for current discount codes and the promo codes page for stackable savings at signup.

Get started with SmartHR

Confirm the current regional price on the operator's site (Standard from JPY 500/employee/month; Professional from JPY 1,000/employee/month), choose the tier that matches your usage (Free (up to 50 employees), Standard are the most common starting points), and check Subger's deals page for SmartHR for promotional anchors before completing checkout. Track the subscription's true renewal cost with the true-price tracker once you're signed up.

Related Subger guides

• Cancel SmartHR guide
• Latest SmartHR deals
• SmartHR promo codes
• SmartHR true price and renewal tracker
• Browse the project management category hub
• All services on Subger