malibou: reviews, prices and comparison with PayFit
malibou: documentation-based selection criteria, limitations, integrations and official pricing sources for SMEs and startups.
malibou combines an HR platform, Silae payroll technology and a dedicated account manager who produces and checks the payslips. It is aimed at companies that want a modern HRIS without handling payroll complexity on their own. We analysed how it works, its strengths, its limits and how it compares with PayFit.
Methodology of our analysis
At the time of publication, Iter Advisors has not yet led a full malibou roll-out for one of its clients. Our analysis draws on a study of the solution, information provided by the vendor and publicly available customer feedback. The prices shown were recorded on 14 August 2026 on the two vendors' public pricing pages, malibou.com/tarif and payfit.com/fr/nos-offres. This profile does not guarantee that these prices are kept up to date automatically. The functional scope and list of integrations have been confirmed by the vendor. The commercial performance figures it quotes, however — including the average saving it advertises — are reported as such and have not been independently verified by Iter Advisors. This profile will be updated as we gather field feedback.
The malibou pricing page, consulted on 2 October 2026, displays €28 per employee per month for the offer presented to companies with less than 30 employees, from 5 employees, and €50 set-up per employee. It also presents a tailor-made offer for more than 30 employees. Ask for a quote specifying the scope and taxation. The PayFit figures in the table remain from historical readings from August 14.
The essentials in 30 seconds
What is malibou?
malibou is an HR platform launched at the end of 2023, which combines HR management software (absences, leave, expense reports, time, interviews, onboarding) with payroll production carried out by a dedicated manager on the Silae payroll technology. According to the vendor, the solution is in a strong growth phase. More details on the official malibou website.
Its proposal differs from payroll software mainly used independently, such as PayFit: rather than providing a tool that the company configures and operates itself, malibou combines the HR interface with a payslip production and control service.
How does malibou work?
Concretely, the company validates the monthly payroll events (hires, absences, bonuses, exits) in the HR platform. The dedicated payroll manager then takes care of the production of the slips, before checking and validation.
This operation brings malibou closer to a supported payroll model integrated into an HR tool, rather than self-service payroll software.
The role of the dedicated payroll manager
Each client is assigned a dedicated payroll manager, reachable by chat and by telephone according to the information communicated by the vendor — without an anonymous ticket system. This manager produces and controls the payslips and supports the company on applicable collective agreements (support included — exact scope to be confirmed). France has several hundred collective agreements: having a contact person to check compliance with the correct text is a differentiating argument compared to pure self-service. We recommend specifying contractually the exact scope of this support, the processing times and the terms in the event of an error before signing.
HR and payroll features
malibou's HRIS scope covers payroll and declarations, absences and leave, planning and teleworking, expense reports, time management, interviews and objectives, onboarding and offboarding, as well as accounting exports. There is only one plan: all features are included, with no optional modules to activate. On the integration side, malibou connects to Qonto, Pennylane, Swile and Benefiz.
Why choose malibou?
malibou meets a need less well covered by solutions mainly used independently: having a modern HR interface while delegating payroll production to a dedicated manager. This is a relevant choice for a company which does not have an internal payroll team and which wishes to limit the time spent on setting up and checking monthly payslips.
Key Benefits
A dedicated payroll expert, not a ticket. A dedicated payroll manager monitors the file from start to finish, produces payslips each month and manages declarations (DSN, events), in direct exchange by chat and telephone.
Support on collective agreements. With several hundred collective agreements in France, having an expert who checks compliance with the correct text must be framed according to your company's agreements.
An all-in-one HRIS. Payroll, absences, leave, expense reports, time, interviews, onboarding: everything is centralised in a single platform.
A payroll produced on Silae. Production relies on Silae technology, a payroll engine already established on the French market, rather than on another payroll engine.
A readable price. A single plan at €28 excluding tax per employee per month, from 5 employees, giving access to all features — no optional module or level to unlock. Allow in addition €50 per employee for set-up costs, to be included in any calculation over twelve months. According to the vendor, malibou would allow around 30% savings on an equivalent scope compared to comparable solutions – figure communicated by malibou, not independently verified by Iter Advisors.
Migration from PayFit supported. According to the vendor, some of malibou's customers come from PayFit; Dedicated manager supports history recovery and folder migration.
malibou vs PayFit comparison
The table below shows the most structuring criteria for a manager who decides between the two approaches — see also our complete comparison PayFit vs Silae vs malibou.
| Criterion | malibou | PayFit |
|---|---|---|
| Model | HRIS with payroll production and dedicated manager | Autonomous payroll software, automated DSN |
| Payroll production | Created by a payroll manager using Silae technology | Created by the company itself in the PayFit interface |
| Support | Dedicated manager, exchanges by chat and telephone | Customer support (chat, telephone), without an assigned dedicated manager |
| Collective agreements | Support and control included (number to be confirmed) | ~40 main NCCs covered |
| Interface | Centralised HR platform | Payroll and HR interface designed for autonomy |
| HRIS scope | Payroll, absences, leave, planning, expense reports, time management, interviews and onboarding | Payroll, absences, employee portal |
| Integrations | Qonto, Pennylane, Swile, Benefiz | Pennylane (native), other accounting tools |
| Price | €28 / employee / month, single plan, from 5 employees (+ €50 / implementation employee) | €109/month for 3 employees, or around €36/employee; the unit price decreases with the number of employees |
| Maturity | Solution launched in 2023, in a strong growth phase | Established solution, startup/SME market standard |
| Target companies | VSEs, startups and SMEs from 5 employees (upper limit to be confirmed) | Startups and SMEs with 5 to 150 employees |
| Main advantage | Delegate payroll production while maintaining a modern HR interface | Complete autonomy, predictable cost, fluid employee portal |
| Main limit | Reduction and installed base still lower than those of historical players | Coverage of your conventions and situations to be tested with the editor |
Prices recorded on 14 August 2026 on the public price pages of the two vendors. The units differ: malibou invoices the employee, PayFit displays a monthly fee for a given workforce, and its unit price decreases when the workforce increases. The comparison therefore only makes sense for an identical workforce and on a given date — ask each vendor for a quote for your own workforce.
For which companies?
According to information provided by the vendor, malibou is aimed at VSEs, startups and SMEs with 5 employees or more (the upper limit remains to be confirmed). The typical profile is a company without a dedicated internal payroll team, which prefers to delegate the production of payslips while maintaining a single HR interface for its teams.
For very complex or international organisations, or those with unusual payroll cases, we recommend scoping with the vendor first to confirm coverage of the relevant collective agreements and special cases.
Implementation Guide
1. History recovery. The dedicated payroll manager retrieves payroll history from the old tool or firm.
2. Migration. The payroll specialist migrates the client account to malibou; the software provider handles configuration.
3. Audit and compliance. Payroll check to verify that everything is up to date, including the applicable collective agreement.
4. Getting started. The company recovers its space and is put in contact with its dedicated manager.
5. First month-end close, with support. The first payroll closing is carried out with the dedicated expert.
Limits and points of vigilance
Please check before signing
malibou is a newer solution than PayFit (launched at the end of 2023): its track record and installed base are still smaller than those of the established players — we recommend asking the vendor directly for references and evidence of traction before committing. Its suitability for very complex or international organisations remains to be confirmed. malibou aims to take over payroll production rather than offer full autonomy: an expert in-house payroll team that values full self-service will be better served by a solution like PayFit. Finally, for very specific cases (multi-country, rare employment statuses), have coverage confirmed case by case with the dedicated expert before committing, and always compare the price against alternatives with the same scope and headcount.
Alternatives
PayFit — the self-service standard for 5 to 150 employees with the main CCNs: the company produces its payroll in the tool. The reference to which malibou compares itself.
Silae — the benchmark payroll engine for complex structures (600+ CCN, multi-agreements, time management). malibou also relies on this same technology to produce payroll.
Lucca — complete HR suite (absences, time, expenses, interviews) to be coupled with a separate payroll module. Check the recovery and interfaces with payroll.
Our opinion
For startups and SMEs who wish to delegate payroll production without giving up a modern HR platform, malibou is one of the alternatives to consider. Its proposal — a centralised HRIS associated with a dedicated payroll manager — meets a real need for companies without an internal payroll team.
Choosing a payroll tool means weighing cost, the autonomy you want, the collective agreement and how the company's finance function is organised. This is exactly the kind of trade-off that a Fractional CFO can fit in with the manager and HR teams.
Frequently asked questions
How much does malibou cost?
€28 excluding tax per employee per month, from 5 employees, to which are added €50 per employee in set-up costs invoiced the first month. malibou only sells one plan, which gives access to all HRIS functionalities and support from the dedicated payroll manager: there is no optional module or higher level to unlock. Beyond a certain number, the vendor offers a tailor-made price, without a published scale. Prices raised on 14 August 2026.
is malibou right for my business?
malibou is mainly aimed at companies that want to combine HR software with managed payroll production. For large or international organisations, or unusual cases, we recommend scoping first. A Fractional CFO can compare the cost, service level, integrations and operational risks of the different solutions.
Is migrating from PayFit complicated?
According to the vendor, the migration is supported by the dedicated payroll manager, who retrieves the history, migrates the file and carries out a compliance audit before the first closing. We recommend specifying the exact time frame and scope of this support before committing.
What is the difference between malibou and PayFit?
With PayFit, the company produces its own payroll in the interface. With malibou, a dedicated payroll manager produces and controls the payslips on Silae technology, in addition to the HR interface.
does malibou replace an accountant?
No. malibou handles payroll production; accounting work (annual accounts, tax filings) remains with the chartered accountant, or with a Fractional CFO for overall financial management.
Further reading
To go further: comparison PayFit vs Silae vs malibou, PayFit record, Silae file and all of our CFO tool comparisons.
Need help choosing your payroll and HR set-up?
The right choice depends on your headcount, your collective agreement, how much autonomy you want and how your finance function is organised. Iter Advisors' Fractional CFOs can help you compare solutions and scope their roll-out.
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