For HR at growing employers
How Handbook IQ compares
Built for HR generalists who already have a handbook and need a defensible gap list — not a letter grade, not a substitute for counsel. Automated compliance screen against versioned rules — not legal advice and not a guarantee of outcomes.
| Handbook IQ | Template handbook builders | Free online handbook audits | DIY + outside counsel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Screen an existing PDF/DOCX, then fix or rebuild in-product | Creating a new handbook from attorney-vetted templates | Quick “what’s missing?” scan on a current handbook | Maximum caution; bespoke advice |
| Upload your handbook | Yes — core path | Often secondary to wizard | Yes | Manual review |
| Evidence from your document | Findings tied to excerpts where available | Varies | Often checklist / flags only | Attorney memo |
| Compliance score / grade | We do not present topic coverage as a compliance score, letter grade, or dollar exposure estimate. | Varies | Often includes a score | N/A |
| Jurisdiction scope (today) | Initial handbook gap screen scope is federal and U.S. California employment rules. Other states, cities, and local ordinances are outside that scope unless we announce expanded coverage. | Often 50-state templates | Often claims broad US + local coverage | Whatever counsel is asked to review |
| Build new handbook | Guided wizard + policy library in same product | Core product | Usually upsell to builder | Custom drafting |
Competitor capabilities change. This table describes typical market approaches for SMB HR buyers — not a feature-by-feature audit of any one vendor. Verify scope and pricing before you buy elsewhere.