Top 10 TriNet Alternatives
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Top TriNet Alternatives
TriNet operates as a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), offering full Human Resource (HR) outsourcing to small and mid-sized businesses. Its services include payroll processing, employee benefits, risk mitigation, compliance assistance, and HR administration. The platform effectively functions as a company's complete, external human resources department.
However, TriNet’s PEO model can be expensive and complex. Its per-employee pricing and long-term contracts may not suit smaller businesses, and some may find the platform’s feature set more than they need.
In this guide, we will review the top 9 TriNet alternatives to help you find the right HR solution for your organization. For each option, we will cover:
- How it compares to TriNet
- Key pros and cons
- Pricing details
TL;DR: Looking for a TriNet alternative? Rippling stands out as the top choice. It unifies HR, payroll, IT, and finance through automation, integrations, and scalable workflows for modern, distributed teams.
Our Top 9 TriNet Alternative Recommendations
1. Rippling
Best For: Startups
Overall Rating: 4.9 (14 reviews)
Free Trial: N/A
Designed for operational efficiency, Rippling HR connects HR, payroll, IT, and finance so changes to an employee profile update all apps, devices, and accounting systems automatically. IT automation includes automatic app provisioning, device management, single sign-on setup, and expense card controls that are updated when roles change.
That deep cross-domain automation differentiates it from TriNet, which centers on PEO services rather than tightly integrated IT and payroll provisioning. These automations bridge gaps across IT, HR, and finance, reducing administrative friction.
Startups and growing companies with distributed workforces that need full-stack automation across HR and IT will benefit the most from Rippling.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Rippling HR?
Pros | Cons |
Centralized platform integrates payroll, HR, benefits, and IT in one hub Streamlined workflows automate HR processes efficiently Strong reporting and integration capabilities for tech stack connectivity | Some features lack depth compared to specialized tools Notification customization is limited |
How Much Does Rippling HR Cost?
Rippling uses a quote-based and modular pricing model. It lets businesses tailor plans to their specific needs. The costs vary based on the selected modules and services.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
2. Gusto
Best For: Tech & SaaS
Overall Rating: 4.4 (509 reviews)
Free Trial: N/A
Gusto HR software makes payroll and HR simple for small teams. It handles payroll, benefits, onboarding, tax filings, and time tracking, all in a single dashboard. Teams can manage 401(k)s, workers’ comp, and use ready-made templates for compliance, and keep everyone organized and audit-ready without hassle.
Rather than offering a PEO contract model, Gusto provides an employee-facing benefits marketplace and transparent pricing that empowers employers to control enrollment and costs.
We recommend Gusto for small companies that want simple payroll, employee self-service, and clear benefits choices without PEO complexity.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Gusto?
Pros | Cons |
Automates payroll and time-off processes, reducing errors Tracks multiple pay rates and roles efficiently Enables real-time schedule and PTO management | Reporting features lack customizability Cannot enter hours for future dates |
How Much Does Gusto Cost?
Gusto offers multiple pricing plans suited to your team size and needs:
- Solo and Simple - $49/month
- Plus - $80/month
- Premium - $180/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
3. Paycor
Best For: Healthcare & manufacturing
Overall Rating: 4.4 (143 reviews)
Free Trial: N/A
Paycor software is a people-focused HCM platform that centralizes payroll, recruiting, time, and performance data, exposing it through manager-facing analytics and dashboards. The system includes configurable dashboards, automated alerts for manager actions, and scheduled analytics exports that surface trends for executive review.
Paycor skips the usual PEO focus, unlike Trinet. Instead, it puts data-driven HR workflows front and center, letting people leaders track turnover, headcount, and pay-equity trends. It enables HR teams to optimize recruitment workflows, automate performance reviews, and minimize manual system reconciliation.
Organizations that want to reduce manual HR work and gain data-based insights into their people should consider Paycor.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Paycor?
Pros | Cons |
Payroll automation calculates taxes and benefits accurately and on time Modules interconnect to cover multiple HR and payroll functions Employee self-service tools reduce manual HR workload and errors | Mobile app features are limited versus desktop functionality Onboarding workflows cannot be easily tailored by role or department |
How Much Does Paycor Cost?
Paycor offers tiered HCM plans designed to scale with your business needs:
- Basic Plan – Core payroll services and tax filing
- Essential Plan – Adds onboarding, time-off tracking, and basic analytics
- Core Plan – Includes expense management, employee engagement, and additional HR features
- Complete Plan – Offers advanced analytics, talent development, and compensation planning
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
4. Paychex Flex
Best For: Retail & multi-state ops
Overall Rating: 3.8 (79 reviews)
Free Trial: N/A
A scalable payroll and HR system, Paychex Flex pairs core payroll, benefits administration, and time tracking with optional managed services and dedicated account support. The platform supports configurable reporting, benefits brokerage connections, and multi-state tax handling to suit growing payroll complexity.
Where TriNet bundles PEO services by default, Paychex Flex lets organizations choose in-house tools and optional PEO outsourcing, providing broader customer support and training.
It is best for organizations that want flexibility to scale into managed services while preserving strong service-level support.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Paychex Flex?
Pros | Cons |
Centralized payroll, HR, and benefits management Tools for financial planning, retirement, and voluntary benefits Easy access to payroll data, W-2s, pay stubs, and employee info
| Payroll delivery can lack dedicated specialist oversight for smaller teams Limited visibility/education for lesser-known benefit options like QSEHRA |
How Much Does Paychex Flex Cost?
The vendor offers customized plans for payroll:
Small Businesses Essentials
- Flex Select
- Flex Pro
Full-Service HR & Payroll
- Flex Enterprise
- HR Pro
- HR PEO
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
5. Bambee HR
Best For: Micro-business HR compliance
Overall Rating: 4.6 (34 reviews)
Free Trial: N/A
Bambee HR is a compliance-centered HR service. It assigns a named HR manager to each client to draft policies, run audits, and handle employee relations on behalf of leadership. Clients receive ongoing compliance checks, handbook updates, and scheduled policy reviews to reduce legal exposure and keep recordkeeping current.
Unlike TriNet’s platform-plus-PEO model, Bambee delivers a single point of human contact—an embedded HR advisor who acts on behalf of small employers.
If your team doesn’t have an HR person and you want peace of mind, Bambee is a great fit for you. It’s perfect for small teams that need hands-on HR guidance and policy work, not just software.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Bambee HR?
Pros | Cons |
Offers comprehensive HR functionality with easy usability Enables tracking and management of employee policy acknowledgments Provides prebuilt templates for efficient document distribution | Platform navigation was limited before the recent updates PTO tracking is dependent on payroll module integration |
How Much Does Bambee HR Cost?
Bambee HR offers flexible pricing plans according to the number of employees:
- Plan 1 - Starting at $99/month (no employees yet)
- Plan 2 - Starting at $299/month (1-4 employees)
- Plan 3 - Starting at $399/month (5-19 employees)
- Plan 4 - Starting at $499/month (20-49 employees)
- Plan 5 - Starting at $1,299/month (50-70 employees)
- Plan 6 - Custom Pricing (71+ employees)
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
6. OnPay Payroll
Best For: Restaurants & small nonprofits
Overall Rating: 4.7 (47 reviews)
Free Trial: Yes
As a straightforward payroll and HR tool, OnPay Payroll handles payroll for employees and contractors, automates tax filings, and syncs tightly with bookkeeping apps.
In contrast to TriNet’s bundled PEO approach, OnPay focuses on reliable payroll and accounting integrations at a lower cost and with a simpler feature scope. It integrates with QuickBooks and Xero for accounting reconciliation, provides year-end filing support, and offers customizable onboarding and PTO policies.
Small businesses or startups on a budget that require dependable payroll and clean accounting sync without PEO-level services will find OnPay ideal.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of OnPay Payroll?
Pros | Cons |
Constant platform updates ensure smooth, forward-thinking payroll operations QuickBooks integration works immediately and reliably Payroll processing handles multi-state compliance and quarterly reporting seamlessly | Social Security verification prompts repeat each payroll run QuickBooks tax syncing requires manual segregation of employer vs employee taxes |
How Much Does OnPay Payroll Cost?
The vendor offers the following pricing with one-month free:
- Base fee: $49/month
- Additional fee: $6/person
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
7. Sage HR
Best For: Growing tech & agencies
Overall Rating: 4.8 (18 reviews)
Free Trial: Yes
Sage HR offers a modular HR system that provides core employee records and leave management with optional modules for performance, timesheets, scheduling, expenses, and recruitment. Administrators can enable performance reviews, shift rotas, expense approvals, and recruitment workflows as modules are added, with mobile access for managers.
Rather than TriNet’s all-in-one PEO bundling, Sage HR’s pay-as-you-go modules allow organizations to add only the capabilities they need and control costs incrementally.
It’s a great fit for SMBs looking for an HR solution that can grow with them. The pay-as-you-go model makes it easy to control costs while slowly expanding the capabilities as the company grows.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Sage HR?
Pros | Cons |
Centralized HR and finance management in one platform Comprehensive tools for recruitment, onboarding, performance, and engagement Efficient absence tracking and report generation | Project timesheets are limited to weekly management, complicating monthly billing Advanced permissions lack group-level admin assignment flexibility |
How Much Does Sage HR Cost?
Sage HR offers a 30-day free trial with a single Core HR and Leave Management module at $6/employee/month. It also offers optional add-ons with the following costs:
- Performance - $3/employee/month
- Timesheets - $3/employee/month
- Shift Scheduling - $3/employee/month
- Expenses - $1.50/employee/month
- Recruitment - $200/month
- HR Advice Essentials - $100/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
8. Paylocity HR & Payroll
Best For: Education, finance, manufacturing
Overall Rating: 4.2 (43 reviews)
Free Trial: N/A
Paylocity HR & Payroll is an employee-engagement-focused platform that combines payroll and HR with social communities, recognition programs, pulse surveys, and mobile-first tools. Managers can run recognition programs, publish news feeds, conduct pulse surveys, and measure engagement metrics to guide culture initiatives.
Instead of TriNet’s backend HR concentration, Paylocity focuses on daily employee interactions and experience to increase platform adoption and internal communication.
It’s a great fit for mid-sized employers looking to strengthen culture, employee engagement, and mobile access to HR.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Paylocity HR & Payroll?
Pros | Cons |
Unified platform simplifies HR workflows from recruitment to employee management Modules integrate seamlessly: Payroll, Time & Labor, Performance, Learning, Onboarding Payroll processing is efficient, with easy error correction and quick pre-process adjustments | Multi-company setup is not fully automated; manual adjustments are required Updates sometimes need duplication across modules like employee history and timekeeping |
How Much Does Paylocity HR & Payroll Cost?
Paylocity organizes pricing by software features, letting organizations build custom packages based on their needs. Its solutions are divided into six core categories:
- Payroll
- Human Resources
- Workforce Management
- Talent Management
- Benefits Management
- Employee Experience Platform
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
9. Justworks
Best For: International small businesses
Overall Rating: 4.4 (11 reviews)
Free Trial: N/A
Justworks keeps HR simple for small businesses and startups. It rolls payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR tools into one easy-to-use platform. You get payroll processing, tax filings, health insurance, and 401(k) options, time tracking, multi-state compliance, and 24/7 support—all in one place.
Where Justworks really shines is ease of use, global reach, and support. It has in-house Global Employer of Record (EOR) services to hire internationally and even handles international contractor payments natively—something TriNet does through integrations.
For startups and small businesses that hire across states or abroad and want straightforward PEO-level services with strong support, Justworks fits the bill.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Justworks?
Pros | Cons |
Consolidates payroll, benefits, taxes, onboarding, and compliance in a single platform Automates salaried payroll and simplifies approvals, saving time and reducing manual work Mobile and web apps allow easy access to HR data and benefits anytime, anywhere | Onboarding invitation links expire too quickly, requiring repeated triggers Limited customization for payroll workflows like I-9 or expense reporting |
How Much Does Justworks Cost?
Justworks pricing plans are as follows:
- Essentials - $8/month/employee ($50/month base fee)
- Advanced - $79/month/employee (No base fee)
- Premium - $109/month/employee (No base fee)
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
How We Chose Our TriNet Alternatives
Ready To Make The Switch?
Picking the right TriNet alternative isn’t universal; it depends on your company’s size, headcount, and how your HR processes operate on a day-to-day basis. Many organizations seek richer reporting, smarter automation, or a more engaging employee experience than TriNet provides.
This guide highlights vendors designed to solve common TriNet pain points — inflexible analytics, repetitive manual work, and the hassle of managing multiple apps. Each platform includes features that can reduce administrative load and boost HR impact across your team.
Take time to review the options, compare core capabilities, and explore free trials. Check real user reviews and case studies. A careful evaluation now will make it easier to choose a system that fits your strategy and delivers real, long-term value.