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A dental office in Columbia adding a second hygienist. A small manufacturer in Boonville hiring on a second shift. Both might already be Columbia EDP clients, and both might eventually want to see what else is out there. This guide covers five Columbia EDP alternatives worth a look, and what each one does well.
Columbia EDP is a locally owned payroll bureau serving small businesses around Columbia, Missouri, with client logins split across Evolution and isolved. Businesses usually start comparing alternatives when they want the software and the service to come from one company, or when they outgrow a size-tiered pricing structure.
5 Best Columbia EDP Alternatives for Missouri Small Businesses
- Netchex – Best overall for small and growing businesses that want one company behind both the software and the support.
- isolved (direct) – One of the two platforms Columbia EDP already resells, bought from the source.
- Paychex Flex – A national name with local reps, though experiences vary by rep.
- ADP Workforce Now – Enterprise-grade scale, with more complexity than a small shop typically needs.
- Paylocity – Deep integrations and engagement tools, with a longer ramp-up.
How We Evaluated These Columbia EDP Alternatives
We looked at who builds the software, how support actually works when something goes wrong, fit for small and growing businesses, and what implementation looks like. Columbia EDP’s own details come from its website and independent review platforms. Details on the other providers come from their own sites and independent review platforms, as of September 2026.
#1 Netchex – Best Overall Columbia EDP Alternative
Netchex started in Louisiana more than 20 years ago and was built for hourly, frontline businesses, restaurants, clinics, dealerships and more, not just large enterprises. The difference from Columbia EDP is structure. Netchex builds its own payroll, time, HR and benefits platform and runs its own support team, instead of splitting clients across two other companies’ software.
That shows up in the daily grind. Hours and shift rules flow from time and attendance straight into payroll, OneScreen Payroll gets most teams through a run in under 15 minutes, and a US-based, FPC-certified team answers 90% of calls in under a minute. Every customer gets a dedicated Account Manager, and implementation is free and project-managed, usually in about six weeks.
The entire staff, from sales to implementation to service, has been stellar in their delivery. The culture of Netchex is one of a company that demonstrates the importance of relationships with clients.
– David Faunce, Partner, KM Consulting
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ One company builds the platform and answers the phone | ✗ No global payroll for teams outside the US |
| ✓ 4.8/5 customer satisfaction and 8.9/10 G2 Quality of Support | |
| ✓ Free, project-managed implementation with a 96% satisfaction score |
#2 isolved (Direct) – One of the Two Platforms, Without the Bureau
Columbia EDP’s client portal links to isolved alongside Evolution, so some of its clients already use isolved’s People Cloud, a platform covering payroll, HR records, time, benefits and recruiting through an ApplicantPro integration.
Going direct changes who answers when something breaks. isolved’s own FAQ says direct customers get a dedicated support team and account manager, while partner-sold customers work through the reseller. It doesn’t change the software itself, and reviewers still flag usability.
The workflows are click-heavy and not always intuitive. / Support response times have been inconsistent depending on who we’re routed to.
– G2 / Capterra reviewers, 2025
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Familiar software for current Columbia EDP isolved clients | ✗ Capterra rating of 3.9/5 across roughly 650 reviews |
| ✓ Broad People Cloud feature set | ✗ “Not Intuitive” is a common G2 complaint tag |
| ✓ Direct customers get their own support team | ✗ Doesn’t solve anything for clients on Columbia EDP’s Evolution side |
More detail: Netchex vs. isolved comparison.
#3 Paychex Flex – National Reach, Rep-Dependent Service
Paychex has local reps in most US markets and a broad suite that includes retirement services and a PEO option. For a business leaving a small local bureau, the name recognition alone can feel like a safer bet. Paychex also acquired Paycor, which now runs as a standalone business unit of Paychex.
The recurring complaint is consistency. Service depends heavily on which rep you’re assigned, and some reviewers describe cycling through several of them on a single issue.
I went through 6 reps… and signed 5 power of attorneys and it still isn’t corrected.
– Verified Reviewer, G2
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Local reps in most US markets | ✗ Trustpilot score of 1.7/5 across 826 reviews |
| ✓ Retirement services and a PEO option | ✗ G2 Quality of Support score of 8.3/10 |
| ✓ Well-known brand | ✗ Shift differentials are limited |
More detail: Netchex vs. Paychex.
#4 ADP Workforce Now – Scale Over Simplicity
ADP Workforce Now brings a big third-party marketplace and global payroll for companies with staff outside the US. For a Missouri business that someday opens a location in another country, that reach is real.
For a 30-person shop, it’s often more system than needed. Reviewers regularly describe menus that bury simple tasks and support that’s hard to reach.
The worst thing about ADP Workforce Now is its customer service. It is terribly hard to reach someone, and when you do reach someone, they can’t always answer your question.
– Verified G2 Reviewer
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Large third-party marketplace | ✗ G2 Quality of Support score of 7.9/10 |
| ✓ Global payroll | ✗ Shift differentials and multi-facility setup require configuration |
| ✓ Broad compliance and reporting | ✗ “Not User-Friendly” is a common G2 complaint tag |
More detail: Netchex vs. ADP.
#5 Paylocity – Big Integration Library, Steeper Learning Curve
Paylocity offers 350+ native integrations and a compliance dashboard that multi-state employers like. Its mobile experience gets good marks, and its engagement tools, social feeds and peer recognition among them, suit an office team building out a culture program.
The trade-off shows up early. One analyst site estimates 8 to 12 weeks to implement core modules, and “Poor Customer Support” is the most common complaint tag on its G2 profile.
Our transition to Paylocity was nothing short of atrocious. Our internal team had to self-teach the software due to a convoluted implementation process.
– Reddit user
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ 350+ native integrations | ✗ “Poor Customer Support” is its most common G2 complaint tag |
| ✓ Strong mobile experience | |
| ✓ Engagement and recognition tools | ✗ Core implementation estimated at 8 to 12 weeks |
More detail: Netchex vs. Paylocity.
How the Columbia EDP Alternatives Compare
| Capability | Netchex | isolved (direct) | Paychex Flex | ADP Workforce Now | Paylocity |
| Best for | Small and growing hourly businesses | Current isolved users going direct | Businesses wanting a local rep or a PEO | Large, complex or global organizations | Mid-market teams with dedicated HR |
| Support model | ✅ Dedicated Account Manager | ✅ Dedicated team for direct customers | ⚠ Varies by rep | ⚠ Hard to reach, per reviewers | ⚠ Most common G2 complaint tag |
| Typical implementation | ✅ About 6 weeks, free | Varies by partner | 8 to 16 weeks (analyst estimate) | Several months | 8 to 12 weeks (analyst estimate) |
Frequently Asked Questions
For small and growing businesses, Netchex is the strongest overall fit. It builds its own platform, so payroll, time and scheduling share one system and one login, instead of splitting clients across two other companies’ software. A US-based team answers 90% of calls in under a minute, and every customer gets a dedicated Account Manager.
Columbia EDP’s clients log into either an Evolution portal or an isolved portal, plus a separate time clock system, and its own site tells employees to check with their HR contact if they’re unsure which one applies. Businesses often start comparing once they want one company behind the software and the support, or once they outgrow a size-tiered package.
It can be, for clients already on Columbia EDP’s isolved side. Going direct gets you isolved’s own dedicated support team and account manager instead of a reseller in the middle. It won’t help if you’re on the Evolution side, since that’s a different platform entirely, and reviewers still say the software isn’t always intuitive.
Ask who builds the software you’d be using, who answers the phone when something breaks, how long implementation takes, and whether you’ll have a named contact. Get timelines in writing, and check independent reviews rather than relying only on testimonials a company publishes about itself on its own website.
Ready to See Netchex Alongside Your Other Columbia EDP Alternatives?
See how Netchex handles payroll, time, HR and benefits for Missouri small businesses, all from one company.
Related: Netchex vs. Columbia EDP | Netchex vs. isolved comparison | Netchex vs. Paychex
This guide reflects publicly available product information and independent reviewer data (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, Reddit, Software Advice, GetApp) as of 2026. Feature availability may vary by plan. Contact each provider for current details.
Disclaimer: Any product roadmap or future plans provided herein are for informational purposes only. They do not represent a commitment to deliver any material, code, feature, or functionality. Plans may change without notification. The development, release and timing of any features or functionality described remain at the sole discretion of Netchex, its affiliates, and partners. Netchex does not give legal, tax, or accounting advice. You are responsible for ensuring your use of Netchex product meets your individual business and compliance requirements.
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