Share
Sage acquired Criterion HCM in October 2025, and the product is being rebranded Sage HCM. If you were evaluating or already using Criterion for its construction, nonprofit, or job-costing strengths, it’s worth knowing you’re really evaluating a Sage product going forward, not an independent platform.
Here are five real alternatives worth considering, including the platform built for hourly, multi-location, deskless workforces.
Best Criterion HCM Alternatives for HR & Payroll
- Netchex — Best for mid-market businesses with hourly, multi-location, or deskless workforces that need full HCM plus white-glove US-based service.
- APS Payroll — Best for mid-market businesses wanting transparent, published per-employee pricing. Reviewers cite limited custom reporting.
- isolved — Best for businesses comfortable buying through a reseller or PEO partner. Support quality varies by which partner sold the account.
- Paychex Flex — Best for businesses wanting a path to PEO services as they scale. Reviewers frequently cite billing surprises above the initial quote.
- Rippling — Best for tech-forward companies wanting HR, payroll, and IT management unified. Modular add-ons push cost well past the advertised starting rate.
How We Evaluated These Platforms
We compared each platform on pricing transparency, breadth of HR and benefits functionality, native time and attendance capability, and service model, with extra weight on how well each fits businesses with hourly, multi-location, or project-based workforces.
Independent reviewer data was sourced from G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot. Competitor claims were last verified in July 2026.
1. Netchex: Built for Growing, Deskless Workforces
Netchex was founded 20 years ago in Louisiana for the businesses that keep America running, restaurants, hotels, clinics, and manufacturers, where employees are on the floor, not behind a desk. Every customer gets a dedicated Account Manager, free white-glove implementation in about six weeks, and a US-based, FPC-certified service team that answers 90% of calls in under a minute.
Netchex has been a game changer for our payroll and HR processes. Their customer service team is always available and quick to resolve any issues we run into.
— Verified Reviewer, HR Manager, G2
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Independently run, not folded into a larger acquirer’s roadmap | ✗ Best fit for 50 to 5,000 employees, not micro-businesses |
| ✓ Dedicated Account Manager for every customer | ✗ Requires a short implementation period vs instant DIY signup |
| ✓ Native time & attendance built into the platform | |
| ✓ In-house benefits administration with licensed support | |
| ✓ Free, project-managed implementation in about 6 weeks | |
| ✓ 90% of calls answered in under 1 minute, 90% first-call resolution | |
| ✓ 98% customer service satisfaction score, #1 on G2 for service | |
| ✓ Recruiting, onboarding, and performance management in one login | |
| ✓ Built for multi-location businesses and shared HR responsibility | |
| ✓ Average customer tenure of 10+ years |
2. APS Payroll: Transparent Pricing, Reporting Tradeoffs
APS Payroll, based in Shreveport, Louisiana, publishes tiered per-employee pricing from roughly $6 to $14 per employee depending on the modules selected, an unusual level of transparency in this category.
Reporting customization could be more flexible / Merging multiple reports into one view isn’t always straightforward
— G2 reviewers, 2025-2026
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Transparent, published per-employee pricing | ✗ Reporting customization is limited per reviewers |
| ✓ Genuine full HCM suite | ✗ Implementation reportedly needs more hands-on support |
Sources: APS Payroll on G2
3. isolved: Broad Platform, Reseller-Dependent Service
isolved People Cloud covers payroll, HR, benefits, time and attendance, and recruiting. Most customers buy through the isolved Network, a channel of resellers and PEOs, so support quality varies by which partner sold the account.
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 |
| ✓ Broad People Cloud platform | ✗ Sold mostly through resellers, support varies by partner |
| ✓ Single login across modules | ✗ Reviewers cite click-heavy workflows |
Sources: isolved on G2 | isolved on Capterra
4. Paychex Flex: Full-Service, With Billing Surprises
Paychex Flex offers a broad payroll and HR suite with a path to PEO services, and Paychex’s 2025 acquisition of Paycor expanded its reach further upmarket.
Our invoice was higher than what we were originally quoted / Emails to our rep went unanswered for days
— Trustpilot / Capterra reviewers, 2026
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Broad payroll, HR, and PEO service path | ✗ Reviewers report invoices above initial quote |
| ✓ Scales from small business to enterprise | ✗ No published pricing, quote required |
Sources: Paychex Flex on G2
5. Rippling: Broad Platform, Pricing Climbs Fast
Rippling unifies HR, payroll, and IT device management with strong automation, but adding modules pushes real cost well past the advertised starting rate.
The advertised price is just the starting point, our real cost was much higher once we added modules
— Trustpilot reviewers, 2025-2026
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Unifies HR, payroll, and IT/device management | ✗ Modular pricing climbs well past the advertised rate |
| ✓ Strong automation and high review scores | ✗ Post-contract support reported as harder to reach |
Sources: Rippling on G2
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Sage acquired Criterion HCM in October 2025, and the product is being rebranded Sage HCM, so new evaluations are really evaluating a Sage product.
Netchex is purpose-built for hourly, deskless, and multi-location workforces, with native time and attendance, in-house benefits administration, and a dedicated Account Manager.
No. Criterion HCM and Arcoro are separate, competing HR platforms. Criterion was acquired by Sage; Arcoro is a different construction-focused HR vendor.
Look at pricing transparency, ownership stability, whether HR and benefits are included natively, and whether you get a dedicated point of contact or a shared support queue.
Ready to See How Netchex Compares to Sage HCM and Others?
See how Netchex handles payroll, HR, benefits, and time tracking in one place, with a real person answering the phone.
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 and pricing 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.
Related events
Best Payroll for AI Agents: Which HCM Software Is Actually Agent-Ready
Who Has the Best AI for Payroll and HR in 2026?
Best Payroll and HR APIs for HRIS Systems in 2026
