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Zenefits was acquired by TriNet in 2022, and as of 2026 the legacy Zenefits product has been discontinued and folded into a new tier called TriNet HR Plus. New customers can no longer sign up for Zenefits directly, and some existing customers have reported price increases during the forced migration.
If you’re one of them, here are four real alternatives worth a look, including the platform built for hourly, multi-location workforces.
Best Zenefits 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.
- Gusto — Best for very small, single-location businesses wanting simple self-service payroll. Multi-state payroll and deeper reporting require higher tiers.
- Justworks — Best for small businesses wanting transparent PEO pricing. Co-employment means shared liability and less direct control.
- ADP Run — Best for small businesses wanting a name-brand compliance engine. Time tracking, benefits, and retirement are separate paid add-ons.
- 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 or shift-based staff across multiple locations.
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 |
| ✓ Dedicated Account Manager for every customer | ✗ Best fit for 50 to 5,000 employees, not micro-businesses |
| ✓ Native time & attendance built into the platform | ✗ Requires a short implementation period vs instant DIY signup |
| ✓ 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 | |
| ✓ Mobile-first workflows for managers who aren’t at a desk | |
| ✓ Built for multi-location businesses and shared HR responsibility | |
| ✓ Average customer tenure of 10+ years |
2. Gusto: Simple Self-Service Payroll for Small Teams
Gusto starts at $49 per month plus $6 per employee and handles payroll, basic benefits, and onboarding with an easy setup process. Multi-state payroll and more advanced reporting sit behind Gusto’s higher tiers.
Support felt automated and slow to escalate when something actually went wrong / We were surprised by extra fees for faster direct deposit / Reporting is limited once you need anything beyond the basics
— Trustpilot / Capterra reviewers, 2025
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Easy self-service setup | ✗ Multi-state payroll requires a higher tier |
| ✓ Transparent published pricing | ✗ Advanced reporting is limited |
| ✓ Built-in benefits and onboarding | ✗ No dedicated account manager, chat-first support |
Sources: Gusto on G2 | Gusto on Capterra | Trustpilot
3. Justworks: Transparent PEO Pricing
Justworks publishes its pricing clearly, with PEO tiers running $79 to $124 per employee per month. That transparency is a real strength, but the PEO tiers mean co-employment, sharing liability and some HR decision-making with Justworks.
Missing features became a real limitation as our team grew / Support response times got much longer than we expected
— G2 reviewers, 2025
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Published, transparent pricing | ✗ Co-employment means shared liability |
| ✓ Simple setup for small businesses | ✗ Reviewers cite missing features past 100 employees |
Sources: Justworks on G2 | Justworks on Capterra
4. ADP Run: A Bigger Name, With Add-On Pricing
ADP Run brings a well-known compliance and tax filing engine to small businesses, with quote-based pricing reportedly starting around $79 per month plus $4 per employee. Time tracking, benefits administration, and retirement are separate paid add-ons.
We were not told about several fees until they showed up on our invoice / Support calls often turned into upsell pitches
— Trustpilot / G2 reviewers, 2025
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Strong tax filing and compliance reputation | ✗ Time tracking, benefits, and retirement cost extra |
| ✓ Scales into larger ADP platforms as you grow | ✗ Reviewers cite long hold times and upselling |
Sources: ADP Run on G2 | ADP Run on Capterra
5. Rippling: Broad Platform, Pricing Climbs Fast
Rippling unifies HR, payroll, and IT device management with strong automation. Reported entry cost starts around $35 to $40 per month platform fee plus roughly $8 per employee, but adding modules pushes real cost well past that.
The advertised price is just the starting point, our real cost was much higher once we added modules / Support was great before we signed, harder to reach after
— Trustpilot / G2 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 | Rippling on Capterra
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Zenefits was acquired by TriNet in 2022, and the legacy product has since been folded into a tier called TriNet HR Plus. New customers cannot sign up for Zenefits directly.
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.
Existing Zenefits customers have reported being migrated to TriNet HR Plus, sometimes with price increases. It’s worth comparing alternatives before that migration happens.
Look at pricing transparency, whether HR and benefits are included or paid add-ons, native time and attendance, and whether you get a dedicated point of contact or a shared support queue.
Ready to See How Netchex Can Help Your Team Move On From Zenefits?
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.
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