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Sage acquired Criterion HCM in October 2025, and the product is being rebranded Sage HCM. If you’re comparing Criterion today, you’re effectively comparing an early-stage Sage product, not the independent mid-market platform it used to be. Netchex is a full HCM platform built for growing, hourly, and multi-location businesses, run independently with a dedicated Account Manager.
Here’s how the two compare.
Netchex: Independently Run, Built for 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 | |
| ✓ Average customer tenure of 10+ years |
Criterion HCM: Now Sage HCM, Roadmap in Flux
Criterion HCM served mid-market businesses in construction, nonprofit, government, and education, with strengths in job costing and certified payroll. Since Sage’s October 2025 acquisition, the product is being folded into the Sage brand, and reviewers report uncertainty about which features will carry forward.
We’re not sure what the product will look like once the Sage rebrand is complete / Support has been harder to reach during the transition
— G2 / Trustpilot reviewers, 2025-2026
| Strengths | Considerations |
| ✓ Job costing and certified payroll for construction/nonprofit | ✗ Ongoing Sage rebrand creates roadmap uncertainty |
| ✓ Established mid-market presence | ✗ Reviewers cite support access issues during transition |
Sources: Criterion HCM on G2
Netchex vs. Criterion HCM at a Glance
| Feature | Netchex | Criterion HCM (Sage) |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Independently run | Acquired by Sage, Oct 2025 |
| Native time & attendance | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated Account Manager | Yes | Varies during transition |
| Implementation | Free, white-glove, ~6 weeks | Standard onboarding |
| Best for | 50-5,000 employees, hourly & multi-location | Mid-market construction/nonprofit/education |
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.
No. Criterion HCM and Arcoro are separate, competing HR platforms. Criterion was acquired by Sage; Arcoro is a different construction-focused HR vendor.
Netchex offers independent ownership, a dedicated Account Manager, and a stable product roadmap, without the uncertainty of an ongoing acquisition transition.
Look at 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?
See how Netchex handles payroll, HR, benefits, and time tracking in one place, with a real person answering the phone.
This comparison 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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