Top TriNet Competitors & Alternatives (2024)

In 2021, Paychex Flex partnered with Globalization Partners to help companies expertly recruit and hire talent around the globe. Specifically, the partnership allows Paychex Flex clients to automate employee onboarding globally while ensuring local compliance with labor laws and accessing up-to-date local HR, compliance and tax intelligence. This intelligence is provided via constant access to local experts for guidance.

Although not a PEO like TriNet, Paychex Flex’s Essentials Plan is $39 per month, plus $5 per employee and offers direct deposit and check printing, a mobile app, an employee self-service portal, reporting, a general ledger report, garnishment payment services, tax administration, key forms, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation. Its higher-tiered plans require a custom quote and add talent recruitment and management tools and accounting integrations.

Learn more: Read our full Paychex Flex review.

Who should use it:

Expanding companies with current or planned global employees should consider Paychex for their HR, payroll and employee insurance service provider.

OnPay stands out for its affordable first-tier bundled HR and Payroll plan. Compared to competitors, this one plan offers tools that are only available in competitor top-tier plans, such as workers’ compensation management, unlimited payroll runs, customized onboarding workflows and custom reporting. In the end, there is no need to pay extra for advanced HR, benefits or Payroll features.

Unlike TriNet, which offers a complex pricing structure, OnPay makes pricing HR and payroll software easy with just one all-inclusive $40, plus $6 per employee plan. It also offers a free one-month trial so you can try all its features and services. The plan includes unlimited monthly payroll runs, direct deposit, the ability to manage W-2 and 1099s worker payroll, tax filings on all levels, an employee self-service portal, setup, a full suite of HR tools and more.

Learn more: Read our full OnPay review.

Who should use it:

Companies that want straightforward and affordable HR, payroll and benefits software with no surprise fees or costs should consider OnPay

QuickBooks stands out by offering extremely affordable payroll plans with bundled bookkeeping and accounting tools. For less than half of what competitors charge, you get tools to help you manage the financial health of your company in addition to running payroll. Such tools include income and expense tracking, cash flow forecasting and management tools, receipt capture and invoicing. However, unlike TriNet, it is weak for HR tools.

QuickBooks’ Simple Start Plan starts at $15 per month. It includes income and expense tracking, invoicing and payments, tax deductions, general reports, receipt capture, mileage tracking, cash flow management tools, sales and sales tax management tools and estimates and contractor-management tools. Its higher-tiered plans range from $27.50 to $100 per month and add advanced tools like inventory and project profitability tools and analytics.

Learn more: Read our full QuickBooks review.

Who should use it:

Companies that already have software for handling HR processes and need affordable bookkeeping, accounting and payroll tools should consider QuickBooks.

Gusto stands out with automated and easy-to-use payroll tools. All plans come with unlimited payroll runs per month. Its Payroll automation feature allows you to set the software to run payroll automatically. It even offers features to automate the calculation, filing and payment of local, state and federal taxes. Finally, with Gusto, you enjoy automatic issuing and filing of W-2s and 1099s.

Gusto’s Simple Plan is $40 per month, plus $6 per person, per month. It offers payroll automation, employment insurance, paid time off (PTO) policies and holiday pay, state new hire reporting, employee self-onboarding, Digital 1-9s and W-4s, onboarding paperwork, health insurance administration and spending and savings accounts. Its second-tiered plan is $80 a month and adds features like team management, workforce costing, custom reports and time tracking.

Learn more: Read our full Gusto review.

Who should use it:

Gusto is best for companies looking to scale their payroll processing through automations.

Like TriNet, Justworks is a PEO. It bundles business services, such as compliance, HR and employee benefits, then affordably administers them for clients. This means you get lower prices. For example, by bundling deals for health insurance among all of its clients, even small businesses, receive corporate-quality health benefits for affordable prices, including medical, dental and vision insurance.

Like TriNet, its plans are based on a per-employee flat rate. Its Basic plan starts at $59 per month, per employee, and offers payroll processing, vendor and contractor payments, tax filings, employment practices liability and unemployment insurance management, HR consulting, reporting, PTO management and a mobile app. Its Plus plan is $99 per month, per employee, and adds health advocacy services, COBRA administration and more.

Learn more: Read our full Justworks review.

Who should use it:

Companies with over 50 employees that are looking to save on employee health benefits should consider Justworks.

Wave Payroll uniquely offers free invoicing, accounting and banking tools and services. For example, free invoicing tools include branded invoices, automated payment reminders and credit card, bank and Apple Pay payment acceptance directly from your invoices. In addition, free accounting tools include unlimited income and expense tracking, unlimited bank and credit card connections, accounting reporting and unlimited partners.

Wave Payroll’s Tax Service States plan is $40 per month, plus $6 per employee. If you live in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington or Wisconsin, Wave will take care of tax administration and filings for you under this plan. Under its Self Service States plan (applicable to all other United States states), you pay $20 per month, plus $6 per employee.

Both plans include automated payroll, accounting tools, payment capabilities, W2 and 1099 form generation, time tracking and access to a Wave Advisor. Wave Advisors offer help with completing and filing business and personal income taxes, a feature that helps those businesses that belong to self-service states. Unlike TriNet, Wave Payroll does not offer a full suite of HR tools.

Learn more: Read our full Wave Payroll review.

Who should use it:

Wave Payroll is best suited for startup companies needing free accounting and invoicing tools to get started.

Paycor specializes in talent management to drive positive business results. Like TriNet, it has a strong HR suite of tools, including recruitment, retention and employee development tools. It helps businesses create a great employee experience via performance reviews, enhanced communication, seamless employee onboarding, recordkeeping, HR automations, employee self-serve portals, time tracking, training and career development, HR reporting and more.

Paycor’s HR + Payroll Plans start at $99 per month, plus $5 per employee. It includes payroll and tax services and tools, wage garnishments, online check stubs, reporting and new hire filings. Its higher-tiered plans range up to $199 per month, plus $14 per employee and adds features, such as report-building tools, HR support, a month-end accounting package and onboarding, expense management, career development and compensation tools.

Learn more: Read our full Paycor review.

Who should use it:

Paycor is best for companies looking to improve their employee experiences and reduce turnover.