Gusto
Best all-in-one TriNet alternative for payroll & HR
Overview
Gusto is a top choice for small businesses seeking an all-in-one HR and payroll platform with transparent pricing and built-in compliance. Unlike TriNet, which separates payroll from its HR packages, Gusto integrates payroll, benefits, hiring tools, and team management in one easy-to-use platform. While TriNet may offer more advanced HR features in its base plans, Gusto shines with better payroll functionality, stronger usability, and more predictable pricing as your team grows.
Key Features
Fully integrated payroll, HR, onboarding, and benefits
Built-in time tracking and compliance support
ATS, onboarding checklists, and org charts
Performance management and learning tools
Employee self-service with lifetime access
Background checks via Checkr
International contractor support in 120+ countries
300+ software integrations
Certified HR support (Premium or Plus add-on)
Pros and Cons
Pros
Intuitive, all-in-one experience
Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
Strong compliance and reporting tools
Excellent customer service
Full HR lifecycle tools included in Plus
Cons
Traditional benefits available in only 38 states
Mobile app has limited admin features
Basic plan lacks advanced HR tools
Pricing
Simple: $49/mo + $6/person/mo – Basic HR, payroll, onboarding
Plus: $80/mo + $12/person/mo – Adds hiring, team management, time tracking
Premium: $180/mo + $22/person/mo – Includes full platform + dedicated support
HR add-on: $8 /employee/month (optional for Plus users)
Free trial: Yes — free until first payroll
Free version: No
Transform your payroll processes with Gusto, a platform that’s already the choice of over 500,000 businesses.
OnPay
Best value alternative to TriNet payroll
Overview
OnPay is a straightforward payroll solution built for small businesses that want essential features without the complexity or cost of platforms like TriNet. One flat monthly price covers payroll, tax filing, compliance, onboarding, benefits admin, and basic HR tools. While TriNet offers a broader suite of features, many smaller businesses don’t need them—and OnPay delivers everything most teams require in a single, affordable plan.
Key Features
Automated payroll, tax filing, and compliance
Multi-state payroll with multiple pay rates and schedules
Direct deposit, paper check, or prepaid debit options
Self-onboarding and lifetime employee portal access
PTO tracking, checklists, and document storage
Org charts and basic HR tools
New-hire compliance and alerts
Native communication tools for teams
Pros and Cons
Pros
Flat pricing includes most features
Ideal for basic payroll and HR
No added cost for benefits admin
Unlimited payroll runs
Supports multiple pay structures
Cons
Limited software integrations
No built-in time tracking
Charges to mail W‑2s and 1099s
No email or chat support
Pricing
OnPay offers a single pricing tier: $40 per month plus $6 per employee. This includes all payroll and HR features. W‑2 and 1099 forms can be downloaded at no cost, or mailed for an additional fee.
Free trial: Yes — 1 month
Free plan: No
ADP Workforce Now
Best TriNet alternative for midsize businesses
Overview
ADP Workforce Now is a scalable HR and payroll solution for businesses with 50 to 999 employees. It offers advanced tools for compliance, performance, and learning management—many of which are missing from smaller TriNet competitors. While pricing is complex and most features are paywalled, ADP’s depth makes it a strong fit for growing businesses that need customized functionality and robust infrastructure.
Key Features
Integrated payroll, HR, and benefits in all 50 states
Learning management system with 70,000+ courses
Job and workforce costing reports
Advanced time tracking and PTO management
700+ third-party software integrations
Employee self-service and mobile app access
Multiple tiers based on business size and needs
Optional HR outsourcing and PEO services
Pros and Cons
Pros
Deep feature set for midsize teams
Large HR document library and LMS
Multiple outsourcing options available
Excellent scalability
Wide integration ecosystem
Cons
Pricing is not transparent
Dated user interface
Many features cost extra
Customer service can be slow
No built-in contractor payments
Pricing
ADP Workforce Now has three tiers—Select, Plus, and Premium—with increasing access to HR tools. Many features like talent management and analytics are add-ons. Pricing is quote-based, though payroll for 50 employees starts around $400/month.
Free trial: Yes — 3 months on select products
Free plan: No
BambooHR
Best alternative to TriNet HR for employee engagement
Overview
BambooHR is an intuitive HR platform with standout employee engagement tools. Like TriNet, it focuses on HR first and offers payroll as a paid add-on. BambooHR excels in performance management, onboarding, and employee experience—making it a strong alternative for teams looking to streamline HR and improve team morale. Benefits and time tracking require paid add-ons, and international support is limited.
Key Features
Full hiring suite with ATS in base plan
Intuitive onboarding and offboarding workflows
Performance tracking and engagement visualizations
Automations for time-off, promotions, and more
Custom reporting on any HR data
Multiple PTO policies with automated accruals
125+ third-party software integrations
Payroll, benefits, and time tracking available as add-ons
Pros and Cons
Pros
Leading performance and engagement tools
Strong self-service and onboarding features
Built-in ATS and hiring tools
User-friendly interface
Customizable automations and reports
Cons
Benefits, payroll, and time tracking cost extra
No transparent pricing online
Limited mobile functionality
No international payroll or contractor support
Pricing
BambooHR offers two plans (Core and Pro), with optional add-ons for payroll, benefits, and time tracking. Pricing is custom-quoted. Past estimates include:
Payroll: $150/month + $7.25 per employee
Benefits admin: $5/employee
Time tracking: $3/employee
Free trial: Yes — 7 days
Free plan: No
Homebase
Best TriNet alternative for scheduling
Overview
Homebase is purpose-built for hourly teams in restaurants, retail, and other shift-based industries. It offers powerful scheduling and time tracking features, along with HR tools tailored to hourly compliance and communication needs. While TriNet includes a scheduling tool, Homebase goes further with automation, shift swapping, and mobile-first workflows. It’s a strong TriNet alternative for teams with complex schedules and rotating shifts.
Key Features
Automated scheduling based on availability or forecasts
Time tracking and wage compliance tools
Hiring and paperless onboarding
Built-in team communication and shift swapping
Labor cost and certification tracking
Secure document storage and PTO tools
Integrations with POS, accounting, and payroll tools
HR support available in top-tier plan
Pros and Cons
Pros
Excellent shift scheduling and time tools
Designed for hourly and shift-based teams
Competitive pricing for full feature access
Streamlined team communication
Free plan for single-location teams
Cons
Payroll add-on is expensive
Full HR suite only in All-in-One plan
Clock-in corrections can be tricky
Reports of occasional software bugs
Pricing
Basic: Free – Time, scheduling, hiring for 1 location
Essentials: $20/location/month – Adds messaging, advanced scheduling
Plus: $48/location/month – Adds hiring, PTO, permissions
All-in-One: $80/location/month – Adds HR tools, onboarding, document storage
Payroll add-on: $39/month + $6/employee/month
Free trial: Yes — 14 days
Free plan: YesGet started with Gusto
Remote
Best TriNet HR alternative for global payroll & compliance
Overview
Remote offers a fully integrated solution for hiring and paying global employees and contractors. While TriNet partners with G-P for global payroll, Remote handles everything in-house—offering true integration across 200+ countries. Remote simplifies compliance, onboarding, time tracking, and benefits for international teams, making it a strong TriNet alternative for businesses going global. You can pay all team members—whether contractors, EOR, or full-time—with a single payment.
Key Features
Contractor and employee payroll in 200+ countries
EOR support in 80+ countries
Localized compliance and benefits
Contractor misclassification risk tool
Time tracking and PTO for global teams
Expense management and onboarding
100+ currencies supported
Owned legal entities (no third-party vendors)
Pros and Cons
Pros
One platform for global team payments
Excellent compliance and onboarding tools
No outsourcing to third-party vendors
Self-service portal for global employees
Benefits administration included
Cons
Email-only support
No transparent pricing for global payroll
Doesn’t support Payoneer or PayPal
Lacks workforce costing or reporting tools
Pricing
Contractors: $29/month per contractor
EOR: $599/month per employee (annual); $699 month-to-month
Global payroll (own entity): Contact sales
Free trial: 30 days — charges apply only when you pay
Free plan: No
Learn more about Remote
Justworks
Best alternative to TriNet PEO
Overview
Justworks is a transparent, affordable PEO that competes directly with TriNet’s PEO offering. You get bundled payroll, compliance, onboarding, and access to group health plans—with transparent per-employee pricing and top-rated customer support. While TriNet and Justworks both partner with ATS providers, Justworks includes more low-cost perks and is easier to use. It’s a solid fit for small businesses that want to outsource HR without sacrificing visibility or control.
Key Features
Full-service PEO: payroll, compliance, onboarding
Affordable access to health, commuter, and financial benefits
Admin permissions and employee self-service
Mobile app access
24/7 support via phone, chat, and Slack
International contractor support (EOR in development)
Secure document storage and e-signature
Pros and Cons
Pros
Transparent, predictable pricing
Affordable for small teams
User-friendly platform
24/7 support availability
Low-cost benefits other PEOs don’t offer
Cons
Time tracking costs extra
No built-in hiring tools
Traditional benefits only on higher-tier plan
Fewer HR tools than larger PEOs
Pricing
Basic: $59/employee/month (drops to $49 after 50 employees) – Includes payroll, compliance, onboarding
Plus: $99/employee/month (drops to $89 after 50) – Adds medical, dental, vision, COBRA, HSAs, FSAs
Free trial: Yes — 14 days
Free plan: No
Learn more about Justworks
Compare All
| Pricing | Free Trial | Free Plan | Best Use Case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | Small businesses wanting an all-in-one payroll + HR alternative to TriNet with transparent pricing | ||
 | $49/mo + $6/employee | (1 month) | Cost-conscious SMBs that need straightforward payroll and basic HR without complexity | |
 | Custom pricing | (select plans) | Midsize businesses (50–999 emps) needing scalability, compliance, and learning tools | |
 | Custom pricing | (7 days) | Teams prioritizing employee engagement, onboarding, and performance management | |
 | Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | Hourly and shift-based teams that need scheduling, time tracking, and communication | ||
 | $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) | (contractors) | Businesses hiring and paying international contractors or employees with built-in compliance |
 | $59–$99/employee/mo | (on request) | SMBs that want a PEO alternative to TriNet with predictable pricing and outsourced HR |
| Pricing | Free Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | |
| $49/mo + $6/employee | (1 month) |
| Custom pricing | (select plans) |
| Custom pricing | (7 days) |
| Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | |
| $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) |
| $59–$99/employee/mo | (on request) |
FAQ
Who are TriNet’s main competitors?
TriNet’s top competitors include Gusto, Justworks, ADP, BambooHR, Rippling, and Remote. Each serves different business needs, with some offering PEO services like TriNet, while others provide self-managed HRIS and payroll systems better suited for small or mid-sized teams.
What are the disadvantages of using TriNet?
The biggest drawbacks are cost, complexity, and limited flexibility. While TriNet bundles powerful tools and support, pricing lacks transparency and scales quickly with headcount. Many features, like applicant tracking, require third-party add-ons or separate agreements.
What’s the difference between TriNet and Rippling?
Rippling offers a modular, highly automated HR and IT platform, while TriNet focuses on bundled HR services through its PEO model. Rippling gives you more control and customization, whereas TriNet takes over many admin responsibilities as the employer of record.
How much does TriNet cost per employee?
TriNet doesn’t publish pricing online, but estimates range from $125 to $250+ per employee per month. Pricing varies based on team size, services included, and whether you use TriNet PEO or their standalone HR software. You’ll need to request a custom quote.
What does Gusto cost?
Gusto’s pricing starts at $49/mo + $6/person/mo for the Simple plan, which includes payroll and basic HR. The Plus plan is $80/mo + $12/person/mo, adding hiring and team management tools. Premium plans include white-glove support and start at $180/mo + $22/person/mo.
