Alternatives to Zenefits

Last updated: 2025-11-27

Zenefits: HR platform with payroll and benefits administration aimed at small businesses.

Best for: Small businesses that want HR administration plus payroll in a unified system.

Quick comparison

Tool	Best for	Pricing	Key features
QuickBooks Payroll	Small businesses already using QuickBooks that want payroll tightly connected to accounting.	Tiered plans; often base fee plus per-employee pricing (check vendor site).	Payroll processing Tax calculations/filings (varies) Direct deposit Accounting integration
OnPay	Small businesses that want reliable payroll and tax filing without a heavy HR suite.	Typically a base fee plus per-employee pricing (check vendor site).	Payroll processing Tax filings Direct deposit Contractor payments
Gusto	Small businesses that want payroll plus basic HR and benefits administration in one place.	Tiered plans; pricing typically scales with headcount and selected add-ons (check vendor site).	Payroll processing Tax filings Employee onboarding Benefits administration
Rippling	Growing teams that want payroll integrated with broader HR workflows and scalable administration.	Modular pricing; typically per-employee with add-ons (check vendor site).	Payroll processing HR management Workflow automation Integrations
Paylocity	Mid-sized organizations that want a wider HCM suite alongside payroll.	Custom pricing; varies by modules and organization size (check vendor site).	Payroll processing HCM suite Employee self-service Reporting

If you want the simplest setup and good SMB defaults, prioritize ease of use and support.
If you need benefits, time tracking, or HR add-ons, compare integrations and total cost.
If you have contractors or multi-state complexity, prioritize compliance features.

Common reasons include pricing, feature fit, support, integrations, or needs that change as a company grows.

Start with company size, payroll frequency, benefits needs, and integrations (accounting, time tracking, HR).