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This guide compares TriNet and Justworks, two of the top PEOs for small and midsize businesses, to help employers select the best PEO for their business needs.
Professional employer organizations (PEOs) help small businesses by serving as third-party support for HR functions. The best PEO services help employers that cannot hire a full HR staff. Our TriNet review and Justworks review cover two of the leading PEOs on the market, and each company has unique benefits. We compared the findings from our reviews to evaluate these PEO services side by side and help you choose the one that’s best for you.
Criteria | TriNet | Justworks |
---|---|---|
Pricing | Custom pricing, per employee per month | Pricing starting at $49 per employee per month for more than 50 employees or $59 per employee per month for fewer than 50 employees |
Features | HR administration, employee benefits, payroll and taxes, risk and compliance, recruitment, training and development | Onboarding, payroll and tax management, employee benefits administration, risk management and legal compliance |
Customer service | Phone, email, live chat, industry specialists and HR experts | 24/7 support via phone, email, chat, Slack and text |
Usability | Cloud-based platform, intuitive design | Cloud-based platform, intuitive design, modern technology |
Setup | 2 weeks, on average | 2 to 3 weeks |
TriNet is a leading PEO provider for small and midsize businesses. TriNet has been in business since 1988 and is a certified PEO. One unique thing about TriNet is that it offers industry-specific tools and support, which are particularly helpful for small businesses in heavily regulated industries. Employers that are concerned about keeping up with rapidly changing regulations will appreciate having an experienced industry professional on their team. TriNet’s major offerings include HR administration, employee benefits, payroll and taxes, risk and compliance, recruitment, and training and development.
We appreciate TriNet’s industry-specific support and believe small businesses that are concerned about risk management and compliance will find TriNet’s services the most beneficial. The company offers one base price for its primary features, which are bundled, and employers may add features for an extra cost. The total prices are based on a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) model, which is helpful for businesses that want to know exactly how their costs will increase over time.
Justworks provides 24/7 customer service, so smaller businesses with remote or hybrid teams in different time zones will appreciate easy access to support during all business hours. In addition, Justworks customers get access to dedicated account managers, who typically respond to requests within two hours, which may be helpful for new business owners who need more frequent support.
Of the PEOs we reviewed, Justworks’ tech platform is among the most advanced. Employers will appreciate the intuitive user interface; even users with little HR experience will find the platform easy to navigate.
TriNet
TriNet’s pricing is based on the total number of employees and does not increase just because your payroll does. The pricing is customized according to the services you choose, but each plan includes access to payroll, risk mitigation, employee benefits, HR and the technology platform. These services are bundled, so you cannot choose to omit some. However, you may add more services that fit your company’s or industry’s needs. Growing companies will appreciate the PEPM pricing model because it will make it easier to predict future costs.
Justworks
Justworks offers two pricing plans: Justworks Basic and Justworks Plus. The pricing for each plan is based on the total number of W-2 employees at your company. The Justworks Basic plan starts at $59 PEPM for up to 49 employees and is reduced to $49 PEPM for 50 or more employees. The Justworks Plus plan is $99 PEPM for up to 49 employees or $89 PEPM for 50 or more employees.
The Basic plan includes the following services:
The Plus plan includes all of the services in the Basic plan, as well as the following:
Justworks Hours is an add-on product; it is not included in the Justworks Basic or Justworks Plus package. The service costs $8 per user per month.
TriNet
TriNet’s performance management application enables employers to manage goals, capture feedback and view performance trends over time. Source: TriNet
Justworks
TriNet
TriNet provides customers with a designated HR consulting team. Customers in highly regulated industries will appreciate having access to industry-specific professionals. In addition, TriNet users can access support via web chat, email or phone. TriNet offers 24/7 access to live chat support. Phone support is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to midnight ET. For basic questions, customers can access helpful FAQ pages and online resources on the TriNet website.
Justworks
Justworks offers a catalog of online resources to help employers and employees with various questions. Subscribers get 24/7 support via telephone, email, chat, Slack and text, and employers have access to dedicated account managers who understand the company’s unique needs and can assist with any questions. The typical response time is two hours.
Justworks’ 24/7 live chat feature makes it easy to access support when you need it. Source: Justworks
TriNet
TriNet’s user interface is easy to navigate, regardless of your technical knowledge. The intuitive employee dashboard presents important information, such as payroll alerts and upcoming tasks. Employees will find the main menu easy to use, whether they need to view important documents or company calendars. All of the basic features are easy to find.
TriNet offers reporting and analytics tools that show you how the platform and various HR services are being used. There are pre-built reports related to payroll, taxes, compliance and benefits, among other topics. These reports, in addition to any customized reports you create, provide the data you need to make informed business decisions.
Customers can install pre-built integrations and application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow for enhanced data and reporting. Common integrations include Xero, Intuit QuickBooks, Oracle NetSuite, and Sage Intacct.
We appreciate TriNet’s employee self-service features because they help reduce administrative time and empower employees to manage their information. New hires can complete a self-onboarding process to learn more about the features. Employees can easily update important information, view their hours and payroll data, and see their professional development goals. The TriNet mobile app makes it easy for employees to access benefits information on the go.
Justworks
The Justworks platform has a clean design that is easy for both employers and employees to navigate. Justworks offers many pre-built reports, so you can view data and trends related to benefits, payroll and more. These reports can be customized so that you have the data you need to make informed business decisions.
Justworks’ employee self-service platform and mobile app make it easy for employees to view and manage information on the go. The company directory and organization charts help you navigate new contacts. Employees can easily update their profiles, modify benefits selections, view pay details, and submit time-off requests, among other things. If employees have questions, they can view tutorials and instructions in the Justworks Help Center.
The Justworks platform is very modern and easy to navigate. Employers without experience in other HR systems will have an easy time locating what they need. Source: Justworks
TriNet
TriNet tech and services specialists work with clients to set up new PEO services. You must have important information and employee data ready to begin the implementation process, which typically takes two weeks, although larger organizations may experience increased setup times.
The TriNet platform seamlessly integrates all HR functions into one online portal, allowing for easy access. Bundled packages include basic services such as payroll, risk mitigation, employee benefits and a technology platform, and you can add customizations to fit your company’s needs.
Employees can view their plans and make updates as needed, without intense training on the new tech. The simple user interface means less HR administrative time so you can focus on other company goals. Once your PEO is set up, you’ll have access to experts whenever you need it.
Justworks
The Justworks PEO setup is fairly simple. First, you will need to decide if you want the Basic or Plus plan. The enrollment time depends on your workers’ compensation application. Justworks needs to learn more about your business operations, ownership structure and other important business functions.
Once you’ve been approved for workers’ compensation and your enrollment is complete, you can select a start date to launch with Justworks as your PEO. This date, which is when your first payroll will run, must be the first or 16th of the current or upcoming month.
You will be assigned a dedicated onboarding manager to help activate your account and set up employees. Once the setup begins, it typically takes two to three weeks.
Choose TriNet if:
Choose Justworks if: