Best Payroll And HR Software (2024)

Gusto is a great beginner HRIS with basic functionality that is easy to use. Gusto is a cost-effective, affordable HR and payroll solution for small businesses. Gusto's document functions are very customizable, allowing for check mark boxes along with basic and more common features like signature boxes and text boxes.

Our company originally bought Gusto in 2020 and has been using it for four years. I have personally been using it for six months and have used it in the past while working contracts for other start-ups. We use Gusto as a solution for small businesses that need an HR and payroll system. The key benefits it provides include a time tracking system, payroll system, HR storage system, ATS, benefits solution, and more. When originally buying the tool, the company aimed to use it mainly for payroll purposes and to move off of QuickBooks for payroll and paper copies of documentation. Gusto provides document signing as well.

Gusto's customer service lacks urgency and has put us into very difficult situations regarding compliance around our benefits. While Gusto is very beginner-friendly, this means it also lacks the workflows and customizability that most experienced HR professionals are accustomed to when setting up and using an HRIS. Gusto does not have many options for custom reporting, which can be difficult for HR personnel and business operations.

I prefer a more customizable HRIS, even if it is a little more expensive. I think Gusto is a good start solution, but once you grow past 25+ employees, you will need to look into more advanced HR and payroll solutions. I would not recommend Gusto to anyone that has over 25 employees due to this.

Businesses should consider their projected growth and hiring plans. You do not want to implement an HR system if you will need to switch to another HR system further down the road. If you plan on keeping your business small or do not plan on hiring a dedicated HR person, then Gusto might be the solution for you.

I have not been with Gusto long enough to see any change or evolution.

Gusto is good for small businesses with under 25 employees and/or businesses looking for a very cost-effective solution.

• Operational efficiency - Time spent on administrative tasks is reduced, such as manual clocking, time-tracking, and costing out of labor rates.
• The Talent Acquisition module helps fill roles more quickly with top talent by leveraging modern tools like texting and QR scan codes.
• Cost-effective solutions for a variety of organizations, including education, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, restaurants/hospitality, retail, and technology. Solutions are available for small, midsized, and large enterprise organizations. Paylocity streamlines HR tasks, minimizes compliance risk, and drives communication and collaboration with tools to improve employee engagement.

Since 2000, I have used Paylocity. Our previous HR systems were numerous. We moved the following processes into Paylocity, which offers an all-in-one HR solution:

• Payroll - Automated processes, tax compliance, and overall simplification of payroll processing.

• Workforce Management - Improved efficiency by automating scheduling, time tracking, and ease of use for employees via their phones.

• Human Resources Software - Automation of manual tasks such as reviewing time management and I-9 Work Authorization tracking. Simplification and access to real-time information via the mobile app allow everyone to view their pay info, tax forms, time off requests, update personal information, and complete tasks that previously required paper.

• Talent Management - This tool helps shorten the time to hire during the recruiting cycle, expands the reach of finding top talent by posting and sharing openings across many job boards, and enhances the candidate experience through texts and QR code scanning.

This aids in finding talent faster and making engagement easier. Additionally, this module is excellent for onboarding new employees by eliminating hours of onboarding paperwork, as every aspect of onboarding is done online through Paylocity.

There is a performance management segment that provides employees with the tools they need for career development and conducting reviews. Also within this module, compensation and a Learning Management System (LMS) are robust and automated, with a wealth of tools built in to help with employee engagement and retention.

• Benefits - We moved from manual to automated processes, reducing confusion through simplified, flexible benefits management and employee usage. Key takeaways: access anywhere via mobile or desktop, real-time information, employee education with step-by-step guidance videos/scripts, compliance with federal and state regulations for COBRA, ACA, and HIPAA, and ease of error reduction through automation.

• Employee Experience - Employees have access to the HR platform, increasing self-service adoption, building confidence, collaboration, and connection.

• Data - Paylocity helps bring data to life while keeping in tune and up-to-date with your workforce. For example, AI is used to provide key insights for identifying gaps and actionable recommendations on how to improve employee productivity and reduce turnover.

I do not have any cons to share about Paylocity.

In comparison to Workday, the ease of implementation and support was better with Paylocity. When I used Workday with a large enterprise organization supporting 10,000 employees, the assigned team was larger and divided into various segments. Paylocity supported a small service organization with fewer than 2,500 employees.

The criteria should include the following:

1. The available budget.
2. Types of systems and applications being integrated.
3. Company size.
4. Readiness to move away from paper and files into software/automation. Paylocity simplifies and streamlines critical payroll and HR processes.
5. Remember to allocate time and a team to help design the front end of the system and plan the rollout—this takes time and patience.

Paylocity has expanded and introduced the Modern Workforce Index (MWI), giving HR leaders real-time visibility into organizational health compared to similar companies based on NAICS codes and organization size.

Paylocity is primarily designed for small to medium-sized organizations. It simplifies and streamlines critical payroll and HR processes and functions.

The mobile feature of this system is a great convenience for managers and employees alike, as it enables them to easily access on the go. The user interface is visually appealing and easy to navigate, which makes it a pleasure to use on a daily basis. In addition, the reporting functionality is simple and intuitive, and the customer service team is highly responsive and helpful in case of any issues or questions.

Our company was struggling with the hiring process and needed a more efficient and cost-effective solution than our current system. We needed a system that would help us manage job postings, resumes, candidate communication, and applicant tracking in one place. We also wanted a solution that would integrate with other HR tools we were using, such as our payroll system. Paycor provided us with a cost-effective and comprehensive solution that helped us improve our recruitment process and streamline our HR operations. It helped us save time, reduce costs, and improve our hiring outcomes. I have used Paycor for 3+ years.

I think the ATS function was better when it was under Newton, but since it was acquired by Paycor, it has taken some time to adjust to the changes. I also wish it was capable of serving larger organizations to compete with iCIMS or Workday.

Paycor stands out from its competitors due to its user-friendly interface, customizable features, and seamless integration with other HR tools like payroll systems which is why I prefer Paycor.

When purchasing a tool like Paycor, people should consider important criteria such as the software's integration capabilities, installation process, security features, customer support, available features, and pricing. These factors can help individuals make an informed decision and choose a software solution that best fits their needs and budget.

The beauty of using this system has been that you are grandfathered in from the time you purchase the tool. Which means as they continue to update the system with innovative functions they do not charge extra.

I think it's excellent for small to mid-size organizations

UKG is ideal for complex organizations with multiple entities; payroll can be done with the click of a button. UKG is also optimal for organizations with complicated reporting structures, including dual reporting and multi-location reporting. Lastly, UKG is investing heavily in connecting all of their systems to create a seamless user experience.

My organization selected UKG as our HCM when comparing it against all mid-market products on the market. As a rapidly growing company via acquisition, our primary reason for selecting UKG was that we needed an HCM that allowed us to set up new component companies, new states, and new PTO and benefits plans independently without having to engage a UKG consultant.

The enterprise version of the UKG product allows us the flexibility to move as quickly as our business development team welcomes new partners into the fold. My team of HRIS and payroll experts leads the majority of the setup. We also selected UKG due to its focus on R&D and staying ahead of industry trends. With their robust network of partners, even if they aren't able to accommodate our needs directly, they have prebuilt integrations with many of the best boutique HR applications.

Three years after selecting them, I continue to be pleased with how our implementation and ongoing build-out of the system has gone.

As with all large organizations, getting in touch with customer service can be challenging, i.e., getting issues to the right department to be solved. Second, I wish that UKG Talk was fully integrated with UKG Pro so that our employees would have one interface. Third, I wish the text message functionality was more versatile.

UKG can handle complexity better than most of the other systems that I have used. The only platform that would compare would be Workday, but that's materially more expensive than UKG.

When making this investment, leaders should consider the size and complexity of their organization and have a good handle on all of their system requirements. Knowing how the company will grow or shrink is also important in determining whether UKG is the right price point for the company's trajectory.

For the three years that my team has used UKG, we have seen them invest in several areas. First, they are working to connect disparate modules on the backend to ease the user experience. Second, they have launched new systems in response to generational changes in the workplace. Third, in response to customer feedback, they have overhauled their approach to account management and customer care.

UKG is best for US-based companies with a minimum of 500 employees.

Easy to use. Provided sign up incentives. Respected brand.

Colleagues had experience with ADP in the past and were lobbying for the company to make a change. We have made that change and then continued to increase the services that we were obtaining from them. It has been a positive experience. The vendor is exceeding our expectations. We don't foresee making changes in the near future.

It is a big company so you don't always feel like an important customer. We often deal with different people at the company. It would be nice to have one consistent contact.

The breadth of products that it offers is important to us. We know it has quality products and services.

A company with a long track record. Incentives to move to it. Suggested enhancements to the products.

It is continually updating its service offerings with improvements. It contacts us for associated products and services that may assist our business.

Small to medium business.

It makes managing benefits, HR documents, and time off requests so easy! I love having a simple tool to manage all things important in one place. Whether its from my desktop or the mobile app, I can access everything I need. Leveraging Zenefits for all of our HR records helps us streamline and reduce paperwork, while making things accessible in one place for all administrators and managers, and limiting sensitive personal information to only HR personnel. Employees can easily update their direct deposit information, taxes, address via self-service through the mobile app.

My organization had grown substantially and had no HRIS, payroll or benefits platform in place; prior to this growth, everything had been done manually. Selecting Zenefits was an easy choice due to pricing, ease-of-training employees and ongoing support. We utilized Zenefits for two years for its payroll, core HR functions, time tracking, benefits and PTO functionality. Its valuable insights and attractive pricing make it a great choice for smaller businesses.

Zenefits cannot appropriately cap 401k contributions resulting in overcontributions for many employees. Some integrations are challenged/non-existent and require uploads and data feeds. There is no dedicated account manager. Tax notifications can be difficult to get answered, often taking several weeks or months after submission. For several weeks, Zenefits was sending HR-related alerts to my personal email.

I prefer Zenefits as an interim in-house solution for establishing in-house frameworks. It is ideal for small organizations with uncomplicated HR needs. Zenefits provides the necessary core functions and versatility required for a growing organization at a reasonable price and satisfactory customer service. Where more complex matters are concerned, I believe Zenefits struggles with viability.

Zenefits is perfect for smaller organizations with uncomplicated needs and limited budgets. Possible integrations should always be considered; the absence of ability to integrate can be a tremendous burden on time, reducing ROI. It is also critical to consider the expertise of HR employees where HR technology is concerned, as well as any training and support needs as these are critical to the internal success or failure of any platform.

Zenefits is good for small organizations with less than 50 employees, either locally or nationally.

1. User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for both HR staff and teams.
2. Integrations: It integrates payroll, benefits administration, and performance management, streamlining processes and eliminating the need for scattered Google Sheets.
3. Employee Self-Service: The self-service portal allows employees to manage their personal information, view pay stubs, and access benefits details independently, saving us time from routine administrative tasks. This is the future of HR, as automation should be adopted across the board.

At Impactable, we chose Namely because we were overwhelmed by managing too many HR systems that didn’t integrate well. It was challenging to keep up with payroll and benefits manually, so we needed a solution that could consolidate everything and simplify our processes, allowing us to focus on developing the new platform.

Namely turned out to be a great choice. It has a user-friendly interface that even the least tech-savvy among us can navigate with minimal training. The employee self-service portal was something we didn’t realize we needed, but it has been incredibly helpful in allowing the team to manage their own holidays and benefits without constantly contacting HR.

The analytics and reporting tools, while not initially a priority, have also proven useful. I’ve been using Namely for two years now, and overall, it has greatly improved our organization’s efficiency.

1. Customer Service Issues: The customer service can be slow and sometimes unresponsive, which is disappointing given the quality of the product.
2. Integration Challenges: It took time to get the integrations working correctly, and we had to invest considerable effort in training everyone to manage them.
3. Reporting Features: The reporting features are difficult to use and have limited customization options, which was a letdown.

Namely is much easier to use compared to other HR tools, with everything from payroll to benefits consolidated in one place. It has a sleek interface, and the employee self-service portal allows staff to manage their own information. Unlike some competitors, Namely offers solid reporting tools and continuous updates, keeping the platform modern and efficient. Overall, it simplifies HR tasks better than many competitors, although I haven’t used many similar tools recently, so they might have improved as well.

1. Ease of Use: Ensure the platform is user-friendly for both HR staff and employees.
2. Integration Capabilities: Look for seamless integration with existing systems such as payroll, benefits, and other HR tools you already use.
3. Customer Support: Check the quality and responsiveness of customer support, as effective support is crucial for resolving issues quickly.
4. Feature Set: Evaluate the range of features offered, such as employee self-service, performance management, and reporting capabilities, to ensure the tool meets all your HR needs. Avoid tools that require additional services to cover all necessary functions, as there are comprehensive solutions available.

The interface has improved, and integrations are smoother. However, customer service hasn’t seen much improvement.

Namely is particularly well-suited for mid-sized organizations with 50 to 1,000 employees across various sectors such as media, technology, and eCommerce. It's ideal for companies looking for an all-in-one HR solution that integrates payroll, benefits, and performance management. Businesses that require comprehensive analytics and reporting tools to make informed HR decisions will also benefit significantly from Namely’s features.

I like that Workday can be your one stop shop for all HR and recruiting needs. It is easily customizable to your organizations preferences. I love the reporting capabilities that Workday can provide. I also like the main screen user interface. I think it is very user friendly and easy to learn.

My organization implemented Workday for the reporting and metrics functionalities. Workday is so robust and can do so much, especially for a big organization like the one I am in. The key benefits are that you can personalize Workday to your company's needs. There are no shortages of capabilities and functions Workday can serve. If you want recruitment metrics and reports, Workday is your tool. I have used Workday personally for 5 years in 2 different organizations. Both companies needed better reporting metrics around hiring and Workday solved these needs.

Workday can be a lot! It offers so many functions that it can get overwhelming. I have had candidates who have not liked the Workday experience when applying for a position. Workday's customer service has been weak at times and has not been the easiest to deal with.

WorkDay has a great brand name. Some of the largest and most profitable companies in the world use Workday which I think speaks for the brand itself. Workday’s functionalities can do so much more than a lot of their competitors. I have used similar tools and Workday by far has the largest arsenal of functionalities. You can utilize anything you decide you want to utilize and can offer almost everything from an HR, Recruiting, and Benefits standpoint.

Workday can be expensive. You get what you are paying for. If you want a complex product as a one stop shop then I would recommend Workday. I would figure out what you want your Workday to function as within your organization.

Workday has continuously made adjustments to the user interface to make it more user friendly. More training is always offered to new capabilities that are added monthly.

Very big organizations who want a system that can do a lot of different things. If you are an organization who has a high requisition load, a need for high level reporting, Workday would be a great fit.

I like BambooHR because it's user-friendly. I also like that it's a system where you can really track important data like job titles and salary changes. Finally, I like that BambooHR is easy to use.

We bought BambooHR to establish a centralized place that could securely store our employees' data for our HR team. We also wanted to create a seamless onboarding and offboarding process. The customer service is impeccable at Bamboo and they're always very helpful. It's also very user-friendly. I've used the product personally for one year.

I wish BambooHR offered a way for us to administer stock options and 401K directly through the program. I also wish we had a dedicated account rep, which we, unfortunately, do not have at this time. I would love to see more engaging ways for our employees to be onboarded, as well.

They're different because they have a very attractive interface and the response rate of the customer service team is higher. They also tend to offer a more diverse set of program features.

I'd recommend really digging in to make sure you're taking advantage of all of the features and integrations Bamboo has to offer. Also, I'd recommend smaller companies (less than 50 people) really consider if this is a tool that's right for their size.

The training content they've offered is impeccable.

I'd say an organization of at least 50+ people.

The interface is slick and easy to use. It offers flexible and expandable HR and benefits tools, meaning it can grow with the business. The streamlined and partially automated PTO with self-service is also good.

We bought OnPay to streamline our payroll process. Our HR and finance teams were too small and preoccupied with rapid growth activities to manage payroll, and as a result, mistakes were being made. The monthly payroll process was analog, without much automation, and quite inefficient and laborious. We wanted to have a more automated and online process, which OnPay provided.

OnPay is genuinely focused on small businesses. The interface is clean and simple, not overloaded with features like those found in big company payroll tools. It connects directly with our timesheets, allows staff to update their personal data, and has streamlined and mostly automated our payroll process. We have used this tool for a couple of years.

The design is a little boring and old-fashioned. The reporting section is a bit awkward to use. It doesn't have great support for international customers.

The design is a little boring and old-fashioned. The reporting section is a bit awkward to use. It doesn't have great support for international customers.

Can you also pay contractors through the system? Can you pay staff according to different pay schedules?

We haven’t used it long enough to answer this.

US-based SMEs without international offices can benefit from OnPay.

It is very comprehensive, providing everything I need, which eliminates the need to connect multiple different platforms. Also, the site is clean, and it runs smoothly and quickly.

We use Rippling for a variety of functions including employee offer documents, onboarding, payroll, PTO, expense reimbursements, and benefits. Without it, we would need to hire several different people, which isn't feasible as we are a smaller company. It makes sense for us to use Rippling instead of hiring a large number of support staff.

There's nothing I really dislike about it; I feel like it gets everything I need done without any headaches.

With one of the companies I used in the past, it felt like I still needed many other tools and platforms to connect to it, whereas Rippling seems to have everything integrated already.

I think it depends on the cost-benefit for you. For us, as a small company, it makes sense to use Rippling rather than multiple different platforms and people. However, for a larger company, it might be more cost-effective to manage these processes in-house.

I haven't noticed any changes myself.

I think it's best for small to mid-size organizations that would benefit from having everything in one place with one provider.