TriNet Zenefits

Review:

TriNet Zenefits is one of our top choices for payroll software because it has many useful and intuitive features. It includes various standard payroll software features, such as automated taxes, multi-state services, and direct deposit for paychecks. It also includes lifetime accounts so that former employees can access pay stubs and locate tax information.

Pros:

• TriNet Zenefits's plans include year-round record keeping, banking information management, an activity dashboard, and data migration.
• The software automates compliance tasks, saving employers time and preventing potential mistakes.
• The automatic tax filing feature handles the most common forms for tax filings in the U.S.
• Employers can use the software to run payroll in multiple states.
• TriNet Zenefits integrates with a wide range of popular apps, allowing employers to create more efficient workflows.
• Lifetime accounts allow former employees to access their documents.
• Compared to some alternatives, the platform is affordable.

Cons:

• TriNet Zenefits does not offer net-to-gross calculations or easy payroll cancellations, both of which are offered by QuickBooks.
• The pricing structure does not make it optimal for businesses that are looking for a standalone payroll platform.

Reputation:

On TrustRadius, TriNet Zenefits has a 7.1-star rating based on more than 220 reviews. The majority of users praised its ease of use, automated payroll services, and convenient mobile app. However, several reviewers mentioned experiencing difficulties with setting up payroll and receiving subpar customer support.

On G2, the platform has a 3.9-star rating based on over 460 reviews. Many reviewers cited comprehensive onboarding, streamlined workflows, and user-friendly interface as highlights. However, some users were disappointed with its selection of third-party integrations and unresponsive technical support.

Q&A with TriNet Zenefits:

We chatted with a representative from the TriNet Zenefits team to find out more about what makes their platform stand out.

Q: Some of your competitors offer payroll with their starting packages. You only offer it as an add-on. Why is that?

A: The correct question is actually the opposite: why do many — if not all — of our competitors require that their customers use their payroll services in order to have access to their HR offering? We start with core HR because we believe that the employee record is the rightful hub of the HR tech ecosystem and that other tools (time tracking, benefits tech, and especially payroll) serve solely to either input data into or export data from a core HR tool.

We’re extremely proud of our payroll product and we see roughly 70% of new customers using it. But in that same vein, if a customer is happy with their existing payroll provider but still wants to use TriNet Zenefits’s Core HR product as the foundation for their HR tech platform, we are happy to support them.

Q: Why should business owners choose TriNet Zenefits over Gusto?

A: Gusto is laser-focused on serving super small businesses and they do a good job of this. But as these businesses mature and their needs evolve, they can outgrow the feature set offered by Gusto. TriNet Zenefits not only understands and meets the needs of the super small business but also businesses with hundreds and even 1,000+ employees.

Offerings such as complex payroll features, robust Time Tracking tools, Scheduling, Performance Management, Compensation Management, Well-being, and HR support for international workers are natively-built, core parts of the TriNet Zenefits platform that are not offered by Gusto.

Q: Who is the ideal TriNet Zenefits customer?

A: TriNet Zenefits supports small and medium-sized businesses with anywhere from 2 to more than 1,000 employees. Our platform is priced and packaged to support our customers across this size range as they grow and their needs evolve. Built for ease of use by employees and administrators alike, we are the go-to tool for company founders, CEOs, and COOs/Heads of Finance. As companies mature beyond 50, and sometimes up to 150 employees, we start to see HR leaders join our customers’ businesses to manage people operations.

Q: Are there any industries/businesses where TriNet Zenefits may not be helpful?

A: As an HR tool for small and mid-sized businesses, we are applicable and heavily relied upon in nearly every vertical market sector.

Q: How are you working to improve your product?

We continually advance our unified People Platform and push out updates weekly, if not daily, to ensure that our customers’ and their employees’ experiences continue to set the bar in the industry. This includes feature enhancements across our mobile product along with new products.

Last year, for example, we introduced new products in Well-being and Compensation Management, as well as support for contingent workers and deeper payroll functionality.

Q: What happens when I request a product demo?

A: A sales development representative will reach out to you to schedule your demo. During this time, the sales development representative will ask you questions about your business in order to connect you with the best possible person to demo the product for you. This will also make sure that they demo the parts of the product that are the best fit for your business.

Q: What is the biggest change/benefit that your customers notice when they start using TriNet Zenefits?

A: This can depend on the previous state of the business, however, the beneficial change that is almost universal among new customers is the fact that when someone starts using TriNet Zenefits, they no longer need to update a bunch of different systems every time an employee is onboarded, terminated, or undergoes any other change that HR systems would need to reflect.

From both the administrative and employee perspective, it’s about having one place to go to make changes about yourself and see the most up-to-date company information. It’s eliminating a ton of redundant work and making sure that your business processes like payroll, performance reviews, etc, run automatically based on everything else going on.