Choosing the right HR solution is a critical decision that involves evaluating multiple factors, including payroll, benefits, and compliance management. Justworks and TriNet stand out as leading platforms, each designed to meet distinct organizational needs with their unique features and advantages.  

Justworks is designed to manage multiple HR tasks and specializes in its time tracking, compliance, and payroll management capabilities. TriNet stands out due to its wide range of benefits plans and talent management capabilities.  

This blog provides a detailed comparison of Justworks vs TriNet, exploring their features, advantages, and drawbacks to help you decide which software is the best fit for your organization.  

Justworks Vs Trinet – Compared

Feature 

Justworks 

TriNet 

User-Interface 

User-friendly design and interface 

Intuitive interface with easy navigation 

Payroll 

Multi-state payroll with W-2 filings 

Comprehensive payroll services with compliance support 

Benefits Administration 

Benefit plans offer options to integrate with the software’s PEO or payroll 

Access to a wide range of benefits with administrative support 

Time And Attendance 

Offers report generation capabilities that include employee timesheets, payroll, and overtime 

Intuitive dashboards for managing employee working hours and overtime 

Compliance Management 

Payroll tax support with free training resources 

Compliance with health and retirement plan 

Pricing 

Three paid plans. Starting at $8/month/person 

Customizable plans to fit various business requirements 

What Is Justworks?

Justworks HR is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and payroll software offering features to help businesses seamlessly manage HR tasks. The software provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies HR operations and minimizes administrative tasks.  

It is designed to accommodate companies of all sizes—from startups to mid-sized enterprises, serving a variety of industries, including financial services, technology startups, marketing, IT, and healthcare.  

Standout Features 

  • Paid Time Off (PTO): Allows teams to set their leaves, view their requests, and sick leave policies with the software’s user-friendly interface. HR teams can seamlessly approve their employees' PTO requests and track accruals 
  • Document Management: Enables businesses to manage and store employee documents all in one place, with features like uploading and sending the documents to the software’s PEO or payroll 
  • Reporting And Analytics: The software’s people analytics tools transform the simple data into actionable insights. Pre-built customizable reports, graphs, and charts are available, enabling teams to make data-driven decision 
  • Integrations: Offers integrations with a diverse range of third-party applications such as Vanta, Carta, Xero, QuickBooks, Brex, and NetSuite 

Pros And Cons 

Pros 

  • User-friendly platform with responsive customer support
  • The software’s intuitive directory makes it easy to find employees 
  • Easy to manage full-time and contracted employees, with access to their working hours 

Cons 

  • Limited records for insurance coverage details 
  • Fewer advanced features compared to competitors 

What Is TriNet?

TriNet, previously known as Zenefits, offers a comprehensive HR solution designed to streamline the organization’s tasks, such as recruiting, onboarding, benefits, tax filings, compliance, and time management.

The software caters to various industries such as architecture, engineering, consulting, e-commerce, education, financial services, manufacturing, marketing, media, nonprofits, retail, and technology.  

Standout Features

  • Workforce Analytics: Delivers real-time insights into HR data via intuitive dashboards and customizable reports. It features pre-built reports on key workforce metrics, including turnover and headcount, while enabling the creation of custom reports 
  • Applicant Tracking System (ATS): Simplifies recruitment by streamlining job creation, managing candidate profiles, and gathering feedback from hiring teams. The system also offers customizable workflows and skill assessment tools
  • Expense Management: Streamlines expense reporting by enabling employees to submit expenses online or through a mobile app. It also connects with accounting and general ledger platforms, ensuring seamless data export 
  • Compensation Benchmark Reports: Delivers real-time visibility into compensation data that is accurate and can be accessed directly from the software’s workforce analytics 

Pros And Cons 

Pros 

  • Employees can easily view and manage benefits via the portal 
  • User-friendly platform offering a variety of insurance options
  • The software’s comprehensive portal simplifies HR and payroll tasks 

Cons 

  • Hidden costs are difficult to identify 
  • Occasional payroll errors occur, leading to spending a lot of time 

Justworks Vs Trinet: Features Comparison

User-Interface

Justworks offers a highly user-friendly interface designed to simplify compliance and other HR tasks. The platform’s mobile apps are equally intuitive, providing seamless access for users. It also offers many pre-built reports, allowing users to analyze data and trends.

TriNet also features an easy-to-navigate user interface that is accessible via both a mobile app and a web portal. Its intuitive employee dashboard displays essential information, such as payroll alerts and upcoming tasks. The software also supports custom reporting and simplifies the process with numerous pre-built reports.

Winner: Justworks wins this section with its ease of use and simple implementation.

Payroll

Justworks provides a straightforward payroll solution tailored for small businesses, offering flexible payment methods, including multi-state payroll, custom pay schedules, contractor payments, and digital pay stubs.

The platform supports automated payroll for both hourly and salaried employees across various states, ensuring compliance with tax regulations and seamless filing of W-2s, 1099s, and payroll taxes.

TriNet's online payroll software streamlines payroll operations with features like direct deposit, debit capabilities, and paperless options such as e-pay stubs, pay cards, and electronic W-2 preparation and delivery. The platform efficiently handles payroll taxes and compliance, managing federal, state, and local withholdings.

Winner: It's a tie as both software provides advanced payroll capabilities while integrating with accounting software to ensure an accurate balance with your general ledger.

Benefits Administration

Justworks offers a wide range of benefits plans such as primary care, mental health benefits, 401(k)s, and many more. Its range of health insurance plans and wellness perks are ideal for small businesses. Additionally, it ensures compliance with regulations like HIPAA and ACA, providing businesses with peace of mind while managing their workforce benefits.

TriNet delivers a robust employee benefits solution, assisting employers with ACA and COBRA compliance. It provides access to a wide range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans.

The platform includes tools for managing enrollment, tracking eligibility, and communicating benefits details to employees, enabling businesses to attract and retain talent with competitive benefits packages.

Winner: It’s a tie as both platforms offer a wide variety of benefits plans, enabling businesses to choose the plans that best fit their needs.

Time And Attendance Management

Justworks offers a time management feature tailored to enhance efficiency. It integrates seamlessly with its PEO and payroll systems, streamlining the management of employee hours and ensuring timely payments. Employers can customize overtime alerts, set break reminders, and generate reports that cover payroll, overtime, and timesheet management.

TriNet's time and attendance feature simplifies managing employee work hours, streamlines scheduling, and ensures compliance with labor regulations. Businesses can choose from a comprehensive list of pay codes, apply rules based on state or local requirements, and tailor them to their industry. The software’s dashboards allow businesses to manage their employee's working schedules, monitor overtime, and quickly identify potential errors.

Winner: TriNet wins here due to its time and attendance management capabilities, offering features like reporting, review, self-guided onboarding, and many more.

Compliance Management

Justworks manages payroll tax responsibilities, including withholding, reporting, and remitting taxes. The platform supports businesses in managing compliance across multiple during onboarding. Additionally, Justworks provides free access to online training resources, including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) programs and sexual harassment prevention training.

TriNet ensures compliance with health and retirement plan regulations, handling essential tasks such as Form 5500 filings, audits, required plan testing, and investment option monitoring. The platform delivers integrated Affordable Care Act (ACA) solutions, addressing business compliance effectively.

Winner: Justworks takes the lead in this section, offering compliance management features along with valuable training resources for new employees.

Choosing The Right HR Software For Your Business

The decision whether to choose Justworks or TriNet ultimately depends on your organization's size, specific HR needs, and workforce distribution. Before choosing software, evaluate your business needs to ensure the platform you select aligns seamlessly with your HR goals.

Justworks and TriNet are closely comparable in terms of the features they deliver. Both software options are designed for small and medium-sized businesses but offer different features to suit business requirements.  

Justworks is an ideal choice for an organization seeking a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of HR features on an all-in-one platform. On the other hand, TriNet is better suited for those prioritizing industry-specific expertise and advanced real-time HR technology.