11 Best Benefits Administration Systems (2024)

• I like that you can use one platform to run multiple payrolls for different countries.
• I like that they make hiring contractors in other countries easier.
• I like that they make understanding other countries' payroll and employment laws easy with all sorts of helpful resources.

Our small start-up company of under 50 employees was looking to hire international consultants in various areas, mainly Canada, Brazil, and later Poland and Ireland. We've used Deel for about 2 years now mainly for contract management and international payroll, and used their PEO and Employer of Record services as well. The key benefit is being able to hire great talent outside of the US and being protected and advised around payroll and employment laws for various countries.

• I dislike their reporting function as it's essentially just Excel and doesn't allow for advanced filtering/reporting.
• I dislike that the integration with Rippling is a bit wonky. Some employee info will flow in, but not all.
• I dislike that making changes in contracts can be difficult and that the e-signature capability is not great.

I believe that Deel is the best in class in terms of international hiring/payroll/compliance/PEO. They have a great team behind getting the system of hiring set up in each individual country. Their customer service is really great and they are great consultants that help you meet your goals. If you use their PEO or Employer of Record service it can be costly depending on where you're hiring.

• Location of Hiring - Depending on where you're hiring, Deel may not support that region so it's important to take a look at which areas they cover. They do cover most major areas of international hiring.
• Cost - Overall it's an affordable and effective system for international payroll. It does sit outside of the HRIS ( if you use one) so that's something to think about as an additional cost.
• HRIS Compatibility - It's also important to think about the compatibility with your HRIS, otherwise you have a lot of data sitting outside of your HRIS which you can manually upload through CSV reports.

In the time that I used Deel, they developed their PEO availability regions. I believe they do a good job at customer listening, and their team is extremely attentive.

Deel is great for small to medium-sized businesses that are looking to quickly expand internationally. It's also important to note that in each new location you're hiring in, if you're looking to have a hiring hub of 20+ more employees in that particular company, using Deel may only be a short-term solution. But for quick hires, small hiring hubs, and hiring consultants across countries, it's a great platform.

The UI is clean, intuitive, and (mostly) easy to use. I very seldom had issues with automated processes. They make onboarding new employees incredibly simple. I also really like the friendly tone of the brand's "voice." The marching pig on the loading screen that changes with the seasons never gets old; it still sparks joy each time, even after all these years!

I have used Gusto since 2018 in 3 different early-stage tech startups. Gusto has a reputation as the go-to in Silicon Valley incubators and accelerators, although I've seen Rippling gradually gaining market share in the past few years. In all 3 cases, we selected Gusto because of their breadth of services. Gusto makes it easy to set up everything our organization needed to begin hiring and paying employees. What's nice about Gusto is that it makes processes that are intimidating to many founders into a "set it and forget it" task. Automating payroll, benefits, filing government forms, and quarterly taxes helped free up time for our founding team to focus on a growing set of other responsibilities.

Gusto's benefits department is unresponsive and it's nearly impossible to get answers from support about even simple benefits questions.

I have seen quite a few concerning errors across the platform (mostly with benefits), including employees not being enrolled in benefits programs, dismissed employees not being removed from benefits programs, incomplete COBRA enrollment, and late tax filings.

The information from Support is unreliable and often inaccurate.

The dismissal payroll workflow is misleading and we've had a few serious problems as a result.

When a Gusto admin is dismissed, their admin privileges are not removed automatically, which is a serious privacy concern.

I wish Gusto made it easier to set up a business entity in new states. They partner with a company called CorpNet, but I found the level of service wasn't worth the price and went back to handling state registration myself.

I love Gusto's friendly casual-but-professional tone compared to other providers in the space.

Gusto is best for small teams, the smaller the better. It is a great option for founders and single-person People teams who have less time to dedicate to payroll, benefits, and compliance. It makes many benefits available and affordable for small groups that would not have the numbers to access plans through traditional providers.

Gusto becomes less useful as a team grows and compensation & benefits become more complex. I would definitely recommend Gusto to founders, but I recommend moving off of their benefits platform as soon as you have a full-time person to manage benefits administration. Its payroll functionality is solid, but payroll administrators should be aware that they will get limited guidance from the Gusto support team.

Gusto's functionality has grown over the time I've used the platform as they've added additional features and integrations. However, the accuracy and quality of support have suffered over time. I used to be a Gusto evangelist, but these days I recommend that growing companies move off of Gusto as soon as is practical. New features have become less useful over time, and I wish they would focus on maintaining the quality of their core product rather than trying to expand into new services.

Company founders or admins inexperienced in payroll and benefits. Very small teams with a single person managing payroll and benefits administration among many other HR responsibilities.

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.

The platform makes it simple for employees to navigate benefits options and access important information without confusion. Bennie provides fast and reliable customer service, helping employees and HR teams resolve benefits-related questions efficiently. The clean and well-organized dashboard ensures a smooth user experience, making it easy to find what you need quickly.

Our organization purchased Bennie to address inefficiencies in managing employee benefits and improve accessibility for our workforce. Before Bennie, navigating benefits enrollment and handling HR inquiries was very time-consuming.

We needed a user-friendly platform that could simplify benefits selection, provide guidance to our employees, and integrate with our existing HR systems. Bennie has significantly streamlined our processes by offering personalized benefits recommendations, cost transparency, and real-time support for employees.

While Bennie offers great features, the pricing can be steep for smaller teams looking to manage costs effectively. Expanding the range of benefits, such as additional wellness perks or financial planning tools, would make the platform even more valuable. Some features could offer more flexibility to tailor the experience to our company’s specific needs.

I prefer all-in-one solutions such as Rippling and Justworks. However, Bennie provides a strong option for benefits management, especially for smaller organizations that do not want to invest in the higher cost of platforms like Rippling.

Buyers should consider the size of their company—Bennie is well-suited for smaller organizations. It's important to evaluate how the platform integrates with existing systems and whether it offers the flexibility to scale up or down as the company grows.

Bennie has remained fairly consistent over time, without significant changes or updates to adapt to evolving user needs. While the platform continues to provide a simple and intuitive interface, there haven't been many enhancements or expanded features beyond its core offerings. Users who have been on the platform for a while may notice that benefit options and integrations have stayed largely the same.

Bennie is best for smaller organizations.

• Ease of use - ability to learn how to use the system in a day
• You are able to contract from over 100 countries in remote.com
• Reporting is clear and easy to understand

As a small organization we were looking to hire many contractors in various countries. Remote.com is extremely easy to use and makes hiring internationally simple. I have been using Remote.com since March 2023.

• Customer service was not helpful and very rude. I had to get a manager involved.
• The system is not very robust. It really is just a payment and time tracking services system, any organization would need an employee performance management system.
• The integrations are underdeveloped and could be improved.

This is the first contractor tool that I have used, and I am very impressed. Remote.com does everything we need so I do not see us needing to switch to a different product.

I think people should assess what countries they need to hire contractors in, and make sure that remote.com is able to hire in those countries. Furthermore the cost of remote.com is pretty reasonable for the price that it costs.

I have not really seen a difference since I have been using it since March 2023. I will say that the reporting is great and I am always happy to improve my process while using it.

Companies with multiple contract workers

1. Comprehensive Global Management: PapayaGlobal excels in managing multinational payroll and compliance, which is critical for our global operations.
2. User-Friendly Interface: The platform is intuitive and easy to navigate, making complex tasks more manageable.
3. Efficient Automation: It automates many tedious processes involved in international HR management, significantly reducing the administrative burden.

LMC chose PapayaGlobal to address the challenges of managing a diverse, international workforce, including payroll complexities, compliance issues, and employee administration across multiple countries. We have been using PapayaGlobal for over a year, appreciating its seamless integration of payroll services with clear compliance tracking and benefits management. The platform’s robust reporting features and user-friendly interface have significantly improved our HR operations, making it easier to manage global employees effectively and ensure compliance with various international laws.

1. Occasional Delays in Updates: Sometimes, updates to regulations aren't as prompt as they could be, which can be a compliance concern.
2. Customization Limitations: While PapayaGlobal offers robust features, some aspects of the platform lack deep customization options that could better fit specific organizational needs.
3. Cost Considerations: For smaller operations within our company, the cost can be somewhat prohibitive, making it less ideal for less complex needs.

PapayaGlobal stands out from its competitors primarily through its exceptional focus on automating and integrating payroll processes across multiple countries. It is exceptionally well-suited for companies with a global workforce. Unlike some competitors that may only offer essential international payroll services, PapayaGlobal provides comprehensive compliance management, real-time reporting, and detailed analytics that help organizations navigate the complexities of global employment laws and regulations. This integration and focus on compliance are what many users, including myself, find most beneficial compared to other platforms that may be broader in scope.

1. Global Compliance Capabilities: Ensure the tool efficiently manages global compliance requirements, essential for multinational operations.
2. Integration with Existing Systems: Check that the tool integrates seamlessly with your current HR systems to streamline processes without redundancies.
3. Scalability: Assess whether the tool can scale according to your business growth, especially if you plan to expand into new markets.
4. User Experience: Consider the ease of use and learning curve associated with the tool, as this will affect adoption rates across your organization.

PapayaGlobal has evolved significantly to meet users' needs by enhancing its technology for better automation and accuracy in global payroll processes. They have improved their platform's user interface to make it more intuitive and accessible, facilitating easier navigation and data management. Additionally, PapayaGlobal has expanded its compliance features to cover more countries comprehensively, ensuring businesses comply with local regulations as they scale globally. These updates reflect their commitment to addressing the challenges faced by their users in managing international workforces.

PapayaGlobal is particularly well-suited for medium to large organizations that operate on a global scale and require robust solutions for managing international payroll, compliance, and employee management across multiple jurisdictions. It excels for companies that need efficient, scalable solutions to handle diverse workforce needs across different countries, particularly where compliance with local employment laws is a critical concern.

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.

• The platform is user-friendly for both employers and employees.
• It provides a centralized system to manage all employee benefits.
• It simplifies and streamlines the open enrollment process.

Maxwell Health was provided to my company through our insurance provider. Prior to this, my company did not have a centralized platform for managing employee benefits. Maxwell streamlined our open enrollment process and overall benefits management. It provided a single platform for employees to access and manage their benefits easily.

Additionally, it simplified benefits administration for the HR team, making the process much more efficient.

• It can be challenging to get direct support within the system.
• There were occasional issues with employee records after they updated their personal information.
• From an employer’s perspective, it was difficult to make changes during open enrollment once the official deadline had passed.

Maxwell offers a simplified and user-friendly platform that employees can easily navigate and understand.

Pricing should be a key consideration when selecting a platform. Ensure the tool is user-friendly for both employers and employees to avoid unnecessary complications. Integration with your payroll platform is highly beneficial for seamless administration.

Confirm that it is compatible with your offered benefits and your insurance broker’s platform(s) to avoid technical issues.

he platform has undergone slight modifications to improve usability, making it more user-friendly for employees.

Maxwell is well-suited for organizations that provide multiple benefits to their employees.

Leave management and payroll functions made Rippling’s cost worthwhile. Hiring administrators for those functions would have been more expensive. I-9 and W-4 compliance became a much easier process and saved time and effort.

Rippling also offered background checking, training reminders, and anniversary reminders, which helped improve employee satisfaction.

My former company used Rippling for about three years, and I used it for one year. Rippling provided a solution for streamlining payroll and onboarding processes. The main attraction was that it replaced several software tools that were previously used.

The integration into the work cycle was easy and user-friendly. The automation and consolidation of systems eased the burden on different departments that needed to stay in constant communication.

Some of the workflows were not intuitive and were complex to set up. While the cost was reasonable at the time, it has been rising. Support tickets did not always receive fast responses.

Many departments could use Rippling. Most competitors only offer payroll or HR solutions.

Compare the cost of Rippling to the cost of hiring individuals to perform each function manually. Consider the organization’s overall goals. If the goal is to integrate departments and streamline processes, Rippling is a strong option.

Customization has improved and is helpful.

A large workplace. A small or midsized company may not find Rippling worth the cost.