11 Best Benefits Administration Systems (2026)

The first thing that we love is Deel HR is free! Not only is it free, it still offers all the bells and whistles of your typical paid platforms. I like that you can use Deel as the employer of record for international employees. Deel ensures we are compliant with local labor laws. Deel HR has replaced our need to purchase an HRIS system to serve as our employee management system.

We purchased Deel because we were seeking an affordable HR tool for our startup company. We were experiencing pain in the areas of documentation management, managing employee files on multiple databases, and wanted to streamline our operations. We were also seeking an onboarding solution that could integrate with our recruitment process. Deel has helped us centralize our HR functions and improve our efficiency in managing employee data and onboarding new hires.

The cost for the employer of record is very high for a startup company. This is an amazing solution to offer for a growing company, but I wish the price was lower or split into two payments across the month. Although it is easy to navigate, the UI could be nicer.

Deel is a one-stop shop for domestic and international hires. They have a built-in background check and visa and EOR in one platform. Other platforms require the use of multiple tools to accomplish these tasks.

First, they need to consider their hiring needs. Determine how many international hires annually to be able to do a cost-benefit analysis. They also need to have a defined hiring workflow to determine if Deel has everything they need to enhance their existing workflow.

Deel has done a great job with API and adding new integrations as the market evolves.

Global and domestic organizations of all sizes.

We are a small non-profit, and they provide us with a non-profit discount. It has all the functionality we need without being overly complicated. Processing payroll is quick and easy.

We bought OnPay because it seemed to be the best fit for our organization. It has all the functionality we need to handle HR and payroll for our small group of employees. It is robust enough to meet our needs but not overly complicated like some of the larger systems. It is easy to use, yet it allows us to process multi-state payroll and manage our employees' time off. It also includes all the basic reporting that we require.

It doesn't offer much in terms of custom reporting. Much of the HR information requires navigating to individual employee records to view. You can't edit a benefit plan once it's created; you have to make a new one to implement any changes.

OnPay is really the only system of its type and size that I've used, so I can't say how it compares to competitors. It is much simpler than ADP or UKG, which I have used, but we are getting it for a fraction of the cost. The simplicity of the system actually works well for our team.

Consider the needs of your business and team. OnPay is a fairly basic HR and payroll system. It covers all the essentials, but if you need extensive reporting or numerous integrations with other systems, you might want to explore a higher-tier HR/payroll solution. Additionally, consider cost. Even without the non-profit discount, it's a very economical solution compared to some of the larger providers.

I haven't noticed any significant changes since we started using OnPay, but as I mentioned, it already meets our needs.

I believe OnPay is great for smaller companies that don't need extensive features in their HR and payroll system.

The interface is extremely intuitive and easy to use. Everything for our employee pay and benefits is all in one place, so when a new employee joins, they can enroll in everything at once. Our employees have access to Gusto also, so if they need to make any updates to their information, it's easy for them to self-serve.

We've been using Gusto since 2021. We purchased Gusto because as a small start-up, we needed to have a full-service payroll provider that was intuitive to use and could also provide us with other services, such as 401K administration, worker's comp, and more. It was helpful for us to also have a service where they could alert us on any state-by-state requirements with regard to payroll and insurance, as we do have employees across many different states. I also really appreciate that Gusto helps to file all taxes related to payroll.

Some of the benefits via Gusto are administered via third parties (eg, worker's compensation, 401k), which means that for any detailed changes that we need to make, we have to work through a different point of contact. I wish that Gusto could help handle all of that for us. Also, Gusto doesn't have a customer service phone number that you can easily call, so if you need help, it is more cumbersome.

The user interface is significantly more user-friendly than other payroll providers like ADP.

You should consider if your payroll provider can help do payroll for other states or countries. You should also consider whether you want your payroll provider to help assist with other benefits. Also, consider how important high quality and speedy customer service is for you.

I've noticed that Gusto now offers assistance in registering with states, which is helpful for remote or distributed teams.

It's great for start-ups who may not have an HR team to figure out benefits administration.

• Handles direct employees, contractors, and Employer of Record (EOR) services all in one system.
• Ensures compliance with local tax laws, labor regulations, and data privacy in each country.
• Pricing is published and predictable, with no hidden fees or required demos to receive a quote.
• Customer support is professional and easy to work with.

We bought Papaya Global around five years ago. Our company had started hiring employees and contractors in India. We needed a better way to handle global payroll and compliance, and Papaya became our final choice.

We chose Papaya because it was straightforward and easy to use. It has helped us centralize employee records, payroll, and compliance in one platform.

• Onboarding new countries or setting up EOR entities can take longer than expected due to compliance obligations.
• Per-employee pricing may be high for small businesses or startups with limited global hiring needs.
• It has fewer native integrations than some established HR platforms like ADP or Workday.

Papaya simplifies global payroll with a fully automated system and built-in compliance checks. It supports different types of workers—such as employees, contractors, and EORs—all within one platform.

The interface is easy to use, even for teams new to global hiring. It is a strong all-in-one platform for companies hiring across multiple countries, whereas Remote and Deel sometimes require separate setups or add-ons for certain features.

ADP can be complex and costly for smaller or fast-scaling businesses, while Papaya offers broader global coverage and more flexible international hiring options.

When choosing a global payroll or workforce platform like Papaya Global, begin by confirming that it supports the countries where you plan to hire. Look for built-in compliance features that keep you aligned with local tax laws, labor regulations, and data protection requirements.

The platform should be easy for your HR and finance teams to use and integrate well with your existing tools. It should support different types of workers, including full-time employees and contractors.

Strong customer support and reliable payroll accuracy are also critical, along with secure data protection standards like GDPR and SOC 2. Choose a platform that can scale with your organization and offers clear, upfront pricing.

Papaya Global has become easier to use over time, with more integrations and improved reporting tools. It now supports larger, global teams through expanded country coverage and increased automation.

A key benefit is its built-in compliance features—such as automatic tax and labor law updates, GDPR and SOC 2 compliance, and real-time alerts. These updates help companies reduce legal risks and stay compliant worldwide.

Papaya is well-suited for mid-sized or large companies that hire internationally or have remote teams in multiple countries. Papaya acts as an EOR, allowing companies to legally hire in other countries without setting up a local entity.

Startups expanding quickly across borders benefit from the platform's scalability and compliance support without needing to build HR infrastructure in each location. Papaya Global is ideal for these organizations seeking a centralized, compliant global EOR and payroll solution.

It is easy to set up new countries depending on business needs as an EOR provider. The easy-to-use platform helps us identify and manage our talent well. Global benefits allow us to navigate new countries without worrying about the nuances of benefit offerings.

We are a global company with needs in various countries for employee benefits, payroll, and HRIS. Specifically, we needed assistance with paying employees in countries where we do not have a legal entity. Remote provides Employer of Record services for us in multiple countries, allowing us to employ top talent without the burden of legal requirements and compliance. They have an easy-to-use platform that helps our employees stay on top of their pay and benefits, and they have dedicated team members that assist employees with any questions they may have. It's a cost-effective solution for our global payroll needs.

Remote could be more cost-effective. I have found other EOR services with cheaper offerings. The platform is fine, but it could have more features related to global compensation and access to more community-based groups that would allow companies to connect with each other.

Their platform is easy to use, and the recent addition of support tickets has made it very easy to access help in any situation. Additionally, Remote has a singular pricing model, which is convenient because we do not have to worry about charges for leavers, joiners, or year-end.

Consider hidden costs around processing and setup. The bottom-line monthly cost is not always the full price, as some of these EOR services will charge setup fees and year-end fees that, although mentioned in their proposals, are not included in the annual cost. Remote does this very well, and their pricing is very easy to understand.

I have not used Remote long enough to see changes over time.

Remote is good for global companies that have a few international employees.

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.

Creating reports in Namely is straightforward, even for users with limited technical experience. The time and labor module is intuitive and easy to demonstrate to employees. The visibility and layout of the homepage make navigating the system fast and user-friendly.

I worked for a small FinTech company that used Namely. They picked Namely because it was an easy-to-use tool and was perfect for our business structure. We (the HR Team) liked how it was easy to enter new employees and update existing employees' information.

We also had a few nonexempt employees, so we used their timekeeping system, which was also simple. We also used announcements like our social media, so we didn't have to design an Intranet.

The system lacks innovation and hasn’t kept up with some newer HR platforms in terms of features and design. The interface feels a bit outdated, especially compared to more modern alternatives. Customer support was sometimes difficult to reach, which could be frustrating when time-sensitive issues arose.

Namely is a smaller and more simplified platform compared to other tools like UKG or ADP. It works well for small companies that need a streamlined system without too many bells and whistles. While I prefer UKG or ADP for their broader functionality and scalability, Namely stands out for being approachable and easy to manage for less complex HR operations.

When evaluating this kind of tool, it's important to consider the size and complexity of your organization. Namely works best for small businesses that don’t require highly advanced features or custom-coded reports. If you're expecting rapid growth or need to manage complex data, you may quickly outgrow it. Simplicity and ease of use should be top considerations if you're leaning toward Namely.

One noticeable improvement has been quicker service request response times. The company seems to have made an effort to address support speed, which enhances the overall user experience, especially during critical periods.

Namely is ideal for HR teams and general employees in small to mid-sized companies. It suits organizations that need an easy-to-use system without requiring extensive setup or ongoing technical support.

• 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.

I liked how user-friendly Rippling is. Another major advantage is that it’s an all-in-one platform. It simplifies workflows and makes tasks easy to complete.

They needed an ATS system for hiring. The company bought Rippling, which was helpful because it's not just an ATS—it has many features that benefited the business. They had Rippling before I started, so I assume it’s been more than a year and a half.

We liked that Rippling is an all-in-one platform, handling HR, recruiting (ATS), employee spend, and payroll. This provided a single solution for the business instead of requiring separate platforms. It was easy to manage everything in one place with Rippling.

I didn’t immediately notice anything I disliked about Rippling. The cost might be a concern, though it starts at $8 per employee, which isn’t very expensive unless the company is large. I didn’t pay for Rippling myself, as the company covered the cost.

Rippling stands out by being an all-in-one platform, while many ATS systems only focus on recruiting. It offers capabilities that most other tools do not.

It depends on what the buyer is looking for. I liked it from the ATS perspective—if someone needs a user-friendly, easy-to-use product, this works well with little to no learning curve. Buyers should also consider the cost of managing multiple platforms and whether Rippling makes sense for their business model.

I don’t have much insight there. I used it primarily as an ATS, so I'm not sure when new features were added or what those features are.

I would recommend Rippling to anyone who needs an ATS system for hiring. I can’t speak to the other features, as I only used it on the recruiting side. My HR and payroll teams also used Rippling and mentioned that they found it easy to use.