Rippling Payroll Review

Pros

• 650+ integrations
• Pay global contractors and employees
• Full-service payroll tax support
• A complete suite of HR and IT management solutions
• Supports businesses up to the enterprise level
• PEO services

Cons

• No free trial
• Payroll is an add-on only service
• Non-transparent pricing
• Many customer support complaints

What Is Rippling?

Rippling is a workforce management platform that combines HR, payroll, IT, finance, and spend management tools in one system. Businesses can use Rippling for payroll, benefits administration, time and attendance, recruiting, onboarding, device management, app access, corporate cards, expenses, PEO services, and more.

Rippling is scalable enough for growing businesses, midsize companies, and enterprises, but it may be more platform than very small businesses need.

Rippling Payroll Pricing

Rippling’s pricing is flexible but not very transparent. Businesses need to request a custom quote, and payroll is sold as an add-on to Rippling’s base platform, so total costs can rise quickly depending on the modules selected.

Rippling uses a modular pricing model. Businesses typically start with the Rippling Unity platform and then add products such as payroll, benefits administration, time tracking, recruiting, IT, spend management, or PEO services. Because most pricing is quote-based, businesses need to contact Rippling for an accurate estimate.

This pricing structure is common among platforms where payroll is one module in a broader software suite, such as Homebase or Toast Payroll.

This pricing structure makes sense for businesses that are already using the primary product offering or those who wish to consolidate their business’s tech stack. Ultimately, if your business needs payroll processing software, there are many Rippling alternatives, such as Gusto, OnPay, or SurePayroll.

Rippling Unity

Rippling Unity uses custom pricing and includes:

• Workflow automation
• Workforce directory
• Onboarding automation
• Offboarding automation
• Positions management
• Employee mobile app
• Permissions and approvals management
• Analytics
• Admin privileges management
• Document storage
• eSigning

Extra Rippling Costs & Fees

Rippling operates under a base subscription model with optional add-on services, so Rippling’s payroll product, other HR solutions, and IT management solutions are considered add-ons.

Unfortunately, this pricing model tends to lead to higher prices than other solutions with tiered service plans. However, it’s difficult to determine whether that’s the case with Rippling because its pricing is mostly unpublished.

Smaller businesses looking for simple payroll software may consider seeking out more affordable payroll software solutions.

Is Rippling Easy To Use?

Rippling is generally easy to use, especially considering how many HR, payroll, IT, and finance tools it supports. However, some users report that navigation and advanced automation setup can take time to learn.

Rippling Payroll’s cloud-based software can be used on the web and includes a well-rated employee mobile app on iOS. However, the software’s Android app is not well-rated and frequently receives user complaints.

Additionally, some users may find it challenging to use Rippling’s customizable automation features, as Rippling’s automation features utilize if/then logic and commands. Fortunately, Rippling hosts a library of prebuilt automations.

If you’re interested in exploring the Rippling software suite, you can request a live software demo or watch Rippling's product video tour.

Rippling Features

Rippling has one of the strongest feature sets in the payroll and HR software space, especially for businesses that want payroll, HR, IT, finance, benefits, recruiting, time tracking, and automation tools in one platform.

Rippling users can easily run payroll, manage employees, handle benefits administration, track time, recruit talent, and much more. If there’s a specific service that Rippling doesn’t offer or you’d prefer to use a different solution, Rippling’s third-party integration options can help you build the best software stack for your business.

Rippling also offers tools for building custom workflows and apps on top of workforce data.

Then there’s Rippling AI, which is designed to help users analyze workforce data and automate HR, payroll, IT, and finance tasks across the platform.

Rippling’s finance tools include corporate cards, expense management, bill pay, procurement, and travel tools, depending on the modules selected.

While Rippling is a great solution for businesses with complex payroll and HR needs, small businesses or those needing a simple payroll solution may be happier with a solution such as Patriot Payroll or QuickBooks Workforce.

Rippling Customer Service

Rippling offers several support options, but customer feedback about support is mixed. A common complaint is difficulty reaching live support or getting account, payroll, or implementation issues resolved quickly. Businesses that need highly responsive payroll support should factor this into their decision.

Some users report that live chat is the main support path and that resolving complex payroll, account, or implementation issues can take time.

In short, Rippling’s customer support has some room for improvement, and users requiring reliable support from their payroll software may consider looking into other options.

Rippling Integrations

Rippling supports 650+ third-party integrations, making it one of the most well-integrated payroll solutions on the market. Rippling’s app integration shop is well organized and includes useful information on pricing, sign-on requirements, and notable features for each solution.

Rippling’s most notable integrations include QuickBooks Online, Slack, 15Five, Toggl, Guideline, Xero, Sage, NetSuite, Checkr, and many more. Rippling also offers an API for partner application developers and customers.

Rippling Reviews

Rippling generally receives strong user reviews for its automation, integrations, employee management tools, and unified HR/payroll platform.

Rippling’s reviews are impressive across the board, with an average of 4.6/5 stars across 6,100+ total reviews. Reviews commonly praise automation, integrations, employee management, and its unified HR/payroll platform.

However, negative reviews commonly mention customer support, account changes, confusing UI choices, payroll processing delays, and limited customization options.

Negative Rippling Reviews & Complaints

• Poor customer service
• Challenging to make account changes
• Confusing UI choices
• Longer payroll processing time
• Lacking customization options

Positive Rippling Reviews

• Excellent automation support
• Many integrations
• Very easy to use
• Useful employee mobile app
• Great employee management features
• Unified HR and payroll platform

Is Rippling Secure?

Rippling’s Trust Center says the platform and organization meet global certification and audit requirements including ISO 27001, ISO 27018, ISO 42001, SOC 1, and SOC 2.

• SOC 1 Type II report
• SOC 2 Type II report
• GDPR and CCPA compliance support
• Data encryption
• Access controls and permissions
• AWS infrastructure
• Regular security monitoring and testing
• Vulnerability reporting program

The Final Verdict: Is Rippling Worth It?

Rippling is worth considering for businesses that want to manage HR, payroll, IT, finance, benefits, time tracking, recruiting, and compliance in one highly customizable platform. Its automation tools, large integration library, global payroll support, PEO services, and modular product lineup make it a strong fit for growing businesses with more complex workforce management needs.

However, Rippling is probably more platform than very small businesses need if they only want simple payroll. Payroll is sold as an add-on, pricing is quote-based, and customer support complaints are common enough to take seriously.

If your business wants a scalable HR, payroll, IT, and finance system, reach out for a live software demo and pricing information. If you mainly need affordable payroll with simpler setup and support, compare Rippling with options such as Gusto, OnPay, or SurePayroll.