Business owners looking for a Professional Employment Organization (PEO) will find many things to like about TriNet and its bevy of payroll features and options.
WRITTEN & RESEARCHED BY
Expert Contributor
Last updated onUpdated
REVIEWED BY
Editor & Senior Staff Writer
| Total Rating | 4.1 |
|---|---|
| Pricing3.3 | |
| Ease Of Use4.4 | |
| Features4.4 | |
| Customer Service4.2 | |
| User Reviews3.2 | |
Table of Contents
TriNet is a scalable payroll solution with a big focus on HR. TriNet is an all-inclusive professional employment organization (PEO) with solutions designed to handle hiring and training, paying and managing benefits, and exploring performance management over time.
Since our last update of this review, TriNet acquired Zenefits, a popular HR software. This acquisition allowed TriNet to expand its software offerings for small businesses that want to use TriNet without having a full PEO, making TriNet a good fit for a larger audience.
TriNet’s PEO services are used by popular brands like Moleskin, Perfect Snacks, and Talkspace.
| Pricing3.3 |
|---|
| Software Plans 2.8 |
| Pricing Transparency 2.6 |
| Pricing Customization 3.5 |
TriNet does not publish its pricing online. TriNet uses a custom pricing model under which businesses pay a flat per employee per month fee.
| TriNet Plans | Price | When To Use |
|---|---|---|
| HR Platform | Pricing not disclosed | For businesses that want self-service payroll and HR software |
| HR Plus | Pricing not disclosed | For businesses that want a hybrid solution that gives them self-service control while outsourcing some HR and payroll administration tasks |
| TriNet PEO | Pricing not disclosed | For businesses that want a full-service PEO that manages payroll, HR, benefits administration, compliance and more for them |
TriNet offers three scalable plans:
While TriNet creates a custom quote for each customer, that quote will be a consistent monthly cost that won’t change, unlike other PEOs that charge a percentage of your payroll each month. TriNet allows prospective customers to watch a fairly in-depth demo video after providing your information for a sales call.
TriNet’s pricing depends on how many employees you have, where the business is located, where employees are located, state tax requirements, what health/retirement benefits are available, and how much you’ll contribute under the PEO model, plus a variety of other small factors. (Note that you must contribute a minimum of 70% of the least expensive benefits option available.)
There is an online savings calculator where you can see how much money you’d save by switching to TriNet.
The HR Platform plan is a self-service payroll and HR software plan that has custom pricing and includes:
You can request an interactive demo to try this plan before you purchase TriNet.
The HR Plus plan is a hybrid HR and payroll solution that gives business owners access to the HR Platform software while outsourcing HR services. This plan is a good fit for businesses that want to be in control of their HR but need help with administrative HR tasks for less than paying an in-house HR manager.
There are three levels of HR service available with the HR Plus plan:
The TriNet PEO plan is a full-service PEO with advanced HR, benefits, payroll, and compliance management. With this option, business owners don’t have to worry about managing their payroll or HR as TriNet takes care of all of it.
Because the TriNet PEO service is tailored specifically for your business, there’s no one-size-fits-all list of features, but you can expect that TriNet PEO will cover:
| TriNet Extra Costs | Price |
|---|---|
| Workers' Comp | Varies |
| Health/Vision/Dental Insurance | Varies |
| R&D Tax Credit Services | Varies |
If your business needs insurance, you can expect to pay additional premiums. However, this is standard practice for all payroll and HR service providers. On the upside, using a PEO provides improved access to discounted insurance rates that are usually reserved for larger businesses.
So, while you’ll pay for workers’ compensation and health insurance premiums, your business may save money on those costs solely by using a PEO. If you choose TriNet or any other PEO model, there is a minimum contribution requirement toward health insurance. You won’t pay for a vendor program, but you will need to pay a minimum of 70% of the lowest-priced benefits package.
TriNet also offers an R&D tax service to help eligible businesses take advantage of this tax cut. Learn more about the R&D tax credit or see how TriNet compares to our top picks for the best R&D tax services.
| Ease Of Use4.4 |
|---|
| Set Up 4.2 |
| Software Reliability 1.5 |
| Everyday Use 5.0 |
| Integrations 5.0 |
The user interface for TriNet is intuitive and straightforward to navigate. Interactions within the site are easy, and the graphics are modern. Helpful graphs and access to a bevy of reports make the system valuable and interactive.
The program is constantly updating and staying current on compliance issues and ahead of PEO trends. True to this, TriNet has updated the design of its software since our last review. It looks more modern, clean, and is just as easy — if not easier — to use than before.
TriNet is cloud-based, with no downloads or installation required. TriNet also offers mobile apps available for both Apple and Android products.
| Features4.4 |
|---|
| Payroll Processing 4.0 |
| Employee Management & PTO 5.0 |
| Time Tracking 5.0 |
| Payroll Tax Support 4.1 |
| Reporting & Tax Forms 4.6 |
| Onboarding & HR 5.0 |
| Benefits Administration 4.0 |
| Niche Features 4.0 |
TriNet offers all the basics you’d expect with a payroll solution, but also a few more bells and whistles for companies in need of more robust solutions.
| TriNet Features | Availability |
|---|---|
| Payroll Tax Support | |
| Auto-Schedule Payroll | |
| Bonus Payroll | |
| Off-Cycle Payroll | |
| Employee Management | |
| Paid Time Off | |
| Time Tracking | |
| HR Support | |
| Onboarding Support | |
| Benefits Administration | |
| Number Of Reports | Varies by plan |
| Number Of Integrations | 50+ |
| Number Of Users Supported | Unlimited |
Beyond payroll, TriNet offers a full suite of HR and employee management solutions, including time tracking, hiring and onboarding support, benefits administration, and access to an extensive reporting center.
In short, if your business needs a payroll solution that is flexible and highly functional, TriNet is a solid option.
Here’s a quick look at some of the features available with TriNet. Feature availability may vary depending on if you opt for a self-service, hybrid, or full-service PEO TriNet plan.
TriNet makes it easy for both employees and employers to manage their payroll options, especially if you go with the TriNet PEO plan, which manages all of your payroll processing for you.
Here’s a look at TriNet’s payroll features:
TriNet’s employee management features are extensive and include everything from tracking vacation days to employee tee-shirt sizes (seriously). The platform’s employee self-service portal makes it easy for employees to manage their information and preferences. Those with admin permissions can track and manage employee information in one place.
TriNet’s employee management and PTO features include:
TriNet offers a time tracking and attendance solution through its mobile app and web portal. However, it’s decidedly less robust than other time-tracking solutions on the market, including those with physical time clock hardware, but we appreciate that it’s a built-in solution rather than an add-on cost.
Here’s a look at TriNet’s time and attendance features:
As you’ll be handing over payroll responsibilities to TriNet, you’ll also be able to hand over payroll tax filing responsibilities. TriNet handles everything from local-level tax filing and payment to federal unemployment insurance. TriNet will also ensure that W-2 forms are sent out to your employees.
TriNet’s tax support features include:
TriNet allows for custom reports and many variations of similar reports. Reporting features are extensive and very intuitive.
The software includes a number of built-in reports across major categories like payroll and HR, plus a comprehensive reports library that allows businesses to create custom reports on the fly.
HR is one of the areas where TriNet stands above the competition. The platform boasts stand-out features like 24/7 HR support, a robust learning management platform, and solid compliance support. Moreover, new employees have access to a comprehensive self-service onboarding process that makes it easy to get all the onboarding essentials sorted.
Here’s a breakdown of TriNet’s most notable HR and onboarding features.
TriNet offers a comprehensive range of benefits options that range from commuter benefits to health insurance coverage. Businesses can build custom benefits packages that best suit their employees’ needs. TriNet’s benefits administration options include:
Since our last review, TriNet went from a meager 12 integrations to over 50+ integrations. While this number is still fairly low for a software company, we are happy to see this number improved.
Luckily, the integrations offered are popular, high-quality options, and there’s a Zapier integration as well.
| Customer Service4.2 |
|---|
| Personal Support 3.7 |
| Self-Service 4.6 |
If you need help, TriNet offers lengthy phone support hours from 6 AM to Midnight ET, Monday through Friday. Otherwise, you can reach the company via email or live chat at any time.
| TriNet Customer Service | Availability |
|---|---|
| Phone Support | |
| Email Support | |
| Support Tickets | |
| Live Chat | |
| Dedicated Support Representative | |
| Knowledge Base or Help Center | |
| Videos & Tutorials | |
| Company Blog | |
| Social Media |
Despite the company offering a plethora of ways to connect with customer service representatives, there are many complaints about how long customer response times take. There are some positive reviews about the level of customer care as well, so overall, the customer support experience is a mixed bag.
| User Reviews3.2 |
|---|
| Customer Feedback 3.0 |
| Review Site Aggregate 3.3 |
Customer reviews of TriNet are a mixed bag. Three popular customer review sites land TriNet between the 3.7 to 4.0 star mark, but the company only gets 1.4/5 stars on TrustPilot. TriNet gets an A+ rating on the BBB but is not accredited.
Not only is there a mixed bag of negative and positive reviews, but customers have mixed opinions on the same points — some say TriNet has poor customer support, while others think the support level is great. Some find the software easy to use, while others think it is difficult.
We’ve compiled a list of the most common customer reviews below, but when a company has such a mixed reputation amongst customers, we highly recommend trying the software out for yourself by requesting TriNet’s online interactive demo.
TriNet is certified by the Department of Commerce and says that it uses Privacy Shield Principles. While TriNet has transparent privacy policies, TriNet, unfortunately, doesn’t mention any specific security practices.
If you’re interested in learning more about TriNet’s security features, you’ll need to reach out to TriNet directly.
| TriNet Review Summary | |
|---|---|
| Choose If You Need |
|
TriNet’s expansive features and scalable pricing plans make it a good option for small to large businesses looking for a hybrid software/PEO service or who want to be able to scale up to a full PEO.
From a pricing standpoint, TriNet is a bit more expensive than other PEOs specifically designed for small businesses (such as JustWorks, which is designed for companies with fewer than 100 people). However, the prices aren’t based on a percentage of payroll like other PEO structures, and TriNet’s HR suite is extensive, earning TriNet a spot on our list of the best PEO software for businesses.
Previously, TriNet didn’t have a software-only plan, so it wasn’t a good fit for small businesses that need a standalone payroll and HR software. Now, TriNet does have a capable, easy-to-use payroll software option, though it’s a bit more expensive than other payroll options.
For small businesses that just want a basic payroll software solution with HR features and aren’t worrying about switching companies if they grow, it’s worth comparing TriNet to our list of the top payroll software options instead.
We research, evaluate, and test each payroll software app that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate granular ratings.
Our exhaustive, 76-point rubric guides the star rating of each payroll provider we review, examining pricing, ease of use, features, customer service, and user reviews. Each section is weighted differently.
When rating payroll software, we are looking for very specific qualities. The speed and cost of payroll runs and the availability of tax filing services are given high weight, as are the quality and availability of accounting, time-tracking, HR integrations, and user onboarding services. We also look for the presence of client and employee portals, benefits administration, PTO and time management tools, and many more vital features.
Learn more about how we rate payroll software providers.
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Merchant Maverick’s ratings are editorial in nature, and are not aggregated from user reviews. Each staff reviewer at Merchant Maverick is a subject matter expert with experience researching, testing, and evaluating small business software and services. The rating of this company or service is based on the author’s expert opinion and analysis of the product, and assessed and seconded by another subject matter expert on staff before publication. Merchant Maverick’s ratings are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.
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