Rippling and TriNet HR Platform (formerly TriNet Zenefits) offer all-in-one HR software that allows you to handle employee onboarding, payroll, benefits, and talent management. Rippling has robust automation tools, a wider HR solution suite, and a much broader number of integrations. On the other hand, TriNet HR Platform’s employee management features and HR support services make it a better choice for highly regulated industries that require strong compliance tools.
To determine whether Rippling vs TriNet HR Platform is ideal for small businesses, I used the evaluation metrics in our best HR payroll software guide to compare the features and services these systems offer. Here are my recommendations.
- Rippling: Best for tech-heavy companies looking for HR, payroll, and IT tools
- TriNet HR Platform: Best for small businesses in highly regulated industries
If you find neither Rippling nor TriNet HR Platform is suitable for your needs and want an HR platform with strong payroll support, I recommend:
- Gusto: Best for small business payroll
I applied my over 5 years of experience evaluating payroll and HR software with my 10 years of experience in human resources to these recommendations. To evaluate Rippling vs TriNet HR Platform, I used our rubric for the best HR payroll systems and compared the two solutions across 35 data points for pricing, ease of use, and features.
See my full methodology below.
Rippling vs TriNet HR Platform Compared
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
4.26 out of 5 | 4.06 out of 5 | |
Promotion for | First month is free | None |
Starter Monthly Pricing | ||
Payroll with Tax Filing Services | Included in above fees | $6 per employee monthly; free with the Zen plan |
Payroll Coverage | Salaried and hourly employees, contractors, international workers | Salaried and hourly employees, contractors |
Payment Options | Manual checks and two-day direct deposits | Manual checks and four-day direct deposits |
Health Insurance Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
Learning Management | Paid add-on | N/A |
Performance Reviews | Paid add-on | Included in higher tiers |
IT Tools | Account provisioning only | |
Customer support | Online help center; chat and email support | Online help center; chatbot, email, and phone support |
When to Use Each and Pros & Cons
Consider using Rippling if:
- You rely heavily on technology and business software: Rippling can help minimize the administrative work for HR and IT, making it possible to streamline employee onboarding and offboarding, including IT provisioning and de-provisioning processes. It controls app access, tracks the inventory of company computers, and stores the devices in its warehouse if you want it to. Rippling even has robust integration options, allowing you to connect its platform to over 600 software that most businesses use. TriNet’s IT tools and integration options aren’t as robust.
- You require expert HR support: In case you need expert assistance in handling day-to-day HR and payroll but don’t have an in-house HR team, Rippling has a flexible professional employer organization (PEO) service you can use. If you only need help with compliance and HR administrative work, Rippling offers an administrative services organization (ASO) solution An ASO is similar to a PEO but without a co-employment arrangement. This means you remain the sole employer, unlike with a PEO, which shares employment responsibilities with you. . If you plan to expand your business globally, its employer of record (EOR) service can help you hire and pay international workers. With TriNet, you only get PEO services.
Below are some of Rippling’s pros and cons.
Pros
- User-friendly and intuitive platform
- Unlimited pay runs with global payroll capabilities
- Extensive third-party software integrations (integrates with 600+ apps)
- Modular HR, payroll, finance, and IT solutions; you can select modules/features that you want
- Offers an EOR solution and a flexible PEO service
Cons
- Pricing transparency is limited; its core Rippling Platform must be purchased before any other products
- Can get pricey as you add more features
- Limited customer support; expert HR support (via phone and email) costs extra
- No free trial
- Has a learning curve given its wide range of HR features
Consider using TriNet HR Platform if:
- You only need the most essential HR tools: Trinet HR Platform has everything you need to manage employees, onboard new hires, plan shift schedules, and track performance reviews. Unlike Rippling, its compensation planning tools provide real-time comparison salary data and custom benchmark compensation reports to help you better understand how much to pay employees.
- You want to monitor employee productivity and well-being: Apart from offering a feature-rich HR platform, it can help assess, track, and report on your employees’ well-being. This enables you to identify problem areas that impact employee productivity, allowing you to come up with employee wellness ideas to proactively address workplace stress.
Check out the box below to learn more about TriNet HR Platform’s pros and cons.
Pros
- Transparent pricing
- Unlimited pay runs
- Solid compliance tools and extensive reporting options
- Employee well-being solution helps track workplace stress
- User-friendly platform
Cons
- Payroll is a paid add-on if you’re not on the Zen plan
- All plans and add-ons require at least five employees
- Lacks global payroll and learning management tools
- Third-party software integration isn’t as robust as Rippling’s
Rippling and TriNet HR Platform Top Alternatives
While both TriNet HR Platform and Rippling have efficient HR payroll tools, if you’re looking for something else, consider the following options:
Best For | Starter Pricing | Learn More | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Small business payroll | $40 + $6 per employee monthly | |
 | Scalable HR payroll plans | ||
| Dedicated payroll support | $39 +$5 per employee monthly | |
Want to know how Rippling and TriNet HR Platform compare with some of the above providers? Check out some of our “vs” articles below.
If you want more information about which options to look for when choosing a payroll service, check our guide on finding the right payroll service for your business.
Best for Value: Rippling
Expert’s Insight: TriNet HR Platform outscored Rippling in this criterion mainly because of its transparent pricing. However, I found Rippling a better option because it lets you create a custom package with your selected features—provided you get the core Rippling platform. With TriNet HR Platform, you may get stuck paying for a plan with functionalities you don’t need.
| | |
|---|---|---|
Pricing Score | 3.63 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 |
Pricing Transparency | Very limited | Full |
Monthly Pricing | $8 per employee plus | Essentials: $10 per employee Growth: $20 per employee Zen: $33 per employee All plans require at least five employees |
Paid Add-ons | Benefits administration: pricing varies, based on insurance broker selected Benefits administration using own broker: $0–$5 per employee monthly (depending on broker) App and device management: $8 per employee monthly HR help desk: Custom-priced | Payroll: $6 per employee monthly; free with the Zen plan HR advisory services: $8 per employee monthly Benefits administration using own broker: $5 per employee monthly Recruiting: Starts at $35 monthly; available via Jazz HR All add-ons require at least five employees |
Applicant Tracking | Custom-priced | Included in the Recruiting add-on |
Time and Attendance | Included in pricing quote | Included in all plans |
Shift Scheduling | Custom-priced | Included in all plans |
Learning Management | Custom-priced | ✕ |
Compensation and Performance Management | Custom-priced | Included in higher tiers |
PEO and EoR Services | Custom-priced | PEO only |
It’s difficult to compare TriNet HR Platform vs Rippling in terms of pricing because both use different pricing schemes. The former charges a monthly fee per employee, while Rippling’s monthly pricing consists of a base platform fee and per-employee costs. However, Rippling can be less expensive than TriNet HR Platform, especially if you only want basic HR and payroll tools.
Let’s compute. If you have 50 workers and only need payroll, time tracking, and employee information management solutions, you will pay:
Rippling: $435 monthly
$35 base fee + (50 workers × $8 per-employee fee) = $435 monthly
TriNet HR Platform: $560 monthly
(50 workers × $10 per-employee fee for the Essentials plan) + (50 workers × $6 per-employee fee for the payroll add-on) = $800 monthly
For transparency, the pricing information I used for Rippling in the above example is based on the quote I received in Q1 2024. You might get a different quote depending on the features you need and if there are changes to Rippling’s pricing matrix.
Note that if you get other Rippling solutions (such as learning management, applicant tracking, and device management), you may end up having to pay more with this provider. However, it’s still a great choice if you don’t have a limited budget and need HR, payroll, and IT tools that integrate seamlessly with one another. Plus, it has PEO and EOR services. TriNet may have a PEO product but lacks an EOR solution.
When to Consider TriNet HR Platform
If having easy access to pricing information is important to you, then TriNet HR Platform is a good choice. It offers transparent pricing unlike Rippling, which requires you to call its sales team to request a quote.
TriNet also offers an annual subscription with discounted rates if you prefer to pay all fees upfront and in a lump sum. The provider claims that you can save up to 36% if you choose this option. Rippling doesn’t have an annual plan, although it occasionally offers discounts via one month free promotions but only for new clients.
Best for Payroll: Rippling
| | |
|---|---|---|
Payroll Score | 4.75 out of 5 | 3.75 out of 5 |
Unlimited Pay Runs | ✓ | ✓ |
Pays Employees and Contractors | ✓ | ✓ |
Calculates, Files, and Pays Taxes (federal, state, local) | ✓ | ✓ |
Year-end Tax Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
Multiple Pay Rates | ✓ | ✓ |
Direct Deposit Timelines | Two days | Four days |
Manual Paychecks | ✓ | ✓ |
Wage Garnishments | ✓ | ✓ |
Global Payroll | ✓ | ✕ |
In the battle between Rippling vs TriNet HR Platform for payroll functionalities, Rippling earned a higher rating than its competitor, beating TriNet by one full point (4.75 vs 3.75). Its solid payroll tools with unlimited pay runs and automatic tax filings contributed to its high score. If you have distributed teams outside the US, Rippling’s international payroll tools can help you compliantly pay global workers in more than 140 countries.
Plus, running payroll with Rippling is easy. Its integrated suite of HR solutions syncs all of your employee information (such as salary and work hours details) with its payroll module, removing the need for manual calculations and data entries. And, with Rippling’s dynamic general ledger mapping, you can create custom policies to sync payroll and expense data every month and automatically categorize account fields (TriNet HR Platform’s general ledger reporting isn’t as robust).
Rippling can process payroll in as fast as 90 seconds. (Source: Rippling)
When to Use TriNet HR Platform for Payroll
TriNet HR Platform and Rippling have a lot of similar payroll functionalities but if you want an easy way of calculating new hire payments, TriNet prorates new hire rates during their first pay run with your company. This is unlike Rippling, which only calculates the prorated difference of backdated compensation increases.
It can handle direct deposits to multiple accounts, which helps save you time when paying employees during pay runs. If you claim R&D tax credits, then TriNet HR Platform makes tracking and reporting easy. You only need to input the tax credit information directly into its payroll module and TriNet will prepare Form 8974 and Form 941 for you.
With TriNet HR Platform, you can run payroll with just a few clicks. (Source: TriNet HR Platform)
Best in HR Features: Rippling
Expert’s Tiebreaker Insight: Rippling and TriNet HR Platform both earned the same score in this criterion. However, Rippling’s HR solution suite is wider than TriNet’s—offering in-house recruiting tools, a learning management module, and global hiring under its EOR service. Rippling even provides access to IT and finance solutions.
| | |
|---|---|---|
HR Features Score | 4.75 out of 5 | 4.75 out of 5 |
Job Postings and Applicant Tracking | ✓ | Via JazzHR |
HRIS and a Centralized Employee Database | ✓ | ✓ |
Employee Onboarding and Offboarding | ✓ | ✓ |
Computer and Business Software Management | Computer and business software provisioning and deprovisioning; device inventory tracking | Account provisioning and deprovisioning of partner apps only |
Time Tracking and Staff Scheduling | ✓ | ✓ |
Learning and Performance Management | ✓ | Performance management only |
Compensation Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Health Insurance Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
PEO Option | ✓ | ✓ |
EOR Service | ✓ | ✕ |
Expense Management and Corporate Cards | ✓ | ✕ |
Having an efficient human resource information system (HRIS) makes data transfers—be it employee information, salary details, or actual hours worked—seamless between solutions. It also ensures that you have a single source of reliable information across systems as you manage HR and payroll tasks. Both offer similar HRIS and HR features, but there are a few things Rippling can do that TriNet HR Platform can’t.
Rippling, which is our leading HR software for small businesses, has a fully automated learning management solution. You can set up training enrollment rules, and its system will handle the rest—from assigning learning courses to employees and sending reminders to tracking training progress and storing certifications. TriNet HR Platform doesn’t have this feature.
Rippling’s IT management solution also allows you to manage your employees’ devices right from the platform with your staff information as its basis for assigning and terminating computer and business software access. TriNet HR Platform only lets you add and remove employee app access during the onboarding and offboarding processes.
In addition, Rippling offers tools for managing company spending. Its expense management module syncs directly with payroll, making it easy to process staff reimbursements for business-related purchases. It even provides access to a corporate credit card that eligible employees can use to pay for business expenses.
If you’re worried about compliance, Rippling’s Compliance 360 features help ensure that you remain up-to-date with the latest labor, tax, and payroll regulations. It even notifies you of potential compliance issues, such as if an employee’s sick leave entitlement in the system doesn’t match federal, state, or local requirements.
Rippling’s extensive HRIS features and efficient workflow automation are among the reasons it topped our list of the best HRIS software.
When to Consider TriNet HR Platform
While both have advanced HR features, Rippling and TriNet HR Platform offer different types. For instance, if you need compensation planning tools, Rippling has compensation bands or levels to help you track and control headcount costs. TriNet HR Platform, on the other hand, provides a compensation management product that brings in external wage data from its other customers, so you can gauge how your employee salaries measure up. Having access to this data will help you make informed decisions about improving staff compensation plans.
Further, if you’re looking for an established PEO provider with years of experience, TriNet’s PEO service has been in the market for more than three decades unlike that of Rippling’s PEO, which was only launched in November 2020. TriNet PEO is also accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC)—an accreditation that Rippling has yet to get for its PEO solution.
When it comes to compliance, TriNet HR Platform provides similar services as Rippling’s. It informs you of federal/labor rule changes, provides guidance if you need help deciphering regulatory requirements, and notifies you of important federal HR-related deadlines, such as submission timelines for tax and OSHA reports. If your business is in a highly regulated industry, these features are vital in keeping you compliant. Plus, if you need additional support, it offers the services of outsourced HR and payroll professionals who can assist you in handling audits and navigating the complexities of managing employees and payroll. However, this is a paid add-on.
Best for Reporting: Rippling
Expert’s Tiebreaker Insight: In my evaluation of Rippling vs TriNet HR Platform, both received perfect marks for reporting. However, Rippling’s customization options and analytics have a slight edge over TriNet’s reporting tools.
| | |
|---|---|---|
Reporting Score | 5 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
Basic Reports | Available | Available |
Large Library of Pre-formatted Reports (60+) | ✕ | ✕ |
Report Customizations | ✓ | ✓ |
Capability to Create New Reports Directly in the System | ✓ | ✓ |
TriNet HR Platform and Rippling have a lot of similar reporting. They offer customizable reports and the capability of creating new ones within their systems. Reports can also be exported for use within multiple departments.
However, Rippling has a wide library of pre-built report templates that you can use and customize. You can also build custom reports with dynamic elements, such as graphs and bubble charts. You can even set Excel-like formulas that automatically calculate values for you. This saves you time from manually computing items for reports, such as worker ages or planned pay increases.
TriNet HR Platform’s reporting tools don’t support Excel-like formulas. It offers report templates, but the selection isn’t as extensive as Rippling’s. While its features may be a bit limited, TriNet has a machine-learning analytics module to help you gather insights into HR processes and areas that might require improvements (Rippling doesn’t have this). Powered by Visier, this module also allows you to identify potential attrition risks within a 12-month period, enabling you to create a plan to help boost employee happiness and improve talent retention.
Best for Ease of Use & Customer Support: TriNet HR Platform
| | |
|---|---|---|
Ease of Use Score | 3 out of 5 | 3.13 out of 5 |
Learning Curve | Relatively easy | Relatively easy |
Ease of Use | Good | Good |
Customizable Platform | ✓ | ✕ |
Workflow Automation Tools | Robust | Good |
Customer Support | Chat and email (phone support is available via its paid HR help desk/advisory solution) | Online Zen Assistant tool; chat, email, and phone (getting phone support requires additional steps) |
HR Advisory Services | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
Online How-to Guides | ✓ | ✓ |
Software Integrations | 600+ | 40+ |
Being able to easily and effectively use software can help a company’s bottom line by allowing employees and managers to focus on their job duties. Both Rippling and TriNet HR Platform offer an intuitive interface with an online setup wizard and software integration options. Additionally, they offer a chat feature to answer immediate questions directly from their platforms.
Where TriNet HR Platform wins in this category is by offering live phone support that you don’t have to pay for. With Rippling, you only get email and chat assistance—but you can request for a call through its online chat.
Also, if you don’t need the robust workflow automation tools that Rippling offers, then TriNet HR Platform is right for you. Plus, if you’re a Paychex or ADP payroll system user, it can integrate with either of the two (currently offered through Pay Connect Sync). This means you can add TriNet HR Platform seamlessly to your existing payroll processes without having to switch providers. Rippling, even with its 600+ partner apps, doesn’t integrate with Paychex and ADP.
When to Consider Rippling
Rippling’s limited customer support is ideal for those adept in managing cloud-based software and that have enough HR and payroll expertise that they don’t require constant support. It’s also great for business owners who don’t have limited budgets and are willing to spend extra to get Rippling’s HR help desk solution.
Best for Reviews Among Users: Rippling
| | |
|---|---|---|
Popularity Score | 5 out of 5 | 3.38 out of 5 |
User Feedback | Mostly positive | Mostly positive |
Average User Ratings* | 4.85 out of 5 | 4.09 out of 5 |
Average Number of Reviews* | More than 3,200 | Over 640 |
*Data from third-party review sites (such as G2 and Capterra) | ||
Note that there are zero reviews for TriNet HR Platform as of this writing, so I used the reviews for TriNet Zenefits. Both providers scored well for popularity based on the number of reviews and average overall ratings on third-party review sites. However, Rippling outscored TriNet HR Platform—earning an average user rating of 4.85 out of 5 compared to TriNet’s average of 4.09.
While Rippling and TriNet HR Platform have a lot of positive reviews, users seem to prefer Rippling. They like how robust and user-friendly the software is and how easy it is to manage employees in one place.
What users don’t like is the slow response time of both providers’ customer support teams. Additionally, integration with third-party software is a concern for many as it is either unavailable or glitchy. Some reviewers said that both systems can get a bit pricey, especially if you purchase all of their add-ons.
Methodology: How I Evaluated Rippling vs TriNet HR Platform
I compared TriNet HR Platform vs Rippling by using a five-star rating scale to bring you the best analysis of the two. I considered transparent pricing, ease of use, customer support, and HR features. I also looked at the feedback the users left on popular third-party review sites, such as G2 and Capterra.
Click through the tabs below for a more detailed breakdown of the evaluation criteria:
35% of Overall Score
I looked for HR services and functions like online onboarding, state new hire reporting, self-service portals, and a staff of expert advisors. I also gave additional points to software providers offering health insurance available in all 50 states and advanced HR solutions like hiring, compensation, learning, and performance management.
20% of Overall Score
I gave the most credit to solutions that process direct deposits in two days or fewer, have multiple payment options, handle year-end tax reporting, manage tax payments and filings―federal, state, and local taxes―and offer a penalty-free guarantee.
20% of Overall Score
I looked for features that make the software easy to use, such as having an interface that’s intuitive and customizable. Extra points were given to providers that offer integration options, set-up assistance, live phone support, and a dedicated representative.
15% of Overall Score
I checked to see if the provider has transparent pricing, zero setup fees, and multiple plan options with unlimited pay runs. I also gave additional points to those with plans that cost $50 per employee.
5% of Overall Score
Preference was given to software with built-in basic payroll reports and customization options.
5% of Overall Score
I considered online user reviews on popular third-party sites like G2 and Capterra, based on a 5-star scale, wherein any option with an average of 4-plus stars is ideal. Also, software with 1,000 or more reviews on third-party sites is preferred.
Bottom Line
After my extensive comparison of Rippling vs TriNet HR Platform, Rippling came out as the clear winner. It offers the best HR solutions that a small business needs to manage employees, generate HR reports, and pay local and global workers.
While pricing isn’t as transparent as TriNet’s, Rippling has a wider suite of solutions, including IT tools to manage your employees’ business software access and company-assigned computers. Sign up for a Rippling plan today.