Rippling vs Zenefits: Which Is Best for Your Small Business in 2022?

Rippling and Zenefits offer all-in-one HR software that allow you to manage employee onboarding, payroll, benefits, and more. Rippling offers better HR features and tools and a much broader number of integrations. However, Zenefits’ overall pricing is cheaper than Rippling’s—especially if you’re looking for a core platform that already has several HR tools. Although Rippling does have HR and IT solutions, you have to purchase each module in addition to its core workforce management platform, which can get pricey.

To help you find the right payroll software, we compared Rippling vs Zenefits in terms of features, pricing, and ease of use. Here are our recommendations.

• Rippling: Best for tech-heavy companies, or small businesses with no HR and IT department, needing online tools to manage HR, payroll, and IT
• Zenefits: Best for small and growing businesses wanting a fully integrated HR platform with online tools to measure employee engagement

Rippling vs Zenefits Compared

Starter Monthly Pricing	$10 per employee ($8 if billed annually) for the core “Rippling Unity” workforce platform	$10 per employee ($8 if billed annually)
Payroll with Tax Filing Services	$8 per employee monthly*	$6 per employee monthly
Direct Deposit Processing Time	Two business days	Four business days
Payroll Coverage	Salaried and hourly employees, contractors, international workers	Salaried and hourly employees, contractors
Benefits Administration	$6 per employee monthly*	Free if using Zenefits broker; $5 per employee monthly if using your own broker
Employee Benefits	Health insurance, 401(k), commuter benefits, FSA, HSA, ACA, COBRA compliance**	Health insurance, 401(k), COBRA compliance, HSA, FSA, commuter benefits, life and disability, supplemental benefits
Workers’ Compensation	Pay-as-you-go plans (via AP Intego)	Workers’ comp plans via partner broker
Learning Management	Paid add-on	N/A
Performance Reviews	N/A	Included in higher tiers
IT Tools	App management: $8 per employee monthly Device management: $8 per employee monthly	Account provisioning only
Customer support	Online help center; chat and email support; HR advisers and live phone support for an extra cost	Online help center; chat (ZenBot), email, and phone support
	Visit Rippling	Visit Zenefits
	Read our Rippling Review	Read our Zenefits Review

*Rippling’s pricing is based on a quote we received
**Access to FSA, HSA, commuter benefits, ACA, and COBRA administration costs extra

Best for Affordability: Zenefits

Pricing Transparency	Full	Limited
Monthly Pricing*	Essentials: $10 per employee ($8 if billed annually) Growth: $18 per employee ($14 if billed annually) Zen: $27 per employee ($21 if billed annually)	“Rippling Unity” workforce management platform: $10 per employee ($8 if billed annually)
Paid Add-ons*	Payroll: $6 per employee monthly HR advisory services: $10 per employee monthly Benefits administration using own broker: $5 per employee monthly	Payroll: $8 per employee monthly Benefits administration: $6 per employee monthly Flex benefits (HSA, FSA, commuter): $6 per employee monthly App management: $8 per employee monthly Device management: $8 per employee monthly HR help desk: $100 monthly
Special Payroll Plan	Contingent workers (such as contractors and temp employees): $6 per active worker monthly	N/A
Applicant Tracking	N/A	Custom-priced
Time and Attendance	Included in all plans	Custom-priced
Shift Scheduling	Included in all plans	N/A
Learning Management	N/A	Custom-priced
Compensation and Performance Management	Included in higher tiers	N/A
	Visit Zenefits	Visit Rippling
	Read our Zenefits Review	Read our Rippling Review

*Rippling’s pricing is based on a quote we received

If price is a major determining factor to your small business, then Rippling may not be right for you as its plans aren’t as transparent and reasonably priced as those of Zenefits. While both have a core HR platform that includes the basics (with payroll and other solutions costing extra), Zenefits offers additional plans that add more HR features. In contrast, Rippling has only one plan for its “Rippling Unity” base platform, and you have to buy that before you can purchase its other solutions, such as time and PTO tracking—features that Zenefits offers in all of its tiers.

When comparing Zenefits vs Rippling’s base plans, both have the same starter monthly pricing of $10 per employee ($8 with an annual contract). However, Zenefits’ payroll add-on comes in at a lower price tag ($6 per employee monthly) than Rippling’s ($8 per employee monthly), making it a more affordable solution.

When to Use Rippling

If you’re thinking whether to get Rippling anyway, you should take into consideration your HR and payroll, budget, and employee headcount requirements. It is 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 robust workflows to automate day-to-day HR tasks, enabling you to focus more on growing your business.

Best in HR Features: Rippling

Centralized Employee Database	✔	✔
Job Postings and Applicant Tracking	✔	N/A
Employee Onboarding and Offboarding	✔	✔
Computer and Business Software Management	✔	Account provisioning of partner apps only
Software Integrations	500+	40+
Learning Management	✔	✖
Performance Management	N/A	✔
Compensation Management	Compensation reports only	Includes compensation planning tools
Health Insurance Coverage	All 50 states	49 states (Hawaii excluded)
PEO Option	✔	N/A
	Visit Rippling	Visit Zenefits
	Read our Rippling Review	Read our Zenefits Review

The HR features of Rippling and Zenefits are very similar, but Rippling’s PEO option pushes it ahead. This feature bridges the gap between self-service and full HR management by handling all payroll and HR functions for your small business. Rippling’s PEO acts as the employer of record (EoR) for payroll and tax purposes and pools small businesses to offer large company benefits, such as reduced-cost medical insurance.

While both offer core HR features like employee onboarding, unemployment insurance, and health insurance plans, the coverage of Rippling’s health plans is more robust—50 states compared to Zenefits’ 49 states (Hawaii excluded). Rippling, which is our leading HR software for small businesses, even offers 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.

When to Consider Zenefits

While both have advanced HR features, Rippling and Zenefits offer different types—and at an additional cost. However, Zenefits has a few HR solutions that Rippling doesn’t provide. And if these features are important to your business, it would make Zenefits a better option for you.

For instance, if you need compensation planning tools, Rippling only offers a compensation report that helps you track where you’re spending money on wages and salary.

Zenefits, 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. It also offers a performance management tool that Rippling doesn’t have, including online solutions for measuring employee well-being and running engagement surveys.

Best Functionality of HRIS Features: Rippling

Streamlines Job Postings and Applicant Tracking	✔	N/A
Automates Employee Onboarding	Online offer letters and tax forms, employee self-onboarding; computer and business software provisioning	Online offer letters and tax forms; business software provisioning only
Simplifies Staff Scheduling and Time Tracking	Time tracking only	✔
Streamlines Payroll Runs	Includes global payroll	Covers US payroll only
Optimizes Learning Management	✔	N/A
Automates Employee Offboarding	Employee system profile and benefits plan cancellation; includes computer and business software deprovisioning	Employee system profile and benefits plan cancellation; includes business software deprovisioning
	Visit Rippling	Visit Zenefits
	Read our Rippling Review	Read our Zenefits Review

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 truth across systems as you manage HR and payroll tasks.

Both Rippling and Zenefits offer HRIS features; however, there are a few things that Rippling can do that Zenefits can’t. Rippling’s IT management feature 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. This makes it the right choice for tech-heavy companies.

Additionally, its learning and training tools offer training for compliance courses based on your employee’s job role and even enable employers to create custom courses. Additionally, its applicant tracking system allows you to post to job boards and collaborate with other hiring managers. You can then use the qualified candidate’s data to conduct background checks and start new hire onboarding. These functionalities can make the hiring process easier for a small business.

When to Consider Zenefits

If you don’t need the robust IT tools and workflow automation that Rippling offers, then Zenefits is right for you. Plus, if you’re a Paychex or ADP payroll system user, Zenefits offers the ability to connect its platform with either of the two (currently offered through Pay Connect Sync). This means you can add Zenefits seamlessly to your existing payroll processes without having to switch providers. Rippling, even with its 500+ partner apps, doesn’t integrate with Paychex and ADP.

Best for Reporting: Tie

Basic Reports	Available	Available
Large Library of Pre-formatted Reports (60+)	✖	✖
Report Customizations	✔	✔
Capability to Create New Reports Directly in the System	✔	✔
	Visit Rippling	Visit Zenefits
	Read our Rippling Review	Read our Zenefits Review

In our evaluation of Rippling vs Zenefits for reporting, we found that both have similar tools. 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, neither offers a large selection of canned (preformatted) reports.

Best for Ease of Use & Customer Support: Zenefits

Ease of Use	Good	Good
Customizable Platform	✖	✖
Customer Support	Online Zen Assistant tool; chat, email, and phone (getting phone support requires additional steps)	Chat and email; phone support (via its paid HR help desk solution)
Access to HR Advisory Services	Paid add-on	Paid add-on
Online How-to Guides	✔	✔
	Visit Zenefits	Visit Rippling
	Read our Zenefits Review	Read our Rippling Review

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 Zenefits offer an intuitive (but not customizable) interface with setup help and software integration. Additionally, they also offer a chat feature to answer immediate questions directly from their platforms.

Where Zenefits wins in this category is by offering live phone support that you don’t have to pay for—although you need to provide your Zenefits ID and case reference number (which you can get via its online Zen Assistant tool). With Rippling, you have to purchase its HR help desk add-on ($100 monthly), which includes email and phone support.

When to Consider Rippling

Rippling’s limited customer support is ideal for those who are adept in managing cloud-based software and 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 Popularity Among Users: Rippling

Both providers scored well for popularity based on the number of user reviews and average overall ratings on third-party review sites (such as G2 and Capterra). However, Rippling outscored Zenefits. As of this writing, Rippling earned an average rating of 4.85 out of 5 compared to Zenefits’ average of 4.15.

While both Rippling and Zenefits 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.

How We Evaluated Rippling vs Zenefits

We compared Rippling vs Zenefits by using a five-star rating scale to bring you the best analysis between the two. We considered transparent pricing and advanced HR features (such as benefits administration and employee onboarding functionality) among our top criteria. We also looked at ease of use and customer support.

In our evaluation, Rippling scored higher than Zenefits—it earned an overall rating of 4.61 out of 5 versus Zenefits’ overall score of 4.20. Click through the tabs in the box below to view our full evaluation criteria.

Bottom Line

After our extensive comparison of Rippling vs Zenefits, Rippling came out as the clear winner. It offers the best HR solutions that a small business needs to be successful in employee onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, and reporting.

While pricing isn’t as transparent and is a little more expensive overall than Zenefits, 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.

Visit Rippling

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