TriNet vs PDS Vista

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared TriNet vs PDS Vista based on data from our 400+ point analysis of HR Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

TriNet is a cloud-based HR solution that’s ideal for small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on payroll, benefits and compliance.

Acquired by TriNet in February 2022, Zenefits was previously recognized for its all-in-one approach to HR, emphasizing benefits administration and employee management. The platform supports onboarding new employees, tracking time and attendance, managing payroll and monitoring performance.

After running through the demo, I felt that navigation was particularly well-suited for beginners. Its simple layout streamlines administrative tasks without needing extensive HR expertise.

An issue a lot of workplaces face is handling employee burnout. Many users mention how easy it is to submit PTO, helping their employees take the time off they need without needing admin approval.

Another common HR challenge is benefits enrollment. With so many plan options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. On top of that, employees often have limited time to make decisions, which can lead to rushed choices or forgetting to enroll at all. TriNet addresses these challenges by providing tools like automated notifications and detailed cost breakdowns to simplify the enrollment process.

Users appreciate the user-friendly interface and automated processes, which lessen the manual workload for HR teams. Some consider it basic, but most value its straightforward design. In contrast, opinions vary on customer support wait times.

There are three pricing plans: Essentials $8 annually or $10 monthly, Growth $16 annually or $20 monthly, and Zen $27 annually or $33 monthly, all charged per user. For exact pricing information, we recommend requesting a quote from their website.

Overall, TriNet helps manage payroll, benefits and employee performance with tools like time tracking, automated payroll and employee engagement surveys.

What else can it do? Let’s take a closer look.


TriNet at a Glance

Support Options
  • Phone and email
  • Training videos
  • Help Center
  • Chat
Top Modules/Functions and Our Analyst Score
  • Time and attendance (100)
  • Document management (98)
  • Payroll management (95)
Strengths
  • User-friendly design
  • Easy benefits enrollment
  • Automation options
Limitations
  • Mixed reviews on customer support wait times.
  • Basic functionality may lack depth for advanced users.
Mobile Access Yes. (2.2 rating on Google Play)

Industry Specialties

Serves all industries, including but not limited to:

  • Healthcare
  • Technology
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional Services
  • Retail

Pricing Plans

Feature/Functionality

Essentials

Growth

Zen

Price

$8 annually, $10 monthly

$16 annually, $20 monthly

$27 annually, $33 monthly

Core HR Included

Yes

Yes

Yes

Benefits

Yes

Yes

Yes

Recruiting

Yes

Yes

Yes

Time and Attendance

Yes

Yes

Yes

HR Advisory Desk

Yes

Yes

Yes

People Analytics

No

Yes

Yes

Real-time Comparison Salary Data

No

Yes

Yes

Custom Compensation Benchmark Options

No

Yes

Yes

Goal Management

No

Yes

Yes

Employee Engagement Surveys

No

No

Yes

People Hub

No

No

Included

Payroll Tax Filing

Add-On

Add-On

Included

General Ledger

Add-On

Add-On

Included

Contractor payments

Add-On

Add-On

Included

read more...
PDS Vista is an integrated human capital management (HCM) system for streamlining HR functions, including hiring, onboarding, human resources, benefits, payroll and time and attendance tracking. It automates core processes, empowering organizations to minimize the time allocated to routine HCM and payroll tasks.

Highly customizable, it lets users tailor it to their needs. It also records crucial business strategy and decision-making data, giving employees and managers self-service access to payroll and workforce management features. Companies can opt for on-site or cloud deployment, ensuring flexibility during implementation.
read more...
$8 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Undisclosed
Free Trial is unavailable →
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Reduce Busy Work: Create approval workflows to make daily tasks more efficient. These workflows can be applied to any employee changes, including promotions, terminations and new hires. Automating these processes saves time and reduces administrative overhead. A couple of fully supported features that further cut down on manual work include ACA eligibility calculations and real-time data synchronization, according to our Express App.
  • Get Intelligent Insights: Access reports smoothly, from executives to administrators—with customizable permissions for security. Get real-time data through prebuilt reports on turnover, compensation, equal opportunity and more, plus create custom reports for your key KPIs.
    • TriNet fully supports timesheet management, custom fields, and charts and visualizations for data-driven decision-making.
  • Empower Employees: Let your employees take the reins with employee self-service (ESS) tools to manage their information, including viewing pay stubs and updating benefits elections.
    • New hires can self-enroll in benefits like healthcare and 401k during onboarding or later on.
    • Employees can update their personal info, such as family details, marital status updates, birthdays and work permits.
    • Self-service leave requests are moderately supported.
  • Provide Mobile Access: Check benefits, view pay stubs, access the company directory, clock in and out, and close tasks on the go. Admins can also cross off performance reviews, payroll and time off tasks right from their phones via mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
    • Simplify PTO: View and request time off in a few steps on the mobile app.
  • Ensure Compliance: Ensure ACA compliance with built-in explanations, tailored configuration suggestions, e-filing, compliance status visibility, offboarding features and ERISA data storage.
  • Connect to Popular Platforms: Use third-party apps for ATS, productivity, 401(k), expense management, employee engagement, learning and development, and accounting (just to name a few). Apps include G Suite, Slack, OnPay and Salesforce.
  • Access TriNet Perks: Provide your employees access to discounts and corporate rates on brands like Costco, AMC Theaters, Disneyland, PODS, and Columbia Sportswear.
read more...
  • Track KPIs: Drill into data and export it to a spreadsheet with a single click. Access over 100 pre-built tools, visualize data via comprehensive analytics and review insights through various charts and graphs, like scatter, line, column and pie charts.
  • Comply With ACA Regulations: Handle responsibilities related to ACA seamlessly. Use a comprehensive tracking tool to monitor the 30-hour mandate, ensure compliance with ACA requirements for health care plans, determine employee eligibility with automated tools and generate critical documents like 1095-Cs. 
  • Develop Reports: Simplify requesting business-centric data with the intuitive EasyAsk query tool, enabling users to select questions from a drop-down list. Enhance data generation with public or private lists of predefined questions. Choose which fields to include with a tool that supports synonyms (e.g., department or division) via a well-articulated dictionary. Access reports in multiple formats such as Excel, HTML and Word.
  • Reduce Manual Work: Automate approval processes with a workflow engine, streamline employee transactions like time-off requests, define conditions for multi-step operations and enable data filtering while maintaining transaction histories for auditing.. 
  • Go Mobile: Enhance workplace flexibility by providing remote access and editing capabilities to employees anywhere through the HRMS mobile app. Employees can view paycheck details, request time off and update data from their mobile devices. Equip managers to find employee contact info and approve job openings, vacation requests and raises.
  • Meet Compliance Regulations: Stay compliant with U.S. and Canadian laws via various reports and analytics, including OSHA, EEO, HIPAA, FMLA, IRCA, ADA, Vets-4212, AERS and ROE.
  • Support a Connected Business: Integrate with other systems for better business functioning. Configure data extracts using SQL (Structured Query Language) and effectively interface with any system. Retain absolute control over data, using various tools to process information automatically.
  • Maintain a Secure Environment: Control the information workforces see via robust security templates based on designated authorization and roles. 
  • Get Help When Needed: Product users consistently commend the support. Users can access support staff and educational resources like product videos and demos. Online tracking, technical assistance, user group membership and emergency support also ensure clients receive the assistance they need when they need it. 
read more...
  • Payroll: Log on, go to your payroll overview, and you'll see tasks you need to complete at the top. Click open payroll and review and approve your next pay run. There are also indicators that let you know if anything looks off to prevent payroll errors.
    • Pay Cycle Tracking: Monitor pay cycles and important dates categorized by employee groups (exempt vs non-exempt) with downloadable calendar views.
    • Advanced Issue Notifications: Receive indicators for potential payroll issues prior to final approval, with advanced filters for insights (location, department, job code).
    • Reimbursements: Make reimbursements easy. Choose the type (like driving) and enter the amount right on the platform.
  • Integrations: Integrate with popular accounting software platforms like Xero and QuickBooks.
  • Benefits Administration: Offer standard medical, dental and vision benefits, along with life and disability insurance. Additionally, there are commuter benefits, COBRA administration, workers comp, FSA and HSA. Filter from hundreds of providers for easy comparison and manage their information from a dashboard.
    • Transparent Pricing: Know where your money's going with monthly cost breakdowns that lay out all the details, from dental to life insurance.
  • Time Management: Keep an eye on clock-in/out times and hours worked with real-time dashboards. Set up customizable PTO policies, streamline workflows, view calendars, approve requests with a click and let employees manage their sick days/time-off requests.
  • TimeKeeper iPad App: Protect against fraud and time theft by taking pictures of employees when they check in or out.
  • Performance Management: Leverage goal management, meetings, action items and performance tracking. Run peer and 360-degree reviews using prebuilt templates and customizable questions.
  • Document Management: Centralize employee documents, create custom folders and specify which employees have access.
  • Recruiting and Hiring: Handle all your hiring tasks digitally, fast track completing offer letters with templates and run background checks.
    • Job Post Sharing: Share job listings on free job boards and social media, or boost them on paid channels with just a few clicks.
    • Automated Communication: Send automated texts, emails and notifications to prevent candidates from getting stuck in one step of the hiring process.
    • Candidate Profiles: Click on a candidate's name to access their profile, where you can view their resume, scorecard, assessments, emails, and documents all in one place. Easily reject or advance candidates with just a click from their profile.
    • Seamless Hiring: Once you select a candidate for hire, simply choose their start date and hit "hire." Celebrate when they’re officially onboarded.
  • Onboarding: New hire info syncs across the suite, so you won't have to enter it twice (or worry about double entry). New employees can also manage their part of the process to keep everything accurate and on time.
    • Employee Progress Dashboard: Track who’s completed enrollment and send reminders or invitations to new hires.
  • Compliance Assistant: Use this built-in tool to track federal HR deadlines and set custom reminders. You’ll find detailed explanations of compliance deadlines that could affect your business and sync reminders with your personal calendar. There are also resources to provide a better understanding of regulatory requirements, including ACA, COBRA, EEOC and I-9 compliance.
read more...
  • Human Resources: Boost employee management with onboarding, learning, safety and performance tools. Develop engagement, career planning and risk management programs. Create a historical data snapshot at any given point with the Point-in-Time builder tool.
  • Recruiting: Provide a wide range of recruiting functionalities by leveraging hiring tools. Track and capture recruitment data to maintain crucial applicant information. Enable HR teams to quickly analyze costs, manage applications, foster relationships with candidates and handle less paperwork overall.
  • Onboarding: Streamline onboarding by digitizing essential documents and providing access to a digital to-do list, a FAQ section and company content with simple configurations. Fast-track document signing through Adobe Sign or DocuSign enables new hires to electronically sign required HR, benefit and payroll forms before their first day, saving time and paper.
  • Workflow: Oversee staff transaction approvals with approval process automation and digital forms. Track transaction activities, reroute essential activities and information to participants and automate notifications. 
  • Reporting: Combine pre-formatted, parameter-driven HR data into a single report. Automate reports scheduling and create historical and metrics data to give managers an understanding of accepted company procedures. 
  • Analytics: Make smart strategic decisions and evaluate business data leveraging data. Seamlessly turn this data into valuable insights for better decision-making via the Vista Analytics component. 
  • Benefits Administration: Support various procedures and policies surrounding benefits administration. Offer a host of plans and coverage levels to the workforce. Take payroll deductions and premiums into account to automatically determine eligibility with the benefits administration tool. 
  • Payroll Management: Complete all payroll activities with various tools like time collection, tax maintenance service, auto-pay, reporting and a general ledger. Enable advanced functionalities, including retroactive pay, historical tracking and electronic documents and checks. Track and take action on data with an intuitive dashboard. 
  • Time and Attendance: Streamline attendance monitoring capabilities like time entry, reporting, payroll integration and multiple time collection methods. Gain advanced time tracking attributes with the cloud-based Vista Time tool. Offer geofencing and geolocation, a drag-and-drop schedule, message alerts, dashboards for employees and managers and accrued time forecasting. 
  • Self-Service Portal: Support HR activities and tasks with a range of company-wide and individual tools delivered through a comprehensive portal.
    • Provide a company directory, calendar events and company news.
    • Employees and managers can access information required to request, review and approve things like vacation or time entry.
    • Enable employees to manage their career goals and apply for internal job openings.
    • Includes a self-service tool to guide employees through benefits election and enrollment.
    • Effortlessly add links and relevant icons to content and implement manager self-service features in a protected manner, such as time approval, org charts and dashboards. 
  • Career Portal: Create a branded individualized career portal. Include filters, categories for ranking applicants, automation, and employee requisition attributes. Facilitate the entire application process for candidates with the job center tool and allow them to complete applications anytime from any location, leveraging a mobile interface. Supports multiple languages for enhanced self-service.
  • Mobile App: Leverage a mobile app on Android and Apple devices to remotely access MyVista, including the mobile-optimized Vista Onboarding and Vista Recruiting Career Center. 
read more...

Product Ranking

#25

among all
HR Management Software

#65

among all
HR Management Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

72
76
34
69
85
75
57
84
Show More Show More
Availability and Scalability
Platform Security
Time and Attendance Management
Training
Document Management
Availability and Scalability
Deployment Options
Professional Services and Maintenance
User Support
Document Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

TriNet
PDS Vista
+ Add Product + Add Product
Applicant Tracking And Recruiting Benefits Management Compensation Management Document Management Employee Engagement Employee Onboarding And Administration Employee Self Service Learning Management Payroll Management Performance Management Platform Capabilities Reporting And Dashboard Succession Management Time And Attendance Management Workforce Management 34 85 57 98 69 78 73 34 95 47 50 79 14 100 49 69 75 84 98 69 84 83 64 91 78 78 93 48 62 45 0 25 50 75 100
0%
0%
100%
73%
0%
27%
84%
0%
16%
68%
5%
27%
60%
0%
40%
92%
0%
8%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
60%
0%
40%
60%
0%
40%
73%
0%
27%
73%
0%
27%
67%
0%
33%
83%
0%
17%
14%
0%
86%
36%
7%
57%
95%
0%
5%
86%
5%
9%
46%
0%
54%
71%
7%
22%
50%
0%
50%
75%
0%
25%
78%
0%
22%
89%
0%
11%
17%
0%
83%
50%
0%
50%
100%
0%
0%
25%
58%
17%
30%
0%
70%
9%
45%
46%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

TriNet
PDS Vista
+ Add Product + Add Product
Availability And Scalability Deployment Options Integrations And Extensibility Mobile Platform Security 100 50 75 100 100 100 57 87 0 25 50 75 100
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
70%
0%
30%
53%
0%
47%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
83%
0%
17%

Analyst Ratings for Vendor Qualification Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 1503 reviews
Great User Sentiment 67 reviews
82%
of users recommend this product

TriNet has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 82% when considering 1503 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

84%
of users recommend this product

PDS Vista has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 67 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (14)
n/a
4.0 (460)
4.3 (22)
4.2 (822)
4.5 (16)
4.0 (3)
n/a
3.7 (204)
4.0 (29)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated TriNet and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Time and Attendance Management and Training.

Time and Attendance Management Award
Training Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated PDS Vista and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Deployment Options, Professional Services and Maintenance and User Support.

Deployment Options Award
Professional Services and Maintenance Award
User Support Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Ease of Use: Many users find the platform simple to navigate, making it easy to view paychecks, track time and attendance, manage payroll, and administer benefits.
Automation: Payroll and benefits processes are largely automated, reducing manual tasks and improving efficiency.
Customer Support: The support team is often praised for being professional, friendly and helpful. There are various support options available, including chat and phone and the ability to track case submissions.
Smooth Benefits Enrollment: Most users like its insurance options (especially with it being all integrated right into the platform), including re-enrollment options, multiple language support and mobile enrollment. Overall, the majority found the process hassle-free.
Show more
Comprehensive Suite: PDS Vista offers a wide range of modules, covering everything from core HR functions like payroll and benefits administration to talent management, recruiting, and learning management. This comprehensive suite eliminates the need for multiple, disparate systems, streamlining HR processes and data management.
Customizable and Scalable: The system's flexibility allows organizations to tailor it to their specific needs and industry regulations. Whether it's adding custom fields, workflows, or reports, PDS Vista adapts to evolving requirements and growth, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
User-Friendly Interface: PDS Vista is known for its intuitive interface, which reduces the learning curve for HR professionals and employees alike. The system's ease of use promotes user adoption and engagement, leading to more efficient HR operations.
Reporting and Analytics: Robust reporting tools provide HR teams with valuable insights into workforce data, enabling data-driven decision-making. From standard reports to ad-hoc queries and dashboards, PDS Vista empowers HR to analyze trends, identify areas for improvement, and measure the impact of HR initiatives.
Show more
Basic Functionality: Users find the platform design on the basic side, which can be a double-edged sword. While it simplifies navigation, it may feel less intuitive.
Customer Support Wait Times: Some users reported long wait times and the need to connect with multiple support representatives. There are designated support representatives, but the availability depends on the plan you opt for.
Integration Challenges: There have been difficulties linking multiple companies within the platform, complicating things like time-off approvals.
Show more
Clunky Interface: Navigating PDS Vista can feel cumbersome and outdated, often requiring multiple clicks to accomplish simple tasks. The interface appears visually dated, which may deter users accustomed to modern software design.
Reporting Limitations: Generating custom reports or extracting specific data sets can be challenging due to the system's rigid structure. Users often find themselves exporting data to external programs for further analysis, creating an extra step in the workflow.
Show more

In HR, you're responsible for a lot of paperwork for core functions like recruiting, tax filing, payroll and performance management (just to name a few). Trying to keep every document organized and secure the old-fashioned way might feel like managing the Smithsonian.;TriNet can alleviate your document management woes by keeping everything in one place in the cloud.Its platform includes HR management and administration tools, recruiting, payroll and benefits. Overall, I found the design practical and simple. It didn't leave me guessing where to find things.;Manage access to folders and documents, create custom folders and specify which employees have access. In the upper right corner, you'll find your profile along with an arrow that reveals menu options. The top right also features your inbox, notifications, help and a handy search bar.It has separate tabs for worker and company documents. Creating folders to stay organized is easy with the bright orange "Create New Folder" option. Each document allows you to hover over it, where you can click the pencil icon to edit or the trash can icon to delete.Manage employees’ benefits eligibility, view benefit costs and change enrollment details. Scroll down and see everything covered under your plan, from dental and vision to life insurance. To get employees on board, set your open enrollment dates and automate notifications.;Customize email invites, preview the employee experience and ensure no one misses enrollment – once it’s open, they’ll see it as a task at the top of their dashboard.;There’s no guessing when it comes to employee costs, the company contribution and total because it’s laid out clearly in the monthly cost breakdown. Plus, when enrollment time rolls around, there’s a start renewal link, side-by-side plan comparisons and a quoting tool.;My favorite feature is the step-by-step guide because even if you’ve gone through the labyrinth of benefits enrollment seemingly a hundred times, there’s still a lot of ground to cover, which makes setting everything up less overwhelming. Make your enrollment setup unforgettable with benefits checklists that ensure employees don’t miss important options.The payroll module is reasonably straightforward. The layout is on the simple side, featuring main menu optionhs including Overviews, People, Timeline, Reports, Taxes, Forms and Settings.;Just like conveniently passing by a coffee shop on your way to work, essentially every payroll task you have to check off is connected and easy to find. Manage employee notifications, download payroll reports and approve payroll — all in one place.;The candidate landing page is simple. It shows the person’s name to the very left; on the right, you can view their contact info (there’s a phone icon and email icon), location, workflow status, source (like your career page) and the date they applied.So, what happens after clicking a candidate's name? You get directed to their profile and, from there, view their resume, scorecard, assessments, emails and documents. There are options at the top to reject or advance candidates. Once they move to hiring, you select their start date and press hire candidate, and ta-da — you’re greeted with virtual confetti.;I like that there are conveniently automated communication options like sending text messages. It's especially helpful if you’re hiring multiple people and don’t want to lose track of candidates or get anyone stuck in one of the hiring steps.;While everyone learns things at their own pace, from my perspective, I found TriNet a good fit for beginners.;

Show more

PDS Vista appears to be most suitable for mid-sized to large companies with complex organizational structures and a high volume of employees. The software's ability to handle intricate HR processes, such as onboarding, benefits administration, and payroll, makes it a valuable tool for organizations with diverse needs. Additionally, PDS Vista's scalability ensures that it can grow alongside a company, accommodating increasing demands as the workforce expands. Smaller businesses with simpler HR requirements might find the software's extensive features to be overwhelming and may prefer a more streamlined solution. One of the key strengths of PDS Vista is its comprehensive suite of features. Users appreciate the software's ability to manage various HR functions, from recruitment and onboarding to performance management and employee development. This all-in-one approach eliminates the need for multiple HR systems, streamlining processes and reducing administrative burdens. For instance, the performance management module allows managers to set goals, track progress, and provide feedback, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. However, some users have noted that the extensive features can lead to a steeper learning curve, requiring dedicated training and support to fully utilize the software's capabilities. When compared to competitors like Workday and SAP SuccessFactors, PDS Vista stands out for its robust reporting and analytics capabilities. Users can generate custom reports to gain insights into workforce trends, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. The software's ability to track key HR metrics, such as employee turnover and engagement levels, enables organizations to proactively address potential issues and optimize their HR strategies. While Workday and SAP SuccessFactors also offer reporting features, PDS Vista's user-friendly interface and customizable dashboards make it easier for HR professionals to access and interpret data.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in HR Management Software


ADP Workforce Now

BambooHR

Cornerstone OnDemand

Dayforce

Infor HCM

Justworks

Oracle HCM Cloud

Paycom

Paycor

PDS Vista

Rippling

SuccessFactors

Talentsoft

UKG Dimensions

UKG Pro

Workable

Workday HCM

Related Categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings