TriNet vs Vibe HCM

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Our analysts compared TriNet vs Vibe HCM 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.

Vibe HCM Software Tool

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

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Vibe HCM unifies core human resources capabilities surrounding transactions and compliance, along with strategic employee engagement. The SaaS-based software includes recruiting, onboarding, core HR, time and attendance, communication and connection, talent development and recognition, payroll, compliance, benefits management and engagement measurement. It’s suitable for medium and large businesses.

There are two different versions of the product available to deploy. Essentials is best for businesses that need to get up and running quickly but want the ability to upgrade in the future. Edge is suitable for those whose complex requirements call for customization and advanced capabilities.
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
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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.
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  • Accelerate and Simplify Onboarding: HR admins can configure personalized preboarding and onboarding programs for new recruits. Features include welcome emails, videos, personalized messages, org charts, mentor assignment, live chat, access to new hire communities, online learning, new hire compliance and suggested activities (profile completion, benefits review, etc). This allows new hires to quickly acclimate and become engaged. 
  • Address Talent Gaps: Talent charts enable you to quickly visualize your workforce and identify gaps that you need to address. With this insight, you can assess talent in real time. The solution includes the following charts: performance, engagement, 9-box and succession, diversity, compensation, span of control, social contributions and regrettable turnover. 
  • Analyze Employees in Real Time: Talent cards are similar to talent charts but offer at-a-glance insights at the employee level. They provide individual snapshots of various talent-related metrics like compensation, performance, social contributions, succession and 9-box. 
  • Understand Your Workforce Better: With Vibe Insights’ proprietary algorithm, it’s possible to measure each employee’s engagement level. The program does this by tracking login activity and usage data (i.e., how an employee interacts with other employees, groups, and content throughout the system). In addition to predicting potential satisfaction, this helps you uncover retention issues and identify areas where employees need support. 
  • Make Decisions Backed by Data: Vibe Insights is built to be accessible for all users, even those without extensive technical skills. It allows you to create custom reports from scratch using drag-and-drop and filtering capabilities. Dashboards provide visuals that are easy to share. These tools enable you to analyze data from dozens of critical sources throughout the employee lifecycle so your organization can make data-driven decisions. 
  • Deliver a Seamless Experience Across All Devices: Vibe HCM is built using progressive web app (PWA) technology, which means the HR portal works like a mobile app. Users gain full access to the platform from any browser on any internet-connected device without needing to install an app. This provides a completely seamless user experience. The PWA capabilities ensure the platform is always updated, responsive and accessible offline. 
  • Cultivate Employee Growth: The system supports 360-degree performance evaluation so every employee can receive in-the-moment feedback that’s relevant and actionable. It also provides user-friendly tools that team leads and managers can use to engage in continuous coaching with employees. 
  • Centralize Collaboration: Vibe HCM allows you to create multiple work communities based on roles, tenure, programs and interests. Activity streams within the community hub make it easy for employees to converse and collaborate. It supports advanced features such as tagging, featured posts and multiple media types. 
  • Help New Hires Feel Welcome: The solution lets you embed videos from existing employees and add live chat functionality for new hires to connect with other employees. This helps them become familiar with the organization and feel accepted from day one. 
  • Build a Strong Culture: The solution includes tools for creating wellness, employee support and volunteer programs as part of your employee benefits. This helps your organization stand out as a socially responsible, people-centric company, which attracts employees and increases loyalty. 
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  • 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.
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  • Payroll Processing: Vibe HCM allows you to execute payroll on time and without errors. Reports, a general ledger you can customize, and wage garnishments are among its features. 
  • Benefits Administration: Capabilities include automated life events and enrollments, benefits programs, total rewards statements and ACA compliance to keep your organization in line with regulations. 
  • Recruiting Management: With Vibe HCM, you can automate the applicant tracking and hiring process. The solution allows you to sync applicant LinkedIn profiles, and it promotes the social sharing of job posts across social networks and communities. You can configure applicant questions, view timelines, manage job postings, schedule interviews, generate reports, source talent internally, make bulk updates and more. Features like I-9, EEO reporting and e-verify ensure compliance. 
  • Organization Management: This feature enables you to organize your company’s departments, teams, jobs and other units via org charts. Drag-and-drop tools and built-in approvals make it easy to manage and update your organization’s structure. 
  • Time and Labor Management: These tools are integrated into the overall platform for more effective tracking. The module delivers mobile access, time-off requests, work schedules, cost tracking at different intervals (monthly, weekly, etc.) and more. Users can record time via punch-in or timesheets. 
  • Training Tools: The LMS module helps your organization support agile learning by offering content development. You can create and publish training materials at any time, as well as build personal networks. Peers can share content and collaborate within communities. Built-in intelligence algorithms can recommend which sessions are most relevant to employees, so they don’t have to guess or search on their own. You can also offer and manage certifications and licenses, if needed. 
  • Employee Surveys: Vibe HCM offers several ways to continuously measure engagement and employee sentiment. Pulse surveys allow you to gather timely feedback whenever needed and can be used at the company or team level. Life cycle surveys automatically trigger when an employee reaches preset milestones or events with your company. 
  • Self-Service: Both managers and employees have access to self-service capabilities. Managers are able to process transactions while employees can view their profile information and make updates as necessary. It also supports automating recurring processes like new hires, terminations, promotions and pay changes. 
  • Branded Career Sites: Your organization can deploy career sites that are both internal- and external-facing. The sites feature a responsive design, making them mobile-friendly. You can incorporate company branding along with photos, videos and company messages to deliver customized content that reflects your organization. 
  • Employee Recognition Banner: The platform includes a rotating banner to help employees gain recognition within your company. The banner displays the most recent messages on the platform homepage. 
  • Global Support: The solution includes the ability to set multiple languages and currencies for organizations that operate globally. 
read more...

Product Ranking

#25

among all
HR Management Software

#22

among all
HR Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

72
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85
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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

TriNet
Vibe HCM
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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 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Vibe HCM
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Availability And Scalability Deployment Options Integrations And Extensibility Mobile Platform Security 100 50 75 100 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 1503 reviews
Great User Sentiment 107 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.

88%
of users recommend this product

Vibe HCM has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 107 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (14)
4.1 (14)
4.0 (460)
4.4 (56)
4.2 (822)
4.0 (10)
4.0 (3)
4.8 (10)
3.7 (204)
4.5 (17)

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

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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.
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Easy to Use: 90% of reviewers who mention ease of use feel it’s easy to manage employee information and use features such as payroll and performance evaluations.
Customer Support: All reviewers who refer to customer support observed that queries are taken seriously and technical support is always available via phone or email.
Customizable: The software can be highly personalized, according to 65% of reviewers who mention customization.
Affordable: All reviewers who mention pricing state Vibe HCM is affordable.
Security: The system has robust security features, making it safe and secure to use, according to all users who reference this aspect.
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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.
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Requires Training: 60% of reviewers who mention usage feel that the learning curve is challenging and the software is a bit complex to understand in the beginning.
Not for Small Companies: The software is not ideal for small or startup organizations due to the skill required, as observed by 80% of reviewers who mention the size of business.
Requires Strong Network: All reviewers who refer to speed asserted that the software requires strong connectivity to run without errors.
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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.;

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Vibe HCM is a unified platform having features such as talent, recruiting, onboarding, engagement, analytics and payroll. Many reviewers noted that the software requires skilled manpower for effective operation, so it may not be ideal for small organizations with limited technical resources. Also, becoming familiar with the application may take a relatively long time. However, the ease of use, strong security, quick customer service and customizable workflows make Vibe HCM a complete package that can provide a fruitful HR experience.

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Screenshots

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