TriNet vs Workable

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Our analysts compared TriNet vs Workable 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

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Workable is a recruitment software designed to streamline the hiring process for businesses of all sizes. It offers a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of features that cover the entire recruitment lifecycle, from posting job openings to onboarding new hires. Small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large enterprises, find value in Workable due to its scalability and flexibility.

Workable provides several benefits to its users, including improved efficiency in the hiring process, reduced time-to-hire, and better collaboration among hiring teams. Popular features include job posting to multiple platforms, applicant tracking, interview scheduling, and offer management. Compared to similar products, Workable is often praised for its ease of use, intuitive interface, and robust feature set. Pricing for Workable is based on the number of active jobs and the features included, with options for monthly or annual payments.

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$8 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
$250 Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
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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.
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  • Streamlines Recruiting Process: The automation and AI database of the program make it easier to assess and onboard potential hires quickly. This includes point-and-click job site posting, quick overviews of applicants and open positions, templates for offer letters and e-signatures. 
  • More Qualified Hires: It offers assessments that can aid in making more informed hiring choices with increased objectivity and consistency across the board.  
  • Less Downtime: The app protects data with fault-tolerant systems in the infrastructure that allow it to keep running even if other machines or servers have problems. This guarantees an uptime of 99.8%, allowing users to stay in business more consistently. 
  • Smoother Communication: It has the capability to reduce notifications and stop the division of attention between different communication channels. This can improve team effectiveness and cohesion. 
  • Better Organization: The solution can reduce time spent looking for candidate data by centralizing resumes, interview information and interactions with potential hires on a single timeline. 
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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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  • Job Posting: Lets you create job descriptions from templates and post to over 200+ job boards and sites. It can also make branded pages for sites such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn and more. 
  • Mobile-Friendly: The app works on iOS and Android. Candidates can fill out application forms specifically formatted for mobile. 
  • Greater Compliance: It has built-in functions to accommodate GDPR, EEOC and OFCCP standards as laws in the U.S., U.K. and elsewhere. 
  • Integrations The program has the capability to integrate social media, apps, recruiting tools, background checks, calendars and HR tech. This includes over 40 programs including G Suite, Namely, Tableau, Facebook, Bob, Glassdoor and more. 
  • Security/Compliance: Safety measures on the platform include encryption, incident management, security assessments, disaster recovery, ISO 27001 certification, network security, logging/monitoring and 3rd-party audits. 
  • Reporting: Users can access data to answer executive questions and send auto-generated reports. They can also track information in real-time and make adjustments as needed. 
  • Candidate Database: The AI-searchable database includes over 700+ job descriptions and titles and 400 million applicants. Filters allow recruiters to search by skill, experience or location. Profiles include competencies, background checks, video interviews and more. 
  • Passive Searching: The program finds more than 1000+ candidates and automatically places ads in front of them on Facebook and Instagram. On average, this produces between 10-20 applicants per week. 
  • Single Sign-On: It cuts down on password memorization while built-in budgets and workflows make it easy to reference important intel without leaving the app. 
  • Referrals and Rewards: It sends open job positions to employees who can share them with friends, post them to social networks and track the results for gamified referral rewards. 
  • Internal Hiring: Users can inform employees of open internal opportunities within the company. 
  • Scheduling: Potential hires can schedule from pre-selected spots on the employer’s calendar. The system follows up with an auto-invite complete with reminders, a map and photos of attendees. 
  • Hiring Strategy Management: It can plan, manage and track the hiring strategy. Users can also make changes to budgets, timelines and resources to align with team needs without leaving the app. 
read more...

Product Ranking

#25

among all
HR Management Software

#56

among all
HR Management Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

72
69
34
66
85
52
57
82
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Availability and Scalability
Platform Security
Time and Attendance Management
Training
Document Management
Integrations and Extensibility

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

TriNet
Workable
+ 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 66 52 82 0 0 68 31 0 64 0 0 0 0 82 50 0 25 50 75 100
0%
0%
100%
50%
0%
50%
84%
0%
16%
20%
20%
60%
60%
0%
40%
83%
0%
17%
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
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we're gathering data
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60%
0%
40%
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N/A
73%
0%
27%
64%
0%
36%
67%
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33%
33%
0%
67%
14%
0%
86%
we're gathering data
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95%
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5%
57%
14%
29%
46%
0%
54%
we're gathering data
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50%
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50%
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78%
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22%
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17%
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83%
we're gathering data
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100%
0%
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64%
9%
27%
30%
0%
70%
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100%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

TriNet
Workable
+ Add Product + Add Product
Availability And Scalability Deployment Options Integrations And Extensibility Mobile Platform Security 100 50 75 100 0 0 90 0 0 25 50 75 100
100%
0%
0%
we're gathering data
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we're gathering data
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100%
we're gathering data
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70%
0%
30%
82%
0%
18%
100%
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0%
we're gathering data
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we're gathering data
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we're gathering data
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0%
we're gathering data
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Analyst Ratings for Vendor Qualification Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

0%
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100%
we're gathering data
N/A
we're gathering data
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we're gathering data
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100%
we're gathering data
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100%
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we're gathering data
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 1503 reviews
Great User Sentiment 784 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.

89%
of users recommend this product

Workable has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 89% when considering 784 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (14)
4.5 (14)
4.0 (460)
4.6 (327)
4.2 (822)
4.4 (384)
4.0 (3)
n/a
3.7 (204)
4.2 (59)

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 Workable and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Integrations and Extensibility.

Integrations and Extensibility 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.
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Timer Saver: A total of 92% users who talked about the system’s efficacy said its automated systems saved them valuable time.
Easy to Use: Around 91% of reviewers who discussed the system’s usability felt it was simple to learn and use.
Customer Service: Support services were accurate, helpful and fast according to 90% of those commenting on customer service.
Excellent Recruiting Capabilities: A total of 88% of users that talked about the recruiting tools were pleased with its capabilities.
Useful Reporting: Around 80% of reviewers who discussed the reporting felt it gave them the insights they needed to plan strategically.
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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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File Grouping Issues in ATS: In 90% of reviews that mentioned attaching additional files to candidate profiles, users said they ran into problems.
Lacks Customization: Around 75% of reviewers discussing customization felt it was lacking.
Group Discussion Troubles: In reviews that talked about facilitating group feedback, 67% said they had issues connecting or that it was hard to get comments from everyone.
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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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Workable is a recruiting solution that provides a range of hiring tools. Users who commented on the platform said it was efficient and saved time and effort with its automated processes. Reviewers liked the UI and said it was easy to learn and adopt and had overwhelmingly positive experiences with the prompt and knowledgeable customer service. They felt the reporting worked well and delivered the necessary data to plan strategically. Above all, they were impressed with the recruiting functionality and especially liked the ATS, one-click job posting and talent acquisition and sourcing features. Hiring managers especially found it beneficial. In terms of issues and opportunities for growth, users consistently had problems attaching and grouping additional files with the candidate profile. They state it was difficult to centralize documents other than resumes such as certifications, samples, letters of recommendation and more. Some also felt that the overall customization and branding was somewhat limited. Last, workers reported difficulty getting everyone’s feed together in group settings on the platform. Workable may be a good fit for medium-sized organizations, especially those with hiring managers, who need to automate the recruiting process. Larger companies may find it too limiting. It may also be a good fit for small companies with the necessary budget; many found it quite affordable.

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Screenshots

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