Payroll · head to head
Namely vs Nmbrs
Nmbrs
Payroll
Dutch and Swedish payroll and HR sold largely through accountants, owned by Visma since 2017
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Namely limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions; Nmbrs coverage is the Netherlands and Sweden only, so any international group will run Nmbrs alongside other payroll systems and reconcile them manually.
- They diverge on capability: Namely covers HR Management, Nmbrs covers Dutch payroll engine.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Namely and Nmbrs actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Payroll).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Namely
- HR Management
- Payroll
- Benefits Administration
- Time Off Management
- Performance Management
- Onboarding
- Slack
- Google Workspace
Only in Nmbrs
- Dutch payroll engine
- Swedish payroll
- Collective agreement handling
- Employee self service
- HR records
- Accountant workspace
- Open API
- Journal export
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Namely
- Processing payroll for employees across multiple states with different tax rulesnot Nmbrs
- Collecting 360-degree feedback and managing performance reviewsnot Nmbrs
- Automating onboarding workflows and document e-signature collectionnot Nmbrs
- Managing benefits enrollment and annual open enrollment periodsnot Nmbrs
Nmbrs
- A Dutch company that wants payroll calculated and filed in-country rather than routed through an international aggregatornot Namely
- An accountancy firm running payroll for dozens of client companies from one workspacenot Namely
- A Dutch subsidiary of an international group that needs correct CAO and pension fund handlingnot Namely
- An HR or time tracking vendor that needs a documented API to push hours and changes into Dutch payrollnot Namely
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Namely
- Limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions
- Payroll limitations: better served for less complex organizations and struggles with complex time-and-attendance or multi-FEIN scenarios
- Missing ATS and surveys: lacks built-in applicant tracking system and pulse survey capabilities
- Slow support response times: pod-based support model has led to slow response times for customers
- Designed for specific market segment: best fit is mid-sized companies with 50-350 employees
Nmbrs
- Coverage is the Netherlands and Sweden only, so any international group will run Nmbrs alongside other payroll systems and reconcile them manually.
- Most customers buy through an accountancy or payroll bureau, which means the price, the service level and the escalation path are set by an intermediary rather than by Visma.
- English documentation and support lag behind the Dutch material, which slows down international finance teams trying to understand what a declaration actually contains.
- The HR modules are basic next to a dedicated HRIS, so companies typically pair Nmbrs with another system and maintain an integration between them.
- Ownership by Visma places it inside a large portfolio with overlapping payroll products, and buyers should ask where Nmbrs sits in that portfolio before committing to a long contract.
Pricing, plan by plan
Namely
$18/employee/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Namely review.
Nmbrs
On request- Nmbrs$undefined/year
- Priced per employee per month, commonly resold by accountancy firms
- Payroll and HR modules licensed separately
- Direct pricing differs from partner pricing
Which should you pick?
Choose Nmbrs if
- You need dutch payroll engine.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want swedish payroll.
Questions people ask
- Is Namely or Nmbrs better?
- Neither clearly leads. Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Nmbrs at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Namely or Nmbrs?
- Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Nmbrs at On request.
- Does Namely or Nmbrs run on more platforms?
- Namely runs on Web. Nmbrs runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- What is Namely best used for?
- Namely is most often used for processing payroll for employees across multiple states with different tax rules, collecting 360-degree feedback and managing performance reviews, automating onboarding workflows and document e-signature collection, managing benefits enrollment and annual open enrollment periods. Of those, processing payroll for employees across multiple states with different tax rules and collecting 360-degree feedback and managing performance reviews are not what Nmbrs is typically brought in for.
- What can Namely do that Nmbrs cannot?
- Namely covers HR Management, Payroll, Benefits Administration, Time Off Management. Nmbrs covers Dutch payroll engine, Swedish payroll, Collective agreement handling, Employee self service.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Namely: Does Namely support global payroll?
Namely primarily focuses on mid-sized US-based companies with 50-350 employees. While it can handle complex payroll scenarios, it is better served for less complex organizations and does not have extensive global payroll capabilities compared to enterprise platforms.
SourceNmbrs: Does Nmbrs actually file Dutch payroll taxes?
Yes. It calculates wage tax and submits the loonaangifte to the Belastingdienst, along with pension fund and sector scheme declarations. It is not an aggregator passing data to a bureau.
Namely: What is included in Namely's Premium pricing?
Premium plans cost $18-24 per employee per month plus implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs. Plans include payroll, HR, benefits administration, time management, and talent management features.
SourceNmbrs: Which countries does it cover?
The Netherlands and Sweden. Nowhere else.
Namely: Does Namely include performance management features?
Yes, Namely offers customizable performance review modules enabling dynamic, ongoing feedback rather than traditional annual-only reviews. This is one of Namely's standout features.
SourceNmbrs: Do I buy it direct or through an accountant?
Both are possible, but most Dutch customers come through an accountancy or payroll administration firm, and the price and support come from that firm.
Namely: How long does Namely implementation typically take?
Namely is designed for mid-sized companies and implementation timelines vary based on complexity. The platform includes implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs in addition to monthly per-employee pricing.
SourceNmbrs: Who owns Nmbrs?
Visma, the Nordic business software group, acquired it in 2017.
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