Softwr

Payroll · head to head

Namely vs Zenefits

Namely logo

Namely

Payroll

The HR platform that employees love

From
$18/employee/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zenefits logo

Zenefits

Payroll

All-in-one HR platform for growing companies

From
$8/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Zenefits product discontinued by parent company TriNet
  • They diverge on capability: Namely covers HR Management, Zenefits covers HR Administration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Namely and Zenefits actually diverge.

Attributes where Namely and Zenefits differ
AttributeNamelyZenefits
Starting price$18/employee/month$8/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Founded20122013

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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
  • Benefits Administration
  • Time Off Management
  • Onboarding
  • Greenhouse
  • LinkedIn

Only in Zenefits

  • HR Administration
  • Benefits Management
  • Time and Scheduling
  • Compliance
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero

Both cover

  • Payroll
  • Performance Management
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

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 Zenefits
  • Collecting 360-degree feedback and managing performance reviewsnot Zenefits
  • Automating onboarding workflows and document e-signature collectionnot Zenefits
  • Managing benefits enrollment and annual open enrollment periodsnot Zenefits

Zenefits

No use cases recorded yet. See the Zenefits review.

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

Zenefits

  • Product discontinued by parent company TriNet
  • Remaining customers forced to migrate to more expensive TriNet products

Pricing, plan by plan

Namely

$18/employee/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Namely review.

Zenefits

$8/month
  • Essentials$8/month
    • HR Administration
    • Time Off Tracking
    • Scheduling
  • Growth$16/month
    • All Essentials features
    • Compensation Management
    • Performance Management

Which should you pick?

Choose Namely if

  • You need hr management.
  • You also want benefits administration.
Namely review

Choose Zenefits if

  • You need hr administration.
  • You also want benefits management.
Zenefits review

Questions people ask

Is Namely or Zenefits better?
Neither clearly leads. Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Zenefits at $8/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Namely or Zenefits?
Namely starts at $18/employee/month and Zenefits at $8/month.
Does Namely or Zenefits run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Zenefits is typically brought in for.
What can Namely do that Zenefits cannot?
Namely covers HR Management, Benefits Administration, Time Off Management, Onboarding. Zenefits covers HR Administration, Benefits Management, Time and Scheduling, Compliance. Both handle Payroll, Performance Management, Slack, Google Workspace.

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.

Source
Zenefits: Is Zenefits still available as a standalone product?

No. Zenefits was discontinued as a standalone product after TriNet's acquisition in 2022. Existing customers are being migrated to TriNet HR Plus (ASO) or TriNet PEO at higher costs.

Source
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.

Source
Zenefits: What were Zenefits' main features before discontinuation?

Zenefits provided HR, benefits management, payroll as optional add-on, time and attendance tracking, and compliance tools for small to mid-sized businesses with 10-200 employees.

Source
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.

Source
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.

Source
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