Softwr

Payroll · head to head

OnPay vs TriNet

OnPay logo

OnPay

Payroll

Single-plan United States payroll with unlimited pay runs and support for awkward tax situations other providers avoid

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TriNet logo

TriNet

Payroll

Big company benefits and a team deeply involved in running your HR

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OnPay onPay operates only in the United States, so the first international hire means a second payroll vendor and a separate compliance model.; TriNet pricing is fully customized with no published rates
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OnPay and TriNet actually diverge.

Attributes where OnPay and TriNet differ
AttributeOnPayTriNet

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), 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 OnPay

  • Single plan
  • Tax filing and payment
  • Vertical payroll support
  • Benefits brokerage
  • Workers compensation
  • Contractor payments
  • Basic HR tools
  • Accounting integrations

Only in TriNet

Nothing recorded that OnPay does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

OnPay

  • A farm running agricultural payroll that needs Form 943 rather than the standard quarterly filingnot TriNet
  • A church or nonprofit with clergy compensation rules that mainstream providers decline to handlenot TriNet
  • A restaurant group needing tip credit and minimum wage make-up calculated correctly each pay periodnot TriNet
  • A small business that wants one price for payroll rather than a tiered plan it has to keep upgradingnot TriNet

TriNet

  • HR and payroll services for mid-sized companiesnot OnPay
  • Talent managementnot OnPay
  • Benefits administrationnot OnPay

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

OnPay

  • OnPay operates only in the United States, so the first international hire means a second payroll vendor and a separate compliance model.
  • There is no native mobile application, only a responsive web interface, which employers with field or shift-based staff notice immediately.
  • The HR functionality is administrative and does not replace an HRIS, so performance, learning and any real workflow automation need another product.
  • Time and attendance is handled through integrations rather than natively, meaning hours arrive from a third-party system that has to be reconciled when it disagrees with payroll.
  • Reporting is functional but limited, and companies that want cost analysis by department, project or location generally export to a spreadsheet rather than build it in the product.

TriNet

  • Pricing is fully customized with no published rates
  • Assessment required before pricing is provided
  • No self-serve pricing options

Pricing, plan by plan

OnPay

On request
  • OnPay$undefined/month
    • One published plan combining a flat monthly base fee with a per person charge
    • No feature tiers, upgrades or add-on modules
    • Unlimited pay runs and multi-state filing included

TriNet

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the TriNet review.

Which should you pick?

Choose OnPay if

  • You need single plan.
  • You also want tax filing and payment.
OnPay review

Choose TriNet if

Nothing in the data separates TriNet from OnPay on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

TriNet review

Questions people ask

Is OnPay or TriNet better?
Neither clearly leads. OnPay starts at On request and TriNet at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OnPay or TriNet?
OnPay starts at On request and TriNet at On request.
Does OnPay or TriNet run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is OnPay best used for?
OnPay is most often used for a farm running agricultural payroll that needs form 943 rather than the standard quarterly filing, a church or nonprofit with clergy compensation rules that mainstream providers decline to handle, a restaurant group needing tip credit and minimum wage make-up calculated correctly each pay period, a small business that wants one price for payroll rather than a tiered plan it has to keep upgrading. Of those, a farm running agricultural payroll that needs form 943 rather than the standard quarterly filing and a church or nonprofit with clergy compensation rules that mainstream providers decline to handle are not what TriNet is typically brought in for.
What can OnPay do that TriNet cannot?
OnPay covers Single plan, Tax filing and payment, Vertical payroll support, Benefits brokerage.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OnPay: How is OnPay priced?

As a single published plan with a flat monthly base fee plus a charge per person paid, with no feature tiers. Contractors are charged at the same per person rate as employees.

TriNet: How does TriNet determine its pricing?

TriNet states: 'Many factors go into our pricing structure, including the state of your business and the size of your company.' Pricing is customized per client based on business size, location, and specific needs.

Source
OnPay: Does it handle payroll outside the United States?

No. It is US-only, in all fifty states, including multi-state filing at no extra cost.

TriNet: Can you get a TriNet quote without an assessment?

No. TriNet requires customers to complete an HR Solution Assessment or consult with a TriNet consultant before receiving a personalized quote. No pricing is available without this step.

Source
OnPay: Why do farms and churches use it?

It supports Form 943 agricultural filing, clergy housing allowance and Social Security exemption rules, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit payroll, which several larger providers do not.

OnPay: Is there a mobile app?

No. Employers and employees use a responsive web interface, which is a genuine gap for shift-based workforces.

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