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CheckMark Payroll vs Justworks Comparison

Last updated:

CheckMark Payroll

4.2(6 reviews)

Starting at $449

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

CheckMark Payroll is a desktop payroll application for small business owners who want to run payroll in-house without outsourcing. It handles check printing, W-2 generation, and federal tax reports directly from the user…

Justworks

3.9(50 reviews)

Starting at $8 /user/month

  • Free Trial
  • Small Business
  • Medium Business

Justworks is payroll software that offers international payroll, payroll tax filing and realtime benefits administration. The Justworks app is a simple way for teams to bill their hours directly from their iPhone or Andr…

CheckMark Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 4.2-star rating across 6 reviews.

CheckMark Payroll vs Justworks — at a glance

FeatureCheckMark PayrollJustworks
Rating4.2 / 53.9 / 5
Reviews650
Starting price$449$8 /user/month
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessSmall Business, Medium Business, Large Enterprises
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API——
Support modesOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2SOC 2, GDPR
Data residency—US

Key differences between CheckMark Payroll and Justworks

  • Pricing: CheckMark Payroll starts at $449, while Justworks starts at $8 /user/month.
  • Target audience: CheckMark Payroll is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Justworks targets Small Business and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: CheckMark Payroll scores higher with a 4.2-star average.
  • Deployment: CheckMark Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Justworks supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

CheckMark Payroll vs Justworks — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

CheckMark Payroll - Payroll Software
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Justworks - Payroll Software
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Talk to an expert

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CheckMark Payroll vs Justworks: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

CheckMark Payroll

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Justworks

Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing integrated payroll and benefits.

Choose if
  • You want a simple, streamlined payroll and benefits platform with low setup complexity.
  • Your company size ranges from 5 to 500 employees, especially startups or non-profits.
  • You need real-time benefits administration combined with transparent employee pay views.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your enterprise requires highly customized or complex payroll workflows.
  • You need advanced global payroll capabilities beyond Justworks’ supported countries.

CheckMark Payroll typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Justworks tends to fit Small Business and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

CheckMark Payroll is a desktop payroll application for small business owners who want to run payroll in-house without outsourcing. It handles check printing, W-2 generation, and federal tax ... Read More about CheckMark Payroll

Justworks is payroll software that offers international payroll, payroll tax filing and realtime benefits administration. The Justworks app is a simple way for teams to bill their hours ... Read More about Justworks

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $449
  • Starts from $8 , monthly

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.2/10

9.2/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.17

(6)

3.9

(50)

Best Company Size

—
5-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Justworks

  • Comprehensive Payroll & Benefits: Justworks combines payroll processing with benefits management, making it easier to administer health insurance, 401(k), and compliance in one platform.
  • Compliance & Risk Mitigation: The platform stays current with tax filings and labor laws, helping companies avoid costly penalties and manage risk confidently.
  • Justworks offers intuitive employee onboarding, time tracking, and document management, simplifying HR tasks and improving workforce management.
Best fit

Best fit

Justworks

  • 5–500 employees
  • Technology, professional services, startups, non-profits, healthcare, and small to medium enterprises
  • HR Managers, Payroll Specialists, Business Owners, Finance Directors, and Operations Managers
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Justworks

  • Businesses seeking a combined payroll, benefits, and compliance platform with simplified user experience.
  • Companies needing streamlined HR tools alongside payroll to manage employee lifecycle efficiently.
  • Organizations looking for a cloud-based solution with strong compliance support for tax and labor laws.

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do CheckMark Payroll and Justworks Compare on Features?

Total Features

8 Features

13 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare CheckMark Payroll and Justworks on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $449
      • $8 , monthly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Payroll

        $8

        /user/month

        • Payroll for all employees

        • HR tools

        • Expert support

        Show more +

      • PEO Basic

        $59

        /user/month

        • Payroll for all employees

        • Compliance simplified

        • HR Consulting & Tools

        Show more +

      • PEO Plus

        $109

        /user/month

        • Everything in PEO Basic

        • Health Insurance Administration

        • HSA/FSA Accounts

        Show more +

      • Browse all pricing plans

      Pricing Page

      CheckMark Payroll pricing
      Justworks pricing

      CheckMark Payroll vs Justworks: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      CheckMark Payroll vs Justworks Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      —
      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      —
      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      —
      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      —
      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      —
      🇺🇸 US

      CheckMark Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      3

      3

      0

      0

      0

      20

      20

      5

      0

      5

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 6 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • Offers multiple check printing formats so businesses can customize how employee paychecks are printed.
      • The ability to print paychecks, reports, and federal tax forms directly from your own printer gives businesses full control over payroll operations without relying on third parties.
      • Reduces the administrative burden of payroll processing, making it suited for small to mid-sized businesses.

      Common complaints

      • The product focuses primarily on check printing and payroll processing, and may not include broader HR functionalities like onboarding, time tracking, or benefits administration.
      • Some functions, such as data entry or record updates, may require manual intervention, which can be time-consuming and prone to user error.
      • The product description suggests a desktop-based system, which may lack modern cloud features like remote access, automatic updates, or mobile support.

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyers generally express high satisfaction with Justworks for its ease of use, comprehensive features, and cost savings, especially among small to medium businesses.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Comprehensive payroll and benefits integration
      • Cost-effective health insurance

      Common complaints

      • Pricing transparency
      • Limited advanced customization

      Pros and Cons

      • Multiple check printing options enhance flexibility.

      • User-friendly interface simplifies payroll tasks.

      • Affordable pricing makes it accessible for SMBs.

      • Limited online features may hinder some users.

      • Basic customer support may not meet all needs.

      • Comprehensive integration of payroll, benefits, and compliance in one platform

      • User-friendly interface with smooth onboarding and transparent employee pay views

      • Cost-effective health insurance plans that save money for companies and employees

      • Limited pricing transparency as starting price is not publicly available

      • May lack advanced customization for complex enterprise payroll needs

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used CheckMark Payroll or Justworks? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      CheckMark Payroll and Justworks Customers

      Customers

      No Customers information available.

      Qubit

      Qubit

      Media and Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to CheckMark Payroll and Justworks in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, CheckMark Payroll or Justworks?
      CheckMark Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.2 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do CheckMark Payroll and Justworks offer a free trial?
      Yes, both CheckMark Payroll and Justworks offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of CheckMark Payroll vs Justworks?
      CheckMark Payroll starts at $449. Justworks starts at $8 /user/month.
      What are the top alternatives to CheckMark Payroll?
      Top alternatives to CheckMark Payroll include Heartland Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Microkeeper, APS Payroll.
      What are the top alternatives to Justworks?
      Top alternatives to Justworks include OnPay, Square Payroll, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll.