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Guideline vs Hive Payroll Comparison

Last updated:

Guideline

4.5(402 reviews)

Starting at $49 /Month

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Guideline offers an easy and affordable 401(k) solution for small business owners, allowing them to build a solid financial future. Our platform simplifies plan administration, recordkeeping, compliance testing, investme…

Hive Payroll

5.0(1 reviews)

Starting at $17 /month

  • Free Trial
  • Medium Business
  • Small Business

Hive Payroll is payroll software for single-site and multi-site businesses that need payslip generation, deductions management, and statutory compliance handled without separate tools for each function. It consolidates p…

Hive Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 1 reviews.

Guideline vs Hive Payroll — at a glance

FeatureGuidelineHive Payroll
Rating4.5 / 55.0 / 5
Reviews4021
Starting price$49 /Month$17 /month
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessMedium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API——
Support modesBusiness Hours, OnlineOnline
Certifications—SOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Guideline and Hive Payroll

  • Pricing: Guideline starts at $49 /Month, while Hive Payroll starts at $17 /month.
  • Free trial: Hive Payroll offers a free trial; Guideline does not.
  • Target audience: Guideline is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Hive Payroll targets Medium Business and Small Business.
  • User satisfaction: Hive Payroll scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
  • Deployment: Guideline supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Hive Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Guideline vs Hive Payroll — 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.

Guideline - New SaaS Software
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Hive Payroll
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Guideline vs Hive Payroll: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Guideline

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Hive Payroll

Best for

Medium Business, Small Business

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

Description

Guideline offers an easy and affordable 401(k) solution for small business owners, allowing them to build a solid financial future. Our platform simplifies plan administration, ... Read More about Guideline

Hive Payroll is payroll software for single-site and multi-site businesses that need payslip generation, deductions management, and statutory compliance handled without separate tools for ... Read More about Hive Payroll

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $49
  • Starts from $17 , monthly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

Not Available

7.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.54

(402)
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Software Demo

Demo

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How do Guideline and Hive Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

5 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare Guideline and Hive Payroll 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

      • $49
      • $17 , monthly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Standard

        $17

        /month

        • Payroll

        • Payroll Processing

        • Leave Management

        Show more +

      • Premium

        $29

        /month

        • Payroll

        • Payroll Processing

        • Leave Management

        Show more +

      • Ultimate

        $46

        /month

        • Payroll

        • Payroll Processing

        • Leave Management

        Show more +

      Pricing Page

      Guideline pricing
      Hive Payroll pricing

      Guideline vs Hive Payroll: 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

      Guideline vs Hive Payroll Security & Compliance

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

      SOC 2

      —
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      —
      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Guideline User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      377

      105

      10

      4

      24

      1

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 520 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Affordable 401(k) solution
      • Simplifies plan administration
      • Comprehensive compliance management

      Common complaints

      • Limited to 401(k) plans
      • Not suitable for large businesses
      • May lack advanced features

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 1 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Hive Payroll is intuitively laid out, allowing even non-tech-savvy users to process payroll without a steep learning curve.
      • Supports end-to-end payroll functions including payslip generation and compliance with legal obligations.
      • Efficiently manages payroll across multiple locations, ideal for businesses with distributed teams.

      Common complaints

      • The visual layout could use modernization to enhance the overall user experience.
      • May not fully accommodate complex pay scales or non-standard compensation models.
      • No dedicated mobile app or optimized mobile interface limits flexibility for on-the-go payroll tasks.

      Pros and Cons

      • Affordable pricing tailored for small businesses.

      • Comprehensive features that cover all aspects of 401(k) management.

      • User-friendly interface that simplifies complex processes.

      • Not suitable for larger enterprises with complex needs.

      • Limited to 401(k) offerings only.

      • Efficient payroll processing for multiple sites.

      • Simplifies statutory obligations for businesses.

      • Quick and easy payslip generation.

      • Customization may be limited for specific needs.

      • Lacks a mobile application for on-the-go access.

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Guideline or Hive Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      User Support

      3 Screenshots

      Hive Payroll

      4 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Guideline and Hive Payroll 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, Guideline or Hive Payroll?
      Hive Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 4.5). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Guideline and Hive Payroll offer a free trial?
      Hive Payroll offers a free trial. Guideline does not.
      What is the starting price of Guideline vs Hive Payroll?
      Guideline starts at $49 /Month. Hive Payroll starts at $17 /month.
      What are the top alternatives to Guideline?
      Top alternatives to Guideline include Ontop, Remofirst, Excelforce, Paycom, SumoPayroll.
      What are the top alternatives to Hive Payroll?
      Top alternatives to Hive Payroll include 247HRM, Paybooks, PayrollPanda, CheckMark Payroll, Heartland Payroll.