Heartland Payroll vs Justworks Comparison
Heartland Payroll
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Medium Business
- Small Business
Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, cost accounting and tracking of…
Justworks
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…
Heartland Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 118 reviews.
Spotsaas Analysis
Heartland PayrollJustworks
The core difference between Heartland Payroll and Justworks lies in their focus; Heartland Payroll is tailored for businesses primarily in retail, hospitality, and healthcare that require robust payroll support, while Justworks offers a broader integration of payroll and benefits, making it ideal for startups and non-profits. Heartland Payroll is best suited for companies with 20-500 employees seeking automated payroll solutions, whereas Justworks caters to a wider range of small to mid-sized businesses, especially those looking for simplicity in payroll and benefits management.
- Best for small to mid-sized businesses - Strong support for payroll management - Ideal for retail, hospitality, and healthcare sectors - Automated tax filings included - Suitable for 20-500 employees - Focus on reducing manual work
- Best for small to mid-sized businesses - Integrated payroll and benefits platform - Low setup complexity - Ideal for startups and non-profits - Suitable for 5-500 employees - Focus on simplicity and streamlining processes
Heartland Payroll vs Justworks — at a glance
| Feature | Heartland Payroll | Justworks |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Reviews | 118 | 50 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $8 /user/month |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Medium Business, Small Business | Small Business, Medium Business, Large Enterprises |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | — | — |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep) | 24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | — | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between Heartland Payroll and Justworks
- Pricing: Justworks starts at $8 /user/month. Heartland Payroll pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Justworks offers a free trial; Heartland Payroll does not.
- Target audience: Heartland Payroll is built for Medium Business and Small Business, while Justworks targets Small Business and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: Heartland Payroll scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
- Deployment: Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Justworks supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Heartland Payroll vs Justworks — find the better fit before you commit.
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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.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
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Heartland Payroll vs Justworks: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.
- You run a retail, hospitality, or healthcare business with 20-500 employees.
- You want automated tax filings and integrated payment processing to reduce manual work.
- You value responsive, knowledgeable payroll specialists for personalized customer support.
- Your company is a large enterprise with complex payroll needs requiring high customization.
- You need a highly customizable payroll entry and reporting system beyond standard options.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing integrated payroll and benefits.
- 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.
- Your enterprise requires highly customized or complex payroll workflows.
- You need advanced global payroll capabilities beyond Justworks’ supported countries.
Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support. Justworks: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing integrated payroll and benefits.
Description | Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, ... Read More about Heartland 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 |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 20-50 employees51-500 employees | 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.
Key strengths
- Integrated Payments & Payroll: Combines payroll with Heartland's payment processing, simplifying employee compensation and business transactions.
- Compliance & Tax Filing: Automates federal, state, and local tax filings, helping reduce compliance risks and administrative workload.
- User-Friendly Platform: Designed to simplify payroll with easy-to-use dashboards, direct deposit options, and responsive customer support.
- 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
- 20–500 employees
- Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and small to mid-sized businesses
- Payroll Managers, HR Directors, Finance Officers, Business Owners, and Operations Managers
- 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
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Businesses seeking deeper integration between payment processing and payroll may explore other all-in-one providers.
- Companies requiring advanced HR management, benefits administration, or time tracking may consider broader HCM platforms.
- Firms with multi-state or complex compliance needs might look for payroll solutions specializing in regulatory support.
- 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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How do Heartland Payroll and Justworks Compare on Features?
Total Features | 12 Features | 13 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Heartland 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.
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Pricing Page | Pricing information not available |  |
Heartland Payroll vs Justworks: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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Modes of support |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Heartland Payroll vs Justworks Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | ✓ Yes |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | — | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | — | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
Heartland Payroll User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate the user-friendly platform and strong customer service but note onboarding challenges and portal access issues. What buyers like
Common complaints
| 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
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
| Negative Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Heartland Payroll and Justworks Customers
Customers | No Customers information available. |  Qubit |
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Media and Screenshots
Videos |  2 Videos |  2 Videos |
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Top Alternatives to Heartland Payroll and Justworks in 2026
Alternatives |
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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, Heartland Payroll or Justworks?
- Heartland Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Heartland Payroll and Justworks offer a free trial?
- Justworks offers a free trial. Heartland Payroll does not.
- What is the starting price of Heartland Payroll vs Justworks?
- Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing. Justworks starts at $8 /user/month.
- What are the top alternatives to Heartland Payroll?
- Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.
- What are the top alternatives to Justworks?
- Top alternatives to Justworks include OnPay, Square Payroll, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll.