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Justworks vs Hive Payroll Comparison

Last updated:

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…

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.

Spotsaas Analysis

JustworksHive Payroll

The core difference between Justworks and Hive Payroll lies in Justworks' focus on small to mid-sized businesses with a comprehensive payroll and benefits solution, while Hive Payroll lacks detailed information on its target audience and features. Justworks is ideal for HR managers and business owners in various sectors looking for an easy-to-use platform, while Hive Payroll may appeal to businesses seeking a more flexible payroll solution.

- Best for small to mid-sized businesses - Integrated payroll and benefits platform - Simple setup with low complexity - Suitable for startups and non-profits - Ideal for HR Managers and Business Owners - Pricing starts at $8

- Specific target audience not listed - Pricing starts at $17 - Details on features and benefits not provided - May offer flexibility in payroll processing - Lacks comprehensive integration options - Ideal buyer information is unclear

Justworks vs Hive Payroll — at a glance

FeatureJustworksHive Payroll
Rating3.9 / 55.0 / 5
Reviews501
Starting price$8 /user/month$17 /month
Free trial Yes Yes
Free version No No
Best forSmall Business, Medium Business, Large EnterprisesMedium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API——
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineOnline
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between Justworks and Hive Payroll

  • Pricing: Justworks starts at $8 /user/month, while Hive Payroll starts at $17 /month.
  • Target audience: Justworks is built for Small Business 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: Justworks supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Hive Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Justworks 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.

Justworks - Payroll Software
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Hive Payroll
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Justworks vs Hive Payroll: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

Hive Payroll

Best for

Medium Business, Small Business

Justworks typically suits Small Business 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

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

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 $8 , monthly
  • Starts from $17 , monthly

Free Trial Availability

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

9.2/10

7.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

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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How do Justworks and Hive Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

13 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Justworks 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

      • $8 , monthly
      • $17 , monthly

      Pricing Plans

      • 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
      • 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

      Justworks pricing
      Hive Payroll pricing

      Justworks 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

      Justworks vs Hive Payroll Security & Compliance

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

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes
      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes
      —

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      Justworks User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      20

      20

      5

      0

      5

      1

      0

      0

      0

      0

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      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

      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

      • 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

      • 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 Justworks or Hive Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Justworks and Hive Payroll Customers

      Customers

      Qubit

      Qubit

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Hive Payroll

      4 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Justworks 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, Justworks or Hive Payroll?
      Hive Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 3.9). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Justworks and Hive Payroll offer a free trial?
      Yes, both Justworks and Hive Payroll offer a free trial.
      What is the starting price of Justworks vs Hive Payroll?
      Justworks starts at $8 /user/month. Hive Payroll starts at $17 /month.
      What are the top alternatives to Justworks?
      Top alternatives to Justworks include OnPay, Square Payroll, APS Payroll, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll.
      What are the top alternatives to Hive Payroll?
      Top alternatives to Hive Payroll include 247HRM, Paybooks, PayrollPanda, CheckMark Payroll, Heartland Payroll.