Top 10 Zenefits Alternatives 2026

What reviewers like about Heartland Payroll

• The self-service portal is intuitive and easy to navigate, offering features for payroll entry, custom reporting, and data access.
• Dedicated payroll specialists are knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive, resolving issues efficiently.
• Payroll automation eliminates the need for manual calculations by handling taxes, deductions, and filings at local, state, and federal levels.

Where Heartland Payroll falls short

• Onboarding processes can be disorganized and manual, leading to errors and requiring additional oversight.
• Frequent turnover of payroll representatives affects continuity and consistency for some customers.
• Employees often face challenges accessing the portal, with issues like account lockouts or subpar mobile experience.

What reviewers like about Square Payroll

• Square Payroll integrates effortlessly with existing payroll providers, making it an ideal plug-and-play solution without the need for major system overhauls.
• Its simple and intuitive design makes payroll management easy even for business owners or HR teams with limited technical expertise.
• Built-in time tracking allows accurate logging of hours worked, which improves payroll precision and reduces manual errors.

Where Square Payroll falls short

• While great for small businesses, it may lack some of the advanced reporting, analytics, or customization features needed by larger enterprises.
• Full functionality may be best realized when used within the broader Square ecosystem, limiting flexibility for companies using other systems.
• Businesses with multiple locations, international staff, or intricate pay structures might find the platform’s simplicity somewhat restrictive.

What reviewers like about APS Payroll

• Integration with Sage Intacct simplifies operations and reduces manual work.
• Extremely user-friendly, with clear features for both admins and employees.
• Excellent customer service with responsive, knowledgeable, and dedicated support teams.

Where APS Payroll falls short

• Implementation can be disorganized with some inconsistencies and delays in setup or onboarding.
• Customization is limited in certain features like deduction fields, reporting, and benefits management.
• Reporting features can be challenging for new users until they gain familiarity with the system.

What reviewers like about Patriot Payroll

• Very user-friendly software, making tasks straightforward and efficient for startups and small businesses.
• Excellent customer service, characterized by quick responses, patience, and effective problem resolution.
• Affordable pricing, providing great value compared to competitors.

Where Patriot Payroll falls short

• Occasional learning curve during setup or for newcomers, though consistently offset by good support.
• Limited advanced features for larger businesses or those seeking higher customization.
• Minor issues reported, but rare and swiftly resolved.

What reviewers like about Remote.com

• Exceptional customer support that is quick, responsive, and patient, ensuring all user queries are resolved efficiently.
• Support team members frequently go above and beyond to resolve issues, offering personalized and friendly assistance.
• Easy-to-use platform with smooth navigation, enhancing the overall user experience.

Where Remote.com falls short

• Occasional delays in resolving issues on public or holiday schedules, leading to minor inconveniences.
• Some users mention limited flexibility or dependency on support for solving certain issues that may hinder self-service.

What reviewers like about Microkeeper

• Consolidates payroll, rosters, timesheets, and HR tasks into one platform.
• Does not require extensive training to get started.
• Automates payroll processing and other repetitive administrative tasks, saving time.

Where Microkeeper falls short

• Occasional app or feature downtime causes minor disruptions.
• Superannuation or payslip summary updates sometimes lack clarity or employee-facing visibility.
• App design and layout are considered less modern by some users.

What reviewers like about Justworks

• International payroll capabilities
• Real-time benefits administration
• Mobile app for convenience

Where Justworks falls short

• Higher cost for small businesses
• Limited customization options
• Complex setup process

What reviewers like about RUN Powered by ADP

• Customer support is responsive and resolves onboarding and processing issues quickly.
• Interface makes payroll management accessible for users without accounting experience.
• Supports multiple payroll entities — users can switch between accounts without friction.

Where RUN Powered by ADP falls short

• Some users need guidance to use advanced features like reporting and category tracking.
• HR features may fall short for businesses with complex HR requirements.
• Occasional mobile app glitches interrupt payroll processing.

What reviewers like about greytHR

• User-friendly interface simplifies navigation and reduces the need for extensive training.
• Automates HR processes like payroll, leave, attendance, onboarding, and compliance, saving time and effort.
• Excellent customer support with quick query resolution and implementation guidance.

Where greytHR falls short

• Limited features for larger firms
• May lack advanced reporting
• Support response times can vary

What reviewers like about CheckMark Payroll

• 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.

Where CheckMark Payroll falls short

• 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.