Justworks
Justworks is a full-service PEO platform that simplifies HR, payroll, and benefits for small to mid-sized US businesses by acting as co-employer, providing compliance support, and offering competitive group health plans. Founded in 2012, it enables companies to access enterprise-grade tools without in-house expertise.
Best for
- Startups and small businesses (5-100 employees) scaling with benefits needs
- Multi-state SMBs requiring compliant payroll across US states
- Tech and service companies wanting hands-off HR management
- High-growth firms needing quick onboarding and 401(k) setup
- Businesses new to benefits seeking affordable group health access
Not ideal for
- PEO co-employment model may not suit businesses wanting full control
- Pricing opacity with quote-based system and potential high total costs
- Limited customization for non-standard payroll needs
- Onboarding delays of 2-4 weeks for multi-state firms
- No standalone HRIS with advanced analytics compared to pure HR tools
Get Started with Justworks
From $59/mo · 3 plans available
Visit Justworks →Justworks Overview
Justworks vs Top Alternatives
| Software | Rating | Starting Price | Free Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JwJustworks | 4.6 ★ | $59/mo | No | |
| BBambooHR | 4.6 ★ | $10/mo | No | Compare → |
| DeDeel | 4.6 ★ | $49/mo | No | Compare → |
| RiRippling | 4.6 ★ | $8/mo | No | Compare → |
| GGusto | 4.5 ★ | $40/mo | No | Compare → |
| GGreenhouse | 4.5 ★ | $6,000/yr | No | Compare → |
Justworks Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
- All-in-one PEO solution combining payroll, benefits, HR, and compliance
- Strong benefits access with Fortune 500-level health plans at competitive rates
- Excellent compliance expertise handling complex regulations
- User-friendly interface with 95% setup success rate
- Scalable for growth supporting 1-1,000+ employees
- Responsive 24/7 support with 75+ NPS score
- Cost savings on benefits with 10-20% lower premiums
Cons
- PEO co-employment model may not suit businesses wanting full control
- Pricing opacity with quote-based system and potential high total costs
- Limited customization for non-standard payroll needs
- Onboarding delays of 2-4 weeks for multi-state firms
- No standalone HRIS with advanced analytics compared to pure HR tools
Pricing Plans
Justworks Payroll + Benefits
- Standalone payroll
- Benefits administration
- Multi-state payroll
- Employee self-service app
Justworks PEO (Full-Service)
- Unlimited payroll runs
- ACA-compliant benefits
- HR compliance tools
- Dedicated HR support
Justworks Launch (Startup Plan)
- Startup-focused features
- Onboarding support
- Performance management
- No minimum employee count
Justworks Integrations
Justworks connects with 10 services to extend your workflow.
Who Should Use Justworks?
Growing Small-Medium Businesses
Justworks is designed for companies with 10-200 employees and revenue between $1M-$50M seeking simplified payroll, benefits, HR, and compliance. The primary segment is companies with 10-50 employees and $1M-10M revenue.
RecommendedTech and Service Companies
Most commonly used by Computer Software (13%), Internet (9%), Financial Services (8%), and Marketing & Advertising (7%) companies. Well-suited for managing remote teams with accessible benefits.
RecommendedLarge Enterprises
Only 8% of users have >1,000 employees. Missing advanced HR modules like performance management, learning management, and comprehensive talent management features needed by larger organizations.
Not idealWhen to Consider Alternatives
Need advanced HR functionality
Missing performance management, learning management, and robust applicant tracking beyond basics. Users report limited features compared to competitors.
Consider BambooHR instead →Require extensive global operations
Early-stage international expansion with weak local health plans and US-only mobile app. Limited to 12 non-US countries with restricted functionality.
Consider Workday instead →Budget-conscious small businesses
Reddit users frequently mention higher costs compared to competitors. One user noted they 'commonly jack up medical rates 30-40%+ after the first year which leads to high customer churn.'
Consider Gusto instead →Need robust customer support
Users report poor customer support with 66 mentions on G2 citing unresponsive service and difficulties resolving complex problems. One Reddit user called them 'the worst payroll company' due to untrained staff creating payroll errors.
Consider QuickBooks instead →Top Justworks Alternatives
BambooHR
HR software for small and medium businesses with employee management and reporting.
Deel
Deel is an all-in-one global people platform combining payroll, HRIS, compliance, performance, IT, and equity management for workers in 150+ countries. It enables compliant hiring and operations without local entities, serving 40,000+ customers from startups to enterprises.
Rippling
All-in-one workforce management platform that unifies HR, IT, and Finance on a single data source, automating onboarding, payroll, devices, compliance, and workflows for global teams.
Gusto
All-in-one HR platform with payroll, benefits, and team management for small businesses.
Greenhouse
Recruiting software and applicant tracking system for hiring teams.
Paychex
Unified HCM platform that combines payroll processing, HR administration, benefits management, and workforce management tools in a single cloud-based solution. Designed for businesses of all sizes with automated tax calculations and compliance support.