Most HR tools I’ve tried either overpromise or overwhelm. You sign up hoping to save time, but end up buried in setup, chasing support, or stuck paying for features you don’t need. Just managing time off or keeping employee records up to date can turn into a full-time job.
That’s exactly why I started looking for something different: something that doesn’t treat small teams like afterthoughts. I wanted a platform that actually helps organize the chaos, automates the repetitive stuff, and makes it easy to stay compliant without extra stress.
I created a Justworks review to break down what it does well, where it gets in the way, and who can benefit from using it. Let’s dive in.
Justworks makes running a small business easier. It combines HR tools, payroll software, benefits administration, and compliance support into a single platform. Whether you’re managing employee benefits, handling payroll processing, or trying to stay on top of complex HR tasks, Justworks takes the pressure off.
One of the main things that makes Justworks stand out is its PEO service (Professional Employer Organization). With Justworks PEO, small businesses can offer big-company employee benefits, like health insurance, 401(k) plans, and wellness programs, without needing to manage every detail themselves. It handles administrative tasks like tax filings, compliance checks, and onboarding, so you can focus more on growing your team than running HR processes.
Justworks payroll is also a core feature. The platform makes it simple to run payroll for both employees and contractors. It automates direct deposits, tax filings, and year-end forms like W-2s and 1099s. If you’re looking for a solution that handles payroll management while staying compliant with state and federal rules, this software checks a lot of boxes.
It also includes helpful extras like the Justworks mobile app, which lets employees access personal information, pay stubs, and request time off. Tools like Justworks Time Tracking (an optional add-on) make it easier to manage work hours and avoid payroll errors.
Overall, if you’re trying to simplify HR functions and find a reliable PEO solution, Justworks is one of the best payroll software options built for small businesses.
After reviewing Justworks, the main benefits that I found attractive are:
However, it’s not without drawbacks:
Justworks packs a lot into one platform. It’s a full HR solution built to help small businesses manage employees, benefits, compliance, and administrative tasks without needing a full HR department.
Here’s a closer look at the standout features that make the Justworks platform worth considering.
Justworks payroll is simple and reliable. You can run payroll for both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. It handles direct deposit, all payroll tax filings, and sends W-2 and 1099 forms at the end of the year. You can also run off-cycle payments if needed. If you’re dealing with multi-state payroll, Justworks keeps everything compliant with local rules across different states.
If you’re working with contractors outside the U.S., Justworks can pay them in over 60 countries. You don’t have to deal with currency conversion or tax forms—it’s all built in. It’s a paid add-on, but for small businesses hiring globally, it simplifies the entire payroll process for international workers.
For small businesses expanding overseas, Justworks offers an EOR service. That means you can legally hire full-time employees in other countries without setting up a foreign entity. Justworks handles payroll, local compliance, and employee benefits in those countries. It’s expensive, but if you’re growing fast and need to hire globally, this peo solution can save time and legal headaches.
With Justworks PEO, small businesses can offer employee benefits that big companies usually can’t afford. That includes health, dental, vision, 401(k), HSA/FSA, life insurance, commuter perks, and even mental health resources. The platform handles all the messy parts like enrollment, deductions, COBRA, and paperwork, so you can offer a full benefits package without getting buried in forms.
Staying compliant with HR laws is a major pain point for small businesses. Justworks helps with that by filing payroll taxes, managing workers’ comp, staying on top of new state laws, and offering built-in HR consulting. You also get access to harassment prevention training and other tools that keep your business legally covered. If you’re in multiple states, this compliance support is even more critical.
Justworks includes essential HR software tools to handle employee onboarding, paid time off tracking, document storage, and org charts. It lets employees update personal information themselves, which saves time. You don’t need to bounce between spreadsheets and forms; basic HR tasks are all in one dashboard. It’s not overloaded with features, but it covers the day-to-day stuff that small teams actually need.
If you have hourly employees or need to track work hours, Justworks Time Tracking helps you stay accurate. Employees can clock in and out through the app or web, and their hours sync directly to payroll. It’s an extra cost, but it’s useful if you need to stay compliant with overtime rules or just want a clearer view of your team’s time.
Every plan includes access to customer support, and if you’re on a PEO plan, support is available 24/7. You can call, email, or chat anytime. There’s also built-in HR consulting: someone who can help you navigate things like onboarding, employee policies, or tricky state laws. You don’t need to be an HR expert to stay on top of HR functions.
Managing employee benefits usually takes a ton of time. Justworks handles benefits administration completely—plan setup, enrollment, deductions, and ongoing support. If someone leaves, it also manages COBRA. You don’t need to talk to insurance companies or chase paperwork. It simplifies the entire HR benefits process.
The Justworks mobile app is designed for employees. They can check their pay stubs, request time off, pull up benefits info, and update personal details. It’s handy for remote teams or people who prefer mobile over desktop. It also reduces the number of small HR questions you’ll get from your team.
Each feature is designed to take real pressure off small businesses. Whether you’re looking for the best PEO service, solid payroll features, or just easier HR tasks, Justworks covers the essentials without overcomplicating it.
Justworks keeps its pricing simple, but the total cost really depends on how much help you want with HR and payroll. There are three main plans, each with additional features:
This is the entry-level plan for teams that just need payroll software and a few basic HR tools. It covers:
This plan adds more compliance support and HR consulting. It’s a solid choice if you need real HR support but don’t need Justworks to manage health insurance yet. It includes everything in the Payroll plan, plus:
If you want an all-in-one HR solution that handles payroll, compliance, and employee benefits, this is the most complete plan.This plan includes everything in Basic, and adds full benefits administration. That includes:
Only available with Basic or Plus. This service helps small businesses legally hire full-time employees in other countries. Justworks becomes the local employer and handles taxes, payroll, and benefits overseas.
There are no setup fees, and billing is month-to-month based on active employees. It’s transparent and simple, but as your team grows or you add more features, your total cost will grow with it.
Justworks reviews across platforms like G2 and Capterra tell a pretty consistent story. Most users rate it highly, typically around 4.5 to 4.6 stars out of 5, with praise for simplicity, support, and how it streamlines messy admin work for small businesses.
A lot of people mention the clean interface and how easy it is to run payroll, onboard new hires, and manage benefits. That’s a common theme, especially among startups and teams without dedicated HR. The customer support also gets called out often—users like that they can chat or call and get real help fast, not just canned responses. Some say it’s one of the best parts of using the platform.
But it’s not all perfect. A few users point out limited integrations, especially compared to platforms like Rippling. Some complain about basic reporting tools or lack of deep customization. A handful also mention glitches in the mobile app or issues retrieving older records after offboarding. While these aren’t dealbreakers, they matter if you rely heavily on those parts of the system.
Overall, Justworks seems to work best for small businesses that want an all-in-one payroll and HR tool with strong compliance support and minimal fuss. For teams that value control without micromanaging every HR function, it earns its spot as a top PEO solution.
If you’re looking at Justworks but want something leaner, more flexible, and honestly easier to set up and manage, Thrivea makes a strong case.
Justworks is built around the PEO (Professional Employer Organization) model, which means it wraps HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance into one bundled service. That’s powerful, but also rigid, expensive, and often overkill for small businesses that just want solid HR operations without being locked into an all-in-one contract.
Thrivea flips that model on its head. It gives you clarity, automation, and full control without needing a third-party co-employer. You keep your own EIN, manage your own payroll provider if you want, and only add the tools you actually need. It’s built for teams that want to structure HR without outsourcing ownership.
What makes Thrivea the smarter pick:
Justworks handles payroll, benefits, and compliance through a PEO model. Thrivea doesn’t. If your top priority is outsourced tax filing, group health plan access, or running payroll through a co-employer, Justworks is the better choice.
But if what you need is a clean, customizable system to manage HR tasks in-house, without a big price tag or operational overhead, Thrivea fits better.
Justworks does a solid job handling payroll, benefits, and compliance as a PEO, but it’s not built for everyone. If you’re a team that doesn’t need co-employment or bundled insurance and prefers modular tools with better visibility and lower overhead, there are other platforms that offer more flexibility. Thrivea stands out for teams that want control, clarity, and automation—without a heavy commitment or monthly per-employee fees from day one.
Here are some other well-known options:
Each of these tools fits a slightly different use case. If you value operational control, self-service setup, and avoiding the lock-in of PEO contracts, platforms like Thrivea or Rippling might be the better long-term fit.
| Why Choose Thrivea Over Justworks | Thrivea | Justworks |
| Pricing flexibility | Free Core HR plan, pay only for modules you need | Flat per-employee fees ($79–$109/month), no à la carte pricing |
| Ease of setup | Self-serve, live in minutes, no IT needed | Requires onboarding and support setup |
| Modular HR system | Add features like PTO, reviews, and workflows as you grow | All-in-one PEO structure with bundled services |
| Usability | Clean, intuitive interface designed for non-HR users | Functional, but more enterprise/PEO-oriented |
| Document + workflow automation | Built-in no-code automation, versioning, and logs | Limited workflow tools, basic doc storage |
| Internal communication tools | Real-time updates, read receipts, and post analytics | Not a focus area |
| Data control and visibility | Custom fields, Smart Views, and role-based permissions | Fixed templates and permission structures |
| Compliance tracking | SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and activity logs by default | Built into the PEO model, less user-facing control |
| Best for | Teams (10–500) wanting structure without PEO lock-in | Small businesses that want full-service payroll + benefits |
| Not for | Companies needing bundled payroll + insurance | Teams wanting a lightweight, modular HR infrastructure |
Justworks delivers a full-service PEO model that handles payroll, benefits, and compliance all in one package. If your goal is to outsource HR operations, tap into group insurance plans, and get hands-off with filings and legal setup, it’s a strong, established option, especially for small businesses that want the safety net of co-employment.
But if you’re not ready for the cost, the lock-in, or the bundled structure, Justworks might feel like too much too soon. That’s where Thrivea fits better. It’s free to start, easy to configure on your own, and gives you control without the overhead. You keep payroll and benefits wherever they already live, while Thrivea handles records, automation, communication, and compliance tracking.
If you’re trying to reduce complexity rather than add to it, Thrivea provides a cleaner, leaner foundation to grow on. Book your demo today and discover all the benefits our tool offers!
by Jelena Relić
18 min
In this Personio review, I’m taking a close look at one of the most talked-about HR software platforms for small and midsize teams. Personi...
by Jelena Relić
15 min
Payroll shouldn’t feel like a second job, but most payroll software makes it one. Between tax forms, benefits administration, and trying to keep emp...
by Jelena Relić
20 min
Manually tracking PTO with spreadsheets, emails, and calendar chaos slows everything down. Balances get outdated, approvals fall through the cracks, a...
