The success of an organization depends on its human resources. As business is about people and not just management skills, you need the tools to make the HR tasks and processes easy for the staff. Namely and Zenefits are two competing platforms for such purposes. If you’re on the hunt for an HR platform, use our Product Selection Tool. It simplifies your search process. Just enter your desired features, company size, and price, and we’ll send you a list of HR software options that suit your needs.

Namely vs. Zenefits: An overview

Namely is a human resources information system (HRIS) platform that offers a range of tools for people operations management, recruitment, onboarding, payroll, benefits, analytics, performance management, and compliance. It was founded in 2012 in Brooklyn. Zenefits is a cloud-based HR management software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform offering an all-in-one HR solution that features advanced tools to help employees in their employment journey from recruitment to retirement. Founded in 2013, Zenefits is based in San Francisco.

Integrated HR solutions

Namely offers a comprehensive human resources solution integrated with time and attendance, payroll, and benefits. It features automatic benefits deduction, tax filing, reporting, and self-service functionality that allows employees access to their payslips and paycheck history. Its robust HR business intelligence tools deliver visual analytics dashboard, insights, and reporting for better decision making. Zenefits seamlessly integrates HR, benefits, and payroll. The platform takes advantage of analytics for data-informed insights on employee performance or workforce diversity to understand the business better.

People operation, recruitment, and HR

Namely optimizes the hiring process with its recruitment features such as custom job workflows, job posting and syndication, resume parser and searchable database, interviews and assessments, and background checks. It simplifies talent management with its onboarding, goal management, performance assessment, time and task trackers, and review templates features. Its time and attendance feature includes online time tracking, physical time clocks, mobile time tracker, scheduling, overtime, bulk actions on scheduling changes, automated import to payroll, and reporting. Zenefits provides advanced tools for your HR department to drive profit and enhance productivity. It has organizational charts, directories, and other tools to simplify workforce management. It allows employees to update their information in the database via their mobile devices. Its compensation management feature helps you attract and retain quality talent in the industry. As satisfaction and happiness are an important factor in a company’s success, Zenefits offers tools to manage employee performance and well being.

Payroll, benefits, and compliance

Namely features open enrollment, consulting and compliance, tax filings, W-2s, and benefits deductions for its payroll and benefits. It offers comprehensive benefits administration and compliance support and a database that houses updated employment regulations, best practices, and tools. Zenefits HR is fully integrated and syncs with its easy-to-use payroll system, and it ensures compliance with policies and regulations. Its advanced payroll features include unlimited pay runs, garnishments support, direct deposits, tips reporting, multiple schedules and pay rates, contractor payments, general ledger reporting, and dynamic mobile paystubs. It helps manage changes in benefits and salaries.

Collaboration and integrations

Namely is user-friendly and offers communication tools, mobile access to the platform (payroll, benefits, and time trackers), and workforce unification (aligning employees on shared goals). It features an open API for integrating with other applications, platforms, and third-party systems. Zenefits features People Hub where employees can collaborate, communicate, organize, and promote HR activities. It is fully integrated, accessible through mobile, and has built-in compliance. It also has tons of third-party integrations, including Workato, Zapier, Box, Hive, Asana, G Suite, Salesforce, Office 365, Slack, Zoom, Lever, Greenhouse, Guideline 401(k), Xero, and Intuit Quickbooks.

Which HR platform is better?

The answer depends on your preferences and needs. But these two platforms are equally valuable and offer similar basic functionalities. Namely is designed for mid-sized to large companies, while Zenefits fits all sizes of business. Namely simplifies and streamlines all processes related to HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance. It features modifiable templates, streamlined and paperless processes, a single platform of employee records, and E-Verify integration. And it provides employees flexibility and on-the-go access via its mobile app. As an HR platform should, Zenefits also makes HR tasks and processes easier — from recruitment and onboarding to retirement and offboarding, from scheduling and tracking time to reporting and compliance. It also offers online and paperless transactions, mobile accessibility, full integration, and ACA compliance. For more options, visit our Product Selection Tool. It saves you time for research and is easy to use, fast, and free.