Powerpay vs. HRdirect Smart Apps

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Powerpay
Score 5.9 out of 10
N/A
Powerpay allows small businesses to pay and manage employees. It is used to simplify and automate payroll processes with automatic payroll calculations and remittances to the CRA and RQ, and streamlines payroll with connected time and attendance tracking to help ensure people are paid accurately.N/A
HRdirect Smart Apps
Score 8.4 out of 10
Small Businesses (1-50 employees)
HRdirect Smart Apps is an HR Management software solution from HRdirect, a a division of ComplyRight, Inc., dedicated to developing and delivering “Solutions for Smart Employers” since 1985. The vendor says HRdirect supports business managers at more than 500,000 locations with essential employee management and compliance tasks. HRdirect Smart Apps aims to help users work efficiently and affordably. The vendor's goal is to simplify complex processes and free employers from compliance…N/A
Pricing
PowerpayHRdirect Smart Apps
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
PowerpayHRdirect Smart Apps
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsNO PER EMPLOYEE PRICING, NO BUNDLED FEATURES. JUST $60 A YEAR PER APP. Simple Pricing, No Matter How You Slice It Only use the Smart Apps that best fit your unique needs and pay the same, low price for each one: just $60 a year. It's easy to add more at any time, too - either as your needs change or as our solutions expand.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
PowerpayHRdirect Smart Apps
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
PowerpayHRdirect Smart Apps
Payroll Management
Comparison of Payroll Management features of Product A and Product B
Powerpay
2.0
3 Ratings
121% below category average
HRdirect Smart Apps
-
Ratings
Pay calculation2.33 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for external payroll vendors2.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Off-cycle/On-Demand payment2.32 Ratings00 Ratings
Benefit plan administration1.02 Ratings00 Ratings
Direct deposit files2.33 Ratings00 Ratings
Salary revision and increment management2.33 Ratings00 Ratings
Reimbursement management2.33 Ratings00 Ratings
Human Resource Management
Comparison of Human Resource Management features of Product A and Product B
Powerpay
-
Ratings
HRdirect Smart Apps
10.0
1 Ratings
24% above category average
Employee demographic data00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Job profiles and administration00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Compliance data (COBRA, OSHA, etc.)00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Leave and Attendance Management
Comparison of Leave and Attendance Management features of Product A and Product B
Powerpay
-
Ratings
HRdirect Smart Apps
1.0
1 Ratings
156% below category average
Approval workflow00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
Employee Self Service
Comparison of Employee Self Service features of Product A and Product B
Powerpay
-
Ratings
HRdirect Smart Apps
10.0
1 Ratings
21% above category average
View and generate pay and benefit information00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
Update personal information00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
View company policy documentation00 Ratings10.01 Ratings
HR Reporting
Comparison of HR Reporting features of Product A and Product B
Powerpay
-
Ratings
HRdirect Smart Apps
1.0
1 Ratings
153% below category average
Report builder00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
Pre-built reports00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
Onboarding
Comparison of Onboarding features of Product A and Product B
Powerpay
-
Ratings
HRdirect Smart Apps
1.0
1 Ratings
156% below category average
New hire portal00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
Manager tracking tools00 Ratings1.01 Ratings
Best Alternatives
PowerpayHRdirect Smart Apps
Small Businesses
Patriot Software
Patriot Software
Score 9.0 out of 10
Patriot Software
Patriot Software
Score 9.0 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Paypro Workforce Management
Paypro Workforce Management
Score 9.5 out of 10
Paypro Workforce Management
Paypro Workforce Management
Score 9.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Infor Human Resources
Infor Human Resources
Score 7.3 out of 10
Infor Human Resources
Infor Human Resources
Score 7.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
PowerpayHRdirect Smart Apps
Likelihood to Recommend
1.4
(3 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
1.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
8.0
(1 ratings)
1.0
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
PowerpayHRdirect Smart Apps
Likelihood to Recommend
Dayforce
In all honestly I don’t know a situation where Ceridian Powerpay would not be appropriate to use. I have used it at a company with 12 employees, and at a company with 100 employees. The system works great regardless of company size and the benefits significantly outweigh any (if any) negatives.
I only have experience with the system in the hospitality industry but it covered all our needs and more that I can only imagine that would apply to other industries as well.
Read full review
ComplyRight
UPDATE 3/20/2020: I initially gave HRDirect a "0" recommendation due to all the issues we had with the PTO Module. However, since purchasing the Harassment Training Module ($90), this product is the best value for the money and puts us in compliance with mandated requirements. It is easy to use and well-presented. At this point in time, with the issues and frustration level of all our employees, managers, and payroll department, it would be difficult for me to recommend this app as suitable in any scenario. However, should HRdirect fix the issues and get the app to perform as it was originally designed, it would be a great product for a small to medium company that has limited resources yet wants a good product for the money. In our experience, the new hire portal did not appear to be functioning properly; our new hires were not able to access the blank documents. They could see them but not open them (PDFs).
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Pros
Dayforce
  • Ceridian Powerpay simplifies the payroll process, very little manual work involved during each payroll run.
  • Ceridian Powerpay is mostly an intuitive interface with easy to understand workflows to allow for multiple users to be able to use the system if required.
Read full review
ComplyRight
  • Initially, you were able to see all activity and drill down for details.
  • It was easy-access for all our employees in the 7 states we operate in.
  • It provided tracking for the managers.
  • Payroll had access to all PTO requests.
Read full review
Cons
Dayforce
  • Customer Support is Horrible
  • They over bill you for everything and ignore cancellation requests
  • They don't listen to what you need or want, they slip in cancellation clauses and charge you for inactive employees throughout the year.
  • They leave one person in charge of your account and should that person go on leave you are stuck waiting until that person gets back (including personal leaves that lasted 2 months)
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ComplyRight
  • HRdirect performed an upgrade in 2019 and that's where things went awry.
  • You could no longer drill down through the calendar to see the details - i.e. Doctor's appointment, illness, childcare issues, vacation, etc.
  • Previous year PTO requests were not archived and you now had to scroll through hundreds of PTO requests to see the most current.
  • Previous PTO requests were listed oldest to most current, resulting in much frustration trying to locate specific ones.
  • The print option was not longer functional.
  • The online help request form was no longer accessible.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Dayforce
No answers on this topic
ComplyRight
As previously described, there are too many unresolved issues.
Read full review
Support Rating
Dayforce
Generally, Ceridian Powerpay support is strong, with the edge given to the telephone staff, which is prompt and always helpful. When I have had to reach out via telephone, I am greeted quickly and provided with a quick resolution to my issue. The email support leaves a bit to be desired, though, as my experience with change requests result in long waits for confirmation and completion, with some instances not even being given a resolution to an issue without requiring additional follow-up. I shouldn’t have to stay on top of the support in addition to providing the details needed, and it should just get done.
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ComplyRight
Due to the fact that we were patient for more than 6 months with no resolution in sight, we decided to end our relationship with HRdirect for PTO tracking. 3/20/2020: We have purchased the Harassment Training Module. Excellent product with great value for the money.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Dayforce
Have not used any other payroll software in my experience.
Read full review
ComplyRight
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Dayforce
  • The return on investment has been substantial for our company. Having a payroll system that calculates everything for you, processes important documents, and only takes minimal time and effort allows us to focus more time on running the business and generating revenue.
  • Instead of having a user spend half a day (or potentially a full day) processing payroll, it only takes a couple hours (obviously depending on how many employees need to be processed).
Read full review
ComplyRight
  • Initially, HRdirect was proving to be an excellent tool, and we were getting a quick turnaround on small issues. However, the upgrade messed things up on our accessibility, with no resolution in sight.
  • Harassment training module is excellent.
Read full review
ScreenShots

HRdirect Smart Apps Screenshots

Screenshot of EMPLOYEE RECORDS
Smarter, Centralized Employee Management

 - Directory & Records
 - Employee Self-Service
 - Document StorageScreenshot of ATTENDANCE CALENDAR
Take Control of Employee Attendance

 - 12-Month Calendars
 - Absence Code Management
 - Absence NotesScreenshot of I-9 & W-4
Ease the Burden of Completing I-9 and W-4 Forms

 - Onboarding Workflow
 - Guided I-9 & W-4 Forms
 - History & Audit TrackingScreenshot of JOB APPLICATION
Smart Hiring Begins Before the Interview

 - Compliant Questions Library
 - Customizable Application
 - Online Application LinkScreenshot of PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE
Your Guide to an Effective Disciplinary Program

 - Employee Warning Notices
 - Discipline History
 - Action Plan DocumentationScreenshot of TIME OFF REQUEST
Let Employees Handle Time Off Requests for You

 - Employee Time Off Requests
 - Supervisor Approval Workflow
 - Attendance Calendar Sync