Human Interest vs. OnPay

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Human Interest
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
Human Interest headquartered in San Francisco offers their cloud-based 401k administation platform for employers featuring flexible plan design and a dedicated account manager.
$805
per month
OnPay
Score 8.7 out of 10
N/A
OnPay's payroll and HR is designed for people who want to spend more time running their business, and less on back-office tasks. The application aims to enable users to: • Run payroll • Automate taxes • Let employees do more themselves • Simplify HR processes • Offer benefits in any state OnPay starts at $49 plus $6 per person each month. The monthly fee includes integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and time-tracking software, as well as all quarterly and…N/A
Pricing
Human InterestOnPay
Editions & Modules
Essentials
$80 + $5 per eligible employee
per month
Complete
$180 + $7 per eligible employee
per month
Concierge
$280 + $9 per eligible employee
per month
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Human InterestOnPay
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup Fee$499 one-time feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsEmployees pay a recordkeeping services and custody-related asset-based fee of 0.05% to Human Interest Inc., an investment advisory fee of 0.01% to Human Interest Advisors, plus underlying fund fees. Asset-based fees are deducted monthly from the employee’s account according to the HII Terms of Service and HIA Terms of Service. All prices are exclusive of applicable taxes. If the plan sponsor elects to hire an external investment advisor, the plan sponsors will pay such advisor as agreed between the plan sponsor and advisor. All prices are exclusive of applicable taxes and are subject to a $499 startup fee. See Terms of Service for additional details. Refer to humaninterest.com/payrolls for a list of integrated payroll providers. For non-rollover distributions, shipping and handling fees may apply to requests for check issuance and delivery.First month free, then $49 + $6 per employee each month.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Human InterestOnPay
Considered Both Products
Human Interest
Chose Human Interest
We use have used multiple 401k platforms from Fidelity, John Hancock, Transamerica, ADP. Human Interest is one of the easier platforms that provides the proper integration
Chose Human Interest
We do have other retirement partners and another one that we like to use that's similar in service would be 401GO and Icon.
Chose Human Interest
I can't remember the other vendor. I've used lots of big 401k providers, so John Hancock, Transamerica, Empower. I would say this is pretty well stacked, but again, for some reason, I'm not sure why people, larger organizations have this.
Chose Human Interest
So we had previously been with Empower, which is another 401k. They're substantially larger. Their web platform is very bulky. Their compliance was hard to get information from. We really liked when we talked with Human Interest Implementation Team that we could get pretty much …
Chose Human Interest
Human Interest was more cost effective to employees and so great to be connected with Gusto
Chose Human Interest
Paychex Flex was a terrible experience from start to finish. Bad communication, no follow-through, incorrect setups, etc... HI has been the opposite of all those things so far.
Chose Human Interest
I don't know what competes with Human Interest; as an employer, this is my first interaction with a 401(k) platform. As an employee, this lacks a lot of the functionality I'm used to seeing in other platforms.
Chose Human Interest
Previously we utilized John Hancock which was a nightmare from the user standpoint and a huge time waster from the administrative standpoint. The very outdated platform made it incredibly difficult to manage. The one thing I miss from John Hancock is the enrollment and …
Chose Human Interest
We were using American Funds Group, but it was convoluted and difficult to understand. Human Interest calculates the numbers for us and it is so much easier.
Chose Human Interest
It's not even close. Paychex Flex is expensive, confusing, and the customer service is abominable. Human Interest is better across every front, at least so far.
Chose Human Interest
Human Interest is more cost effective and easier to navigate than Empower.
Chose Human Interest
We just found the cost to participate in the mass marketed investing options were beyond the administrative and financial capacity of our small business.
Chose Human Interest
The cost for the service was better and we felt more understood as a company and felt that Human Interest took the time to explain the 401k program and options
Chose Human Interest
Insperity was horrible. Expensive, hidden fees at every corner, not communicative. They messed up my plan and didn't include the requested Safe Harbor provision and I had to pay the piper for their mistake.

Nothing Insperity did was customer first, fiduciary, or even compliant.
Chose Human Interest
We didn't really search for others; Human Interest was the preferred 403b provider for our services through Rippling.
Chose Human Interest
I met a rep at a tax conference and didn't seriously evaluate any alternatives
OnPay
Chose OnPay
OnPay is easier to use and is better priced. I have been able to do what I need without having to regular get help from them, which I had to do with Quickbooks especially when we switched from desktop to online. It was a pain.
Chose OnPay
Freshbooks whitelables Gusto and when I tried it, it was not ready for prime time at all! Very poor in app functionality and massively limited reports. Intuit/Quickbooks is priced way to high and continually tries to upsell - anything! OnPay seemed to be the best blend of …
Chose OnPay
QB payroll had many issues when using their online software. When the federal government said they missed a filing two years prior they were no help providing the report again. I had a backup copy which the government want 3 copies mailed and this took over a year to close …
Chose OnPay
Our CPA recommended OnPay as the way to go for our small business. So far we're very happy as it's easy to use and everyone has been friendly and helpful.
Chose OnPay
OnPay is less expensive than the larger HRIS payroll platforms, and same cost as Gusto Solo. But OnPay has better peer reviews than Gusto and I was impressed with their speed to onboard.
Chose OnPay
OnPay is more cost effective and does more for me. QB didn't even do the filings, just generated the forms. OnPay does it all and is easier to work with.
Chose OnPay
I was on the phone with Quickbooks for an hour at a time 2 to 3 times a week. I was on their elite payroll plan and they refused to solve the payroll issue that they had created when they updated their system. I needed to use my time better and they were taking up too much of …
Chose OnPay
We choose OnPay for their reputation for being small business and beginner friendly, competitive pricing, and their generally positive reviews. Going with QB Payroll would have been the "default" choice, but their pricing and customer service (we are QB accounting customer) is …
Chose OnPay
Totally buried ADP Run in every way....
Chose OnPay
We used TriNet for over 2 years then they did away with our product and tried to add a bunch of bells and whistles that we didn't need. It wasn't about the money, it was about how awful their sales and support approach was on why we left. That and they had "issues" and missed …
Chose OnPay
Overall OnPay was the best bang for my buck. Had a lot to offer and was cheaper than the rest of the people we looked into
Chose OnPay
OnPay is just a lot more user friendly. It isn't bogged down by a million different features, it really just has everything you need and nothing you don't. It just makes everything really simple and efficient. It's my favorite payroll processing system to use out of several …
Chose OnPay
OnPay was less expensive and easier to learn than QB Payroll.
Chose OnPay
OnPay had everything I would have gotten from ADP for a much better price. Ultimately, the price is what made me choose OnPay. I've stayed because of the quality of the product.
Chose OnPay
We used to use Intuit Online Payroll a while back before they stopped their service. We switched to OnPay and it's been smooth sailing ever since.
Chose OnPay
OnPay is far superior. I would not recommend Gusto. It was a problem from the start. After only a few months we realized Gusto was unable to provide us with a payroll service we could use. Switching to OnPay has been an excellent move. With Gusto it was one major problem after …
Chose OnPay
I've also used 3py payroll/staffing companies. I found those competitors clunky, slower in support, overly complicated, and overpriced. OnPay has been my favorite experience in payroll over the past 20 years.
Chose OnPay
OnPay is the first payroll service we have used, but there has been no reason to justify us looking for a comparable product to make the switch. OnPay has the services we need. It has additional services that we do not currently need, but perhaps in the future if our company …
Features
Human InterestOnPay
401(k)
Comparison of 401(k) features of Product A and Product B
Human Interest
9.0
Ratings
16% above category average
OnPay
-
Ratings
Payroll Integration9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Compliance Maintenance9.00 Ratings00 Ratings
Plan Flexibility8.90 Ratings00 Ratings
Filings and Disclosures8.80 Ratings00 Ratings
Ease of Enrollment9.30 Ratings00 Ratings
Payroll Management
Comparison of Payroll Management features of Product A and Product B
Human Interest
-
Ratings
OnPay
9.4
Ratings
13% above category average
Pay calculation00 Ratings9.60 Ratings
Benefit plan administration00 Ratings9.00 Ratings
Direct deposit files00 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Salary revision and increment management00 Ratings8.80 Ratings
Reimbursement management00 Ratings9.70 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Human InterestOnPay
Small Businesses
OnPay
OnPay
Score 8.7 out of 10
Dayforce Powerpay
Dayforce Powerpay
Score 9.2 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies

No answers on this topic

Paypro Workforce Management
Paypro Workforce Management
Score 9.1 out of 10
Enterprises

No answers on this topic

Infor Human Resources
Infor Human Resources
Score 7.1 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Human InterestOnPay
Likelihood to Recommend
8.8
(0 ratings)
8.7
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.2
(0 ratings)
Usability
9.2
(0 ratings)
8.9
(0 ratings)
Availability
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Performance
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.1
(0 ratings)
8.1
(0 ratings)
Online Training
10.0
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.7
(0 ratings)
Configurability
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Ease of integration
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
10.0
(0 ratings)
9.1
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Human InterestOnPay
Likelihood to Recommend
Actually you guys serve a lot of variety of clients that we have. So everything from simple clients on your 316 and then you got your 338 platforms to some more of the complex clients that want to carve out their own funds. You guys integrate well with financial advisors if they wish to use that, but a lot of times it's, those aren't necessary if clients want to save money.
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OnPay works for me as a small business owner. It streamlines HR, Payroll and Employment Tax Filings - and it can be helpful in exploring benefit options with integrated partners. We run payroll for both of our companies through OnPay and haven't had any issues. The employees find it easy to use on their end, as well. The OnPay representatives are extremely proactive and communicate updates/changes in a very timely manner. If you have a substantial number of employees, it may be more efficient to look elsewhere due to cost.
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Pros
  • They sold us very well in the beginning and the original sales rep brought in his manager which also helped answer questions our executives had.
  • Ease of use for employees seems great. Walking through as an employee is simple and quick. All electronic paperwork is great.
  • Sending reminder emails to sign up for the 401(K) is a great feature that's easy to use. I have used these a lot!
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  • It is easy to add new employees.
  • It is easy to inactivate employees who leave the company.
  • All quarterly and annual reports are completed and filed on a timely basis.
  • Employees have direct online access to their paycheck as well as their W-2.
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Cons
  • Payroll cycles in small business can be a weekly on-cycle evolution which is not automatically recognized.
  • The Annual Census verification, and IRS requirement, is cumbersome as a resubmission of data already known.
  • Email to new participants can go unaddressed without notification to the company administrator. Better to illicit early follow-up than wait till their emails expire do to participant non-action.
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  • You can add additional additions or benefit items such as a car allowance. The process required me to contact a representative as that wasn't as easy to navigate.
  • The process for handling additional withholdings for pre-payed taxes required support to ensure the calculations were accurate.
  • Process for on-boarding is a little tricky if you don't start the process from the point of hire. You can add various things easily but it reflects differently in terms of completion of an Employee file.
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Likelihood to Renew
We will drop Human Interest as soon as they rectify their error in withdrawing $3600 in additional fees earlier this year
Read full review
We have used OnPay for a few years now and we do continue to renew our annual use of OnPay. We are only a small organization and although OnPay provides a lot of additional services that larger organizations might ind useful, OnPay still meets our limited requirements of running bi-weekly payroll and submitting our quarterly state and federal tax documents, and at a price that we still find affordable.
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Usability
It's really easy to get, well, first of all, they get enrolled automatically so they get added to the platform automatically. They get removed from the platform automatically and everything is really easy to understand for someone who doesn't have a lot of experience. And that's actually a lot of our employees have never had a retirement benefit before. They don't know anything about it. They really don't understand how it works. There's also a little bit of a fear factor with deducting money from their paycheck to be able to contribute to this. And so how easy it is for them to get it set up and then the information that Human Interest gives them about what the benefit is, how it works, all that, it's great
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For a one geography business in a larger metro area not planning to expand tax geographies or do anything other than the same-ol, same-ol, then I think OnPay is great. Their biggest issue is tax support responsiveness - it's simply unacceptable yet they seem to not be concerned about it at all.
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Reliability and Availability
no issues so far
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OnPay immediately responds to any of my inquiries.
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Performance
Easy to navigate
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No complaints on OnPay's integration with Xero.
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Support Rating
So we had a designated rep and he was fantastic. I don't remember his name at the moment, but he was almost immediately responsive. And you guys also partnered with us for client knowledge webinars and he was great. Great at that too.
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They have always solved my problems and answered the questions I had. In the earlier years, they were much better and faster but in recent years there appears to be not as much people available so this results in more email requests.
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Online Training
super easy to get going
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No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
A key insight from our implementation of Human Interest is that early coordination across finance, HR, and leadership is critical. The platform itself is straightforward, but ensuring payroll integration, compliance documentation, and employee education are aligned from the start makes the rollout smoother and increases adoption. Another insight is that employees respond best when given clear, simple communication about how to enroll and the benefits of participation—this minimizes confusion and builds trust in the program. Finally, dedicating time up front to review compliance and reporting features helps avoid issues later and gives leadership confidence in the plan’s long-term stability.
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Easy to implement and easy to convert any other payroll reports to the OnPay system when making the switch
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Alternatives Considered
So we had previously been with Empower, which is another 401k. They're substantially larger. Their web platform is very bulky. Their compliance was hard to get information from. We really liked when we talked with Human Interest Implementation Team that we could get pretty much right to the top. I mean, if we wanted to talk to their COO, we could do that and that all of their compliance stuff just seems to be tied in as the compliance director. That's really important to me.
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OnPay is tremendously less expensive and technically superior to Quickbooks in my opinion. OnPay is less expensive and offered the ease of managing a restaurant payroll that was better in my opinion than When I Work. My experience when evaluating all of the payroll products that I felt the company could afford was that OnPay had a superior staff of professionals who knew their product and could explain how to use it most clearly.
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Scalability
we are only using it for one employee but when we hire more, it will be easy to expand already setup
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OnPay works.
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Return on Investment
  • I think it's a little bit hard for me to say since I have been more of a recommender of these products in my roles. I've been at a lot of early stage companies that we're looking for solutions and I've recommended human interest because I think it's easy for scaling organizations to get in place. I think in a large organization, what I would talk to is very specifically the user experience. I think 401k understanding and most large organizations is a very for, it's something that's forgotten. And what that means is basically we kind of give it to folks, but we don't actually teach them or help them leverage it. And so they're very on their own. I think human interest is so easy to use that you provide a better experience from day one there, let alone from actually really setting it up correctly.
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  • Massive time savings. Wonderfully easy to use interface.
  • I've loved the Chat feature. It's provided quick clear direction from your staff for me at times when it was needed.
  • I've had very minimal worry about the tax filings and am grateful for that component of your automation.
  • During the recession we experienced as a result of COVID19 I was particularly grateful we were able to have guidance from your team on how we needed to handle ERC credits. We did run into filing issues there, but were able to resolve them in the end.
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ScreenShots

Human Interest Screenshots

Screenshot of the Admin Portal - A summary page offers a snapshot of the plan.Screenshot of the Admin Portal - Employee List: See employees at a glance and information such as contribution rate, participation, balance, risk setting, etc.Screenshot of the Employee Dashboard - History View: Employees have the ability to view their YTD contribution amount and account related activity on this page.Screenshot of the Employee Dashboard - History View: Employees have the ability to view their YTD contribution amount and account related activity on this page.

OnPay Screenshots

Screenshot of full-service payrollScreenshot of multiple pay rates and schedulesScreenshot of employee self-onboarding and org charts, which are built-inScreenshot of an e-signable offer lettersScreenshot of calendars, where PTO is managed and approvedScreenshot of centralized finances, viewed with over 20 reports for analyzing employment-related expenses