• ACCREDITATION: IRS-certified, ESAC, BBB
  • SUPPORT: Phone support during business hours
  • INTEGRATIONS: Quickbooks, Xero, Indeed, Bank of America
  • SERVICES: Payroll, Tax, HR Management Outsourcing, Benefits Administrations, Workers’ compensation

Paychex Reviews, Features & Popular Alternatives in 2022

Fact-checked
  • ACCREDITATION: IRS-certified, ESAC, BBB
  • SUPPORT: Phone support during business hours
  • INTEGRATIONS: Quickbooks, Xero, Indeed, Bank of America
  • SERVICES: Payroll, Tax, HR Management Outsourcing, Benefits Administrations, Workers’ compensation

Best For

Large Businesses That Operate Multiple Offices Between Europe and the US

STRENGTHS

  • Knowledgable and capable support team
  • Great retirement plans
  • Payroll breakdown gross to net

WEAKNESSES

  • Lacking customization of reports
  • Long timesheet approval process

Paychex is an American software provider that offers various business administration services to small and medium-sized companies. Its flagship software package, Paychex Flex, is an all-in-one payroll and human resources service used by thousands of clients in the US and Europe. In addition to payroll and HR concerns, it takes care of tax, benefits, compliance, and risk management services.

Paychex is a member of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) and is IRS-certified and accredited by both the BBB and ESAC. Independent Paychex reviews favor the company with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars on the majority of customer review sites. In this article, we will take a look at Paychex features, pricing, and client testimonials, and other Paychex HR solution reviews.

Plans & Pricing

Paychex calculates its pricing on a quote basis depending on company size and services required. However, it does have three set packages to choose from which have been priced by independent Paychex Flex reviews as follows:

Express Payroll $60 / mo $4 / employee
Paychex Flex Select $90 / mo $3 / employee
Paychex Flex Pro $158 / mo $3.65 / employee
Initial Setup fee $200
Year-end W-2 and 1099 Additional

These prices are not necessarily verified Paychex rates and are only based on reviews, so they should only be used as a guide. The final price can depend on employee numbers, services, and business location. Currently, Paychex is offering 3 months free via some of its affiliate marketing schemes.

Plans’ Details

Express Payroll includes your basic HR administration, payroll, benefits, and support while the Select package includes regulatory compliance, training, and a dedicated payroll support agent. The Pro package includes everything Paychex has to offer, such as analytics and reporting, background checks, general ledger, and worker’s compensations.

Fees and Cancellation

Independent Paychex negative reviews indicate that the company often charges more than expected, has several hidden fees, and tries to pressure customers into buying additional, unnecessary services. However, according to the Paychex website, there are “no surprises, no long-term contracts, and no cancellation fees”, and the company offers a 6-month money-back guarantee to eligible clients enrolled in its AICPA-Paychex Partner Program.

Paychex Details

Paychex has been offering payroll services for almost 50 years to companies in America and Europe. Its easy-to-use, cloud-based payroll software is intuitive and user-friendly with helpful features such as automated taxation and filings.

Our Paychex full-services review examines all the company has to offer:

Main services

  • Payroll

The Express payroll service from Paychex Flex provides everything a small company needs to complete payroll without any hassle, all from a simple mobile app.

  • Tax

Ensures all your company tax and your employees’ tax is calculated, filed, and paid on time so you remain compliant and avoid federal agency penalties.

  • Human Resource Management and Outsourcing

Paychex Flex PEO offers HR recruiting services to help you gain access to the best prospective employees and manage your staff with a self-service platform.

  • Benefits Administration

Gives your employees access to some of the best employee benefits packages available, including health, 401(k), insurance, FSA, HSA, and HRA.

  • Workers’ Compensation

With workers’ compensation through Paychex PEO, you get a dedicated safety representative to help you meet OSHA regulations.

Extra services

Additional Paychex solutions include:

  • Business Insurance

Paychex Insurance Agency can provide additional business insurance, umbrella insurance, auto insurance, ERISA bonds, and employment practices liability insurance (EPLI).

  • Payment Processing

Paychex provides payment processing services to businesses and online retailers.

  • Garnishment Payment

Offers automatic deduction and remittance of garnished wages to the appropriate agency.

  • Workers’ Training and Development

Paychex offers various employee development services like HR-compliance training.

  • Ledger Service

Allows you to link payroll data to your third-party service providers, eg: QuickBooks, Sage, Xero.

  • Analytics and Reporting

Gives you access to a library of over 160 predefined reports where you can add your own custom parameters.

  • Background Checks

Paychex can perform additional employee processes like background checks.

Help & Support

General and sales support is available via phone during business hours (Mon-Fri 8 am – 8 pm ET).
Online support channels include:

  • Client Admin Support
  • Client Employee Support
  • Login Support

Depending on the query, you will be directed to a phone number or online knowledge base article. Looking online, we can see that Paychex Flex complaints are usually dealt with in a timely fashion.

Pros Cons
Payroll breakdown gross to net Lacking customization of reports
Great retirement plans Long timesheet approval process
Knowledgable and capable support team

Paychex User Reviews & Testimonials

Paychex Online Reviews

Paychex is a widely-used software package with thousands of reviews online across several independent review sites. Although it has issues, it seems to be generally trusted as a good provider of PEO services.
The majority of independent Paychex PEO reviews give the company an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Users praise the self-service portal that allows employees to view their own paychecks and information, while others say it has cut their time spent processing payroll in half.

Paychex Ratings:

  • Capterra: 4.1/5
  • TrustRadius: 7.6/10
  • PCMag: 4/5
  • Software Advice: 4 / 5
  • G2: 4.2/5
  • Yelp: 1.5/5

Most complaints revolve around software errors and slow customer service responses. Certain reviews on Capterra complain of the site going down and causing a disruption to payroll processing or employee time tracking.

Paychex is good at responding to complaints and requesting an opportunity to rectify the problem, but it is unclear if these problems were ever solved. There are also a number of verified Paychex reviews on ConsumerAffairs that indicate the company tries to charge additional hidden fees for cancellation.

Accreditations

Paychex is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating. However, many Paychex BBB reviews give the company 2 out of 5 stars due to problems with W-2 preparation, high transaction fees, and bad customer support.
Paychex is also accredited with the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC) and certified by the IRS.

Alternatives

While Paychex is one of the most well-known PEO payroll services, there are several Paychex alternatives to consider. When making a decision on a PEO software provider it’s helpful to consider a few alternatives.

Paychex Flex is one of the most popular and widely used payroll programs along with ADP, Justworks, and SurePayroll. Some Paychex reviews on Yelp suggest that the company may be a bit cheaper than ADP although it may not provide the same level of service.

  • Paychex vs ADP TotalSource

When comparing Paychex vs ADP Total Source payroll company reviews, we find ADP is a more-established company and is often rated more highly than Paychex. It’s slightly more expensive, however. For purely processing payroll, Paychex may be a better option, whereas ADP offers more services and features. For customer support, in particular, ADP generally scores higher points than Paychex in independent reviews.

  • Paychex vs SurePayroll

SurePayroll is actually a subsidiary of Paychex, bought out in 2011 for $115 million. However, SurePayroll continues to operate as an independent entity, specifically serving the small business sector.

When comparing Paychex vs SurePayroll the two companies are clearly aimed at different audiences. While Paychex can fit any business size, small businesses might find SurePayroll easier to deal with, particularly when it comes to customer support. SurePayroll offers a small range of products but is more cost-effective for companies with simple needs.

  • Paychex vs Justworks

Justworks is another all-in-one PEO service combining HR, payroll, and benefits services in a single package. In Paychex vs Justworks reviews, most sites give Justworks a higher rating. It scores 4.7 out of 5 on Capterra and 4.5 out of 5 on G2. However, Paychex does better in some categories, particularly complex payroll operations, meaning it could be better suited to larger companies.

Summary

Paychex customer reviews are mostly positive and show that Paychex Flex remains one of the most widely used and trusted third-party payroll, HR, and benefits administration providers. It offers a very broad range of services backed by experts with decades of experience in their fields and an impressive list of accreditations.

However, due to its massive user base, it struggles to give its customers individual attention. If you’re a large business that requires a wider range of complex payroll, HR strategy, and business services then Paychex may be the service you require. However, smaller firms with fewer demands would likely be better off with a smaller company that can offer better customer support.

FAQ

How long does it take to integrate Paychex Flex as a PEO?

Integrating a co-employment model PEO can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months depending on the size of your company. You should spend at least a month evaluating your options and formulating an adequate strategy for PEO adoption. Once this is agreed, there are several legal documents to underwrite and proposals to review before completing due diligence, negotiating the contract, and onboarding staff.

What are the advantages of using Paychex PEO services?

PEO companies like Paychex can provide better rates on benefits like workers’ compensation, healthcare, 401(k) and retirement plans. This can save money for both you and your employees. Paychex offers one of the most comprehensive employee benefits packages available, including HSA, FSA, and HRA accounts.

Is Paychex cheaper than other PEO companies?

Paychex is one of the leading PEO companies and offers more features and better quality service than most PEOs, so the price is on the higher end. However, a quick browse of Paychex reviews indicates the company offers value for money at competitive rates.

ABOUT AUTHOR

I am a curiosity-driven creature searching for answers — and questions — in the digital realm. From marketing through online business creation to software tools — I am fascinated by everything that can make life easier. When not looking for meaning, yoga and good food keep me grounded.