Justworks review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
PEO and payroll platform for small US businesses that bundles HR, benefits and payroll under co-employment, or payroll only.
Verdict at a glance
Justworks is a PEO and payroll platform for small US businesses. It bundles HR, benefits and payroll under co-employment at a flat per-employee price, or offers a payroll-only plan with a $50 monthly base fee.
Pros
- Ease of use and clean design.
- Support (G2 support sub-score 9.2/10)
Cons
- Mobile app lacks features.
- Limited insurance plan options.
What is Justworks?
PEO and payroll platform for small US businesses that bundles HR, benefits and payroll under co-employment, or payroll only. It is built for small US companies that want a PEO with benefits and compliance handled for them and startups needing a single per-employee price. Justworks was founded in 2012 and is based in New York, US.
Category: HR Software (HRIS), Payroll Software
Justworks key features
| Feature | What we found |
|---|---|
| Core HR and employee records | HR records included in PEO plans. |
| Payroll integration or built-in payroll | Built-in payroll on all plans. |
| Time off and attendance | Time Tracking add-on at $8 per employee per month. |
| Benefits administration | Benefits included via PEO co-employment. |
| Time tracking and PTO | Time Tracking add-on. |
| Contractor and 1099 payments | $8 per active contractor per month on Payroll plan. |
Justworks pricing
Justworks charges per employee per month. The Payroll plan is a $50 monthly base plus $8 per employee, with contractors at $8 per active contractor and no health benefits or co-employment. PEO Basic is reported at $79 per employee per month and PEO Plus at $109, though sources differ (one cites $59 for Basic, another $124 for Plus). Add-ons are Time Tracking at $8 and Dedicated HR Consulting at $30 per employee per month. Billing is monthly. These prices come from third-party sources, so confirm them on a quote before budgeting.
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll | $50/month base + $8 per employee per month | per employee | Contractors $8 per active contractor per month; no health benefits or co-employment |
| PEO Basic | $79 | per employee per month | Older sources say $59; most 2026 sources say $79 |
| PEO Plus | $109 | per employee per month | One source says $124 with medical access; earlier $99 |
Prices from third-party aggregators (casrai, gloroots, Capterra); not confirmed on Justworks' own pricing page. Add-ons: Time Tracking $8 and Dedicated HR Consulting $30 per employee per month.
Who Justworks is best for
Best for
- Small US companies that want a PEO with benefits and compliance handled for them.
- Startups needing a single per-employee price.
Not ideal for
- Companies that want to keep their own benefits broker and plans.
- Teams outside the US.
Justworks alternatives
GustoSmall US businesses of 1 to a few dozen people wanting simple setup.
TriNetSmall and mid size employers wanting benefits and compliance outsourced.
RipplingCompanies already running payroll and HR on Rippling that want app access tied to employee records.
PaycorUS employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor.
OnPaySmall businesses and accounting-firm partners.
ADP RunSmall businesses wanting a large provider with tax filing and add-on HR/benefits.
What Justworks really costs
- Per seat per month
- $79 on PEO Basic (third-party sources; not confirmed by the vendor)
- Billing
- Monthly.
- 20 users per year
- PEO Basic: 20 x $79 x 12 = $18,960/yr; Payroll plan: ($50 + 20 x $8) x 12 = $2,520/yr (third-party prices, excludes benefits)
- Recent price change
- PEO Plus reported up from $99 to $109 per employee per month (Capterra/review sites, date not confirmed by the vendor).
Add-ons and extras to budget for
- Time Tracking $8 per employee per month.
- Dedicated HR Consulting $30 per employee per month.
- Contractors $8 per active contractor per month (Payroll)
Questions to ask about price
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- What is the discount for annual billing, and can we start monthly?
- How much can the price rise at renewal, and is the increase capped in the contract?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is Justworks worth the price?
It is good value for small US companies that want a PEO to handle benefits and compliance, and for startups that want a single per-employee price. For 20 employees, PEO Basic works out to $18,960 per year and the Payroll plan to $2,520, before benefits premiums. It gets expensive once you add Time Tracking and HR consulting, and it is awkward for companies that want to keep their own broker and plans.
Worth it if
- Small US companies that want a PEO with benefits and compliance handled for them.
- Startups needing a single per-employee price.
Look elsewhere if
- Companies that want to keep their own benefits broker and plans.
- Teams outside the US.
Cheaper per seat than Justworks
Pricing details most reviews leave out
- PEO plans mean co-employment: Justworks becomes co-employer for payroll tax and benefits.
- Payroll plan starts at $58/month for one employee ($50 base + $8)
- Plus plan price reportedly rose from $99 to $109.
- Time Tracking and HR consulting are paid add-ons ($8 and $30 per employee per month)
- Third-party estimate (one firm): all-in cost incl. employer health premiums runs far above the headline fee.
Our verdict on Justworks
Justworks is a PEO and payroll platform for small US businesses, and its pricing is per employee. The Payroll plan costs $50 per month plus $8 per employee, so one employee is $58. PEO Basic is reported at $79 per employee per month and PEO Plus at $109. These figures come from third-party sources and are not confirmed on the vendor's own pricing page, and older sources cite lower numbers.
The headline fee is not the full cost. Time Tracking is $8 and Dedicated HR Consulting is $30 per employee per month, and one third-party estimate puts the all-in cost with employer health premiums far above the fee. PEO Plus was reported up from $99 to $109. G2 shows 4.6 from 1,126 reviews.
Justworks FAQ
What is Justworks used for?
Justworks is a PEO and payroll platform for small US businesses. It bundles HR, benefits and payroll under co-employment at a flat per-employee price, or offers a payroll-only plan with a $50 monthly base fee. It suits small US companies that want a PEO with benefits and compliance handled for them.
How much does Justworks cost for 20 employees?
Using third-party prices, PEO Basic is 20 x $79 x 12 = $18,960 per year, and the Payroll plan is ($50 + 20 x $8) x 12 = $2,520 per year. Both exclude benefits premiums.
Does Justworks have a free plan?
No free plan or free trial is listed. The cheapest option is the Payroll plan at $50 per month plus $8 per employee.
What add-ons cost extra at Justworks?
Time Tracking costs $8 and Dedicated HR Consulting costs $30 per employee per month. Contractors on the Payroll plan are $8 per active contractor per month.
About Justworks
- Founded
- 2012.
- Headquarters
- New York, US.
- Employees
- 1446.
Listed in: HR Software (HRIS), Payroll Software
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Justworks's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.