Zenefits vs Rippling: The Comeback vs The Disruptor

Two Different Philosophies (and Histories)

Zenefits (founded 2013) was the original HR disruptor—free software, make money on benefits commissions. After compliance scandals in 2016, they pivoted to paid software, cleaned up operations, and became a solid (if boring) HR platform.

Rippling (founded 2016) is the new disruptor—founded by Parker Conrad (Zenefits' original CEO). It's HR + IT + Finance in one platform with aggressive automation. It's what Zenefits should have become.

The irony: Rippling is built by Zenefits' former CEO and is now crushing Zenefits in innovation.

Core Features Both Share

• Payroll processing & tax filing
• Benefits administration (health, dental, vision, 401k)
• Core HR (employee database, documents, org charts)
• Onboarding workflows
• PTO tracking & approvals
• Time tracking (basic)
• Compliance tools (I-9, new hire reporting)
• Employee self-service portal
• Mobile apps

Both handle HR basics. The differences are in automation depth and IT capabilities.

When Rippling Wins

IT & Device Management

Rippling's killer feature (that Zenefits completely lacks):

• Device management: Deploy laptops (Mac/PC) pre-configured
• App provisioning: Auto-add employees to 500+ apps (Slack, Google, Salesforce, etc.)
• SSO & access control: Manage who accesses what, enforce 2FA
• One-click offboarding: Fire someone → all access revokes instantly

Example: Hire Sarah → Rippling ships laptop, creates email, adds to Slack/Asana, enrolls in benefits, sets up payroll. All automatically.

Zenefits can't do any of this. You'd manage IT separately.

Superior Automation

Rippling automates more workflows:

• Hire → laptop, accounts, apps, payroll, benefits (all automated)
• Promote → update title, pay, access permissions (one workflow)
• Terminate → revoke all access, collect equipment, final paycheck (automated)

Zenefits has workflows but they're more manual and HR-focused only.

Better Payroll

Rippling's payroll is more polished:

• Faster processing
• Better contractor payments (including international)
• Global payroll (140+ countries)
• Tighter integration with time tracking and expenses

Zenefits' payroll works but feels like an add-on (because it is).

More Modern Platform

Rippling's tech stack is newer and faster:

• Modern API (easy integrations)
• Custom workflows (powerful automation builder)
• Faster feature releases (ships aggressively)

Zenefits is stable but slow-moving.

Spend Management

Rippling added corporate cards and expense tracking:

• Issue virtual cards to employees
• Set spending limits per person/category
• Sync to accounting automatically

Zenefits doesn't have this—you'd use Brex or Ramp separately.

Better for Tech Companies

Rippling is perfect for startups and tech companies who need HR + IT in one platform. Zenefits is more traditional HR-only.

When Zenefits Wins

Significantly Cheaper

Zenefits' pricing is more affordable:

• Essentials: $10/employee (payroll, HR, time off)
• Growth: $20/employee (adds benefits admin, performance)
• Zen: $33/employee (adds compliance, advisory)

Rippling's pricing adds up fast when you include HR ($8/user) + Payroll ($8/user) + IT modules + benefits + apps. A 50-person team might pay $800-1,500/month on Rippling vs $500-1,000 on Zenefits.

Easier to Use (Less Overwhelming)

Zenefits' interface is simpler:

• Focused on HR tasks (not IT, finance, etc.)
• Less cluttered dashboard
• Employees find it more intuitive

Rippling's breadth (HR + IT + spend + apps) can feel overwhelming. You're paying for features you might not need.

Better Benefits Focus

Zenefits was built for benefits administration—it's still their strength:

• Benefits marketplace (compare plans easily)
• Broker partnerships (dedicated benefits advisors)
• Open enrollment tools (employees compare side-by-side)
• COBRA & FSA administration

Rippling has benefits too, but Zenefits has more carrier partnerships and advisory support.

More Stable & Proven

Zenefits (post-scandal) is rock-solid and reliable:

• Mature product (fewer bugs)
• Compliance is their religion (learned the hard way)
• Predictable—features don't change unexpectedly

Rippling is newer and ambitious. Occasionally customers report bugs or features changing as Rippling iterates fast.

Better for Traditional Businesses

If you're retail, healthcare, professional services (non-tech), Zenefits fits better. You don't need IT automation—just solid HR and benefits.

Advisory & Compliance Support

Zenefits' Zen plan includes:

• Dedicated HR advisor
• Compliance assistance (state/federal regulations)
• Policy templates and handbook builder

Rippling doesn't offer this level of human HR support.

Pricing Deep Dive

Zenefits Costs

• Essentials: $10/employee/month (payroll, HR basics, time off)
• Growth: $20/employee/month (adds benefits, performance, scheduling)
• Zen: $33/employee/month (adds compliance, HR advisor, surveys)

50 employees on Growth: $1,000/month = $12,000/year

Rippling Costs

• Platform (HR + IT core): $8/user/month
• Payroll: +$8/employee/month
• Benefits admin: ~$3-5/employee
• Time tracking, recruiting, devices, apps: Additional per-module pricing

50 employees, HR + Payroll + Benefits: ~$800-1,200/month = $9,600-14,400/year

Cost Comparison

For HR + Payroll + Benefits:

• Zenefits Growth: $12,000/year (simpler, all-inclusive)
• Rippling: $10,000-14,000/year (depends on modules)

Costs are similar, but Rippling's pricing can escalate if you add IT, devices, apps, spend management. Zenefits is more predictable.

Real Customer Feedback

Zenefits

Pros: Affordable, easy to use, good benefits admin, stable platform, solid support
Cons: Boring (no innovation), payroll feels like add-on, limited features vs competitors

G2 Rating: 4.0/5 | Capterra: 4.1/5

Rippling

Pros: Automation is magic, HR + IT in one, powerful, modern, saves hours
Cons: Expensive, occasional bugs, fast changes disrupt workflows, complex setup

G2 Rating: 4.8/5 | Capterra: 4.9/5

The Reputation Question

Zenefits' scandal (2016): Sold insurance without proper licenses, fired CEO (Parker Conrad), paid $7M fine. They've since rebuilt with compliance as priority #1. Today, they're a safe, boring choice.

Rippling's controversy: Founded by the same Parker Conrad. Some worry history will repeat. But so far, Rippling is compliant and growing fast ($13B valuation). Customers love it.

The question: Is Rippling Zenefits 2.0 (destined to implode) or has Parker learned from mistakes? Jury's still out, but Rippling's customer satisfaction is sky-high.

Who Should Choose What?

Choose Rippling if you're:

• A tech startup or digital-first company
• Managing lots of SaaS apps and devices
• Want HR + IT automation in one platform
• Comfortable with newer, fast-moving software
• 10-200 employees with complex IT needs

Choose Zenefits if you're:

• A traditional SMB (retail, healthcare, services)
• Budget-conscious ($10-20/employee is your range)
• Benefits administration is your main priority
• Want simple, stable software (no surprises)
• 5-100 employees with separate IT systems

What About Gusto, BambooHR, or Paychex?

• Gusto: Cheaper (~$12/ee), better for small teams (under 50), but less comprehensive
• BambooHR: Better HRIS features but no payroll built-in
• Paychex: Older platform, similar price, worse UX

The Bottom Line

Our honest take: Rippling is objectively better—more innovative, more powerful, higher customer satisfaction. But it costs more and can be overwhelming. Zenefits wins if you just want solid HR + benefits at a fair price. Rippling wins if you want to transform how you manage people and IT.