Rippling Review: The Unified Workforce Platform That Does It All

What Is Rippling?

Rippling is a comprehensive workforce management platform that unifies HR, IT, and finance operations in a single system. Unlike traditional HRIS solutions that focus solely on human resources, Rippling takes a broader approach by managing employee data, device provisioning, app access, payroll, benefits, and company spend all in one place.

Founded in 2016 by Parker Conrad (who previously co-founded Zenefits), Rippling has grown rapidly to serve thousands of companies ranging from 5 employees to enterprises with over 5,000 staff members. The platform's core innovation is what they call the "Employee Graph"—a unified data model that treats each employee as a central node with relationships and attributes that automatically trigger actions across all connected systems.

What sets Rippling apart from competitors like BambooHR, Gusto, and Paychex is its modular architecture. You start with the base HRIS module and add exactly the features you need: payroll, benefits administration, time tracking, IT management, spend management, or global hiring capabilities. This flexibility means you're never paying for unused features, and you can scale the platform as your business grows without switching systems.

Key Features

1. Unified Employee Data Management (Employee Graph)

At the heart of Rippling is the Employee Graph—a dynamic data model that connects every piece of employee information across HR, IT, and finance systems. Instead of maintaining separate employee records in different tools, Rippling treats each employee as a central node with attributes that automatically propagate changes across all connected systems.

What this means in practice: When you change an employee's department, Rippling automatically updates their app permissions, moves them to the correct Slack channels, updates the org chart, notifies their new manager, and triggers any department-specific workflows—all without manual intervention.

Key capabilities include:

• Centralized employee profiles with unlimited custom fields
• Automated data validation to prevent errors and inconsistencies
• Complete audit trails showing who changed what and when
• Granular permission controls (decide exactly who sees which data)
• Real-time synchronization across all modules and integrations
• Advanced search and filtering (find "all engineers in California who started in Q4")

The practical impact: Companies using Rippling report 50%+ reduction in time spent on administrative updates because changes only need to be made once rather than in five different systems.

2. Advanced Workflow Automation

Rippling's Workflow Studio is where the platform truly shines. With over 100 pre-built templates and a flexible automation engine, you can eliminate entire categories of manual work.

Example workflows:

• New hire provisioning: When employee status changes to "Active" → Create Google account + Add to Slack + Assign training modules + Order laptop + Send welcome email + Notify manager
• Job change workflow: When employee's department changes → Update app permissions + Move to new Slack channels + Notify new manager + Update org chart + Trigger compensation review
• Offboarding automation: When termination date arrives → Revoke app access + Send device return instructions + Notify IT + Generate final paycheck + Send exit survey
• Compliance monitoring: When employee's certification expires in 30 days → Send reminder email + Notify manager + Create task for HR

The workflow builder uses an intuitive "if-this-then-that" logic with triggers (events that start the workflow) and actions (what happens automatically). You can build complex multi-step workflows with conditional logic, delays, and approvals.

3. Seamless IT Management

This is Rippling's unique differentiator. Unlike competitors that focus solely on HR, Rippling natively manages IT infrastructure alongside employee data.

IT capabilities include:

• Device management: Provision laptops with pre-configured software, security policies, and user accounts
• App access control: Automatically grant and revoke access to 650+ business applications based on role, department, or employment status
• Security enforcement: Deploy multi-factor authentication, password policies, and device encryption automatically
• Software license management: Track usage, optimize spending, and automatically reclaim licenses when employees leave
• Remote device wipe: Secure company data when devices are lost or employees are terminated

For remote and hybrid teams, this integration is invaluable. New employees receive pre-configured laptops on day one, and departing employees are automatically locked out of all systems the moment their termination date arrives—no manual intervention required.

4. Comprehensive Payroll & Benefits Administration

Rippling's payroll engine handles U.S. payroll across all 50 states plus global payroll in 90+ countries. The system automatically calculates taxes, files required paperwork, and handles compliance requirements based on employee location.

Payroll features:

• Automated tax calculations and filings for federal, state, and local requirements
• Direct deposit with same-day and next-day options
• Unlimited off-cycle payroll runs at no extra cost
• Employee self-service for viewing pay stubs and W-2s
• Integration with time tracking for automated hourly payroll
• Garnishment management and reporting

Benefits administration:

• Integrated with 100+ insurance carriers (UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Kaiser, etc.)
• Automated enrollment workflows with carrier data sync
• COBRA administration with automatic notices
• FSA and HSA management
• 401(k) integration with providers like Human Interest and Guideline
• Commuter benefits and other pre-tax deductions

5. Time & Attendance Tracking

Rippling's time tracking module integrates seamlessly with payroll, eliminating the double-entry that plagues disconnected systems.

Core capabilities:

• Mobile app for clock in/out with geofencing
• Manager approval workflows for hours and overtime
• Automated overtime calculations based on federal and state rules
• Shift scheduling with conflict detection
• Integration with hardware time clocks and badge readers
• Real-time labor cost tracking by department and project

The time tracking module costs approximately $3.50 per employee per month as an add-on to the base HRIS.

6. PTO & Leave Management

Rippling handles even the most complex PTO policies with ease. You can create unlimited policy types (vacation, sick, personal, etc.) with different accrual rules based on tenure, location, or role.

Advanced PTO features:

• Automated accrual calculations that adjust based on employee attributes
• Conditional policies (e.g., "Senior engineers in California get 20 days, others get 15")
• Carryover rules and expiration dates
• Blackout periods to prevent time-off requests during critical periods
• Team calendar view to prevent coverage gaps
• Mobile app for employees to request time off anywhere
• Automatic integration with payroll for PTO payouts

7. Onboarding & Offboarding Automation

Rippling transforms multi-day onboarding nightmares into automated sequences that run on autopilot.

Onboarding workflows include:

• Offer letter generation and e-signature collection
• I-9 and tax form collection with built-in validation
• Automated welcome emails with company information
• Role-based training assignment
• Equipment ordering and device provisioning
• App access provisioning (Slack, Google Workspace, etc.) within seconds
• Manager notifications at key milestones
• State-specific compliance forms based on work location

Offboarding capabilities:

• Automated task lists for HR, IT, and managers
• Device recovery workflows with tracking
• App access removal on specified date/time
• Final paycheck calculation including unused PTO
• Exit interview scheduling and documentation
• COBRA and benefits continuation handling

8. Compliance & Documentation

Rippling automatically adapts to local regulations based on employee location, ensuring compliance across multiple states and countries.

Compliance features:

• Employee-level tracking for sick leave, minimum wage, required holidays, and vacations
• Multi-state and multi-country labor law tracking
• Automated alerts when regulations change
• I-9 verification with three-day reminder enforcement
• COBRA administration with automatic notices
• ACA compliance tracking and reporting
• EEO-1 reporting with data validation
• State-specific new hire reporting

Document management:

• Secure, encrypted storage for all employee documents
• Automated expiration tracking (licenses, certifications, visas)
• E-signature workflows with legally binding audit trails
• Customizable access controls
• Version history for all documents

9. Advanced Reporting & Analytics

Rippling offers both pre-built reports and a powerful custom report builder that lets you combine data across HR, IT, and finance.

Pre-built reports include:

• Headcount by department, location, and demographic
• Turnover rates and retention trends
• Compensation analysis and pay equity reviews
• Time-to-hire and recruiting funnel metrics
• PTO usage and accrual forecasting
• Compliance audits (I-9, ACA, EEO-1)
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) analytics

Custom report builder: The drag-and-drop interface lets you create sophisticated reports like "Show me total compensation cost (salary + benefits + equipment + software licenses) by department" or "Compare benefits enrollment rates between remote and in-office employees."

Reports can be scheduled to run automatically and email to stakeholders, or embedded in dashboards for real-time monitoring.

10. Global Payroll & EOR Services

For companies expanding internationally, Rippling offers payroll in 90+ countries plus Employer of Record (EOR) services that let you hire globally without establishing legal entities.

Global capabilities:

• Multi-country payroll with local compliance
• Employer of Record services for international hiring
• Global benefits administration
• Multi-currency payment processing
• Country-specific tax calculations and filings
• Local language support for employees

11. Integration Ecosystem

Rippling offers 650+ native integrations with business applications across HR, benefits, recruiting, communication, finance, and productivity categories.

Key integrations include:

• HR & Benefits: UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Kaiser, Principal, Human Interest
• Recruiting: LinkedIn, Indeed, Greenhouse, Lever
• Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, Office 365
• Finance: QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage Intacct
• Productivity: Asana, Monday.com, Jira, Salesforce
• Security: Okta, OneLogin, Duo Security

All integrations are bi-directional with real-time data sync, not third-party connectors that break or require manual mapping.

Pricing

Rippling uses modular pricing, which means you build your own bundle by selecting the features you need. This flexibility ensures you're not paying for unused functionality, but it also means pricing varies significantly based on your configuration.

Base HRIS Module

Starting at $8 per employee per month + $35 monthly base fee

What's included:

• Centralized employee records and org charts
• Digital document storage and e-signatures
• Employee onboarding workflows
• Time-off tracking and approvals
• Compliance alerts and reminders
• Employee self-service portal
• Basic reporting and analytics

Add-On Modules

The total cost depends on which modules you add. Here's approximate pricing based on available information:

• Payroll: ~$5-8/employee/month + $50 base fee
• Benefits Administration: ~$5/employee/month
• Time & Attendance: ~$3.50/employee/month
• IT Management: Varies based on devices and apps managed
• Spend Management: Custom pricing
• Global Payroll: Custom pricing by country
• Performance Management: ~$3-5/employee/month
• Learning Management: ~$3-5/employee/month

Estimated Total Cost Examples

Small company (25 employees) - HRIS + Payroll + Benefits:
Approximately $450-550/month ($18-22 per employee)

Mid-size company (100 employees) - HRIS + Payroll + Benefits + Time Tracking:
Approximately $1,800-2,500/month ($18-25 per employee)

Growing company (200 employees) - Full suite (HRIS + Payroll + Benefits + IT + Time Tracking):
Approximately $6,000-10,000/month ($30-50 per employee)

How Rippling Pricing Compares

Pros and Cons

Pros ✅

• Powerful automation eliminates manual work: Workflow Studio with 100+ templates automates repetitive tasks like onboarding, offboarding, and role changes. Companies report 50%+ reduction in admin time.
• Unified platform reduces tool sprawl: Managing HR, IT, and finance in one system eliminates data silos and reduces subscription costs for multiple tools.
• Modern, intuitive interface: Clean design that feels contemporary, not like legacy software built in 2005. Employees can use self-service features without training.
• Scales from 5 to 5,000+ employees: Start small and add modules as you grow without switching platforms—a huge advantage over tools you'll outgrow.
• Real-time data sync across modules: Change employee data once and it propagates everywhere instantly. No reconciliation needed.
• 650+ native integrations: Connects with virtually every business tool with bi-directional, real-time sync (not brittle third-party connectors).
• Seamless IT management: Unique capability to manage devices, apps, and security alongside HR—invaluable for remote teams.
• Global payroll capabilities: Supports 90+ countries with local compliance, plus EOR services for international hiring.
• Advanced custom reporting: Build sophisticated reports combining HR, IT, and finance data that would be impossible in siloed systems.
• Strong security and compliance: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR compliant with automatic regulatory updates.

Cons ❌

• No 24/7 phone support globally: Live support is available during U.S. business hours. International customers may experience delays for urgent issues outside these hours.
• Pricing requires sales conversation: No transparent pricing online—you must talk to sales and select modules before getting a quote. This adds friction compared to competitors with public pricing.
• Initial complexity and learning curve: With so many features and customization options, new admins can feel overwhelmed. Requires upfront investment in setup and training.
• Can be overkill for very small businesses: If you have 5-10 employees and simple needs, Rippling's depth might be more than you need. Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll may be simpler.
• Some advanced features carry premium pricing: Features like badge/fingerprint/facial recognition can cost up to $190 per employee per month.
• Implementation timeline can be lengthy: Complex migrations with multiple systems and international employees can take 6-8 weeks (though standard implementations complete in 2-4 weeks).

Who Should Use Rippling?

Rippling is ideal for:

• Growing companies (50-500 employees): You need sophisticated capabilities but don't want enterprise complexity. Rippling scales with you without requiring a platform change.
• Remote and hybrid teams: The seamless IT integration is invaluable when employees work from anywhere. Provision laptops, grant app access, and enforce security policies automatically.
• Companies with global operations: Multi-country payroll, EOR services, and local compliance support make international expansion manageable.
• Tech-forward organizations: If your team values automation and is comfortable with technology, Rippling's depth will pay dividends.
• Businesses tired of tool sprawl: Consolidating HR, IT, and finance systems reduces subscription costs and eliminates data inconsistencies.
• Companies planning significant growth: Rippling scales from 5 to 5,000+ employees, so you won't outgrow it as you expand.

Rippling may not be the best fit for:

• Very small businesses (<10 employees) with simple needs: If you just need basic payroll and don't plan to grow significantly, Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll are simpler and cheaper.
• Companies that prioritize phone support: If 24/7 phone support is non-negotiable, consider ADP or Paychex.
• Organizations with minimal technical resources: Rippling rewards teams that invest in setup and optimization. If you lack time or technical expertise, simpler alternatives may be better.
• Businesses seeking transparent pricing upfront: If you need to see exact pricing before a sales call, BambooHR or Gusto publish pricing tiers online.

Alternatives to Rippling

BambooHR

Best for: Small businesses (10-500 employees) that prioritize culture, performance management, and applicant tracking over automation and IT integration.

Key differences: BambooHR excels at "people" features like employee engagement and performance reviews but lacks Rippling's IT management and advanced automation. Pricing is also custom quote-based.

Gusto

Best for: Very small businesses (<25 employees) that need simple payroll and basic HR without complexity.

Key differences: Gusto is easier to use and cheaper ($40/month + $6/employee) but much less powerful. You'll outgrow it as you scale. No IT management or advanced automation.

Paycor

Best for: Mid-market companies (100-1,000 employees) with complex, multi-state payroll that don't need IT management.

Key differences: Paycor's payroll engine is robust with strong compliance features, but the overall platform feels dated compared to Rippling's modern interface. No IT capabilities.

Workday HCM

Best for: Large enterprises (5,000+ employees) that need enterprise-grade financial planning and analytics.

Key differences: Workday is powerful but expensive and complex—overkill for most mid-sized companies. Rippling offers similar capabilities at a fraction of the cost for businesses under 1,000 employees.

ADP Workforce Now

Best for: Enterprises with established ADP relationships who prioritize phone support and industry-specific features.

Key differences: ADP is reliable with excellent support but lacks Rippling's modern interface, automation capabilities, and IT management. Better for companies that value support over innovation.

Deel

Best for: Companies hiring internationally that need EOR services and global payroll as the primary use case.

Key differences: Deel specializes in global hiring and contractor management but isn't as comprehensive for domestic HR operations. Rippling offers global capabilities plus a full HRIS.

Ease of Use and Interface

For Administrators

Rippling's admin dashboard provides immediate visibility into pending approvals, upcoming compliance deadlines, onboarding tasks, and employee changes. Navigation is logical with clear menus for People, Payroll, Benefits, IT, and Finance.

The search function is exceptional—type any employee name, policy, or document and it surfaces instantly. When managing 200+ employees, this saves hours compared to systems where you're clicking through endless menus.

The Workflow Builder initially looks intimidating with hundreds of automation options, but Rippling provides templates for common scenarios. You can implement sophisticated automations without starting from scratch.

For Employees

Employees get a clean self-service portal where they can view pay stubs, request time off, update personal information, and enroll in benefits. The mobile app mirrors the desktop experience without feeling cramped—a huge win for deskless or on-the-go workers.

Learning Curve Considerations

With so much depth and flexibility, Rippling can seem complex at first. New admins might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of customization options. However, Rippling's support team provides implementation assistance, and their help center documentation is detailed and searchable.

The initial investment in learning the platform pays off through long-term efficiency gains—you're not constantly working around limitations like you would in simpler (but less capable) systems.

Customer Support

Support Channels

• Live chat: Available during business hours with average response time under 30 seconds
• Email support: Average response time under 2 hours, 24-hour guarantee for most inquiries
• Help center: Searchable documentation with step-by-step guides and video tutorials
• Community forum: Connect with other Rippling customers

Implementation Support

Rippling assigns an implementation specialist who guides you through data migration, payroll setup, benefits configuration, workflow design, admin training, and employee rollout planning.

Timeline: Most implementations complete in 2-4 weeks for companies with straightforward needs. Complex migrations can take 6-8 weeks.

Support Quality

Rippling's G2 support rating is 9.3/10, higher than most competitors. Customers consistently praise fast response times and knowledgeable support agents who actually understand the product.

Common complaints:

• Phone support isn't available 24/7 for international customers
• Complex technical issues sometimes require escalation
• During busy periods (year-end, tax season), response times can slow

Security and Compliance

Data Protection

• SOC 2 Type II certified
• ISO 27001 certified
• GDPR compliant
• HIPAA compliance support for benefits data
• Data encryption at rest and in transit (AES-256)
• Regular third-party security audits
• Annual penetration testing

Access Controls

• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) required for all users
• Single sign-on (SSO) via Okta, OneLogin, Google, Microsoft
• Role-based access control with granular permissions
• IP allowlisting for sensitive data access
• Automated deprovisioning when employees leave
• Complete audit logs of all data access and changes

Compliance Support

Rippling automatically adapts to local regulations based on employee location, providing state-specific labor laws, tax requirements, and compliance forms for U.S. employees, plus country-specific data fields and local language support internationally.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

Overall Ratings

• G2: 4.8/5 (based on 3,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.9/5
• TrustRadius: 8.9/10

What Customers Love

"I know the goal for Rippling is to make a super sticky product, and for us that's exactly what it's become. I truly do not know how certain parts of our business would function if we didn't have it." - Nicole Stines, VP of People at Talent to Team

Customers consistently mention:

• Advanced automation capabilities that save time and boost productivity
• Powerful customization options for workflows
• Strong user experience with intuitive interface
• Significant focus on compliance, even for international companies
• Ultimate scalability with ability to add modules as needed

Common Concerns

• Customers need to speak to sales to receive exact pricing (adds complexity to evaluation)
• Live support limited to business hours (delays for international customers)
• Initial setup can feel overwhelming due to feature depth

The Verdict

Rippling is a best-in-class workforce platform for growing companies that value automation, integration, and scalability. It's not the simplest option on the market—that would be Gusto. And it's not the cheapest—though modular pricing ensures you only pay for what you need.

What Rippling offers is power. The ability to automate workflows that competitors require manual work. The capability to manage IT infrastructure alongside HR. The flexibility to scale from 5 employees to 5,000 without switching platforms. And the intelligence to sync data in real-time across 650+ integrations.

Choose Rippling if:

• You're a growing company (50-500 employees) that needs sophisticated capabilities
• You have remote or hybrid teams requiring IT management
• You're tired of juggling multiple tools and want to consolidate
• You value automation and are willing to invest time in setup
• You're planning significant growth and don't want to switch platforms later

Consider alternatives if:

• You have fewer than 10 employees with simple needs (try Gusto)
• You require 24/7 phone support (try ADP)
• You want transparent pricing upfront without a sales call
• You lack technical resources for implementation and optimization

The companies most satisfied with Rippling are those that invest in proper setup: building workflows, configuring integrations, and training their teams. Done right, Rippling will save you hundreds of hours annually and provide capabilities that traditional HRIS platforms simply can't match.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Rippling cost?

Rippling's base HRIS module starts at $8 per employee per month plus a $35 monthly base fee. Total cost depends on which add-on modules you select (payroll, benefits, time tracking, IT management, etc.). For a company with 100 employees using HRIS, payroll, benefits, and time tracking, expect to pay approximately $18-25 per employee per month. Rippling requires a sales conversation to provide exact pricing based on your specific needs.

Does Rippling offer a free trial?

Rippling does not offer a traditional free trial. Instead, they provide personalized demos where you can see the platform in action and ask questions specific to your business needs. The implementation process includes training and support to ensure your team is comfortable with the system before going live.

Can Rippling handle international payroll?

Yes, Rippling supports payroll in 90+ countries with local compliance handling. They also offer Employer of Record (EOR) services that let you hire internationally without establishing legal entities in each country. This makes Rippling an excellent choice for companies expanding globally or hiring remote workers internationally.

How does Rippling compare to BambooHR?

Rippling offers more advanced automation and IT management capabilities compared to BambooHR. While BambooHR excels at employee engagement, performance management, and applicant tracking, Rippling provides a more comprehensive platform that includes IT infrastructure management, spend management, and superior workflow automation. BambooHR is better for companies that prioritize "people" features, while Rippling is better for those seeking operational efficiency and tool consolidation.

Is Rippling good for small businesses?

Rippling works well for small businesses starting around 20-50 employees, though they serve companies as small as 5 employees. Very small businesses (under 10 employees) with simple needs might find Rippling's depth more than necessary and could be better served by simpler alternatives like Gusto. However, if you're planning significant growth, starting with Rippling means you won't need to switch platforms later.

What makes Rippling different from other HRIS systems?

Rippling's unique differentiator is its unified approach to HR, IT, and finance. Unlike traditional HRIS systems that focus solely on human resources, Rippling manages employee data, device provisioning, app access, and company spend in one integrated platform. The "Employee Graph" data model ensures changes propagate automatically across all systems, and the Workflow Studio enables automation that competitors can't match. This makes Rippling particularly valuable for remote and hybrid teams.

How long does Rippling implementation take?

Most Rippling implementations complete in 2-4 weeks for companies with straightforward needs. Complex migrations involving multiple payroll systems, international employees, or extensive custom integrations can take 6-8 weeks. Rippling assigns a dedicated implementation specialist to guide you through data migration, system configuration, and employee rollout.

Does Rippling integrate with my existing tools?

Rippling offers 650+ native integrations with popular business applications including Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, NetSuite, Salesforce, and major benefits carriers. All integrations are bi-directional with real-time data sync. If Rippling doesn't have a pre-built integration for a specific tool, they provide API access for custom connections.