Human Interest Review
by Human Interest Inc.
Human Interest is a 401(k) and 403(b) provider for small and medium-sized businesses, with payroll integrations, fiduciary services and zero transaction fees. Plans start at $80 a month plus $5 per eligible employee.
- Company size
- Small businesses, mid-market companies
- Pricing model
- Base fee + per employee
- Integrations
- 600
Best for
- Small and mid-sized employers that want published 401(k) pricing
- Employers that want the provider to sign and file Form 5500 (Complete and Concierge)
- Teams whose payroll is among 600+ supported integrations
Not ideal for
- Employers that want 3(16) fiduciary services on the entry plan (they start on Complete)
- Buyers who need a published ISO 27001 certification
How we evaluated Human Interest
This review rests on 18 facts checked against Human Interest’s official pricing pages and documentation, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score and the pros and cons use only those verified facts, as our methodology explains, and third-party ratings are quoted, never scored.
Our verdict
Human Interest is a 401(k) and 403(b) provider for small and medium-sized businesses, based in San Francisco, with three plans priced as a monthly base fee plus a fee per eligible employee. Essentials starts at $80 a month plus $5 per eligible employee, it integrates with 600+ payrolls and its trust center lists SOC 2 Type 2.
Strengths
Published pricing
Three plans from $80 a month plus $5 per eligible employee, with zero transaction fees.
Evidence: Starting base fee: $80/mo
Payroll coverage
Integrates with 600+ payrolls that enroll employees and process contributions automatically.
Evidence: Native integrations: 600
Fiduciary and filing support
Complete and Concierge include 3(16) fiduciary services and IRS Form 5500 signed and filed.
Evidence: Fiduciary services: Yes
Developer API
A GraphQL API with webhooks for platforms that embed retirement plans.
Evidence: Open API: Yes
Weaknesses
Asset-based fees for employees
Employees pay 0.05% of plan assets for recordkeeping plus an advisory fee, on top of fund expense ratios.
Evidence: Extra costs: Recordkeeping and custody fee of 0.05% of plan assets, paid by employees, Investment advisory fee of 0.01% (3(38)) or 0.018% (3(21)) of plan assets, Fund expense ratios, Optional automatic rollover add-on at $10 a month
Setup fee
A one-time setup fee of $499 may apply.
Evidence: Implementation fee: A one-time setup fee of $499 may apply
Price at a glance
Starting base fee
$80/mo
Starting price per employee
$5/employee/mo
Pricing model
Base fee + per employee
Price transparency
Published
Human Interest cost at 10 to 100 employees
- Published starting price$80/mo base + $5/employee/mo
| Employees | Published starting price |
|---|---|
| 10 | $130/mo |
| 25 | $205/mo |
| 50 | $330/mo |
| 100 | $580/mo |
The published starting price only: plan tiers, add-ons and other products are quoted on top.
Quick answers
- How much does Human Interest cost?
- Essentials is $80 a month plus $5 per eligible employee, Complete $180 plus $7 and Concierge $280 plus $9; a $499 setup fee may apply.Based on Implementation fee: A one-time setup fee of $499 may apply
- What do employees pay with Human Interest?
- Employees pay asset-based fees: 0.05% of plan assets for recordkeeping plus an advisory fee of 0.01% or 0.018%, and fund expense ratios.Based on Extra costs: Recordkeeping and custody fee of 0.05% of plan assets, paid by employees, Investment advisory fee of 0.01% (3(38)) or 0.018% (3(21)) of plan assets, Fund expense ratios, Optional automatic rollover add-on at $10 a month
- Which payrolls does Human Interest integrate with?
- More than 600, including Gusto, Paycom, Rippling, Paylocity, isolved, Paycor, Deel, BambooHR and UKG.Based on Notable integrations: Gusto, Paycom, Rippling, Paylocity, isolved, QuickBooks Online, Paycor, Deel, BambooHR, UKG
- Is Human Interest SOC 2 certified?
- Its trust center lists SOC 1, SOC 2 Type 1 and SOC 2 Type 2.Based on SOC 2 Type II: Yes
Coverage of core 401(k) providers capabilities
Each core capability we evaluate in 401(k) Providers, checked against Human Interest’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.
8 verified of 10 core capabilities
401(k) Providers
- Plan design and document
- Participant recordkeeping
- Payroll integration
- Investment menu and default investment
- Fiduciary services
- Compliance testing
- Form 5500 support
- Automatic enrollment · not verified yet
- Participant notices and education
- Fee disclosure · not verified yet
Specifications
Product
- Modules
- Traditional and Roth 401(k), 403(b), Safe harbor plans, Profit-sharing plans, Solo 401(k), IRA
Integrations
- Open API
- Yes
- API type
- GraphQL
- Webhooks
- Yes
Human Interest integrations
10 integrations we documented, by how they connect. Human Interest reports 600 native integrations in total.
Human Interest integration coverage
The 4 apps that 401(k) providers products document most often, and whether Human Interest documents each.
3 of the 4 most-connected apps documented by Human Interest; median of the 5 products compared: 2
- Gusto · documented by 3 of 5
- Paylocity · documented by 3 of 5
- Paychex · documented by 2 of 5
- QuickBooks · documented by 2 of 5
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier or API), 5 live 401(k) providers products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Where it ranks
- #1 of 3 scored401(k) Providers
- #1 of 3 scored401(k) Providers for Mid-Sized Companies
- #1 of 1 scored401(k) Providers for QuickBooks
- #1 of 3 scored401(k) Providers for Small Business
Human Interest alternatives
- Fidelity Workplace Investing100% similar
- Vanguard Workplace Solutions100% similar
- Principal Financial Group90% similar
- Empower70% similar
Security and compliance
- SOC 2 Type IIYes
- Single sign-onOpenID Connect
Implementation and support
- Typical implementation
- Provider switches: migration in as few as 8 business days
- Implementation fee
- A one-time setup fee of $499 may apply
- Support channels
- U.S.-based support team, Named account manager (Concierge)
Human Interest: frequently asked questions
What plan types does Human Interest offer?
Traditional and Roth 401(k)s, 403(b)s, safe harbor and profit-sharing plans, plus Solo 401(k) and IRA accounts.
Which retirement accounts does Human Interest offer?
Traditional and Roth 401(k)s, 403(b)s, safe harbor and profit-sharing plans, plus Solo 401(k) and IRA accounts.
What is Human Interest used for?
Human Interest is a 401(k) providers product built for small businesses and mid-market companies. Its modules include Traditional and Roth 401, 403, Safe harbor plans, Profit-sharing plans, and 2 more.
What are the best alternatives to Human Interest?
In our 401(k) providers ranking, the highest-scored products other than Human Interest are Betterment at Work and Fidelity Workplace Investing. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Human Interest alternatives.
What are the pros and cons of Human Interest?
Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: published pricing, payroll coverage, and fiduciary and filing support. It is less suited to employers that want 3(16) fiduciary services on the entry plan (they start on Complete) and buyers who need a published ISO 27001 certification.
Does Human Interest have an API?
Yes. Human Interest offers an open API (GraphQL) to customers, with webhooks for event updates.
How long does it take to implement Human Interest?
Human Interest states a typical implementation of provider switches: migration in as few as 8 business days. Implementation fee: a one-time setup fee of $499 may apply.
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