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Justworks Review

Justworks is a US PEO and payroll provider for small businesses. It sells payroll, two PEO plans with benefits and HR support, and an employer of record for hiring abroad, with published prices from $50 a month plus $8 per employee.

Company size
Small businesses2
Pricing model
Base fee + per employee1

Best for

  • Small businesses that want a PEO with published per-employee prices
  • Employers that want large-group medical, dental and vision through PEO Plus
  • US teams that want payroll in any state with optional health insurance

Not ideal for

  • Solo founders who want a PEO: Justworks PEO needs at least two W-2 employees
  • Employers that want to keep their own workers' comp policy on a PEO plan
  • Payroll-only buyers who need 24/7 support or HR consultants
By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Based on 15 sources, most recently checked
How we evaluated Justworks

This review rests on the 24 facts this page shows, each checked against the source listed under “Sources”, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score uses only those verified facts, as our methodology explains; third-party ratings, where we quote them, never count in the score.

Our verdict

Justworks fits US small businesses that want a PEO with published per-employee prices, or plain payroll they can grow into a PEO. Payroll costs $50 a month plus $8 per employee; PEO Basic is $79 and PEO Plus $124 per employee a month, with no base fee and no setup fee. Benefit premiums, workers' comp and add-ons such as time tracking are billed on top. It is less suited to one-person companies that want a PEO and to firms that want to keep their own workers' comp policy.

Show

Strengths

  • Every price published, no setup fee

    Justworks publishes the price of every plan and add-on. Payroll is $50 a month plus $8 per employee, and the PEO plans have no base fee. There is no implementation fee.

    Evidence: Price transparency: Published1

  • Certified PEO with workers' comp built in

    Justworks holds IRS certified PEO status and ESAC accreditation. On PEO plans it files payroll taxes, W-2s and 1099s and covers staff under its workers' comp master policy.

    Evidence

    Key features: IRS-certified PEO (CPEO) and ESAC accreditation, Multi-state payroll, Contractor and vendor payments, Employer payroll tax filings (940 and 941), W-2, W-3 and 1099 filings, Online onboarding and offboarding, PTO management, Document center, Accounting sync with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, NetSuite, Sage Intacct and Xero, Mobile app for employees3

  • Group health plans on PEO Plus

    PEO Plus adds medical, dental and vision through large-group or small-group plans, COBRA administration, and perks such as One Medical and Kindbody where available. Both PEO plans include access to a 401(k), HSA/FSA and commuter benefits.

    Evidence

    Benefits offered: Medical, dental and vision (PEO Plus; Payroll plan add-on), COBRA administration, 401(k), HSA/FSA, Commuter benefits, Life and disability insurance, Fitness memberships (PEO plans), Health insurance reimbursements through a CHOICE arrangement (formerly ICHRA), Mental health, health advocacy, One Medical and Kindbody (PEO Plus)1

  • Payroll that grows into a PEO

    Any size company can use Justworks Payroll, and you can switch between Payroll, PEO Basic and PEO Plus. Health insurance can be added to the Payroll plan for $8 per eligible employee a month.

    Evidence: Minimum employees: 21

  • Round-the-clock help on PEO plans

    PEO customers and their staff reach 24/7 support by email, phone, chat or Slack, and can ask HR consultants for guidance.

    Evidence

    Support hours: 24/7 support on PEO Basic and PEO Plus; the Payroll plan lists a 24/7 help center plus phone and chat support4

Weaknesses

  • PEO fees grow with every hire

    At 10 employees, PEO Basic costs $790 a month and PEO Plus $1,240 before health premiums and workers' comp. Part-time employees cost the same per head as full-time staff.

    Evidence: Pricing model: Base fee + per employee1

  • Workers' comp is required on the PEO

    PEO customers are enrolled in and charged for the Justworks workers' comp policy and cannot opt out, so a business with its own policy may pay twice. Premiums are a percentage of wages.

    Evidence: Workers' comp included: Yes5

  • Add-ons cost extra

    Time Tracking costs $8 per employee a month, dedicated HR consulting $30, and international contractors $39 each plus exchange-rate fees.

    Evidence

    Extra costs: Time Tracking: $8 a month per employee, US-based contractors: $8 a month per contractor, only in months you pay them, International contractors: $39 a month per paid contractor, plus exchange-rate fees, Health insurance on the Payroll plan: $8 a month per benefits-eligible employee, plus premiums, Dedicated HR Consulting: $30 a month per employee (PEO plans), Health Insurance Reimbursements (CHOICE): $25 a month per enrolled employee, Workers' comp on PEO plans: premium as a percentage of wages, with a state minimum for unpaid owners, Health, dental, vision, life and disability premiums: billed on top of plan fees1

  • Lighter service on the Payroll plan

    The Payroll plan lists a 24/7 help center, phone and chat, but not 24/7 support, HR consulting, EPLI or harassment prevention training. Those come with the PEO plans.

    Evidence

    Support hours: 24/7 support on PEO Basic and PEO Plus; the Payroll plan lists a 24/7 help center plus phone and chat support4

  • PEO needs at least two employees

    Justworks PEO requires at least two full-time or part-time W-2 employees, so a one-person company can only use Justworks Payroll.

    Evidence: Minimum employees: 21

How many employees would the PEO cover?

Some products only serve certain team sizes: those that do not fit yours drop out.

Price at a glance

  • Starting base fee

    $50/mo1

  • Starting price per employee

    $8/employee/mo1

  • Pricing model

    Base fee + per employee1

  • Price transparency

    Published1

  • Minimum employees

    21

What Justworks costs

Justworks cost at 10 to 100 employees

  • Payroll$50/mo base + $8/employee/mo
  • PEO Basic$79/employee/mo
  • PEO Plus$124/employee/mo
  • EOR$599/employee/mo
Estimated list price per month by scenario
EmployeesPayrollPEO BasicPEO PlusEOR
10$130/mo$790/mo$1,240/mo$5,990/mo
25$250/mo$1,975/mo$3,100/mo$14,975/mo
50$450/mo$3,950/mo$6,200/mo$29,950/mo
100$850/mo$7,900/mo$12,400/mo$59,900/mo

Monthly list price before discounts, add-ons and taxes, from the published price model of each plan.

Quick answers

Is Justworks reputable?
Justworks was founded in 2012 in New York and says it is an IRS-certified PEO with ESAC accreditation, standards that add protection for tax filing and payments.Based on Founded: 20122
How much is Justworks per month?
Payroll costs $50 a month plus $8 per employee; PEO Basic is $79 and PEO Plus $124 per employee a month, with no base fee.
Is Justworks only a PEO?
No. Besides PEO Basic and PEO Plus, Justworks sells a payroll-only plan for any company size and an employer of record service for hiring abroad.Based on Minimum employees: 21
What does PEO Plus add over the Basic plan?
PEO Plus adds medical, dental and vision administration, HSA/FSA accounts and mental health and fertility benefits on top of PEO Basic's payroll, compliance and HR tools.Based on Benefits offered: Medical, dental and vision (PEO Plus; Payroll plan add-on), COBRA administration, 401(k), HSA/FSA, Commuter benefits, Life and disability insurance, Fitness memberships (PEO plans), Health insurance reimbursements through a CHOICE arrangement (formerly ICHRA), Mental health, health advocacy, One Medical and Kindbody (PEO Plus)1

Coverage of core PEO services capabilities

Each core capability we evaluate in PEO Services, checked against Justworks’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.

9 verified of 10 core capabilities

PEO Services

  • Co-employment arrangement6
  • Payroll and tax filing6
  • Group benefits access7
  • Workers' compensation5
  • HR advisory support7
  • Compliance support7
  • Risk and safety services · not verified yet
  • HR and payroll technology7
  • Reporting8
  • Exit and transition support9

Specifications

Fit

Industry focus
Financial services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Professional services, Real estate, Retail, Startups10
US states supported
All 50 states11

Product

Modules
Payroll, PEO, Benefits administration, HR tools and support, Compliance, Time Tracking (add-on), Contractor payments, International Employer of Record (EOR), Analytics1
Mobile apps
Justworks app for iOS, Justworks app for Android12
AI features
Justworks MCP: ask questions about live Justworks data from Claude and ChatGPT11

Justworks integrations

Native integrations

Named by the vendor

  • NetSuite
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Sage Intacct
  • Xero

Justworks integrations

Justworks integration coverage

The 10 apps that PEO services products document most often, and whether Justworks documents each.

4 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by Justworks; median of the 13 products compared: 1

  • QuickBooks · documented by 8 of 13
  • NetSuite · documented by 4 of 13
  • Xero · documented by 4 of 13
  • BambooHR · documented by 3 of 13
  • Greenhouse · documented by 3 of 13
  • Carta · documented by 2 of 13
  • ClearCo · documented by 2 of 13
  • Great Plains · documented by 2 of 13
  • HiBob · documented by 2 of 13
  • JazzHR · documented by 2 of 13

Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier, API or named by the vendor), 13 live PEO services products. Not documented does not mean not possible.

PEO Services

Where it ranks

Justworks alternatives

Alternatives to Justworks

Implementation and support

Implementation fee
None1
Support channels
Phone, email, chat, Slack1
Support hours
24/7 support on PEO Basic and PEO Plus; the Payroll plan lists a 24/7 help center plus phone and chat support4

About Justworks

Founded
20122
Headquarters
New York, New York, US13

Official profiles

Frequently asked questions

Is Justworks legit?

Justworks is sold by the company of the same name, which was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in New York, New York, US. Before you sign, review the contract terms and ask for the security documentation that applies to your plan.

What is the minimum number of employees for Justworks?

The PEO needs at least two W-2 employees; any size company can use Justworks Payroll.

Does Justworks file payroll taxes?

Yes. It withholds, reports and remits payroll taxes and files W-2s and 1099s for domestic contractors.

Does Justworks have a mobile app?

Yes. The Justworks app is available for iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Justworks?

In our PEO services ranking, the highest-scored products other than Justworks are G&A Partners, TriNet, and PrestigePEO. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Justworks alternatives.

Which is better, Justworks or ADP TotalSource?

Our Justworks vs ADP TotalSource comparison sets out when each one fits.

What are the pros and cons of Justworks?

Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: every price published, no setup fee, certified PEO with workers' comp built in, and group health plans on PEO Plus. It is less suited to solo founders who want a PEO: Justworks PEO needs at least two W-2 employees and employers that want to keep their own workers' comp policy on a PEO plan.

What does Justworks integrate with?

Documented examples include 15Five, Brex, Carta, Checkr, and 5 more. Every documented connection: Justworks integrations.

Is Justworks good for small businesses?

Justworks lists small businesses among the company sizes it is built for (small businesses), with a minimum of 2 employees; for 10 employees its list prices come to $790 a month. It ranks #1 of 23 in our PEO services for small businesses.

How this page was made

  • What it is built from

    24 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Nov 10, 2026.

  • Method

    Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology

  • Independent review

    Not reviewed yet by our independent reviewer. How we review

  • Hands-on testing

    We have not tested Justworks hands-on: this page uses public information only.

  • Who made it

    The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us

  • Independence and errors

    Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction

Compare Justworks pricing for your team

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JustworksLeadChange Score 9.7

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Sources

The 15 pages this page's facts come from. The date beside each is our last check of the facts taken from it (the oldest, when they differ). The numbers beside the figures above link here.

Quotes from the sources
  1. Justworks justworks.com/pricing“Justworks PEO pricing starts at $79 per month per employee for our Basic plan and $124 per month per employee for our Plus plan. Justworks Payroll customers pay $8 per month per employee plus a $50 base fee.” “Transparent & Simple Pricing”
  2. Justworks justworks.com/about/our-company“Justworks is a technology company that levels the playing field for all small businesses.” “So, in 2012, Isaac left Etsy to build one.”
  3. Justworks justworks.com/platform/features/compliance“With our IRS-certified PEO status and ESAC-accreditation, we’re held to strict operational standards, adding an extra layer of protection for tax filing and payments.” “Sit back while our platform automates withholding, reporting, and remitting your payroll taxes for US-based and international employees, plus annual filings like W-2s and 1099s for domestic contractors.”
  4. Justworks justworks.com/plans/basic“our 24/7 customer support team that you and your employees can reach via email, phone, chat, and Slack.”
  5. Justworks help.justworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004473472-Workers-Compensation-Insurance“Once you sign up with Justworks PEO, you and your employees will be covered under the Justworks workers compensation policies, with some exceptions..”
  6. Justworks help.justworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004430612-How-Co-Employment-Works
  7. Justworks help.justworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/34505385091867-Justworks-PEO-Key-Features
  8. Justworks help.justworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004528631-Census-Report
  9. Justworks help.justworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/25284070225819-Justworks-Payroll-Moving-From-a-PEO-to-a-Payroll-Provider
  10. Justworks justworks.com/industries“Discover HR & Payroll Solutions for Your Industry … Healthcare Empower your team with all-in-one HR solutions for healthcare businesses. … Manufacturing Tailor HR processes with seamless solutions and support for manufacturing companies. … Real Estate Close deals while reducing HR stress … Retail Streamline HR & payroll with solutions for online and in-store retail businesses.”
  11. Justworks justworks.com/product-updates“Access the tools, perks, and resources to help you stay compliant and grow in all 50 states.” “Introducing Justworks MCP: Your HR Data, Right Inside Claude and ChatGPT”
  12. Justworks justworks.com/lp/justworks-mobile“Get the free mobile app to keep all your important HR info with you at all times. Available on the App Store and the Play Store.”
  13. Justworks justworks.com/privacy-policy“you can write to us at Justworks, Inc., P.O. Box 7119, Church Street Station, New York, NY 10008-7119”
  14. Justworks help.justworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/24026656179099-Justworks-Employer-of-Record-EOR“Justworks currently supports hiring full-time employees through our Employer of Record (EOR) in the following regions:”
  15. Justworks help.justworks.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004479832-Invoice-Overview-for-Justworks-PEO“You can find more information on integrating Justworks with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, NetSuite, Sage Intacct, or Xero.”

Vendor? Reach buyers comparing Justworks

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A 0–10 editorial assessment built only from verified facts, across six weighted dimensions: capabilities, pricing, integrations, security, fit and support, and data confidence.

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