- OfficePortal vs TriNet in one line: TriNet takes on HR as a co-employer; OfficePortal gives you the tools to run HR yourself.
- TriNet charges a flat fee per employee per month by quote. Its own pricing example uses $150 per employee, and independent estimates run about $80 to $150.
- OfficePortal Premium costs $4 per user per month billed yearly, covering attendance, biometric check-in, shift scheduling, leave, performance reviews and payroll.
- TriNet includes US payroll tax filing, benefits access and workers' compensation administration. OfficePortal provides none of those.
- TriNet is built around US employers. OfficePortal works for teams in any location.
What is TriNet?
TriNet is a US professional employer organization founded in 1988 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange as TNET. Through co-employment, it runs payroll and payroll tax filing, offers benefits through its large-group plans, administers workers' compensation and provides HR and compliance support. It reports about 323,000 worksite employees at the end of 2025, and a TriNet subsidiary is an IRS-certified PEO. TriNet also sells HR Plus, an administrative services option without co-employment.
What's the difference between a PEO and an HR system?
A PEO shares legal employer responsibilities with you. It files payroll taxes under its own arrangements, offers its benefit plans and takes on parts of compliance. An HR system like OfficePortal doesn't employ anyone: you stay the only employer, and the software handles attendance, rosters, leave, reviews and payroll calculations. If benefits and US compliance are what you need help with, a PEO makes sense. If you need better day-to-day HR, software costs far less.
Why do teams pick OfficePortal instead of a PEO?
- Cost: $4 per user per month billed yearly on Premium, against PEO fees that are commonly estimated at $80 to $150 per employee per month. See our pricing.
- Control: you keep your own payroll and HR processes, with no co-employment arrangement.
- Daily HR tools: attendance tracking with biometric check-in, shift scheduling, leave management and performance reviews.
- Flexibility: cancel anytime, and start free with up to five users.
- Teams anywhere: holidays and leave rules per location, for people in any country.
- Help to start: our onboarding team handles setup, data migration and training.
How much does TriNet cost?
TriNet doesn't publish a rate card. Its pricing page describes a flat fee per employee per month based on company size, industry, location and services, and gives the example of 20 employees at $150 each, or $3,000 a month. Independent estimates run about $80 to $150 per employee per month. Benefit premiums and payroll taxes are paid on top, and extras such as background checks may cost more. TriNet also says a minimum number of employees applies, without publishing the figure.
For 20 people, OfficePortal Premium costs $80 a month. The fee doesn't include benefits or tax filing, so compare it with what you'd actually use.
TriNet disadvantages: why do companies look for alternatives?
- Expensive per person. PEO fees are many times the cost of HR software.
- Quote-based pricing. There's no public rate card, and some reviewers say fees are hard to follow.
- Support complaints. Slow or inconsistent support comes up repeatedly in reviews.
- Commitment. Some reviewers report multi-year terms and early-termination fees; check your contract.
- US focus. Its services are built around US payroll, benefits and employment law.
- Less control. Co-employment means some HR decisions run through TriNet's processes.
When is TriNet the better choice?
When you're a US business that wants access to large-group benefits, payroll tax filing and compliance support without building an HR team. TriNet's long track record, public listing, IRS certification and industry accreditation count for a lot there. OfficePortal doesn't provide benefits, file US payroll taxes or act as a co-employer.
Can you use OfficePortal with a PEO?
Yes. Some companies keep a PEO for benefits and tax filing and use OfficePortal for attendance, shift rosters, leave and performance reviews, especially for staff outside the US.
How do you leave TriNet for OfficePortal?
- Check your contract for notice periods and the best timing, such as a quarter end.
- Arrange benefits and US payroll tax filing with a new provider before you leave.
- Export employee records, pay history and leave balances, then book a demo so our onboarding team can set up OfficePortal.
Comparing other PEOs? See OfficePortal vs Insperity, OfficePortal vs Justworks or browse all HR software alternatives.