PrimePay has traditionally focused on serving small businesses with robust support and tax services. However, since their acquisition of SyncHR in 2021, PrimePay has expanded into the mid-market HRIS space, offering a scalable platform with modern architecture. In this review, we’ll explore the key features, strengths, and considerations when evaluating PrimePay for your organization.

Overview of PrimePay

PrimePay started as a payroll provider specializing in small businesses, but with the acquisition of SyncHR, they now offer a comprehensive HRIS platform aimed at mid-sized organizations. PrimePay is particularly known for its strong customer support and tax services, but SyncHR’s advanced platform provides enhanced HR capabilities, including org chart management, reporting, and historical data tracking. While still a smaller player in the HRIS market, PrimePay’s open API architecture allows for easy integrations with third-party systems, such as payroll and benefits admin tools.

PrimePay offers additional benefits services, including HSA, FSA, and COBRA administration, making it a well-rounded solution for businesses looking to manage the full employee lifecycle.

The Strengths of PrimePay

1. Small Business Focus with Expanded Capabilities

PrimePay has a long history of providing excellent support to small businesses. However, their acquisition of SyncHR allows them to scale and offer more advanced HRIS functionalities for mid-sized companies. The platform’s flexible architecture supports advanced reporting, easy org chart management, and historical data tracking—features that are essential for growing businesses.

2. Open API and Integration-Friendly Platform

PrimePay is built with a modern integration architecture, making it easy to integrate with third-party solutions. Their open APIs allow seamless connections with other tools, including payroll providers and benefits administration systems like Employee Navigator. This flexibility ensures that businesses can maintain their existing software stack while benefiting from PrimePay’s HRIS.

3. Accessible Executive Team and Product Feedback

One of the advantages of PrimePay’s smaller customer base is that it provides businesses with greater access to leadership and support teams. PrimePay is known to be more open to customer feedback, allowing users to influence the product roadmap and receive more personalized service compared to larger providers like ADP or Paylocity.

4. Ancillary Benefits Services

PrimePay offers ancillary benefits services such as HSA, FSA, and COBRA administration, which makes it easier for businesses to manage their employees’ benefits packages. This integrated approach reduces the need for multiple vendors, simplifying benefits management.

Learn More: Compare PrimePay and other leading HRIS platforms on OutSail's marketplace

Points to Consider with PrimePay

1. Smaller Company with Slower Innovation

With about 600 employees, PrimePay is smaller than many of its mid-market peers. While they are financially backed by a leading private equity firm, their smaller size could result in slower innovation cycles and less frequent updates compared to larger competitors like ADP or Paylocity.

2. Reliance on Third-Party Modules

PrimePay’s core HRIS platform is natively integrated, but some of the additional modules—such as timekeeping (Kronos), ATS, and LMS—are provided by third-party tools. This reliance on external providers may cause some businesses to experience disconnected workflows or a lack of uniformity within the system.

3. Outdated User Experience for Employees

While PrimePay offers advanced features for administrators, the employee user experience has been reported to feel outdated and less intuitive than competing platforms. Businesses seeking a modern and streamlined interface for employees may find PrimePay’s system behind the curve in terms of usability and design.

Pricing Structure

PrimePay operates on a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) pricing model, with costs typically ranging between $19 and $25 PEPM, depending on the size of the organization and the modules required. This makes PrimePay a cost-effective option for small to mid-sized businesses looking for a flexible HRIS platform with strong integration capabilities and support services.

Deciding if PrimePay is Right for Your Business

When considering PrimePay as your HRIS provider, it’s important to weigh its strengths and potential challenges to determine how well it fits with your company’s needs.

Leveraging Strengths:

• Strong Support for Small Businesses: PrimePay’s long-standing reputation for customer service and support makes it an attractive option for businesses that prioritize a personalized support model.
• Flexible Integration and Architecture: PrimePay’s open APIs and willingness to integrate with third-party solutions provide businesses with the flexibility to maintain their existing tools while using the platform.
• Comprehensive Benefits Services: Ancillary benefits like HSA, FSA, and COBRA administration make PrimePay a well-rounded solution for managing employee benefits in addition to HR and payroll.

Addressing Challenges:

• Smaller Company with Potential Slower Innovation: PrimePay’s smaller size compared to mid-market competitors may result in fewer product updates and slower innovation. Businesses requiring rapid feature development should consider this.
• Third-Party Dependencies: Some modules, such as timekeeping and learning management, are outsourced to third-party providers, which can create integration challenges or inconsistencies within the system.
• Outdated Employee Experience: While the platform offers advanced admin tools, the employee-facing side of the system may feel outdated or less intuitive, which could impact employee engagement and usability.

Conclusion

PrimePay is a support-driven HR and payroll solution that differentiates itself from larger competitors like ADP and Paylocity by providing a more personalized support model. The acquisition of SyncHR has allowed PrimePay to scale into the mid-market, offering a modern, flexible architecture with strong integration capabilities. However, some modules rely on third-party providers, and the employee experience may feel a bit outdated compared to more advanced platforms.

For businesses seeking a reliable, integration-friendly HRIS with strong customer support and flexibility, PrimePay offers a compelling option. However, companies needing a more modern employee experience or rapid product innovation may want to explore other alternatives.

FAQs

1. What are the core strengths of PrimePay?
   PrimePay excels in customer support, flexible integration capabilities, and offering advanced features like org chart management, reporting, and benefits services, including HSA, FSA, and COBRA administration.
2. What are the challenges of PrimePay?
   PrimePay’s smaller size may result in slower innovation cycles, and its reliance on third-party providers for some modules can lead to integration challenges. Additionally, the employee-facing user experience may feel outdated compared to competitors.
3. What is the pricing structure for PrimePay?
   PrimePay typically costs between $19-25 per employee per month (PEPM), offering a competitive price point for small-to-mid-sized businesses seeking a flexible HRIS platform.
4. Who is PrimePay best suited for?
   PrimePay is ideal for small-to-mid-sized businesses looking for a flexible HRIS solution with strong customer support and integration options. It may not be the best fit for companies seeking a cutting-edge employee experience or rapid feature development.