At TechRepublic, we believe in providing complete transparency regarding our research methods, hands-on testing experience, and payroll rating methodology. In order to achieve this, we have developed an algorithm in-house to calculate star ratings for each payroll software product that we review.
While our algorithm is subject to change, and brand ratings may fluctuate as plans and products adapt to the evolving needs of customers, we currently calculate our payroll software ratings based on the following five key areas. Each area is given a weight in order to accurately reflect its importance to our audience of tech stakeholders.
1. Pricing: This category accounts for 25% of our total score, with factors such as free trial information, payment options, pricing transparency, highest and lowest tier pricing, and additional fees influencing the ranking.
2. Features: Payroll features account for 35% of our total score. Ranking factors include unlimited payroll runs, self-service and full-service payroll features, new-hire reporting, third-party integrations (especially accounting software), time tracking, reporting, onboarding and hiring features, wage garnishment, and benefits administration.
3. Ease of Use: Ease of use makes up 15% of our total score, with factors such as the availability of mobile payroll apps for employees and employers, overall user experience, site design, ease of setup, workflow automations, and general accessibility influencing the ranking.
4. Customer Service: Customer service accounts for 15% of our total score. Ranking factors include modes of customer support (such as live chat, email, phone support, and online help desks), hours of availability, customer support team responsiveness, extra fees for customer care, and white-glove setup.
5. Expert Analysis: Our expert analysis contributes 10% of our total score. Ranking factors include the availability of researchable information, standout features, unique pros and cons, our experts’ hands-on testing experience, and information gathered from demo calls.
In order to accurately assess each brand, we prioritize our own in-house, hands-on testing experience. We also take into consideration available demos, product space, information from sales representatives, and verified customer reviews from reputable sites such as the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Affairs, Gartner Peer Insights, Trustpilot, Google Play, and the App Store.
By utilizing these research methods, we are able to provide a comprehensive evaluation of each payroll software brand.
