True Cost Engine | Calculating real costs for 4 products
True Cost of HR & Payroll Over 3 Years
The cheapest hr & payroll over 3 years is Deel at $1,044 total (monthly billing, 1 user). With annual billing, that drops to $1,044. We analyzed 4 products, factoring in intro pricing, renewal increases, and billing cycle savings.
Showing costs for 1 user with monthly billing
#1
C Transparency
Deel Global Payroll plan · Per user
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $29.00/mo Same
Year 1 $348.00
Year 2 $348.00
Year 3 $348.00
3-Year Total $1,044
Transparency Score: 65/100 (C)
- All plans show public pricing (+30)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- Free plan available (+15)
- Predictable pricing model: per-user (+10)
#2
D Transparency
Paychex Flex Essentials plan · Per user
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $39.00/mo Same
Year 1 $468.00
Year 2 $468.00
Year 3 $468.00
3-Year Total $1,404
Transparency Score: 0/100 (D)
- 1/3 plans show pricing (+10)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- No free plan or trial (+0)
- Predictable pricing model: per-user (+10)
- 2 plan(s) require "Contact Sales" (-30)
#3
D Transparency
Simple plan · Per user
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $49.00/mo Same
Year 1 $588.00
Year 2 $588.00
Year 3 $588.00
3-Year Total $1,764
Transparency Score: 25/100 (D)
- 2/3 plans show pricing (+20)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- No free plan or trial (+0)
- Predictable pricing model: per-user (+10)
- 1 plan(s) require "Contact Sales" (-15)
#4
C Transparency
Payroll Essentials plan · Per user
Intro Renewal
Monthly price $49.00/mo Same
Year 1 $588.00
Year 2 $588.00
Year 3 $588.00
3-Year Total $1,764
Transparency Score: 62/100 (C)
- All plans show public pricing (+30)
- No renewal data available (+10)
- 30-day free trial (+12)
- Predictable pricing model: per-user (+10)
How We Calculate True Cost
1 Year 1 uses the intro/promotional price that vendors advertise.
2 Years 2-3 use the renewal price, which is often 2-6x higher than the intro price.
3 Team size multiplies per-user costs. For flat-rate products, the cost stays the same regardless of team size.
4 Annual billing typically saves 10-40% vs monthly. We show both so you can compare.
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the true cost of HR & Payroll over 3 years?
- The cheapest hr & payroll over 3 years is Deel at $1044 (monthly billing) or $1044 (annual billing) for 1 user. This includes intro pricing in Year 1 and renewal pricing in Years 2-3.
- Do hr & payroll prices increase after the first year?
- Among the 4 products we track, most maintain stable pricing after the intro period.
- How much can I save with annual billing on hr & payroll?
- Annual billing savings vary by product. Use our calculator to see the exact savings for each product.
- What is a Price Transparency Score?
- Our Price Transparency Score rates vendors on a 0-100 scale based on how openly they share pricing information. We evaluate whether prices are shown publicly, renewal costs are disclosed, free trials or plans exist, the pricing model is predictable, and if any plans require contacting sales.