Zenefits vs Paycor
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best HRIS for Small Businesses. Last verified May 31, 2026.
The short answer
Zenefits ranks higher on Top 11 (#4 vs #5) for SMBs replacing spreadsheets with a real HRIS. A mature, all-in-one HRIS with standout benefits administration features.
At a glance
| Zenefits | Paycor | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #4 / The 11 Best HRIS for Small Businesses | #5 / The 11 Best HRIS for Small Businesses |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.5 | 8.3 |
| Best for | Strong all-in-one with great benefits admin | Scalable HCM for growing SMBs |
| Pricing | $$ ($10 to $27 PEPM + base fee) | $$$ (Varies, quote required) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | Cincinnati, USA |
| Founded | 2013 | 1990 |
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.