Compare/Head to head

BerniePortal vs PeopleKeep

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

BerniePortal

$5/employee/mo

Broker-sold HR and benefits for small employers, with direct Starter at $5/employee/mo plus a $25 base fee.

Where BerniePortal fits

  • US small employers buying benefits admin plus COBRA in one login
  • Shops that want a printed per-employee rate instead of an enterprise quote
  • Brokers who resell BerniePortal with customized employer pricing
  • Teams that may later add payroll and PTO on Standard or Plus

PeopleKeep

$12/employee/mo

PeopleKeep is Remodel Health's HRA administration product. Group coverage HRA (GCHRA) is $12 per employee per month plus a $30 company base fee. QSEHRA and ICHRA start at $25 per employee per month plus a $50 base. A three-seat minimum applies on every plan.

Where PeopleKeep fits

  • US small employers replacing a group medical plan with a QSEHRA
  • Companies of any size that want an ICHRA instead of, or beside, a group plan
  • Employers that already have group coverage and want a GCHRA for out-of-pocket medical costs
  • HR and finance teams that need receipt review and plan documents without building an HRA in-house

At a glance

DetailBerniePortalPeopleKeep
Starting price$5/employee/mo$12/employee/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underBenefits administrationBenefits administration
Capterra4.3 from 130 reviews4.5 from 89 reviews

Where they pull apart

BerniePortal

Stands out: bernieportal.com/pricing prints four direct plans: Starter $5/ee/mo, Standard $19, Plus $23, and Enterprise $29, each with an EIN base fee after Starter.

Watch out: Starter covers recruiting, onboarding, benefits, compliance, and COBRA only. PTO, time, payroll, and performance start on Standard, and each of those modules is capped at one approver and one subgroup.

Not the right fit for

  • Global employers that need multi-country payroll as the core product
  • Enterprises that want unlimited subgroups without moving to the $29/ee/mo Enterprise tier

PeopleKeep

Stands out: Employers pick QSEHRA (under 50 employees, no group plan), ICHRA (any size, individual policies), or GCHRA (a supplement on top of an existing group policy). Unused GCHRA allowance stays with the employer.

Watch out: Three seats are billed even if you have one or two employees. QSEHRA and ICHRA add a $50 monthly base. Annual QSEHRA is prepaid for the year.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who want a full PEO, payroll, and benefits suite rather than an HRA administrator
  • Teams outside the US. PeopleKeep administers US HRA rules

Pros and cons

BerniePortal

  • Printed Starter through Enterprise rates on the vendor pricing page
  • COBRA administration is in Starter, not gated to the top tier
  • Broker channel plus a direct-buy path for employers
  • Starter omits PTO, time, payroll, and performance
  • Standard and Plus cap approvers and subgroups until Enterprise
  • No published trial length, only a demo CTA

PeopleKeep

  • Published PEPM tables for QSEHRA, ICHRA, and GCHRA instead of a hidden quote
  • GCHRA at $12/employee/mo is a cheap supplement when you already buy group medical
  • Capterra 4.5 from 89 matching PeopleKeep reviews
  • Three-seat minimum inflates cost for one- and two-person shops
  • QSEHRA and ICHRA add a $50 monthly base on top of $25 PEPM
  • It is HRA administration only, not payroll, dental shopping, or a PEO

What each one costs

BerniePortal

$5/employee/mo

Direct Starter is $5 per employee per month plus a $25 base fee and covers recruiting, onboarding, benefits, compliance, and COBRA. Standard is $19/ee/mo plus $40/EIN. Plus is $23/ee/mo plus $40/EIN. Enterprise is $29/ee/mo plus $40/EIN. Brokers offer customized pricing. PTO, time, payroll, and performance start on Standard. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

PeopleKeep

$12/employee/mo

GCHRA is $12 per employee per month plus a $30 company base fee. QSEHRA is $25 per employee per month plus a $50 base, for employers with fewer than 50 employees. ICHRA starts at $25 per employee per month plus a $50 base, with no charge for opted-out employees. Every plan has a three-seat minimum. Annual QSEHRA is prepaid. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is BerniePortal cheaper than PeopleKeep?
BerniePortal starts lower, at $5/employee/mo against $12/employee/mo for PeopleKeep. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try BerniePortal or PeopleKeep for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?