Compare/Head to head

Justworks vs Thatch

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

Starting price

Justworks

$8/employee/mo

US payroll from $8 per employee per month plus a $50 monthly base fee. PEO Basic is $79 per employee. PEO Plus is $124.

Where Justworks fits

  • US startups that want a printed payroll rate
  • Teams ready for PEO benefits at $79 or $124
  • Employers that also need time tracking access
  • Companies hiring abroad through the $599 EOR line

Thatch

$45/employee/mo

Thatch is an ICHRA platform where the employer sets a monthly healthcare budget and employees pick individual medical, dental, and vision plans. Standard is $45 per enrolled employee per month plus a $50 monthly compliance fee for teams of 1 to 49.

Where Thatch fits

  • Startups hiring across states that do not want to shop a new group plan each time
  • Employers replacing a rising group premium with a fixed ICHRA budget
  • Remote-first companies whose people need local individual networks
  • HR teams that want enrollment, carrier payments, and compliance reporting handled by the vendor

At a glance

DetailJustworksThatch
Starting price$8/employee/mo$45/employee/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underBenefits administration, HR compliance, PayrollBenefits administration

Where they pull apart

Justworks

Stands out: A cheap payroll SKU plus two PEO tiers, so you can stay payroll-only or move into benefits later.

Watch out: Payroll-only adds a $50 monthly base fee. PEO Plus is the benefits tier at $124 per employee. EOR is $599 per employee.

Not the right fit for

  • Very small shops that refuse a $50 base fee
  • Enterprises that need a full HCM suite

Thatch

Stands out: Leftover budget loads onto a Thatch Card for copays, prescriptions, and other qualified medical expenses, so employees are not filing reimbursement forms after the premium is paid.

Watch out: Budget the platform fee and the allowance separately. Standard is $45 per enrolled employee plus $50 a month; 50+ employee accounts are custom-priced with a $2,400/year minimum. Thatch Market (plan shopping) is included at no extra platform fee.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who want a flat platform fee regardless of enrollment
  • Employers that only want a GCHRA on top of a group plan they already like

Pros and cons

Justworks

  • Payroll from $8/employee plus $50 base
  • Printed PEO rates at $79 and $124
  • EOR line at $599/employee
  • $50 monthly base on payroll-only
  • Benefits need PEO Plus at $124
  • No published free trial

Thatch

  • No setup fee and no long-term contract on the vendor FAQ
  • ICHRA classes can vary by location and age so the budget is not a single national number
  • Thatch Card spends leftover allowance without a reimbursement queue
  • $45 per enrolled employee plus a $50 monthly fee is higher than some HRA rate cards
  • It is ICHRA, not QSEHRA or a GCHRA supplement
  • You still fund the actual insurance allowance on top of the platform fee

What each one costs

Justworks

$8/employee/mo

Payroll is $8/employee/month plus a $50/month base fee. PEO Basic is $79/employee/month with no base fee. PEO Plus is $124/employee/month. Global EOR is $599/employee/month. No free trial stated. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Thatch

$45/employee/mo

Standard covers 1 to 49 eligible employees at $45 per enrolled employee per month plus a $50 monthly compliance fee (the vendor's example is $230/mo for 4 employees). Custom covers 50+ eligible employees, with a 10 enrolled employee minimum of $2,400/year. You pay only for employees who enroll through Thatch. Thatch Market plan shopping is included. The employer still funds the insurance allowance on top of the platform fee. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Justworks cheaper than Thatch?
Justworks starts lower, at $8/employee/mo against $45/employee/mo for Thatch. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Justworks or Thatch for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

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