Compare/Alternatives

PeopleKeep alternatives

4 tools our write-ups put next to PeopleKeep, with starting price, free tier, MCP and API side by side.

PeopleKeep from $12/employee/mo

Closest alternatives

See the PeopleKeep listing

The short answer

  • Thatch : Thatch is an ICHRA platform with a monthly per-employee fee and no published PEPM, aimed at startups that want employees to pick individual plans. From Sales-quoted
  • Gusto : Gusto is US SMB payroll plus group benefits from $49/mo, not an HRA administrator. From $49/mo
  • Justworks : Justworks is a PEO at $8/employee/mo that bundles payroll and group benefits rather than reimbursing individual policies. From $8/employee/mo
  • Employee Navigator : Employee Navigator is broker-channel benefits enrollment if you want a multi-carrier group portal instead of an HRA. From Sales-quoted

Why people look past PeopleKeep

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.

What we noted

  • 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

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

Worth keeping in mind: 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.

PeopleKeep alternatives compared

ToolFree tierFromMCPAPIHead to head
PeopleKeep (the one you are on) –No$12/employee/mo–No–No
Thatch Thatch is an ICHRA platform with a monthly per-employee fee and no published PEPM, aimed at startups that want employees to pick individual plans. –NoSales-quoted–No–NoHead to head
Gusto Gusto is US SMB payroll plus group benefits from $49/mo, not an HRA administrator. –No$49/mo✓Yes✓YesHead to head
Justworks Justworks is a PEO at $8/employee/mo that bundles payroll and group benefits rather than reimbursing individual policies. –No$8/employee/mo–No–NoHead to head
Employee Navigator Employee Navigator is broker-channel benefits enrollment if you want a multi-carrier group portal instead of an HRA. –NoSales-quoted–No–NoHead to head

What each one does differently

Thatch

Sales-quoted

Why it comes up: Thatch is an ICHRA platform with a monthly per-employee fee and no published PEPM, aimed at startups that want employees to pick individual plans.

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: There is no public PEPM. You upload a census into a quoting tool or book a call. Thatch Market (plan shopping) is included at no extra platform fee, but the per-employee software fee is still sales-quoted.

Best for

  • 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

Read the Thatch write-up PeopleKeep vs Thatch

Gusto

$49/mo MCP API

Why it comes up: Gusto is US SMB payroll plus group benefits from $49/mo, not an HRA administrator.

Stands out: Payroll sitting next to HR for US small companies, with a first-party MCP.

Watch out: It is US-only, so it is not a route to hiring people in other countries.

Best for

  • US small companies running payroll in-house
  • HR teams that want benefits next to pay
  • Desks that want MCP on payroll data

4.6 on Capterra from 4,225 reviews

Read the Gusto write-up PeopleKeep vs Gusto

Justworks

$8/employee/mo

Why it comes up: Justworks is a PEO at $8/employee/mo that bundles payroll and group benefits rather than reimbursing individual policies.

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.

Best for

  • US startups that want a printed payroll rate
  • Teams ready for PEO benefits at $79 or $124
  • Employers that also need time tracking access

Read the Justworks write-up PeopleKeep vs Justworks

Employee Navigator

Sales-quoted

Why it comes up: Employee Navigator is broker-channel benefits enrollment if you want a multi-carrier group portal instead of an HRA.

Stands out: Unlimited companies and employees on every listed plan. AI Plan Builds sit on Enhanced. 834 EDI is $0.45 PEPM on Enhanced Plus and Elite, and $0 PEPM on Platinum.

Watch out: Sold through insurance brokers, not a self-serve employer checkout. Ease stays read-only from 1 July 2027, so Ease brokers need a migration plan. 834 EDI is not free until Platinum.

Best for

  • US benefits brokers running enrollment, ACA reporting, and HR for many employer groups
  • Agencies moving off Ease before the 2027 sunset
  • Brokers that need carrier, TPA, and payroll integrations plus 834 EDI

4.6 on Capterra from 184 reviews

Read the Employee Navigator write-up PeopleKeep vs Employee Navigator

Common questions

What is the best PeopleKeep alternative?
It depends on what sent you looking. We compare 4 alternatives to PeopleKeep: Thatch, Gusto, Justworks and Employee Navigator. Each one's "Why it comes up" line says what it does differently, and the table above shows all 4 on price, free tier, MCP and API.
What is the cheapest PeopleKeep alternative?
Of the published starting prices here, Justworks is lowest at $8/employee/mo. Starting price is the entry plan, not the seat count you will end up on, so read the plan table on each listing.
Which PeopleKeep alternatives have an MCP server?
Gusto ships a first party MCP server, so you can drive it from Claude or ChatGPT without building against the API yourself.

Keep looking

Back to the PeopleKeep write-up Every Benefits administration tool we list Search the whole directory

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?