Head to head

PlanSource vs Thatch

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

PlanSource

Sales-quoted

PlanSource is mid-market multi-carrier benefits administration for employers, consultants, and carriers. Pricing is quoted on a custom ordering document (Core, Core+, Premium). It is not a broker-channel SKU.

Where PlanSource fits

  • US mid-market employers (roughly 200 to 10,000 employees) running multi-carrier benefits
  • HR teams that want employee self-service enrollment, ACA, and COBRA on one platform
  • Orgs already on Workday, UKG, or SAP SuccessFactors that need a benefits layer
  • Employers that will buy direct rather than through a broker portal

Thatch

Sales-quoted

Thatch is an ICHRA platform where the employer sets a monthly healthcare budget and employees pick individual medical, dental, and vision plans. The vendor charges a simple monthly fee per employee with no setup fees or long-term contracts, and does not print the dollar amount.

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

DetailPlanSourceThatch
Starting priceSales-quotedSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underBenefits administrationBenefits administration
Capterra3.9 from 15 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

PlanSource

Stands out: DecisionIQ, DependentIQ, and InsightsIQ support enrollment decisions and document checks. DependentIQ is cited as verifying nearly 95% of required documents. Carrier connections run through the Boost program.

Watch out: Fees are PEPM-style and custom. A public city contract showed $3.25 per benefits-eligible employee per month plus $15,000 implementation, which is a sample order, not a rate card. Payroll stays in Workday, UKG, or Paylocity.

Not the right fit for

  • Insurance brokers who need an agency book-of-business platform (see Employee Navigator)
  • Very small employers that want Gusto-class payroll-plus-benefits in one SKU

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: 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.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need a printed dollar rate before a census quote
  • Employers that only want a GCHRA on top of a group plan they already like

Pros and cons

PlanSource

  • Multi-carrier benefits admin aimed at mid-market employers, not a broker portal
  • DependentIQ and DecisionIQ for document checks and enrollment guidance
  • HCM companions for Workday, UKG, Paylocity, and SAP SuccessFactors
  • Quoted only. Custom ordering document, no public PEPM card
  • Capterra 3.9 from 15 reviews is mixed on ease and support
  • Not a payroll system. You still need an HCM or payroll host

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
  • The per-employee software fee is not printed
  • 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

PlanSource

Sales-quoted

PlanSource quotes Core, Core+, and Premium on a custom ordering document. The vendor does not publish a public PEPM table. Benefits administration, open enrollment, ACA, and COBRA are in scope. Implementation is scoped separately. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Thatch

Sales-quoted

Thatch charges a monthly fee per employee. The vendor states there are no setup fees, long-term contracts, or hidden costs, and asks you to contact them for pricing based on team size. Thatch Market plan shopping is included at no additional platform fee. The software fee itself is not printed. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try PlanSource or Thatch for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

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