Aurion vs Payroll4Free

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Our analysts compared Aurion vs Payroll4Free based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Payroll Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Payroll4Free Software Tool

Product Basics

Aurion is a cloud-based HRIS platform for compensation management, time tracking and employee operations. It offers HTML5 elements and a 24-hour self-service portal on any device. All management solutions are ISO certified and STP compliant. It accommodates small and large businesses and bases pricing on company requirements and number of employees.
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Payroll4Free offers online payroll services and professional support to small businesses. It is easy-to-use, secure and was built to handle both simple and complex payroll requirements. It tackles all payroll matters for businesses, including direct deposits, employee and contractor payments and tax form calculations.

Its basic features are available free of charge for small businesses with less than 25 employees. It helps businesses pay employees via paper check, direct deposit or a combination of both. Companies can use it to make payments to contractors and file year-end taxes. It also calculates federal, state and local taxes and grants access to filled out tax forms.

It offers an employee portal that helps staff members edit or access their personal information from anywhere. It can be used to generate reports that offer insight into a company’s taxes, earnings, benefits and more.
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$15 Monthly
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$35 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Insights

  • Streamlined Operations: Hire faster and increase employee engagement by collecting employee data for performance career management. Save time during the workday by automating workflows and approval processes. 
  • Better Tailored Solutions: Meet the needs of any department by choosing between outsourced or in-house software management. Make informed finance management choices with expert advice and personalized services from legislation experts. 
  • Heightened Security: Secure the user experience under industry-leading security accreditation. Protect vulnerable data with multiple forms of verification. 
  • End-to-End Employee Support: Increase employee productivity and streamline record keeping in a centralized dashboard. Increase employee satisfaction with faster compensation and personnel processing. 
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  • Quick Setup: Businesses opting for Payroll4Free can get it up and running quickly and easily. It comes with a guided, step-by-step account set-up tool for prompt installation. 
  • Easy-to-Use: It is easy to navigate and requires minimal training to get the hang of its offerings. Its interface has a menu bar at the top of the screen and a number of tiles to perform payroll-related functions. Hitting a relevant tile takes users to a grid-style data-entry screen. Administrators can add employees, log their working hours and process payroll on this grid screen. All employee details are visible on the grid screen, and businesses have the option to pay them via checks or direct deposits. 
  • Integrations: Payroll4Free allows its users to export their payroll data to third-party accounting programs like Quickbooks, banks, benefit companies and more. It lets users import employee working hours from a time clock file. 
  • Affordable: It offers free payroll services to businesses with less than 25 employees who are on a tight budget. It simplifies payroll for new companies, and it can also be used by companies with more than 25 employees for a minimal subscription fee. 
  • Friendly Assistance:  It offers additional support from experienced payroll and tax professionals, who can be contacted for payroll-related advice in tricky scenarios. 
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  • Strategic Recruiting: Publish job vacancies, track time taken to fill positions and schedule interviews from one location. Collaborate with new applicants by automating responses to frequently asked questions. View resumes with highlighted performance indicators to make informed hiring decisions. 
  • Compensation Planning: Develop payment plans adjusted for salaried, hourly or commission wages. Accurately disburse superannuation benefits and reduce tax discrepancies by streamlining compliance. 
  • Timekeeping Tracker: Customize timesheets and scale shift availability using the Timekeeper Workbench. Automate timesheet approvals or capture and upload timestamps from swipe cards and other tracking devices. 
  • Career Development: Increase employee engagement by using 360-degree feedback to submit evaluations. Identify skill gaps or assign training using employee advancement tools. Create and monitor individual professional development plans. 
  • Mobile Accessibility: Access a full range of features on any device 24/7. Download pay stubs, apply for leave and view employment information in real time through the mobile app. 
  • Integration: Save time by integrating with existing management systems. Configure timekeeping solutions with external rosters from Time Target or Kronos to adjust employee status. Import employee time and leave data through one-way integrations with Tanda. 
  • Security Standards: Provide secure solutions that are ISO-certified and ASAE accredited. Prevent theft or fraud using effective security controls like code, fingerprint or face ID to sign in to the app. 
  • Expert Guidance: Consult with trained experts who provide data and comprehensive support for compliance, wage and security concerns. 
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  • Pay Employees and Contractors: Payroll4Free lets businesses make payments to contractors and pay salaries to their employees. It gives users the option to clear contractor payments from the new employee setup screen. Businesses can choose to process a 1099 form end at the end of the year for newly hired contractors rather than using a W-2. 
  • Tax Forms and Calculations: It takes care of all tax preparations and filings for businesses. It computes all federal, state and local taxes for its users and provides access to completed tax forms. It also makes all requisite deposits and tax filings, including W-2, at the end of the year. 
  • Paper Checks or Direct Deposits: It facilitates payments to employees and contractors through paper checks or direct deposits. Businesses can also choose to make payments using a combination of both methods according to their convenience. 
  • Employee Portal: Payroll4Free comes with an employee portal that gives staff members access to their personal information online, using any device. Employees have access to previous and current salary slips and year-end tax forms like W-2s. Employees can also edit their personal information, review leave statuses and manage their vacation time and requests. 
  • Track Employee Time-Offs: It gives businesses numerous options to track employee vacations, sick leave and PTO. It calculates the total number of working hours per employee based on their time spent with the company. This data can then be used to compute remuneration and overtime payments, if any. 
  • Detailed Reporting: Payroll4Free offers detailed reporting options to keep businesses updated on their payroll information. It provides detailed reports on earnings, benefits, taxes, accrued time off and a payroll journal. These reports offer deep insights into a company’s performance and help users make smart business decisions. 
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Product Ranking

#85

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Payroll Software

#45

among all
Payroll Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Benefits Management Dashboard And Reporting Expense Management Mobile Capabilities Payroll And Tax Management Platform Capabilities Security And Compliance Time And Attendance Management 73 40 0 0 71 41 60 20 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 1 reviews
Fair User Sentiment 9 reviews
100%
of users recommend this product

Aurion has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 100% when considering 1 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

64%
of users recommend this product

Payroll4Free has a 'fair' User Satisfaction Rating of 64% when considering 9 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (1)
3.2 (9)

Awards

Aurion stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Streamlined Onboarding: Aurion streamlines the onboarding process for new employees, automating tasks like tax file number declarations and superannuation choices, which reduces paperwork and manual data entry for HR teams.
Automated Award Interpretation: Aurion's built-in award interpretation engine ensures compliance with complex Australian awards and agreements, automatically calculating correct pay rates, allowances, and entitlements, minimizing the risk of errors and underpayments.
Employee Self-Service: The employee self-service portal empowers employees to manage their personal information, leave requests, and payslips, reducing administrative burden on HR staff and providing employees with greater control over their data.
Comprehensive Reporting: Aurion offers a wide range of reporting options, allowing HR and payroll teams to gain insights into workforce costs, leave liabilities, and other key metrics, facilitating informed decision-making.
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Easy to Use: Users praise Payroll4Free for its intuitive design and ease of use, making payroll processing straightforward even for those without prior experience.
Affordable Pricing: Many users appreciate the cost-effectiveness of Payroll4Free, especially smaller businesses or startups with limited budgets.
Reliable Customer Support: Users highlight the responsive and helpful customer support provided by Payroll4Free, ensuring any issues or questions are addressed promptly.
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Limited Customization: Users have expressed frustration with the inflexibility of the platform, particularly when it comes to tailoring the system to their specific needs. For example, setting up unique pay rules or generating custom reports can be cumbersome.
Complex User Interface: Navigating the software can feel overwhelming due to its intricate design and multiple layers. This complexity can make simple tasks time-consuming and lead to user errors.
Integration Challenges: Seamlessly integrating Aurion with other business systems, such as time and attendance or HR platforms, has proven difficult for some users. This lack of smooth integration can create data silos and increase manual workarounds.
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Limited Customer Support: Users have reported difficulties reaching customer support and receiving timely assistance when encountering issues.
Occasional System Glitches: Some users have experienced occasional system errors or glitches that disrupt their payroll processing.
Basic Feature Set: Payroll4Free is generally considered suitable for businesses with straightforward payroll needs, as it may lack some advanced features found in other payroll software.
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Is Aurion the real deal, or is it just a flash in the pan? User reviews from the last year paint a somewhat mixed picture. While some users praise Aurion for its robust features and comprehensive reporting capabilities, others find it clunky and difficult to navigate. One recurring theme is that Aurion is a powerful tool, but it comes with a steep learning curve. Users appreciate the software's ability to handle complex payroll scenarios, such as multi-state taxes and union dues, but they also point out that it can be time-consuming to set up and configure. Compared to competitors like ADP and Paychex, Aurion is often perceived as a more customizable solution, but one that requires more technical expertise. This makes it a good fit for larger organizations with dedicated HR and IT staff, but perhaps not the best choice for small businesses looking for a plug-and-play solution. Ultimately, Aurion is a powerful payroll and HR management tool that can deliver significant value, but only if you're willing to invest the time and resources to learn its intricacies.

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Is Payroll4Free truly free, or is there a hidden cost? User reviews from the past year suggest Payroll4Free delivers on its promise of a free and easy-to-use payroll solution, particularly for small businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Users praise its intuitive interface, highlighting the guided account setup wizard and straightforward navigation. They appreciate the software's ability to handle both employee and contractor payments, simplifying the payment process. The automatic tax calculations are a major plus, easing the burden of payroll tax compliance. Some users even compared their manual calculations to Payroll4Free's reports, finding them to be spot-on. However, the "free" aspect comes with caveats. The software is ad-supported, which some users find intrusive. While the free version allows for 12 pay runs per year, exceeding this limit requires an upgrade. Additional fees apply for features like direct deposit, contractor payments, and multi-state employee payments. Users also point out limitations in functionality, noting that Payroll4Free is best suited for basic payroll needs. Larger companies or those requiring advanced features like robust reporting, automation, and analytics might find Payroll4Free lacking. Alternatives like OnPay, with its base price of $40 per month plus $6 per employee, offer more comprehensive features. In conclusion, Payroll4Free is a viable option for startups and small businesses with limited budgets and straightforward payroll requirements. Its ease of use, free basic features, and accurate tax calculations make it an attractive choice for those seeking a no-frills payroll solution. However, businesses with more complex needs or a larger workforce might find themselves outgrowing Payroll4Free's capabilities and needing to consider paid alternatives.

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