The Namely Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Namely in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Namely
The Insider’s Guide
US HR, payroll and benefits for mid-sized firms, with managed services
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among HR software, read from Namely’s own pages.
Made by Namely, Inc. · checked Oct 18, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Namely’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Namely’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 18, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 1 of the 9 other HR software we grade
Namely is an HR, payroll and benefits platform for US mid-sized companies. Its entry package covers HR records and payroll, and larger packages add onboarding, recruiting, performance, compliance training, benefits administration and time tracking, then managed payroll and benefits services and finally workers' comp and shared-liability coverage. Namely merged with Vensure Employer Solutions and PrismHR in 2022.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Namely, taken from its own pages and our grades.
But only the entry package has a starting price, there's no trial, and it's built for the US alone.
- 1
Best for US mid-sized firms wanting HR and payroll
Namely puts HR and payroll together for US mid-sized companies, and its bigger packages hand payroll and benefits to Namely's own team.
- 2
Paid plans start at $9 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $9 per employee / month and up, for Namely Now.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 4
Payroll with tax compliance
Runs any pay frequency and off-cycle pay runs, keeps tax calculations updated for each jurisdiction, and exports to the general ledger.
- 5
Time, scheduling and clocks
Staff enter time from a desktop, kiosk, mobile app or biometric clock with geofencing, and managers build schedules with shift swaps.
- 6
HR, onboarding and reporting
Employee records, file storage, time-off tracking, onboarding for new hires and custom reports with charts.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 1 of 9
That is against the other HR software we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Namely you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Namely at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $9 per employee / month and up, for Namely Now
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Namely, Inc., since 2012
- Category
- HR Software
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for US mid-sized firms wanting HR and payroll
Namely puts HR and payroll together for US mid-sized companies, and its bigger packages hand payroll and benefits to Namely's own team. But only the entry package has a starting price, there's no trial, and it's built for the US alone.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Namely Now starts at $9 an employee a month, so a ten-person company pays $90 and up, with the final price quoted. That buys HR and payroll together, which most here don't include. It sits at this category's dearer quarter. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan and no trial, only a guided tour. |
| Features | B | Payroll with tax updates for every jurisdiction, time clocks and scheduling, records, time off and onboarding, then recruiting, reviews, compliance training and benefits administration on Plus. The whole job, payroll included. |
| Ease of use | C | No App Store rating on record: the rated Namely app hasn't been updated since 2021, and its replacement, NamelyONE, has no ratings yet. Plans beyond Namely Now are set up through a sales process. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, iPhone and Android, plus kiosks and biometric clocks for clocking in, and a general ledger export. No integrations list or desktop app on record. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Namely is for
- Great if you want HR, payroll and benefits from one US provider
- Handy when you'd rather hand payroll and benefits to a managed service
- Good for businesses with hourly staff who clock in at kiosks or on phones
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to try it first, as there's only a guided tour
- Not for you if you employ people outside the US
- Pricey if you want onboarding on Namely Now, as it costs extra
Good to know
Good for
- US mid-sized companies wanting HR, payroll and benefits in one system
- Employers that want to hand payroll or benefits to a managed service
- Businesses with hourly staff who clock in at kiosks or on phones
Worth knowing
- Only Namely Now has a published starting price; the other packages are quoted after a needs review.
- Built for US employers: payroll updates tax calculations for every jurisdiction and issues W-2s; the pages read name no other countries.
- There is no free trial, only a guided tour; contracts run from month to month up to 3 years.
- Onboarding is an extra charge on Namely Now, and workers' comp and shared liability come only with Complete.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$9
A month to start, for each person
Namely is a paid product, starting at $9 per employee / month and up, for Namely Now.
That buys HR and payroll together, which most here don't include.
Namely Now
$9
per employee / month and up
HR and payroll. Onboarding and large-group benefits cost extra. Final price is quoted by sales.
Namely Plus
Custom
Adds onboarding, recruiting, performance, compliance, the benefits administration module and time tracking.
Namely Plus People
Custom
Namely Plus with Namely's managed payroll and managed benefits services.
Namely Complete
Custom
Adds large-group medical, dental and vision plans, workers' comp, risk and safety management and shared-liability compliance.
Read from namely.com on Oct 18, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
US HR, payroll and benefits for mid-sized firms, with managed services. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: reports, payroll, shift scheduling, time clock, applicant tracking, employee records, time off.
Web, iPhone and Android, plus kiosks and biometric clocks for clocking in, and a general ledger export.
- Payroll with tax compliance
- Runs any pay frequency and off-cycle pay runs, keeps tax calculations updated for each jurisdiction, and exports to the general ledger.
- Time, scheduling and clocks
- Staff enter time from a desktop, kiosk, mobile app or biometric clock with geofencing, and managers build schedules with shift swaps.
- HR, onboarding and reporting
- Employee records, file storage, time-off tracking, onboarding for new hires and custom reports with charts.
- Recruiting, performance and compliance
- From Namely Plus: AI-assisted applicant tracking, continuous feedback and goals, and state-mandated training with a living handbook.
- Managed services
- Higher packages hand payroll processing and benefits brokerage to Namely's team, and Complete adds workers' comp and shared liability.
- NamelyOne mobile app
- Employees see pay stubs, W-2s and benefits, request time off and clock in; managers approve leave and check timecards.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Namely is made by Namely, Inc., and has been around since 2012.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
1/9
Other HR software it is graded above
Namely's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 9 other HR software we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on features (B, above 1 of 9) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $9 a month for each person, against a middle price of $9 for the category: 3 of the 6 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 10 HR software we grade, cut by the letter each got. Namely’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 1 of 9
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 9
- BFeaturesAbove 1 of 9
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 9
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 9
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 7 HR software. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Namely is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Namely you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 5 of the 9 other HR software grade higher. It costs $108 a year.
What you could make
- Employee records, time off, applicant tracking and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
- Clocking in from a phone, checked against where and when.
- A rota the whole staff sees on their phones, with swaps and alerts.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Namely’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
BambooHR, HiBob, Rippling, Paylocity and Paycor
The 5 tools Namely is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
BambooHR
Free trial · from $250/mo
HR records, hiring, time off and reviews, with US payroll as an add-on.
- Namely also covers shift scheduling and time clock.
- 2.0GPA
HiBob
Paid
HR platform for mid-sized global firms, with US and UK payroll.
- Namely also covers shift scheduling and time clock.
- 2.4GPA
Rippling
Paid
HR, IT and finance platform with US and global payroll, by quote.
- Namely also covers reports, shift scheduling, time clock, applicant tracking, employee records and time off.
- Rippling also covers workflow automation, time tracking and expense tracking.
- 2.4GPA
Paylocity
Paid
Payroll, HR, finance and IT platform for US employers, by quote.
- Namely also covers shift scheduling, time clock, applicant tracking, employee records and time off.
- Paylocity also covers time tracking and expense tracking.
- 2.2GPA
Paycor
From $99/mo
US payroll and HR software, with published prices under 50 staff.
- Namely also covers shift scheduling, time clock, applicant tracking, employee records and time off.
- Paycor also covers expense tracking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Namely free?
No. Namely is a paid product, starting at $9 per employee / month and up, for Namely Now.
How much does Namely cost?
Namely lists 4 plans. Namely Now: $9 per employee / month and up.
What platforms does Namely work on?
Namely is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does Namely have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Namely is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Namely have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 18, 2026. Namely is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Namely open source?
Namely is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 18, 2026.
Who makes Namely?
Namely is made by Namely, Inc. It dates from 2012.
What are the alternatives to Namely?
The closest alternatives to Namely in our directory are BambooHR, HiBob, Rippling, Paylocity and Paycor.
How does Namely compare with other HR software?
Namely's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 1 of the 9 other HR software we grade, and level with 3.
Is Namely good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Namely C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $9 a month for each person, against a middle price of $9 for the category: 3 of the 6 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Namely?
To replace Namely you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Namely’s own pages on Oct 18, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 18, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Namely's own pages on 18 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Namely, Inc. Prices change, so check namely.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
2,068
Tools graded, in 57 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
2,068
tools graded
57
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Namely, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/namely
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Namely: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 18, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/namely
Know someone choosing between HR software?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/namely/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded HR software after Namely, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- HR Software Insider's GuideEvery one of the 10 HR software we grade, compared
- Breathe Insider's GuideUK HR software for small firms, priced per business, not per person2.6 GPA
- BambooHR Insider's GuideHR records, hiring, time off and reviews, with US payroll as an add-on2.4 GPA
- CharlieHR Insider's GuideHR software for UK small businesses, priced by team-size bracket2.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Namely’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Namely is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Namely, Inc. Prices and plans change: check namely.com before you buy.