Central Reviews & Product Details

Ease of use, customer support, ease of implementation Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The downside is it's missing some HR features but they are working on adding them Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As a startup with a few employees, we needed to move fast and I was honestly overwhelmed by all the payroll choices out there - especially the extra fees for each new service.

What really made the difference for us was Central's one fee model and how easy it was to handle our non-US contractors. The Slack integration is amazing too!

I'm not sure exactly how much time it saves monthly but its so simple and i really don't have to think about it which given everything else going on is a gift. Would definitely recommend to other founders who just want payroll handled without the headache. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Not sure when we will outgro it but not a concern for the near future! Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best is that there’s nothing to “like” in the usual sense. Central doesn’t demand admiration; it doesn’t even demand thought. It takes what was once the very marrow of drudgery—PTO approvals, onboarding checklists, expense reports— and makes it feel less like software and more like infrastructure: like electricity, or plumbing. You don’t see it; you just live in the comfort of it.

What I like best is that I no longer experience HR as a category of existence. Instead, there is only Slack, and through Slack, there is Central: the hidden architecture of an intricate system where the paperwork does itself. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It isn't cheap, but also, you get what you pay for, which in this case is amazing stuff. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate that Central integrates seamlessly with Slack, making it incredibly convenient as I rarely have to log in separately. The efficiency and time-saving nature of this feature allow me to focus more on my tasks without worrying about payroll compliance, as the Central team handles that entirely. Their Slack bot is extremely helpful for onboarding employees instantly, which significantly lightens my workload. The transparent pricing structure was another reason we switched to Central, alongside its ease of use. The initial setup was very straightforward, primarily handled by the Central team themselves, enhancing the overall user experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I think at the beginning, the dashboard that they used when I did have to log in was very bare bones, and additionally, their AI bot at the beginning was a bit bare bones as well. But over time, they've improved these aspects, and the improvements have been very noticeable. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I greatly appreciate how Central automates all the back-office functions for payroll, benefits, hiring, and other HRIS and accounting tasks. This automation saves me a significant amount of time, allowing me to focus on other responsibilities as a founder/CEO. The customer support offered by Central is truly exceptional. They are always available to address my questions and resolve issues swiftly. Their support goes above and beyond, as they even assist in solving problems that lie outside their direct domain, such as helping with a benefits issue that was actually the broker’s fault. The Slack integration is another feature I find extremely valuable, as it provides a natural and intuitive interface, making it feel as if I have an expansive HR team ready to assist whenever needed. Additionally, the initial setup of Central was remarkably easy, taking less than an hour because they provided assistance to set everything up for us. This excellent support and functionality make Central an indispensable tool for managing our HR operations efficiently. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I don't like that Central doesn't have integrations for all tools yet. Although they have expanded quite a bit since we started using them, we occasionally encounter tools that aren't integrated, such as Pave for compensation data. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate how reliable Central is for a wide variety of tasks. Whenever I have a question or need to accomplish something, Central is my first point of contact, as they usually can address my needs. The ease of setup is another remarkable advantage; the Central team managed everything manually, so I didn’t have to do any of the setup myself, making the initial use extremely straightforward and hassle-free. Additionally, the integration with other tools such as Thatch for medical purposes and Puzzle for accounting is very beneficial, allowing for a cohesive workflow. Overall, my experience has been positive, culminating in my willingness to highly recommend Central to others. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I have encountered some issues with Central's user interface (UI). As Central is relatively new, it feels like they are more focused on using Slack rather than offering a polished UI experience. There are a few small UI issues that I notice when I try to accomplish tasks through the UI. However, when I use Slack, everything works really well. I think focusing more on enhancing the user interface could improve the overall experience. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I love how Central ensures my payroll runs on time, making sure my employees are paid and I'm in compliance with all regulatory bodies related to payroll. It's reassuring to have such reliability. The accessibility and responsiveness of the Central team is amazing. I appreciate not having to go through complex processes to get help when needed. They're easily reachable, even embedded within our Slack channel, which means I can quickly get in touch with a real person who understands the urgency of payroll-related matters, and that's invaluable for someone in my position, running a business. The setup process was incredibly smooth; my onboarding was effectively completed during the sales call within the first ten minutes, which speaks for itself. All these elements make Central an excellent choice for managing payroll and compliance, enhancing my productivity and peace of mind immensely. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

N/A Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I appreciate how Central handles payroll administration along with relevant employee taxes efficiently, providing optionality for healthcare and 401(k) benefits, which is extremely valuable for our company's needs. The integration with Slack makes it incredibly easy to set up and manage, as everything is handled through a Slack channel, which simplifies communication and organization. The decision to choose Central over Rippling was influenced by its competitive pricing, personal connection, and the fact that it offers equivalent full-service options, which aligns well with our business requirements. I find the ease of use a key factor for our continuing use and potential repurchase of Central, as it fulfills all current needs without necessitating any changes. This ease of use and comprehensive service are reasons I would gladly recommend Central to others, confidently rating it a ten in likelihood of recommending. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

No issues at all. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I find Central incredibly valuable for automating HR processes and handling back-office queries efficiently. The integration with Slack enhances its usability, making interactions and customer support seamless and prompt. I appreciate how the setup feels like having an in-house team, allowing me to focus on other aspects by trusting them with comprehensive access. The ease of hiring through Central is remarkable, which significantly streamlines my recruitment process. Customer service stands out for its excellent quality, with the team being highly available and resolving any issues swiftly, often within a few minutes. The seamless automation of tasks using the bot simplifies operations, contributing to a smoother workflow, while the ease of use remains a continuing reason for my preference for this service. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I find the transparency around pricing not as clear as I'd like it, particularly with usage-based pricing. Additionally, I think the tax filing process could be more thorough and timely. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Manual, repetitive admin work was literally wasting my time and soul as a founder. I had concerns about Central being a small, newer company but knowing the founders personally made those worries disappear completely.

They deliver on every single promise in their messaging - I literally deal with zero bullshit work now. Their customer support is incredible, they actually get things done instead of fobbing you off to documentation.

I'm saving at least 10 hours of manual work monthly and can focus on what actually matters for my business. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Nothing, everything is honestly perfect. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.