The SaaS Tax Benchmark

Calculating the True Cost ofRippling vs Custom.

Calculate the true 5-year cost of Rippling HR vs custom HR infrastructure. Mid-market companies pay $36K–$96K/year.

Why Companies Outgrow Rippling

Per-employee pricing across HR, IT, and Finance modules creates compounding costs

Module bundling forces you to pay for features you do not use

Rapid feature releases frequently break existing workflows and integrations

Device management and app provisioning create deep vendor dependency

Feature Matrix: Custom vs Rippling

Annual Cost

Standard Set$36K–$96K/year (150 employees)
Slickrock Build$40K build + $3K/year

HR + IT Unification

Standard SetNative but rigid modules
Slickrock BuildCustom unified platform

Device Management

Standard SetBuilt-in MDM
Slickrock BuildIntegrates with existing MDM

Payroll

Standard SetIncluded with add-on cost
Slickrock BuildAPI integration with payroll provider

Headcount Scaling

Standard SetLinear cost increase
Slickrock BuildFixed cost at any size

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Rippling cost per year?

Rippling starts at $8/employee/month for core HR and scales to $25+/employee/month with IT, Finance, and advanced modules. For 150 employees, annual costs range from $36,000 to $96,000.

Is custom HR software better than Rippling?

For companies with 100+ employees and specific HR workflows, yes. Custom HR infrastructure costs $40,000 to build with $3,000/year maintenance. Over 5 years: $52,000 vs $180,000–$480,000 for Rippling.

What does Rippling do that custom cannot?

Rippling excels at device management and app provisioning out of the box. Custom software can replicate these features but the value proposition is strongest for companies focused on HR, payroll, and benefits administration where per-employee fees are most punitive.

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