Cheapest HRA Administrators for Small Businesses in 2026

TL;DR

Several Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) administrators genuinely compete on price for small businesses in 2026, but the per-employee rate alone doesn't tell the full story. SimplyHRA, Salusion, Take Command, PeopleKeep, and StretchDollar rank as the most affordable HRA platforms.

CHOICE (Custom Health Option and Individual Care Expense) Arrangement is the current name for what was previously referred to as an ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement). This page uses both terms.

Key Takeaways

• PEPM price doesn't tell the whole story: Base fees, per-seat minimums, and other admin fees may affect overall costs.
• Flat-rate pricing means more predictable budgeting: SimplyHRA charges one flat per-employee rate with no base fee. StretchDollar and PeopleKeep publish a base fee on top of their per-employee rate, which is transparent but changes the total. Salusion publishes a rate but no fee schedule.
• Team size changes the math: Base fees hit small headcounts hardest, so the "cheapest" option could be different depending on the size of your workforce.

Health benefits shouldn't come with spreadsheet headaches.

For small businesses shopping for HRA platforms, the decision-making often begins and ends on the pricing page. But there's more to affordability than just the sticker price.

Everyone advertises a per-employee rate, but not all lead with the base platform charges, setup fees, and seat minimums stacked on top.

That gap matters, and that's the kind of fine detail we'll explore in this post.

Let's get started.

1. SimplyHRA

Best for: Predictable, flat-rate pricing with zero add-on fees.

SimplyHRA charges one flat rate per employee — no base fee, platform charge, seat minimums, or other hidden payments. For small teams working on tight budgets, that means the number on the pricing page (or the website's cost calculator) is the exact amount you'll pay.

Beyond the flat rate, SimplyHRA features a self-service interface and automation tools, eliminating the need for a broker or dedicated plan administrator for setup and ongoing administration. This leads to shorter plan implementation timelines and faster reimbursement cycles.

SimplyHRA Pricing & Engagement Details

• Flat PEPM rate: $29 per employee/month, regardless of team size or plan complexity.
• No additional fees: No setup costs, base fees, or seat minimums.
• Short setup time: Same-day plan configuration and enrollment launch.
• Included support options: Access to benefits specialists, built-in AI assistant, and traditional support channels (e.g., phone and email).

2. Salusion

Best for: Lowest sticker price on the market.

Salusion undercuts nearly every competitor in terms of straight, per-employee-per-month (PEPM) pricing.

The platform comes with zero platform or setup fees, with automated reimbursements via ACH so employees get reimbursed without waiting on a payroll cycle. And while Salusion has a much narrower feature set than most HRA platforms, the pricing is pretty much rock-bottom while the customer service remains fast and responsive.

Salusion Pricing & Engagement Details

• Lowest per-participant rate: $15 PEPM, the lowest published per-participant rate of the platforms compared here.
• Other fees: Salusion's pricing page publishes the per-participant rate only. It does not publish a setup fee, platform fee, or seat minimum, so ask for an all-in quote before you sign.
• Plan documents: Salusion lists plan documents as included, and offers the same published rate for ICHRA and QSEHRA.
• Reimbursement speed: Automated ACH payouts.

One thing to check before you compare that $15 against our $29: Salusion publishes a per-participant rate but not a full fee schedule, so we are unable to confirm that no setup fees, platform fees, or seat minimums apply on top of it. That is not a claim that they do, only that their published pricing does not rule it out, and it is worth asking them for an all-in monthly quote at your headcount. SimplyHRA does not move off its $29 per enrolled employee per month: no setup, onboarding, platform, or switching fees, no seat minimum, and no charge for employees who do not take the benefit.

3. StretchDollar

Best for: Low-headcount teams looking for simple plan implementation and management.

StretchDollar focuses on ICHRA for small businesses, doing away with setup costs, contract lock-ins, or headcount minimums. While it carries a base platform charge, the setup is self-service — streamlining how employers set pre-tax allowances and simplifying the plan selection process for employees.  

The platform handles automated direct ACH deductions and compliance docs without requiring complex broker setups. That makes it a practical, low-friction replacement for small companies seeking a straightforward ICHRA solution.

StretchDollar Pricing & Engagement Details

• Low PEPM pricing: $25 per active employee per month.
• Platform fee: Flat $100 platform fee per month.
• Plan focus: Specializes in ICHRA administration with guided employee onboarding.

4. Take Command

Best for: Bundled individual-market shopping support.

Take Command's per-employee rate is close to SimplyHRA's, but the added $40 monthly platform fee changes the math.

SimplyHRA comes out cheaper for smaller teams, with Take Command pulling ahead for small businesses with at least 11 employees. However, the floor price for small businesses isn't guaranteed for bigger teams since Take Command introduces custom PEPM and higher platform fees.

Take Command Pricing & Engagement Details

• Per-employee rate: $25+ per employee/month for small employers (max 49 employees).
• Platform fee: Starts at $40+ per month, increasing to $100+ per month for large employers.
• Included support: Shopping assistance for employees with traditional support channels (phone, email, and chat).
• Contract terms: No setup fees, no long-term contract required.

5. PeopleKeep

Best for: Administering multiple HRAs under one platform.

PeopleKeep supports ICHRA, QSEHRA, and GCHRA on a single platform, appealing to employers who might switch plan types as they grow. Its pricing structure is still well within reach of small businesses.

As one of the longer-standing names in HRA administration, PeopleKeep leans on that track record with features like a dedicated benefit design tool and human reviews on reimbursement requests.

PeopleKeep Pricing & Engagement Details

• Per-employee rate: $25 per employee/month.
• Base fee: $50 per month, plus a 3-seat minimum.
• Plan variety: Supports ICHRA, QSEHRA, and GCHRA under one employer account.
• Claims review: Each reimbursement is reviewed by a compliance specialist.

Which HRA Administrator Actually Costs You Least?

There's no universal answer here — it depends entirely on your headcount, HRA administration needs, and how much you're willing to spend.

Choose SimplyHRA if you want flat, predictable pricing with zero surprise fees. It offers the perfect balance between cost and Quality of Life (QoL) features for small businesses.

Choose Salusion if the advertised per-participant rate is your top priority and you're comfortable with leaner platforms, having first confirmed in writing what the all-in monthly cost will be.

Choose StretchDollar if you're on the larger end of small businesses where flat base fees spread thin enough, and you value polished, highly intuitive dashboards for plan administration and workflow automation.

Choose Take Command if you have more than 10 employees and want built-in marketplace shopping support — and you're not worried about platform fees.

Finally, choose PeopleKeep if you need one platform for managing multiple HRA types (e.g., ICHRA, QSEHRA, and GCHRA).

Where These Prices Come From

Every figure above was read on 22 September 2026 from each vendor's own public pricing page: Salusion, Take Command, PeopleKeep, StretchDollar, and SimplyHRA. Vendors change pricing without notice, so treat these as a starting point and ask for a current quote.

Where a vendor does not publish a full fee schedule, we cannot confirm whether setup fees, platform fees, seat minimums, or other charges apply on top of the advertised rate. We are not claiming those vendors have hidden fees, only that their published pricing does not rule them out. SimplyHRA does not have hidden fees: the rate is a flat $29 per enrolled employee per month, with no setup, onboarding, platform, or switching fees, and you only pay for employees who accept the benefit.

The most reliable way to compare any two platforms is to ask each one for an all-in monthly quote at your actual headcount, including every fee that will appear on the invoice.

Final Words

Price alone shouldn't be the deciding factor when choosing HRA administrators, but it shouldn't blindside you either.

The numbers above give you a real starting point for comparing what you actually pay for. And if predictable, all-in pricing sounds like what your team needs, SimplyHRA's flat $29 PEPM ensures no surprise line items once the invoice hits.

Setup also takes less than a day, and there's no broker or consultant required to get started.

Book a personalized consultation here to learn more about SimplyHRA and what modern, self-service HRA management looks like.