Ascen payroll review: coverage, features & pricing
What is Ascen?
Ascen accepts cryptocurrency payments for payroll, which is pretty rare in this industry. They're built specifically for staffing firms that need EOR and payroll services together.
Pricing isn't published online, you'll need to contact them for a quote. There aren't any reviews available yet to gauge customer satisfaction.
In this review, we'll cover their payment options, staffing-focused features, who they work best for, and the main pros and cons.
Best for
- •Staffing agencies and recruitment firms that need EOR services for placing workers internationally
- •Companies in the Americas that prioritize flexible payment methods, including crypto options for contractors
- •Businesses that need on-demand pay features for hourly or contract workers
- •Not ideal for companies needing global coverage beyond North and South America, as they only operate in 2 countries
What makes Ascen unique
- •Accepts cryptocurrency payments alongside traditional methods like ACH, SEPA, and SWIFT, giving companies flexibility in how they pay international workers
- •Built specifically for staffing firms, with features tailored to agencies managing contractors and temporary workers across multiple clients
- •Combines payroll and employer of record services in one platform, reducing the need for multiple vendors when hiring internationally
- •Offers on-demand pay functionality, allowing employees to access earned wages before the standard pay cycle ends
- •Provides 24/7 support with dedicated account management, helpful for staffing firms operating across time zones
What countries does Ascen support?
Ascen operates in 2 countries with local compliance expertise.
- USUnited States
- CACanada
What is Ascen's payroll pricing?
- ✓multi-currency
- ✓automated-tax
- ✓tax-filing
- ✓payslip-generation
- ✓employee-portal
Note: Prices may vary based on country, employee volume, and contract terms. Contact Ascen for a custom quote tailored to your needs. Volume discounts may be available for larger teams.
Not offered by Ascen: Contractor management
What are Ascen's payroll features?
A look at Ascen's platform capabilities and tools.
Pay cycles
- •bi-weekly
- •semi-monthly
Payment methods
- •bank-transfer
- •ach
- •sepa
- •swift
- •wise
- •paypal
- •crypto
What are the pros and cons of Ascen?
Pros
- +They accept crypto payments, which is genuinely unusual. Most payroll providers stick to traditional banking rails only.
- +The platform includes on-demand pay, so employees can access wages before payday. This is a big deal for hourly workers and contractors.
- +They've been around since 2018, so they've had 8 years to work out the kinks. That's a solid track record in this space.
- +24/7 support with dedicated account managers means you're not stuck waiting during off-hours, which matters when you're dealing with time zones.
- +The compliance dashboard and automated tax filing help reduce manual work for staffing firms juggling multiple placements.
- +API access and HRIS integrations let you connect their system to your existing tech stack without rebuilding everything.
Cons
- –They only cover 2 countries, which is really limited. Most global payroll providers handle 50-100 countries, so this is Americas-focused only.
- –No published pricing means you can't compare costs upfront. You'll need to go through a sales process to get a quote.
- –There are no customer reviews available yet, so you can't see what actual users think about the platform or support quality.
- –Limited pay frequencies with just bi-weekly and semi-monthly options. Some companies need weekly or monthly payroll cycles.
- –The staffing firm focus means the platform may not fit well if you're a traditional company with standard full-time employees.
What integrations does Ascen offer?
Native integrations available today.
Netsuite
Quickbooks
XeroFrequently asked questions about Ascen
What is Ascen?
Ascen is a tech-forward employer of record (EOR) platform built specifically for staffing firms. It was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in the United States. Its focus on the staffing industry sets it apart from general-purpose EOR providers.
How many countries does Ascen support?
Ascen currently covers 2 countries, with full coverage across all US states and Canada. This is a especially smaller footprint than larger global EOR providers, so it may not suit businesses needing payroll in multiple international markets.
What payment methods does Ascen support?
Ascen supports bank transfer, ACH, SEPA, SWIFT, Wise, PayPal, and crypto. Payouts can be processed in 1 currency, and the platform offers same-day payouts as an option. This range of payment methods gives staffing firms flexibility in how they pay workers.
What pay frequencies does Ascen offer?
Ascen supports bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay frequencies. If your payroll schedule falls outside these two options, Ascen may not be the right fit without confirming additional flexibility directly with their sales team.
What is Ascen's pricing?
Ascen does not publish its pricing publicly. You will need to contact their sales team for a quote. This is common among EOR providers, as pricing often depends on headcount, location, and services needed.
What payroll features does Ascen include?
Ascen includes automated tax calculation, tax filing, payslip generation, an employee portal, a compliance dashboard, HRIS integration, API access, on-demand pay, and a mobile app. It also offers multi-currency support and dedicated 24/7 support. These features are geared toward staffing firms that need a modern, integrated payroll setup.
What support options does Ascen provide?
Ascen offers live chat, a dedicated customer success manager (CSM), a knowledge base, and 24/7 support. Having a dedicated CSM is useful for staffing firms that deal with high volumes of worker changes and need a reliable point of contact.
Is Ascen a good fit for businesses outside the staffing industry?
Probably not the top-rated, highly rated, recommended choice. Ascen is built specifically around staffing industry needs, and its own known limitations note it may not be ideal for businesses outside that sector. Its coverage of only 2 countries also limits appeal for companies with broader global payroll requirements.
What are people asking about Ascen?
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Take it up with Ascen directly.
Pricing above is what Ascen publishes. Your quote depends on countries, headcount, and term, so get it from the source.