BerniePortal review

BerniePortal is a dedicated benefits system with a price you can see before a demo. Every account starts on the Starter Edition at $25 a month plus $5 per employee, which covers recruiting, onboarding, benefits, compliance and COBRA administration, so a 30-person employer pays about $175 a month. Including COBRA is unusual at this price, since many vendors bill it separately. BernieBill lines up eligible carrier invoices with enrollments so you pay one bill that reflects who is actually covered, which addresses the overpayment problem many small employers have after terminations. Employers can buy directly without a broker, and the vendor says brokers who partner with it can offer custom Starter Edition pricing. The trade-off is that PTO, time tracking, performance and payroll are paid upgrades priced per user through a quote, so a full HR suite costs more than the headline figure.

Who it is for

Small employers and their brokers who want a dedicated benefits system with a published price and COBRA included.

Price

Starter Edition $25 a month base fee plus $5 per employee; HR upgrades quoted per user.

$5/employee/mo + $25 base fee
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 7, 2026.

Key features

• Starter Edition covers recruiting, onboarding, benefits, compliance and COBRA administration
• Integrations with insurance carriers
• BernieBill matches eligible carrier invoices to enrollments
• Optional HR upgrades for PTO, time, performance and payroll
• Self-guided product tour and free personalized demo

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Published starting price for direct buyers
• Strength: COBRA administration included in the Starter Edition
• Strength: Brokers can offer custom Starter Edition pricing to their clients
• Weakness: HR upgrades such as payroll and PTO need a quote
• Weakness: Payroll is an upgrade, so most buyers still need a payroll integration
• Weakness: The base fee applies even to very small groups

Key facts

• Starter Edition: $5 per employee per month + $25 base fee
• Included: Recruiting, onboarding, benefits, compliance, COBRA administration
• Broker required: No, employers can buy directly
• Carrier billing: BernieBill lines up eligible carrier invoices with enrollments

Where it ranks

BerniePortal is No. 3 in our Best Benefits Administration Software verdict.