# Human Interest vs Vestwell
Source: https://planprovider.pro/compare/human-interest-vs-vestwell

> Compare Human Interest vs Vestwell on pricing, integrations, services, and scale for 401(k)/403(b)/Solo(k) plans.

Compare Human Interest and Vestwell side by side.

| Category|Human Interest|Vestwell|

| Year Founded|2,015|2,016|

| Employees|771|350|

| Headquarters|San Francisco, CA|New York City, NY|

| Website|humaninterest.com/|vestwell.com/|

| Latest Client Statistics|40,000 clients · $8.1B AUM|12,086 clients · $34.9B AUM|

| Latest Audit Statistics|—|—|

| Services|Recordkeeping, 3(16) Plan Administrator, Compliance Services, Plan Design Consulting, 3(38) Investment Manager, 3(21) Investment Advisor, Participant Investment Advice|Compliance Services, 3(16) Plan Administrator, 3(38) Investment Manager, Recordkeeping, 3(21) Investment Advisor|

| Plans Supported|401(k), 403(b), Solo 401(k)|401(k), 403(b), Solo 401(k)|

| Accreditations|RIA|—|

| Published Pricing|Complete: $160 base fee, $7/employee
Concierge: $200 base fee, $9/employee
Essentials: $120 base fee, $5/employee|Plus: $125 base fee, $8/employee, $0 setup fee
Starter(k): $39 base fee, $8/employee, $0 setup fee
Workplace: $80 base fee, $8/employee, $0 setup fee|

| Locations|San Francisco, CA, Lindon, UT|New York City, NY|

## Comparison Details

Human Interest vs Vestwell (Administrator Comparison) Choosing between Human Interest and Vestwell often comes down to how you want your retirement plan administered: an all-in-one SMB-focused provider with standout audit and participant incentives, or a flexible fintech recordkeeping platform that supports a broader range of workplace savings programs. Both administrators support 401(k), 403(b), and Solo(k) plans and offer core administration capabilities like recordkeeping and compliance , plus fiduciary services ( 3(21) and 3(38) ). Company profile and scale Human Interest (founded 2015; HQ: San Francisco, CA; ~728 employees) is built for small and mid-sized employers and reports serving 40,000+ businesses . In 2025, it reported 37,353 401(k) plan clients and about $7.76B in AUM across 705,381 participants. Vestwell (founded 2016; HQ: New York City, NY; ~350 employees) positions itself as a modern recordkeeping platform serving employers, advisors, and institutions nationwide. In 2025, it reported 12,086 401(k) plan clients and about $34.9B in AUM across 179,750 participants. What this means: Human Interest shows larger plan count and participant scale in the provided 401(k) stats, while Vestwell shows substantially higher AUM—often a signal of larger average plan balances or larger plans on the platform. Pricing comparison (base fee + per-employee) Both providers publish tiered pricing, but their structures differ in ways that matter depending on headcount and desired service level. Human Interest pricing : Essentials $120/mo + $5/employee ; Complete $160/mo + $7/employee ; Concierge $200/mo + $9/employee . Vestwell pricing : Starter(k) $39/mo + $8/employee ; Workplace $80/mo + $8/employee ; Plus $125/mo + $8/employee (with $0 setup fee listed). How to interpret it: Vestwell can be compelling for very small teams because of the low base fee (especially Starter(k)), while Human Interest may become cost-effective at certain employee counts due to lower per-employee pricing on its entry tier. The “best” option depends on your headcount, plan design complexity, and which tier you’ll actually use. Integrations and administration experience Human Interest emphasizes operational simplicity through payroll integrations with 500+ providers , aiming to reduce manual contributions and ongoing admin work. Vestwell also highlights extensive payroll connectivity and adds a differentiator for diverse workforces: its platform is available in multiple languages , supporting participant communication and usability. Services, fiduciary support, and participant features Both providers cover the essentials—recordkeeping and compliance—plus optional fiduciary services. Differences show up in participant-facing programs and risk-management add-ons. Human Interest lists participant advice and features like (k)ickstart® (a 3% cashback incentive) and Audit Relief (marketed as potentially saving businesses $10,000+ on annual plan audits). Vestwell stands out for breadth beyond retirement plans, supporting additional savings programs such as 529 education savings , student loan repayment , emergency savings , and ABLE accounts . Vestwell also notes an affiliated SEC-Registered Investment Adviser (Vestwell Advisors, LLC). Which administrator is a better fit? Choose Human Interest if you want an SMB-oriented provider with strong payroll integration coverage, participant incentives, and audit-focused cost protection features. Choose Vestwell if you want a modern recordkeeping platform that can scale across plan sizes, support multilingual experiences, and potentially bundle broader workplace savings benefits beyond a traditional 401(k). For a final decision, compare total all-in costs at your employee count, confirm payroll compatibility, and ask whether you need 3(21)/3(38) fiduciary support, participant advice, or add-on savings benefits.

[View all provider comparisons on PlanProvider.Pro](https://planprovider.pro/compare)

© 2026 PlanProvider.Pro