Pie and Hourly both sell workers' compensation to small businesses online, but they're built around different centers of gravity. Pie is a workers' comp carrier you can quote in minutes; Hourly is a payroll platform that happens to bill workers' comp off your real wages. That difference decides which one fits you.
This is an independent comparison from QuoteSweep, which maps the modern commercial insurance landscape. QuoteSweep does not compete with any of these companies.
TL;DR: Pie is a data-driven, full-stack workers' comp carrier — it quotes online in about three minutes, underwrites its own policies through The Pie Insurance Company (AM Best A-), and writes in 39 states plus DC, direct or through an agent. Hourly combines payroll, time tracking, HR, and workers' comp in one platform and calculates premium from real-time wages each pay run, so it's true pay-as-you-go — no big deposit, no year-end audit surprise. Fast standalone WC quote → Pie. Payroll plus pay-as-you-go WC in one system → Hourly.
The one-line difference
- Pie is a workers' comp specialist that prices WC with a proprietary data model and underwrites it on its own paper, sold direct or through agents.
- Hourly is a payroll-native platform where workers' comp premium is billed per pay run on real-time wages — pay-as-you-go by design.
Model and coverage
Both target small businesses and neither publishes flat pricing, but they approach premium and product very differently.
- Pie: its core product is workers' comp priced by a proprietary data model rather than broad class-code averages, which is how it quotes a small business in roughly three minutes. Pie became a full-stack carrier in 2023, issuing WC through The Pie Insurance Company (AM Best A- rated), and adds BOP, commercial auto, general liability, and professional liability through partner carriers.
- Hourly: workers' comp is one piece of an integrated platform that also runs payroll, time tracking, and HR. Because premium is calculated from real-time wage data rather than an annual estimate reconciled at a year-end audit, it stays accurate as your payroll changes. One customer says the model "saved us $6,500 yearly." Hourly also lets other WC insurers integrate with its payroll app.
Comparison table
| Pie | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| Core model | Standalone data-priced WC carrier | Payroll platform with pay-as-you-go WC |
| Workers' comp | Own carrier (AM Best A-) | Pay-as-you-go, billed on real wages |
| Other lines | BOP, auto, GL, E&O via partners | Payroll, time tracking & HR (platform) |
| Premium basis | Quote from your business details | Real-time payroll each pay run |
| Quote / buy speed | ~3-minute online quote | Sign up for the platform or book a demo |
| Distribution | Direct + appointed agents | Direct platform sign-up |
| Availability | WC in 39 states + DC | US hourly-worker businesses (states not clearly published) |
| Backing | ~$615M+ raised; $315M Series D (2022) | ~$34M total; $27M Series A (2022) |
| Pricing | Quote-based, no flat pricing | Quote-based, billed per pay run |
Pie's edge is a WC-specialist quote — a data model tuned for workers' comp with its own paper behind it. Hourly's edge is accuracy and cash flow — premium that tracks your actual wages, with no big upfront deposit and no audit true-up at year end.
Who each one fits
- Choose Pie if you want a fast, standalone workers' comp quote priced by a WC-specialist data model, you value having its own carrier (AM Best A-) behind the policy, and you may want to buy through an agent. Pie writes WC in 39 states plus DC.
- Choose Hourly if you employ hourly workers — construction, transportation, manufacturing, food service, and similar trades — and want payroll and pay-as-you-go workers' comp in the same system. The fit is strongest when you also run payroll on Hourly, since that's what powers the real-time billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pie or Hourly better for workers' comp?
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Pie is a purpose-built WC carrier with a fast, data-driven quote and its own paper. Hourly ties workers' comp to its payroll platform so premium is billed on real-time wages — better if you want payroll and WC in one place and value pay-as-you-go billing.
What makes Hourly "pay-as-you-go"?
Premium is calculated from your real-time payroll each pay run instead of an annual estimate, so you pay based on actual wages — no large upfront deposit and no year-end audit true-up. Its value is highest when you also run payroll on Hourly.
Can I buy through an agent?
Pie sells both direct and through appointed agents, with a dedicated agent portal. Hourly is a platform you sign up for directly (or book a demo). If you prefer an agent relationship, Pie has the clearer channel.
Which is cheaper?
Neither publishes flat pricing. Pie's WC premium is quote-based from your business details; Hourly's is billed per pay run on real wages. Compare quotes for the same coverage — and remember Hourly's value hinges on also running payroll there.
Get a quote
The bottom line
It comes down to a standalone quote versus an integrated platform. Pie is the workers'-comp specialist — the right call when you want a fast, data-priced WC quote on its own carrier, direct or through an agent. Hourly is the payroll-native platform — the right call when you employ hourly workers and want payroll and pay-as-you-go workers' comp in one system. Match it to whether you're buying a policy or adopting a platform.
Read the full Pie and Hourly profiles, or compare the whole field on the workers-comp hub.
