Alice vs Edenred Commuter
Data as of May 2026. Edenred Commuter (formerly Edenred Commuter Benefit Solutions) is a long-standing pretax commuter administrator serving large and mid-market employers across the US. Alice focuses on the commuter benefit only and is designed for hourly and frontline workforces.
Workforce fit
Edenred Commuter runs on a monthly order model with a program-specific deadline (the 10th of the month in its NYC program), and orders repeat automatically unless the employee changes them [1]. Its programs carry a per-participant monthly administrative fee ($1.25 to $2.05 per month in the NYC program) [1]. Edenred markets to employees who commute physically to a workplace, including hybrid office staff [2]. That model is not easy to adjust to hourly workers' paychecks, which change with hours, shifts, and tips. Alice is built for hourly and frontline workers in restaurants, hospitality, healthcare, retail, logistics, and manufacturing. Shift schedules and variable hours don't match a traditional pre-funding model.
Cost and setup
Alice has no up-front employer cost and no manual open enrollment to manage. Employees don't pre-fund. The employer keeps a reserve amount in its Alice plan account; it belongs to the employer and is not a fee. Setup starts with one call.
Edenred offers a similar pretax commuter capability with its own pricing model. Fees vary by program; ask Edenred for its fee schedule [1].
The card
Alice Card is a Visa commercial credit card issued by Celtic Bank and powered by Stripe. Program funds are held at Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC). Edenred provides a commuter card product as well.
Eligibility coverage
Both run the ยง132(f) federal pretax election, so eligible categories are the same under IRS rules: qualified parking (garages, lots, meters, and parking apps), transit passes, and vanpool. Uber and Lyft are not eligible (vanpool services are a narrow carve-out).
Payroll connections
Alice connects to 30+ payroll providers, including ADP, UKG, Paylocity, Paycom, Paychex, Toast, and others. Edenred supports common payroll feeds as well; specifics depend on the employer setup.
When Alice is the better fit
- Multi-site hourly employers
- Restaurants and quick-service brands
- Healthcare systems with frontline staff
- Retail chains
- Employers in mandate jurisdictions who want compliance handled without a manual enrollment season
Talk to sales
sales@thisisalice.com or (929) 552-4625.
Sources
Accessed September 9, 2026. [1] Edenred Benefits, NYC Commuter Benefits FAQ, https://info.edenredbenefits.com/hubfs/NYC/NYC_FAQs.pdf. [2] Edenred Benefits, "Hybrid work. Flexible benefits." (April 1, 2021), https://www.edenredbenefits.com/blog/hybrid-work-flexible-benefits.
Trademarks, brands, and product names referenced in this article are the property of their respective owners. References are for descriptive purposes only and do not imply endorsement. For definitive information about a third party's products or services, contact that party directly.
Specific benefits, election rules, and run-out periods depend on your employer's plan design. Check with your HR team or plan administrator for details.
Alice does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult your own tax preparer, lawyer, or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.
Pretax Hero Visa Commercial Card is powered by Stripe and issued by Celtic Bank. Program funds held at Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC). Use of card and program is subject to the cardholder terms and related agreements presented at issuance.