Alice vs Navia

Data as of May 2026. Navia Benefit Solutions is a benefits administrator based in Washington State. It offers FSA, HSA, HRA, COBRA, and commuter benefits to mid-market employers. Alice is commuter-only and built for hourly and frontline workforces.

Workforce focus

Navia sells commuter benefits as part of a multi-account suite (FSA, HRA, HSA, COBRA) [1]. Its published commuter pricing is $4.00 per employee per month with a $25 monthly minimum [1]. Orders must be placed by the 20th of the month for the following month, employees manage their own elections month to month, and the employer applies Navia's payroll deduction report to payroll and sends a monthly census file [2][3]. That model is not easy to adjust to hourly workers' paychecks, which change with hours, shifts, and tips. Alice serves the hourly and frontline segment exclusively.

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. Navia offers a similar commuter capability with its own pricing model. See Navia's published product portfolio for current pricing [1].

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). Navia provides a benefits card for its account products.

Eligibility

Both run the federal commuter benefit rule (§132(f)): transit, vanpool, and qualified parking (garages, lots, meters, and parking apps). Uber and Lyft are not eligible, with a narrow vanpool carve-out.

Payroll

Alice connects to 30+ payroll providers, including connections to ADP, UKG, Paylocity, Paycom, Paychex, Toast, and others. Navia supports common payroll feeds.

When Alice is the better fit

Employers who only need commuter benefits, not the whole pretax-account suite
Hourly and frontline workforces
Multi-site operators
Employers in commuter-mandate jurisdictions

Talk to sales

Email sales@thisisalice.com or call (929) 552-4625.

Sources

Accessed September 9, 2026. [1] Navia Benefit Solutions Product Portfolio, https://portal.naviabenefits.com/pdf/ProductPortfolio.pdf. [2] Navia GoNavia Commuter Benefit Administration Overview, https://portal.naviabenefits.com/pdf/GoNavia%20Administrative%20Overview.pdf. [3] Navia Employer Handbook, https://portal.naviabenefits.com/pdf/employerhandbook.pdf.

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.

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.

Alice does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult your own tax preparer, lawyer, or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.