Gusto
Best all-in-one Paylocity payroll & HR alternative
Overview
Gusto is a top-rated Paylocity alternative built specifically for small and midsize businesses. Its intuitive, all-in-one platform makes payroll, HR, benefits, and compliance easy to manage without extra fees or complex modules. While Paylocity leans enterprise, Gusto keeps things simple—offering transparent pricing, full automation, and people-first tools like performance reviews, onboarding, and team surveys. It’s a strong fit for businesses that want robust HR support without the steep learning curve or bundled complexity.
Key Features
Integrated payroll, time tracking, hiring, and benefits
Automated tax filings and new hire reporting in all 50 states
Time tracking with PTO requests and approvals
Employee self-service via desktop and mobile app
Performance reviews and engagement tools
Support for international contractor payments in 120+ countries
Certified HR expert support available
300+ integrations with accounting, hiring, and team tools
AI-powered workforce reports and project cost tracking
Pros and Cons
Pros
User-friendly all-in-one platform
Transparent pricing, no hidden fees
Robust team management tools
Great customer support
Global contractor support included
Cons
No built-in shift scheduling (third-party integrations required)
Mobile app lacks full admin access
Premium HR features cost extra
Benefits only available in 38 states + DC
Pricing
Simple: $49/mo + $6/person/mo — basic payroll & HR
Plus: $80/mo + $12/person/mo — adds time tracking & multi-state payroll
Premium: $180/mo + $22/person/mo — includes full HR suite & HR expert access
Free until your first payroll; no free version.
Transform your payroll processes with Gusto, a platform that’s already the choice of over 500,000 businesses.
BambooHR
Best Paylocity alternative for employee engagement
Overview
BambooHR is a leading HR platform for small to midsize teams focused on employee experience and engagement. It’s easy to use, with built-in workflows for onboarding, offboarding, and time-off tracking. Compared to Paylocity, BambooHR offers a simpler, more focused approach to HR—ideal for companies that don’t need complex enterprise features but still want robust employee support, self-service tools, and meaningful feedback systems.
Key Features
Intuitive onboarding and offboarding workflows
Anonymous employee surveys and peer recognition tools
Employee self-service portal and mobile app
Custom reports and analytics dashboards
PTO tracking with automated accruals
Performance management and goal tracking (Advantage plan)
Add-on modules for payroll, benefits, and time tracking
125+ third-party integrations
Pros and Cons
Pros
Clean, user-friendly interface
Excellent engagement and feedback tools
Time-saving automation
Strong onboarding and offboarding support
Modular features for flexible HR
Cons
Pricing not transparent
Chat/phone support only in higher plans
Essentials plan lacks key features
No international payroll or support
Mobile app has limited admin tools
Pricing
Custom pricing only. Based on past reports, flat monthly pricing starts around $108 for 20 employees.
Per-user pricing available for larger teams.
Add-ons like payroll, benefits, and performance tools are charged per employee/month.
Free trial: 7 days.
No free plan.
Workday
Best enterprise-ready Paylocity alternative
Overview
Workday is built for enterprise-scale businesses with complex HR, payroll, and workforce needs. Its human capital management (HCM) suite includes advanced analytics, workforce planning, and AI-powered optimization tools. Compared to Paylocity, Workday offers deeper insight into hiring, compensation, and employee performance—but it comes at a higher price point and steeper learning curve. It’s best for larger organizations that need tailored workflows, deep data, and strategic HR tools.
Key Features
All-in-one HCM platform with integrated payroll and HR
AI-powered workforce and financial analytics
Shift scheduling, time tracking, and PTO management
Recruiting, onboarding, and compensation planning
Customizable dashboards and employee experiences
Native mobile apps for payroll and time tracking
Global payroll available in select countries
Integrations with leading ERP and finance tools
Pros and Cons
Pros
Best-in-class analytics and forecasting tools
Deep HR customization for large teams
Personalized employee learning and development
Scalable for fast-growing enterprises
Cons
Limited global payroll coverage (5 countries)
Payroll lacks advanced features
Pricing not transparent
No automatic tax filing included
Pricing
Custom quotes only. Reported pricing starts around $99/user/month.
Global payroll and other modules may cost extra depending on your needs.
Free trial: No.
Free plan: No.
TriNet HR
Best value Paylocity alternative
Overview
TriNet HR (formerly Zenefits) offers a budget-friendly HR solution for small businesses that don’t need enterprise-grade tools. It includes onboarding, time tracking, PTO, and compliance features at a lower price point than most Paylocity competitors. While payroll and benefits tools are sold separately, the base plan delivers more out-of-the-box HR functionality than many others. It’s a solid pick for cost-conscious teams—especially in highly regulated industries needing reliable compliance support.
Key Features
Employee onboarding, PTO tracking, and scheduling
Self-service portal and mobile access
Basic analytics and reporting tools
Time tracking and company org chart
Add-on payroll with tax filing
Optional benefits admin and learning tools
Retention and engagement tools in higher tiers
Native communication and “People Hub” features
Pros and Cons
Pros
Affordable base plan with solid features
Transparent pricing with tiered options
Strong compliance tools
Scales well for small to midsize teams
Cons
Payroll and benefits are add-ons
Requires 5-employee minimum
Limited integrations
Customer service quality has declined
Pricing
Essentials: $8/employee/month (annual)
Growth: $16/employee/month (adds reporting and performance)
Zen: $27/employee/month (adds retention tools and payroll)
Month-to-month pricing is higher. Add-ons include payroll ($6/employee), benefits admin, and recruiting tools.
Free trial: No. Free plan: No.
Remote
Best Paylocity alternative for global teams
Overview
Remote is ideal for companies hiring globally. Unlike Paylocity, which outsources global support through third parties, Remote offers fully owned EOR (Employer of Record) services in 80+ countries, plus international contractor payments in 180+. You can pay contractors and employees in multiple countries from one dashboard, with localized compliance and benefits. If you're scaling internationally and want to reduce risk, Remote is one of the most trusted platforms for small and midsize businesses.
Key Features
Global payroll in 100+ countries
EOR services in 80+ countries
Pay contractors in 180+ countries
Localized contracts and benefits administration
One-click or auto-pay contractor invoicing
Compliance and misclassification risk assessments
100+ currencies supported with no conversion fees
Employee self-service and onboarding portal
Pros and Cons
Pros
Unified payroll for global teams
Owned EOR entities—no third parties
Easy onboarding and international compliance
Intuitive platform experience
Cons
No workforce costing or scheduling tools
No support for PayPal or Payoneer
Email-only support
Global payroll pricing not listed
Pricing
Contractors: $29/month per contractor
EOR: $599/employee/month (annual); $699 month-to-month
Global payroll (with your own entity): Contact sales
Free trial: 30 days (contractor services).
Free plan: No.
ADP Workforce Now
Best Paylocity alternative for learning and development
Overview
ADP Workforce Now targets mid-sized businesses and offers a robust suite of payroll and HR tools. Its standout feature is a massive library of 70,000+ learning modules, from compliance to sales training. While it shares Paylocity’s modular approach, many features—like performance reviews, analytics, and LMS—are locked behind add-ons. It's powerful, but less intuitive than newer platforms, and better suited to larger teams with specific training and customization needs.
Key Features
Fully integrated payroll, HR, benefits, and time tracking
Payroll and compliance across all 50 states
Massive learning management system (LMS)
Custom course creation and employee development
700+ software integrations
Compensation and performance management
Reporting and workforce costing tools
Mobile app and employee self-service
Pros and Cons
Pros
Industry-leading LMS with 70K+ courses
Scales easily with business growth
Wide integration ecosystem
Deep HR and benefits features
Cons
Add-ons required for key features
Pricing is unclear and can add up
Interface feels outdated
Limited support for contractors
Pricing
Pricing is quote-based.
According to third-party sources, payroll-only pricing starts around $400/month for 50 employees.
Key features like LMS, analytics, and performance management require additional fees.
Free trial: Yes (up to 3 months on select plans).
Free plan: No.
Homebase
Best Paylocity alternative for shift-based businesses
Overview
Homebase is purpose-built for shift-based teams like restaurants, retail shops, and service providers. Unlike Paylocity, which requires add-ons or third-party tools for scheduling, Homebase includes free scheduling, time clocks, and team messaging—even on its free plan. It’s ideal for small businesses that prioritize shift planning, labor cost tracking, and hourly workforce management, and don’t need a full HR suite. If you’re managing hourly workers and want simple payroll plus built-in scheduling, Homebase delivers.
Key Features
Free scheduling and time tracking
Built-in time clocks with geofencing
Payroll, PTO tracking, and compliance support
Team messaging and real-time schedule updates
Automated labor cost controls and wage alerts
Onboarding tools and document storage
Hiring tools with customizable job posts
Employee mobile app for self-service
Integration with POS systems like Square and Clover
Pros and Cons
Pros
Free plan includes scheduling and time clocks
Easy for hourly teams to use
Team chat and schedule updates in real time
Payroll is tailored to hourly workforces
Strong POS integrations
Cons
Payroll is a paid add-on
Limited advanced HR tools
Mobile app occasionally buggy
Reporting features are basic
Pricing
Free plan: Includes scheduling, time clocks, messaging
Payroll: Starts at $39/month + $6/employee/month
Higher tiers (Essentials, Plus, All-in-One): $24.95 to $99.95/month with added features like hiring tools, labor forecasting, and compliance alerts
Free trial: 14 days.
Free plan: Yes (core scheduling and time tools).
Compare All
| Pricing | Free Trial | Free Plan | Best Use Case | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | Small businesses needing an all-in-one Paylocity alternative for payroll, HR, and benefits | ||
 | Custom pricing | (7 days) | Teams prioritizing employee engagement, onboarding, and performance management | |
 | Custom enterprise pricing | Enterprise-ready orgs needing advanced analytics and workforce planning | ||
 | $8–$27/employee/mo | Not listed | Budget-conscious SMBs wanting a lower-cost Paylocity replacement | |
 | $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) | (contractors) | Companies hiring and managing international teams |
 | Custom pricing | (select plans) | Midsize businesses investing in learning, compliance, and scalability | |
 | Free; paid plans $24.95+/location | Shift-based businesses needing scheduling, time tracking, and basic HR |
| Pricing | Free Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | |
| Custom pricing | (7 days) |
| Custom enterprise pricing | |
| $8–$27/employee/mo | Not listed |
| $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) |
| Custom pricing | (select plans) |
| Free; paid plans $24.95+/location |
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Paylocity?
Gusto is the best all-in-one alternative to Paylocity for small to midsize businesses. It’s easier to use, more affordable, and includes full-service payroll, benefits, and HR tools without surprise fees. Other strong options include OnPay, BambooHR, and Rippling, depending on your needs.
Is Paychex better than Paylocity?
Paychex is better than Paylocity if you want flexible packages with personal support and a smooth upgrade path. However, Paylocity often includes more features out of the box. Choose Paychex if you value scalability and service; Paylocity if you need deeper analytics and automation.
Is Workday similar to Paylocity?
Workday and Paylocity offer similar enterprise features, but Workday is built for much larger organizations. It includes advanced analytics, AI-driven forecasting, and deep workforce planning. Paylocity is more accessible for mid-sized teams and includes stronger payroll capabilities at lower cost.
How much does Paylocity cost per month?
Paylocity doesn’t list pricing publicly, but reports suggest most businesses pay between $20 and $40 per employee per month. Add-ons like LMS, analytics, and compliance tools may increase total monthly costs significantly. You’ll need to contact sales for a custom quote.
Is Paylocity or Paycom better?
Paylocity is better for companies that want strong employee engagement tools and built-in learning modules. Paycom is better for businesses focused on process automation and centralized data workflows. Both are full-suite HRIS platforms, but Paylocity tends to be more user-friendly.
