Gusto
Best all-in-one Paycom alternative for small business
Overview
Gusto is the top Paycom alternative for small businesses looking for an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with transparent pricing and a user-friendly interface. It automates tax filings, handles multi-state payroll, supports international contractors, and includes employee self-service in every plan. Unlike Paycom, which charges setup fees and has limited integrations, Gusto offers hundreds of out-of-the-box integrations and no hidden costs.
Key Features
Fully integrated payroll, time tracking, and HR
Automated federal, state, and local tax filing
Unlimited pay rates, schedules, and payroll runs
AutoPilot payroll for salaried employees
International contractor support in 120+ countries
Employee self-service with lifetime access
Benefits administration included in all plans
Hiring, onboarding, and compliance tools
AI-powered reporting and analytics
Hundreds of software integrations
Pros and Cons
Pros
Easy-to-use, intuitive platform
Transparent pricing with no setup fees
Full automation for payroll and compliance
Seamless benefits and HR integration
Excellent customer support
Cons
Time tracking not available in Simple plan
Benefits only offered in 38 states
No native learning and development suite
Mobile app lacks full admin functions
Pricing
Simple: $49/month + $6/person/month
Plus: $80/month + $12/person/month - adds time tracking and multi-state payroll.
Premium pricing is custom. HR support add-on is $8/person/month.
Free Trial: Yes — free until first payroll
Free Plan: No
Transform your HR processes with Gusto, a platform that’s already the choice of over 500,000 businesses.
Paycor
Most similar alternative to Paycom
Overview
Paycor is the closest match to Paycom in terms of structure, pricing, and target market. Both platforms offer fully integrated payroll and HR for midsize businesses, though Paycor’s mobile app and reporting tools outperform Paycom’s. It’s not ideal for smaller companies due to higher pricing and limited integrations, but Paycor shines with industry-specific solutions, an AI-powered applicant tracking system, and on-demand pay.
Key Features
Full-suite HR, payroll, and benefits administration
AI-powered recruiting and automated onboarding
Employee scheduling with shift swaps and forecasting
On-demand pay options for employees
Career development and performance tracking
Pulse surveys and learning management
Industry-specific compliance tools
Employee self-service and mobile app
Pros and Cons
Pros
On-demand pay improves retention
Strong mobile and employee self-service tools
Built-in industry-specific features
ATS and career planning tools
Often waives setup fees
Cons
High cost for small businesses
Local tax filing may cost extra
Few third-party integrations
Pricing not transparent
Pricing
Paycor offers four tiers for businesses under 50 employees, but pricing requires a custom quote.
User-reported rates range from $99 to $199/month plus $5 to $14 per employee.
Benefits and time tracking are paid add-ons.
Free Trial: Yes — demo available
Free Plan: No
Paycor
Most similar alternative to Paycom
Overview
Paycor is the closest match to Paycom in terms of structure, pricing, and target market. Both platforms offer fully integrated payroll and HR for midsize businesses, though Paycor’s mobile app and reporting tools outperform Paycom’s. It’s not ideal for smaller companies due to higher pricing and limited integrations, but Paycor shines with industry-specific solutions, an AI-powered applicant tracking system, and on-demand pay.
Key Features
Full-suite HR, payroll, and benefits administration
AI-powered recruiting and automated onboarding
Employee scheduling with shift swaps and forecasting
On-demand pay options for employees
Career development and performance tracking
Pulse surveys and learning management
Industry-specific compliance tools
Employee self-service and mobile app
Pros and Cons
Pros
On-demand pay improves retention
Strong mobile and employee self-service tools
Built-in industry-specific features
ATS and career planning tools
Often waives setup fees
Cons
High cost for small businesses
Local tax filing may cost extra
Few third-party integrations
Pricing not transparent
Pricing
Paycor offers four tiers for businesses under 50 employees, but pricing requires a custom quote.
User-reported rates range from $99 to $199/month plus $5 to $14 per employee.
Benefits and time tracking are paid add-ons.
Free Trial: Yes — demo available
Free Plan: No
Workday
Best Paycom alternative for workforce optimization
Overview
Workday is a robust HCM platform built for larger organizations focused on workforce planning, analytics, and employee engagement. It goes beyond payroll and HR basics to deliver AI-powered insights, skills-based hiring tools, and personalized HR experiences. While it includes payroll, it’s primarily designed for strategic workforce optimization—making it a strong Paycom alternative for midsize to enterprise businesses, but likely too complex and costly for smaller teams.
Key Features
Integrated HR, benefits, and payroll
AI-powered reporting and workforce insights
Personalized dashboards and mobile app access
Employee performance and growth tracking
Built-in shift scheduling and time tracking
Native communication and collaboration tools
Global payroll in 5 countries; partner integrations elsewhere
Tailored learning and development experiences
Pros and Cons
Pros
Industry-leading analytics and workforce planning
Smart automation for HR and scheduling
Mobile-first, employee-friendly experience
Robust talent and performance features
Ideal for midsize and enterprise growth
Cons
High cost, no transparent pricing
Payroll tools less robust than HR suite
Global payroll is limited
Not designed for small businesses
Pricing
Workday doesn’t publish pricing. Reports suggest rates around $99/user/month depending on features and scale. Contact sales for a custom quote.
Free Trial: No
Free Plan: No
Remote
Best alternative to Paycom for global payroll
Overview
Remote is a modern, user-friendly global payroll and compliance platform ideal for businesses hiring internationally. Unlike Paycom, which doesn’t support global payroll, Remote offers full EOR services in 80+ countries, contractor payments in 180+, and localized compliance tools. It’s an excellent choice for distributed teams looking to simplify global hiring without relying on third-party vendors.
Key Features
Global payroll in 100+ countries
EOR services in 80+ countries
Contractor payments with localized compliance
Support for 100+ currencies and payment methods
Country-specific benefits and labor law guidance
One-click payments and automated invoicing
Self-service onboarding and documentation
Owned legal entities—no outsourcing
Pros and Cons
Pros
One platform for global contractors and employees
No hidden fees or third-party intermediaries
Easy onboarding and great UI
In-depth country compliance resources
Supports EOR and direct payroll
Cons
Email-only customer support
No workforce management or scheduling tools
Global payroll pricing not transparent
Lacks deeper analytics or HR automation
Pricing
EOR: $599/employee/month (annual); $699 month-to-month.
Contractor payments: $29/month.
Global payroll pricing available by quote.
Free Trial: Yes — free to explore; charges only when paying workers
Free Plan: No
ADP Workforce Now
Best Paycom alternative for learning and development
Overview
ADP Workforce Now is a full-featured HR suite designed for businesses with 50–999 employees. It matches Paycom in compliance tools and payroll power but outpaces it in learning and development. ADP’s LMS includes 70,000+ pre-built courses plus custom course capabilities, making it a great fit for companies investing in employee growth. However, many core tools are add-ons, and pricing can escalate quickly.
Key Features
End-to-end payroll, HR, time, and benefits
Certified compliance tools and wage reporting
LMS with 70K+ training courses
Custom course creation and learning paths
Performance and compensation management
Over 700 integrations
Document storage, onboarding, and employee portal
Real-time analytics and workforce costing
Pros and Cons
Pros
Extensive L&D library and LMS tools
Scalable features for growing teams
Deep compliance support
Strong payroll and HR functionality
Highly customizable
Cons
Pricing is opaque and add-on heavy
Interface feels dated
Contractors require separate tools
Customer service is hit or miss
Pricing
Select, Plus, and Premium pricing tiers. Many HR tools (LMS, performance, analytics) are paid add-ons. Payroll for 50 employees can cost $400/month or more.
Free Trial: Yes — 3 months (select products)
Free Plan: No
BambooHR
Best Paycom alternative for employee engagement
Overview
BambooHR is an HR-first platform designed to simplify people management and elevate the employee experience. Unlike Paycom, it leads with intuitive HR tools—onboarding, offboarding, surveys, and self-service—and makes payroll, benefits, and time tracking optional add-ons. Its employee engagement tools and visual performance dashboards are top-tier, making it a strong choice for small to midsize businesses focused on retention and workplace culture.
Key Features
Streamlined onboarding, offboarding, and self-service
Automated HR workflows and time-off tracking
Built-in surveys and employee sentiment tracking
Custom reporting and performance visualizations
Integrated ATS and e-signature tools
Optional payroll, benefits, time tracking, and L&D
125+ third-party software integrations
Mobile app for employees and managers
Pros and Cons
Pros
HR suite is intuitive and user-friendly
Excellent tools for employee engagement
Strong onboarding and automation features
Works well with existing payroll tools
Clean, modern UI
Cons
Payroll, benefits, and L&D are all paid add-ons
Essentials plan is limited
Mobile app has reduced functionality
No international support
Pricing
BambooHR offers two core plans—Essentials and Advantage—plus paid add-ons.
Pricing is custom, but past plans started at $108/month for 20 employees.
Payroll add-on: ~$150/month + $7.25/employee.
Free Trial: Yes — 7 days
Free Plan: No
TriNet HR
Best value Paycom alternative
Overview
TriNet HR offers an affordable, feature-rich HR platform that’s ideal for small to midsize businesses. Formerly Zenefits, the rebranded system includes strong onboarding, PTO management, scheduling, and employee self-service—all in its base plan. While payroll and benefits cost extra, TriNet’s transparent pricing and included features offer significantly more value than Paycom, especially for budget-conscious teams needing a dependable HR solution.
Key Features
Automated onboarding, scheduling, and PTO tracking
Self-service employee portal and mobile access
Native org charts, document storage, and HR workflows
Payroll, benefits, and recruiting available as add-ons
Employee engagement tools and communication hub
Basic analytics with advanced options in higher plans
Transparent pricing and tiered packages
Learning management add-on
Pros and Cons
Pros
Base plan includes more than most competitors
Transparent, affordable pricing
Scales easily with HR add-ons
Strong onboarding and self-service tools
Great fit for small to midsize businesses
Cons
Payroll is an add-on and less robust
Limited integrations
Minimum of 5 employees required
Add-ons needed for benefits, analytics, and recruiting
Pricing
Essentials: $8/employee/month (annual)
Growth: $16
Zen: $27
Month-to-month plans cost slightly more.
Payroll add-on: $6/employee/month.
Must pay for at least 5 employees.
Free Trial: No
Free Plan: No
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 wanting a simple, all-in-one Paycom alternative for payroll, HR, and benefits | ||
 | Custom pricing | (demo-based) | Midsize businesses needing a Paycom-like HCM with recruiting and on-demand pay | |
| Custom pricing | (demo-based) | Midsize businesses needing a Paycom-like HCM with recruiting and on-demand pay | |
 | Custom enterprise pricing | Midsize–enterprise orgs focused on workforce optimization and analytics | ||
 | $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) | (contractors) | Distributed teams needing global payroll and compliance |
 | Custom pricing | (select plans) | 50–999 employee orgs needing learning, compliance, and scalability | |
 | Custom pricing | (7 days) | SMBs prioritizing employee engagement, onboarding, and HR workflows | |
 | $8–$27/employee/mo | Not listed | Budget-conscious SMBs needing a lower-cost Paycom alternative |
| Pricing | Free Trial | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple $49/mo + $6/user/mo; Plus $80/mo + $12/user/mo; Premium custom pricing | |
| Custom pricing | (demo-based) |
| Custom pricing | (demo-based) |
| Custom enterprise pricing | |
| $29/mo contractors; $599/mo EOR | (30 days) |
| Custom pricing | (select plans) |
| Custom pricing | (7 days) |
| $8–$27/employee/mo | Not listed |
FAQ
Who is Paycom's biggest competitor?
ADP is considered Paycom’s largest competitor in the HCM space. While both offer end-to-end payroll and HR solutions, ADP’s greater scalability, broader integrations, and extensive learning tools make it more appealing to midsize and enterprise companies.
Is Paycor or Paycom better?
Paycor is often better for businesses that want similar features with more flexibility. Both target midsize companies, but Paycor offers stronger industry-specific tools, a better mobile experience, and more transparent customer service—though it’s still not ideal for very small teams.
What are the weaknesses of Paycom?
Paycom’s biggest weaknesses are its high setup fees, steep learning curve, lack of integrations, and limited global payroll support. Its pricing is opaque, and key features like 1099 filing, local taxes, and benefits setup often come at an extra cost.
What is the average cost of Paycom?
Paycom doesn’t publish pricing, but users report base costs of $500–$1,200 in setup fees and $20–$40 per employee per month. These costs rise quickly when you add time tracking, benefits, or performance tools—making it pricier than many alternatives.
What is the difference between Paycom and ADP?
Both offer all-in-one HCM platforms, but ADP has broader support for compliance, international payroll, and learning and development. Paycom uses a proprietary system with fewer integrations, while ADP integrates with over 700 tools and offers more modular pricing.
