Paychex vs Paylocity: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Paychex
4.0(2,891 reviews)
Payroll and HR services for businesses of all sizes with local support options.
Paylocity
4.3(1,847 reviews)
Cloud HR and payroll platform for mid-market companies with modern employee experience.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Paychex | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Businesses preferring local, in-person support | Mid-market companies (100-5,000 employees) |
| Pricing Model | Contact Sales | Contact Sales |
| Starting Price | Contact Sales | Contact Sales |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 4.0/10 | 4.3/10 |
Pros & Cons
Paychex
Pros
- Local support with 100+ offices nationwide
- Combines software with managed services
- Licensed for benefits and 401(k) administration
- PEO option for complete HR outsourcing
- Long track record (50+ years in business)
Cons
- Interface less modern than newer competitors
- Pricing can be complex and expensive
- Experience varies by local representative
- Upselling can be aggressive
Paylocity
Pros
- Modern, consumer-grade user experience
- Strong employee engagement and collaboration features
- On-demand pay option for hourly workers
- Video creation tool for training content
- Good balance of features and usability
Cons
- Pricing is quote-based and not transparent
- Feature richness creates a learning curve
- Customer support quality inconsistent
- Some advanced features require additional modules
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paychex | contact sales | Contact Sales |
| Paylocity | contact sales | Contact Sales |
Our Verdict
Choose Paychex if...
You need Businesses preferring local, in-person support and prefer contact sales pricing.
Choose Paylocity if...
You need Mid-market companies (100-5,000 employees) and prefer contact sales pricing.
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.