Paylocity review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
Cloud HCM suite covering payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers, sold by quote only.
Verdict at a glance
Paylocity is a cloud HCM suite covering payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers. It is sold by quote only, and its Okta integration supports SAML, OIDC and SCIM provisioning.
Pros
- Ease of use and modules that work together.
- Wide feature coverage for the price tier.
Cons
- Slow or inconsistent support (245 G2 reviews flag it)
- Time-consuming workflows and unintuitive navigation; limited customization.
What is Paylocity?
Cloud HCM suite covering payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers, sold by quote only. It is built for mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform and teams that want a large pool of Okta/SSO-ready integrations. Paylocity was founded in 1997 and is based in Schaumburg, Illinois, US.
Category: HR Software (HRIS), Payroll Software
Paylocity key features
| Feature | What we found |
|---|---|
| Core HR and employee records | Core HR (G2 files Paylocity under Core HR) |
| Payroll integration or built-in payroll | Built-in payroll. |
| Time off and attendance | Time and labor module. |
| Benefits administration | Benefits administration module. |
| Integrations | Okta integration: SAML, OIDC, SCIM provisioning. |
| Time tracking and PTO | Time and labor module. |
Paylocity pricing
Paylocity does not publish prices, and it offers no free plan or free trial. Third-party estimates put the suite at roughly $22 to $32 per employee per month, with one 2026 source citing $26 to $33 for the full suite. These figures are not confirmed by the vendor. Pricing is described as per employee per month plus modules, so each added module raises the bill. Third parties report implementation fees of 10 to 20 percent of annual software fees. Renewal terms are not published, so ask for them in writing.
Paylocity does not publish a price list. Pricing is quoted on request.
No public prices. Third-party estimates: roughly $22 to 32 PEPM (several sources); OutSail 2026 says $26 to 33 PEPM for the full suite; CostBench lists $20/$30/$40 tiers and a Vendr-sourced median of about $42K/yr (n=13, small sample). Implementation fees reported at 10 to 20% of annual software fees (SoftwareFinder, third party).
Who Paylocity is best for
Best for
- Mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform.
- Teams that want a large pool of Okta/SSO-ready integrations.
Not ideal for
- Small teams that need transparent per-employee pricing.
- Buyers who need responsive support, a top G2 complaint theme.
Paylocity alternatives
PaycorUS employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor.
ADP Workforce NowMid-market employers (roughly 50 to 1,000 staff) that want one vendor for payroll, HR and compliance.
PaycomMid-size US employers that want one database for payroll, HR, time and talent.
RipplingCompanies already running payroll and HR on Rippling that want app access tied to employee records.
BambooHRSmall and mid-size US companies that want HRIS first and light recruiting in the same system.
ADP RunSmall businesses wanting a large provider with tax filing and add-on HR/benefits.
What Paylocity really costs
- Billing
- Quote.
- Renewal terms
- Not published.
Add-ons and extras to budget for
- Implementation fee, reported 10 to 20% of annual fees (third party)
Questions to ask about price
- What is the price per user or per unit, and what is the pricing basis (seats, employees, usage)?
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- What is the discount for annual billing, and can we start monthly?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is Paylocity worth the price?
Paylocity is good value for mid-size US employers that would otherwise buy payroll, time, benefits and HR separately and want one vendor. It gets expensive or awkward for small teams that need transparent per-employee pricing, and for buyers who expect fast support, since G2 reviewers flag support as a top complaint. Budget year one separately because of implementation fees.
Worth it if
- Mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform.
- Teams that want a large pool of Okta/SSO-ready integrations.
Look elsewhere if
- Small teams that need transparent per-employee pricing.
- Buyers who need responsive support, a top G2 complaint theme.
Pricing details most reviews leave out
- Fiscal 2026 (year to 2026-06-30): revenue $1.771B, about 44,400 clients, per the company's results release.
- Okta's Paylocity listing (updated 2026-07-02) shows SAML, OIDC and SCIM with group push and deactivation.
- Implementation fees reported at 10 to 20% of annual software fees (third party), so budget year one separately.
- Fiscal 2027 guidance implies about 7% growth, so expect continued upsell of modules.
- No public price list; CostBench Vendr median of about $42K/yr rests on only 13 deals.
Our verdict on Paylocity
Paylocity is a cloud HCM suite for mid-size US employers that covers payroll, HR, time and labor, and benefits in one platform. It is sold by quote only, so the first cost question has no public answer. Paylocity is independent and publicly traded, and its fiscal 2026 results show about 44,400 clients and $1.771B in revenue. Fiscal 2027 guidance implies about 7% growth.
Reviewers on G2 give it 4.4 out of 5 across 6,080 reviews and praise ease of use and modules that work together. The cost story is less tidy. Without a price list, you rely on third-party estimates and on whatever the sales team quotes, and implementation fees can add a separate first-year bill.
Paylocity FAQ
What is Paylocity used for?
Paylocity is a cloud HCM suite covering payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers. It is sold by quote only, and its Okta integration supports SAML, OIDC and SCIM provisioning. It suits mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform.
How much does Paylocity cost?
Paylocity does not publish prices. Third-party estimates range from roughly $22 to $33 per employee per month, depending on the source and the modules included. Treat those as rough guides and get a written quote.
Does Paylocity have a free plan or trial?
No. Paylocity has no free plan and no free trial, and starting pricing is listed as contact sales.
Are there implementation fees with Paylocity?
Third parties report implementation fees of 10 to 20 percent of annual software fees. The vendor does not state this figure, so confirm it before signing.
About Paylocity
- Founded
- 1997.
- Headquarters
- Schaumburg, Illinois, US.
- Employees
- About 6,700 (Yahoo Finance)
- Funding or owner
- Public (Nasdaq: PCTY)
Listed in: HR Software (HRIS), Payroll Software
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Paylocity's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.