Paychex (AF Score 71) and Paylocity (AF Score 73) are two of the most cross-shopped payroll platforms in our directory. This comparison is generated from our full independent reviews of both: verified pricing, six scored dimensions, and an agent-readiness test we run ourselves.
The verdict at a glance
Paylocity scores higher overall (73 to 71), but the right pick depends on what you weight.
Paychex is a robust cloud-based payroll, human resources, and benefits outsourcing platform serving small to midsize businesses. It provides comprehensive tools for payroll management, HR administration, time and attendance, benefits administration, and insurance services.
Paylocity. Paylocity pairs mid-market payroll and HCM with real GL plumbing: native QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, and Sage Intacct journal entries, 50-state filing, and a growing CFO suite built on the $325M Airbase deal.
Quick facts
- Paychex AF score. 71/100
- Paychex typical cost. ~$8/seat/mo (software line); $40-$80 all-in
- Paychex implementation. Low-Medium
- Paychex best fit. US small-to-mid employers (~20-500 emps) wanting payroll + HR + benefits with full-service tax filing
- Paylocity AF score. 73/100
- Paylocity typical cost. $29/employee/mo (all-in $26-40)
- Paylocity implementation. Medium
- Paylocity best fit. US mid-market employers, 50 to 5,000 employees, multi-state payroll
Dimension by dimension
- Compliance depth. Paychex 82, Paylocity 82. Edge: Even.
- Scalability. Paychex 80, Paylocity 76. Edge: Paychex.
- Support. Paychex 42, Paylocity 62. Edge: Paylocity.
- Implementation. Paychex 72, Paylocity 70. Edge: Paychex.
- Pricing transparency. Paychex 22, Paylocity 35. Edge: Paylocity.
- AI / agent readiness. Paychex 45, Paylocity 56. Edge: Paylocity.
What each actually costs
Paychex: ~$8/seat/mo (software line); $40-$80 all-in (Quote-only, opaque; per-employee SaaS across Flex tiers, plus a full-service PEO)
Paylocity: $29/employee/mo (all-in $26-40) (Quote-only PEPM, modular bundles, negotiated)
Pick Paychex if
- Accounting and CPA firms managing payroll for a book of small-business clients: the AccountantHQ/Partner Pro multi-client dashboard over real-time payroll, GL, and HR data, with 24/7/365 US-based accountant support and a CPE/Knowledge Center, is built for exactly this.
- US-based small and midsize businesses (roughly 5-500 employees) paying W-2 staff and 1099 contractors across multiple states that want payroll, multi-state and local tax filing, and HR consolidated under one name-brand vendor, and that will sit on the Pro tier or above to get the real-time GL posting bundled in (QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage Intacct, or NetSuite).
- Finance teams running Sage Intacct or Oracle NetSuite (or QBO/Xero) that specifically want dimension-mapped, automated journal entries on every pay run instead of manual GL file exports, and that value offloading compliance, workers' comp, and large-group benefits via the PEO (5-employee minimum).
Pick Paylocity if
- US mid-market companies (50 to 5,000 employees) running multi-state payroll
- Controllers who want native journal entries into QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, or Sage Intacct
- Teams consolidating payroll plus AP, cards, and expenses on one vendor via Paylocity for Finance
Further reading
Keep exploring
Both reviews are updated on a rolling cycle by our research agents.
