Top Paylocity Competitors & Alternatives for 2024

Whether you’re already a Paylocity user and looking for an upgrade or are just getting started in your HR software search, we’ve put together a list of Paylocity competitors to help you through the selection process:

Take a look at our HR Software Guide to learn about other top HR and payroll software solutions.

What are the top Paylocity competitor?

	Key differentiator	Starting price	Free trial?
RUN Powered by ADP	Best for small businesses	Contact vendor	Yes	Try RUN
Rippling	Best for global workforce management	$8/user/mo.	Demo only	Try Rippling
BambooHR	Best for customer support and satisfaction	Contact vendor	Yes	Try BambooHR
Workday HCM	Best for analytics and reporting	Contact vendor	Demo only	Try Workday
Paycom	Best for employee self-service	Contact vendor	Demo only	Try Paycom

RUN Powered by ADP: Best for small businesses

RUN Powered by ADP is a purpose-built HR and payroll solution for small businesses. It includes features for payroll, tax and compliance management, job posting, garnishments, employee handbook creation, employee training, and more.

In user reviews, customers have praised the solution’s overall ease of use, especially for automated tax filing and compliance support across all 50 U.S. states.

Learn more about RUN Powered by ADP ?

Rippling: Best for global workforce management

Rippling is a leading HRIS solution for businesses with globally distributed workforces. While many of its features are designed for midmarket and enterprise businesses that have larger global and remote teams, the platform also has features that work well for smaller businesses: PEO services, for example.

Customers have the option to sign up for any combination of Rippling’s modules they need, but all users must pay for access to Rippling’s base platform, Rippling Unity.

Learn more about Rippling ?

BambooHR: Best for customer support and satisfaction

BambooHR is an all-in-one HR suite with features that suit both small businesses and enterprises. The platform features tools for employee experience and performance management; payroll, time, and benefits management; hiring and onboarding; and data management and reporting.

Beyond these core features, users can also take advantage of the BambooHR Integration Marketplace, which connects the software to third-party communication and recruitment tools like Slack, Indeed, Checkr, and Greenhouse.

Learn more about BambooHR ?

Workday HCM: Best for analytics and reporting

Workday HCM is a suite of human capital management solutions that is ideal for enterprises looking for comprehensive people management solutions. The platform includes some traditional HR software modules for human resource management and employee experience, but it goes beyond most SMB HR solutions to include case management, workforce planning, and ML-powered analytics.

Machine learning and intelligent automation are built into all corners of this solution, helping HR admins align talent with specific roles, augment analytics with contextual explanations, streamline payroll runs, and create smarter schedules for frontline employees.

Learn more about Workday HCM ?

Paycom: Best for employee self-service

Paycom is an online payroll and HR software solution that shares many feature similarities with Paylocity. However, it really sets itself apart from other solutions in this market with employee-first features that cover everything from payroll cards to an intuitive, mobile-friendly employee self-service portal.

Paycom works for businesses of all sizes and industrial backgrounds, but it has a particularly large presence among healthcare, finance, manufacturing, professional services, retail, and hospitality organizations.

Learn more about Paycom ?

What are the limitations of Paylocity?

Paylocity provides effective HR and payroll modules for businesses of all sizes, but its overall structure and approach to initial setup and training are not the best fit for everyone. If you’re trying to choose between Paylocity and other top HR management systems, keep these Paylocity limitations in mind during the selection process:

The implementation process is complex, especially for companies with many remote workers.
Setup isn’t cheap; users are required to pay a setup fee in addition to subscription access.
Hands-on training and technical support are limited for payroll/HR admins learning the software.
Though extensive integrations are available, many users have had difficulties setting up the integrations they need.
Somewhat limited global payroll capabilities are offered natively, though features are now available for over 100 countries.
The modular design sometimes requires double data entry across loosely connected modules.
The applicant tracking system functionality and customization opportunities are limited.
The employee self-service portal is somewhat complicated to use, and training materials are limited.

Choosing the right Paylocity alternative for your business

Paylocity is a well-rounded and highly-rated HR and payroll solution, but there are a number of alternatives that may be a better fit for your organization, depending on your specific requirements.

RUN Powered by ADP is a great choice if you’re operating in a small business and need easy-to-use, highly automated software
Rippling is your best bet if your organization is juggling compliance, payroll, and benefits for a global workforce.
BambooHR is a top selection if your team is less experienced with this type of software and wants reliable customer support throughout implementation and continued use.
Workday HCM is a good fit if you’re working in a larger business or enterprise and want detailed, customizable reporting tools.
Paycom is a top contender if you’re most interested in giving employees easy, hands-on access to their payroll and HR information.

If you’re still trying to decide if Paylocity or a different HR solution is the best fit for your business, check out our HR Software Guide for additional guidance.