Paycor review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
HCM suite with payroll, HR, time and talent modules aimed at small and mid-size US employers, now owned by Paychex.
Our take for buyers
Paycor was acquired by Paychex on April 14, 2025, and is still marketed as Paycor, now described as a Paychex company. It is an HCM suite with payroll, HR, time and talent modules for small and mid-size US employers. G2 shows a 3.9 rating from 1,363 reviews, with support rated 7.5 out of 10. Pricing is by quote, so confirm the scope of each module you need.
Reviewers like easy navigation and broad module coverage in one suite, but cite missing features, access limitations and payroll issues. It fits employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want one vendor. Because the owner changed in 2025, teams that need guaranteed vendor independence should weigh that carefully. Test each concern in a trial.
Pros
- Easy navigation and good value for the price per G2 summaries.
- Broad module coverage in one suite.
Cons
- Missing features and access limitations.
- Payroll issues and difficult navigation; support rated 7.5/10 on G2.
- Best for
- US employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor.
- Starting price
- Contact sales
- G2 rating
- 3.9 (1,363 reviews)
What is Paycor?
HCM suite with payroll, HR, time and talent modules aimed at small and mid-size US employers, now owned by Paychex. US employers with 10 to 1,000 staff that prefer payroll and HR from one vendor can negotiate a quote, since no list price exists. Paychex acquired it in 2025, so ask about product roadmap. G2 reviewers like the module breadth and flag access limits and navigation.
Category: HR Software (HRIS), Payroll Software
Paycor key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Core HR and employee records | Employee database, org charts and documents in Paycor HCM (vendor product pages not individually verified) |
| Payroll integration or built-in payroll | Built-in payroll with tax filing in the same suite. |
| Time off and attendance | Time and attendance module sold in tiers (details not confirmed by the vendor) |
| Integrations | Okta lists a Paycor integration with SSO. |
| Pricing model and transparency | Quote only; per employee per month plus base fee reported by third parties; promo of about 50% off first 6 months reported. |
| Target company size | Small to mid-size, plus upmarket push after Paychex deal. |
| Tax filing and compliance | Included in payroll product (not confirmed by the vendor in detail) |
| Time tracking and PTO | Time and attendance module. |
Paycor plans and pricing
Paycor does not publish a price list; pricing is quoted on request.
Paycor no longer shows prices on its pricing page; it points to a consultation and a 'half off for the first 6 months' promo banner (paycor.com/pricing, checked 2026-10-24). Third-party estimates conflict: CostBench lists $6 to $16 PEPM by tier; Pin (2026) says mid-market deals run about $19 to 27 PEPM and that the public pricing page was pulled in 2025. Treat all as rough.
Who should shortlist Paycor
A strong fit for
- US employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor.
- Teams that value a broad module list and will negotiate a quote.
A weak fit for
- Buyers who need public list prices to compare before talking to sales.
- Teams that need guaranteed vendor independence, since the owner changed in 2025.
Paycor alternatives
PaylocityMid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform.
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.
GustoSmall US businesses of 1 to a few dozen people wanting simple setup.
ADP RunSmall businesses wanting a large provider with tax filing and add-on HR/benefits.
Security, admin and compliance
Paycor lists SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR, with SOC reports available on request. Okta lists SAML SSO and SCIM for Paycor, but an Okta community answer from early 2025 said SAML was not yet available, and the required plan is not published, so confirm for your tenant. Audit logs, data residency and a DPA are not published. Contract terms are not published either. Ask how the Paychex acquisition affects your contract, support and roadmap.
- SAML SSO
- Okta lists SAML SSO and SCIM for Paycor; plan requirement not published.
- SCIM provisioning
- Listed by Okta; plan not published.
- Certifications
- SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Not published; promo is a 6-month discount.
- Support
- Phone sales line shown on pricing page: 513-338-0399.
- Starting price
- Contact sales.
- Pricing model
- Custom.
- Free plan or trial
- No.
What to test in a Paycor demo or trial
Ask the vendor to show payroll with tax filing, time and attendance, and the talent modules on one employee record. Reviewers cite missing features and access limitations, so write down your must-have reports and permissions and test each one. Payroll issues are a reported complaint, so run a parallel payroll with real data and compare. Support is rated 7.5 out of 10 on G2, so test response time during the trial. Ask which modules are sold in tiers, since time and attendance is, and what is priced separately.
Questions to ask Paycor before you sign
These are the points Paycor's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- Which plan includes audit logs, and how long are they kept?
- Where is our data stored, and can we choose the region?
- Can we sign your standard DPA without changes?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- Paychex completed the Paycor acquisition on 2025-04-14 (all cash, $22.50 per share, about $4.1B enterprise value); expect roadmap and contract changes.
- Public pricing page was removed in 2025 per Pin; every deal is now quoted.
- New customers are reported to get about 50% off the first 6 months, so year-two cost is the number to negotiate.
- SOC reports are available on request per Paycor's trusted-frameworks page.
- Okta's directory lists SAML/SSO and SCIM for Paycor, but an Okta community answer from early 2025 said SAML was not yet available, so confirm for your tenant.
Paycor FAQ
What is Paycor used for?
US employers with 10 to 1,000 staff that prefer payroll and HR from one vendor can negotiate a quote, since no list price exists. Paychex acquired it in 2025, so ask about product roadmap. G2 reviewers like the module breadth and flag access limits and navigation. It suits US employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor.
Does Paycor support SSO and SCIM?
Okta's directory lists SAML SSO and SCIM for Paycor, but an early 2025 Okta community answer said SAML was not yet available. Confirm both for your tenant and ask which plan includes them.
Who is Paycor best for?
US employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor and will negotiate a quote. It is weaker for buyers needing list prices or guaranteed vendor independence.
Which security reports does Paycor offer?
It lists SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR, with SOC reports available on request per its trusted-frameworks page.
Vendor profile
- Funding or owner
- Acquired by Paychex (April 2025)
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Paycor's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.