Paylocity review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Cloud HCM suite covering payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers, sold by quote only.
Our take for buyers
Paylocity is a payroll and HR suite aimed at mid-size US employers, with time and labor, benefits administration and core HR modules. It is independent and publicly traded, with about 44,400 clients in fiscal 2026. Shortlist it if you want one platform for payroll and HR and a large pool of Okta-ready integrations. Okta lists it as an integration, which helps if you already run Okta.
G2 reviewers rate it 4.4 out of 5 across 6,080 reviews. They like the ease of use and how the modules fit together. The recurring complaint is support: 245 G2 reviews describe it as slow or inconsistent. Reviewers also mention unintuitive navigation and limited customization. Ask who handles escalations once you are live.
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.
- Best for
- Mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform.
- Starting price
- Contact sales
- G2 rating
- 4.4 (6,080 reviews)
What is Paylocity?
Cloud HCM suite covering payroll, HR, time, benefits and talent for mid-size US employers, sold by quote only. Mid-size US employers wanting payroll, HR, time and benefits in one cloud suite fit here, and Okta integration covers SAML, OIDC and SCIM. Pricing is quote-only. Ask references about support responsiveness, which is the most common G2 complaint, before signing. Paylocity was founded in 1997 and is based in Schaumburg, Illinois, US.
Category: HR Software (HRIS), Payroll Software
Paylocity key features
| Criterion | 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. |
| Pricing model and transparency | Quote only; per employee per month plus modules. |
| Target company size | Mid-size (about 44,400 clients FY2026) |
| Time tracking and PTO | Time and labor module. |
Paylocity plans and pricing
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 should shortlist Paylocity
A strong fit 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.
A weak fit 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.
Security, admin and compliance
Paylocity does not publish SSO details on its own, but Okta's listing shows SAML, OIDC and SCIM provisioning with group push and deactivation. The plan required for SSO and SCIM is not published. Audit logs, data residency and a DPA are also not published. Renewal terms and contract length are not published either, so request the contract, DPA and security documents before signing.
- SAML SSO
- Okta lists SAML SSO; plan requirement not published.
- SCIM provisioning
- Okta lists SCIM provisioning; plan not published.
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Not published.
- Implementation
- Not vendor-stated; third parties report implementation fee.
- Support
- G2 reviewers rate support as a main weakness.
- Starting price
- Contact sales.
- Pricing model
- Custom.
- Free plan or trial
- No.
What to test in a Paylocity demo or trial
In a demo, put support and navigation to the test first, since those are the main G2 complaints. Ask for a named support contact and response commitments, then have an administrator run a routine payroll change and a time-off workflow without help. Check how the time and labor and benefits modules hand data to payroll. Ask which modules are included in your quote and which are add-ons, because pricing is per employee plus modules.
Questions to ask Paylocity before you sign
These are the points Paylocity'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
- 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.
Paylocity FAQ
What is Paylocity used for?
Mid-size US employers wanting payroll, HR, time and benefits in one cloud suite fit here, and Okta integration covers SAML, OIDC and SCIM. Pricing is quote-only. Ask references about support responsiveness, which is the most common G2 complaint, before signing. It suits mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform.
Does Paylocity support SAML SSO and SCIM?
Okta lists Paylocity with SAML, OIDC and SCIM provisioning, including group push and deactivation. The plan that includes these is not published, so confirm it in the quote.
Who is Paylocity best for?
It suits mid-size US employers that want payroll, HR, time and benefits in one platform. It is a weaker fit for small teams that need transparent pricing.
What is the main weakness buyers report?
Support. 245 G2 reviews flag slow or inconsistent support, so test it during the trial and ask for support commitments in the contract.
Vendor profile
- Founded
- 1997.
- Headquarters
- Schaumburg, Illinois, US.
- Employees
- About 6,700 (Yahoo Finance)
- Funding or owner
- Public (Nasdaq: PCTY)
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.