Employee Navigator vs Paylocity: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Employee Navigator and Paylocity comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Paylocity is our overall pick for hris workflows. Pick Employee Navigator if you need its specific feature set.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Employee Navigator
Benefits, HR, and compliance for brokers and employers
Best for you if:
- • Employee Navigator is a single platform for benefits administration, HR management, and compliance, used by brokers and employers.
- • It integrates with numerous partners including carriers, TPAs, and payroll systems to streamline operations.
Paylocity
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
Best for you if:
- • Unifies HR, Finance, and IT functions on a single platform.
- • Automates tasks, provides real-time data, and improves decision-making.
| At a Glance |  Employee Navigator |  Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Custom | $5/moBase HR |
Best For | HRIS | HRIS |
Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose Employee Navigator or Paylocity?
Choose Employee Navigator if
Benefits, HR, and compliance for brokers and employers
- Comprehensive all-in-one platform for benefits, HR, and compliance, reducing the need for multiple tools.
- Extensive integration ecosystem with numerous partners, enabling seamless data flow.
- Designed specifically for insurance brokers, with features like agency management integrations and broker analytics.
Choose Paylocity if
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
- Good payroll platform
- HR features
- Good UI
| Feature | Employee Navigator | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.6/5 345 reviews | ★4.5/5 5,172 reviews |
| Categories | HRISEmployee Onboarding | HRISPayroll |
In-Depth Analysis
Employee Navigator
Benefits, HR, and compliance for brokers and employers
Strengths
- +Comprehensive all-in-one platform for benefits, HR, and compliance, reducing the need for multiple tools.
- +Extensive integration ecosystem with numerous partners, enabling seamless data flow.
- +Designed specifically for insurance brokers, with features like agency management integrations and broker analytics.
Weaknesses
- -Primarily targeted at brokers, not directly for employers without a broker relationship.
- -Pricing can add up for larger client bases.
Key features
Value 55/100. Employee Navigator's pricing is opaque (all tiers require contacting sales) and likely expensive for small brokers, as the feature progression from Enhanced to Platinum suggests significant cost escalation for essentials like 834 EDI and priority support.
Watch out: 834 EDI files cost extra until Platinum tier
Paylocity
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
Strengths
- +Good payroll platform
- +HR features
- +Good UI
- +Fair pricing
- +Good support
Weaknesses
- -Per-employee pricing
- -Learning curve
- -Implementation time
- -Feature gaps
- -Contract commitment
Key features
Value 60/100. Paylocity's pricing, particularly for the "Full Suite" at $22-32/user/month plus significant implementation fees, appears expensive compared to many market alternatives.
Watch out: Mandatory Base HR tier for payroll
Pricing: Employee Navigator vs Paylocity
| Plan | Employee Navigator | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Contact Sales Enhanced | $5 Base HR |
| Tier 2 | Contact Sales Enhanced Plus | 22-32 Full Suite |
| Tier 3 | Contact Sales Elite | N/A |
| Tier 4 | Contact Sales Platinum | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Employee Navigator pricing and Paylocity pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are paid. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Paylocity
Want the highest-rated option?
Employee Navigator: 4.6/5 (345 reviews). Paylocity: 4.5/5 (5,172 reviews).
Go with: Employee Navigator
Value user reviews?
Employee Navigator: 345 reviews (4.6/5). Paylocity: 5,172 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Paylocity
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are paid. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are hris tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Employee Navigator is rated higher: 4.6/5 vs 4.5/5.
Key Takeaways
Paylocity
- Larger review base (5,172 reviews)
- Our pick for this comparison
Employee Navigator
- Higher user rating: 4.6/5 vs 4.5/5
The Bottom Line
Paylocity is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Employee Navigator or Paylocity better?
Paylocity is rated in our evaluation. Both are paid.
What are Employee Navigator and Paylocity used for?
Employee Navigator: Benefits, HR, and compliance for brokers and employers. Paylocity: Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams..
What does Employee Navigator cost vs Paylocity?
Employee Navigator is a paid tool. Paylocity is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.