Paylocity vs Workday: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Paylocity and Workday side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Paylocity leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Paylocity
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
Best for you if:
- • You want good payroll platform
Workday
Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises
Best for you if:
- • You want enterprise HR leader
| At a Glance | Paylocity | Workday |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan |
Category | HR & Recruiting Payroll | HR & Recruiting Accounting |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.3 8,205 reviews | 2.7/5 G2 4.1 · Trustpilot 1.0 2,205 reviews |
Free plan | n/a | Yes |
Watch out for | Implementation fees (10-20% of annual) | Potential for module-specific add-ons |
Choose Paylocity or Workday?
Choose Paylocity if
- You want good payroll platform
- You want HR features
Choose Workday if
- You want enterprise HR leader
- You want comprehensive features
In-Depth Analysis
Paylocity
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
This pricing structure is best suited for medium to large enterprises seeking a comprehensive, integrated HR and payroll solution.
Watch out
Implementation fees (10-20% of annual)
Strengths
- Pro: Good payroll platform
- Pro: HR features
- Pro: Good UI
- Pro: Fair pricing
- Pro: Good support
Weaknesses
- Con: Per-employee pricing
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Implementation time
- Con: Feature gaps
- Con: Contract commitment
Key features
Workday
Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises
Workday's pricing is custom and enterprise-focused, making it inherently expensive for smaller organizations.
Watch out
Potential for module-specific add-ons
Strengths
- Pro: Enterprise HR leader
- Pro: Comprehensive features
- Pro: Good analytics
- Pro: Financial integration
- Pro: Industry standard
Weaknesses
- Con: Very expensive
- Con: Complex implementation
- Con: Steep learning curve
- Con: Overkill for SMBs
- Con: Long sales cycle
Key features
Plans and prices: Paylocity vs Workday
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paylocity |
| paylocity.com/pricing read Oct 15, 2026 |
| Workday |
| workday.com read Oct 6, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Paylocity pricing and Workday pricing.
Key Takeaways
Paylocity
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 2.7/5
Workday
- Choose if you want comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises
What the data shows
On the data below, Paylocity leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Paylocity has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 8,205 reviews for Paylocity, 2.7/5 from 2,205 reviews for Workday).
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Paylocity and Workday compare in 2026?
On the data below, Paylocity leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Paylocity has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 8,205 reviews for Paylocity, 2.7/5 from 2,205 reviews for Workday).
What are Paylocity and Workday used for?
Paylocity: Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams. Workday: Comprehensive cloud HR and finance management for large enterprises.
What does Paylocity cost vs Workday?
Paylocity has no public paid-plan price on file. Workday has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 15, 2026.
What's the main difference between Paylocity and Workday?
Paylocity's main strength: good payroll platform. Workday's main strength: enterprise HR leader.