ZayZoon vs Paylocity: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between ZayZoon 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 wins this matchup. Our overall Payroll pick is Rippling. Our free Payroll pick is efile4Biz. Pick ZayZoon if you need payroll.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
ZayZoon
Empower your deskless workforce with on-demand pay, perks, and financial wellness tools.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Paylocity requires payment)
- • You want attracts more applicants (up to 2x) and reduces employee turnover (up to 29%)
- • You want zero cost for employers, eliminating payroll advances and associated administrative burden
Paylocity
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
Best for you if:
- • You want good payroll platform
- • You want hR features
| At a Glance | ZayZoon | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | $5/moBase HR |
Best For | Payroll | HRIS |
Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose ZayZoon or Paylocity?
Choose ZayZoon if
Empower your deskless workforce with on-demand pay, perks, and financial wellness tools.
- You want a fully free tool (Paylocity requires payment)
- You want attracts more applicants (up to 2x) and reduces employee turnover (up to 29%)
- You want zero cost for employers, eliminating payroll advances and associated administrative burden
- Your work is payroll-shaped, not hris-shaped
Choose Paylocity if
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
- You want good payroll platform
- You want hR features
- Your work is hris-shaped, not payroll-shaped
| Feature | ZayZoon | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 232 reviews | ★4.4/5 8,205 reviews |
| Categories | PayrollHR & Recruiting | HRISPayroll |
In-Depth Analysis
ZayZoon
Empower your deskless workforce with on-demand pay, perks, and financial wellness tools.
ZayZoon's pricing is extremely generous, offering their core Earned Wage Access, perks, and financial wellness tools at zero cost to employers.
Watch out
No clear mention of minimum employee count
Strengths
- +Attracts more applicants (up to 2x) and reduces employee turnover (up to 29%)
- +Zero cost for employers, eliminating payroll advances and associated administrative burden
- +Improves employee financial health and reduces stress, leading to increased engagement and productivity
- +Easy and fast activation with extensive payroll provider integrations
- +Offers a secure platform with robust data protection
Weaknesses
- -Primarily targets deskless workforces, which might not be suitable for all business types
- -Specific benefits like '8 hours per month reduction in absenteeism' are based on internal data
Key features
Paylocity
Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams.
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
Implementation fees (10-20% of annual)
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
Pricing: ZayZoon vs Paylocity
| Plan | ZayZoon | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Zero cost Earned Wage Access | $5 Base HR |
| Tier 2 | N/A | 22-32 Full Suite |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on ZayZoon pricing and Paylocity pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
ZayZoon is free. Paylocity is paid.
Go with: ZayZoon
Want the highest-rated option?
ZayZoon: 4.7/5 (232 reviews). Paylocity: 4.4/5 (8,205 reviews).
Go with: ZayZoon
Value user reviews?
ZayZoon: 232 reviews (4.7/5). Paylocity: 8,205 reviews (4.4/5).
Go with: Paylocity
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
ZayZoon is free. Paylocity is paid. Go with ZayZoon if free matters most.
What's your use case?
ZayZoon is a payroll tool. Paylocity is in hris. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
ZayZoon is rated higher: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5.
Key Takeaways
Paylocity
- Larger review base (8,205 reviews)
- Our pick for this comparison
ZayZoon
- Completely free
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5
- Better fit for payroll
The Bottom Line
Paylocity wins this matchup. Our overall Payroll pick is Rippling. Our free Payroll pick is efile4Biz. That said, ZayZoon is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ZayZoon or Paylocity better?
Paylocity is rated in our evaluation. ZayZoon is free and Paylocity is paid.
What are ZayZoon and Paylocity used for?
ZayZoon: Empower your deskless workforce with on-demand pay, perks, and financial wellness tools.. Paylocity: Unify HR, Finance, & IT for simplified operations and empowered teams..
What does ZayZoon cost vs Paylocity?
ZayZoon is completely free. Paylocity is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.