8 Best Paycom Competitors for 2024

Pros

• User-friendly software with a lot of functionality
• Waives setup fees for new customers
• Users say its time tracking is one of the best and easiest to use
• Unlimited and automatic pay runs

Cons

• Benefits administration, time tracking, and learning management are paid add-ons
• Few third-party integrations
• Pricing is no longer transparent
• No PEO option

Paycor no longer posts pricing on its website—you must now contact sales for a consultation and custom pricing. However, setup fees are currently waived on all plans (note that this special promotion could change at any time).

Small business plans (those with up to 49 employees): Custom-priced

• Basic: Includes payroll, tax services, custom reports, paycheck stuffing, on-demand pay, and compliance tools
• Essential: Basic + onboarding, PTO tracking, job costing, general ledger reporting, wage garnishments, HR support, and a report builder
• Core: Essential + expense management, HR administration tools, and access to an online HR support center with 1:1 guidance from HR pros,
• Complete: Core + analytics, career planning, work goals tracking, performance reviews, and compensation planning
• Mid-market plans (businesses with 50 and more employees): Custom-priced

• Payroll and expense management: Paycor provides pay-on-demand and an expense management feature that makes it easy to reimburse employees quickly. It pays your employees through direct deposits, pay cards, and paper checks. Paycor even offers check-stuffing services like ADP and Paychex. It can handle workers’ compensation, benefits and garnishment deductions, W-2 and 1099 reporting, and payroll tax processing. Like Gusto, it does filing and allows unlimited pay runs.
• HR tools: You need higher plans for the best tools, but Paycor has a lot to offer including hiring, onboarding, talent management, and employee satisfaction tools. The learning management module lets you handle classroom learning, online classes, and self-paced learning from desktop or mobile.
• Analytics and reporting: Paycor offers a deep set of analytics tools that are easily accessible from the dashboard. You can see graphs to gauge payroll expenses or do deep dives into employee satisfaction, turnover, pay equity, and more. It offers a predictive resignation feature to let you predict turnover. We did not find this in other software.
• Excellent mobile app: Paycor’s mobile app works for both employees and managers, letting employees view and change data, see tasks and notifications, and request leaves. Managers have approval power and applicant tracking tools. It comes in English and Spanish, something we’ve not seen in other mobile apps. It has a 4.7 out of 5 stars for iOS. Meanwhile, it has 3.3 out of 5 stars for Android.
• Integrated HR solution: Paycor takes a manager-first approach to the backend, with lots of analytics and reports readily available and quick clicks to compliance information. The HR support modules offer expert advice, documents, and an employee handbook wiki.

Paycor earned an average score of 4.15 out of 5 on the top third-party review sites, G2 and Capterra. Users raved about the broad spectrum of features available and how easy the software was to navigate. The biggest complaint was due to inefficient customer service.

Pros

• Unlimited pay runs
• Affordable contractor-only plan
• Gusto Wallet helps employees with financial health and get salary advances
• Includes basic job posting and applicant tracking tools

Cons

• Health benefits available only in 38 states + Washington, D.C.
• Lacks learning management tools
• Limited international employee payroll services (Employer of Record [EoR] services only two countries; over 75 countries through a partnership with Remote)

Gusto’s plans are fairly straightforward, with a per-employee fee on top of a base monthly fee. Its plans include:

• Simple: $40 per month + $6 per employee monthly
  • Includes full-service payroll, tax filings, payroll tax filings, single state pay processing, two- and four-day direct deposits, employee benefits, new hire reporting, offer letter templates, onboarding, and basic support
• Plus: $80 per month + $12 per employee monthly
  • Simple + next-day direct deposits, time and paid time off (PTO) tracking, applicant tracking, basic job postings, project tracking, multistate payroll, and full support with extended support hours
• Premium: Custom-priced
  • Plus + performance reviews, surveys, full-service payroll migration, access to HR experts, direct line to priority phone and email support, and a dedicated account manager
• Contractor-only plan: $35* per month + $6 per contractor monthly
  • Full-service payroll, four-day direct deposits, and state new hire reporting

Add-ons

• State payroll tax registration: Pricing varies per state
• HR advisory services for Plus plan only: $8 per employee monthly (this is included for free in the Premium tier)

* Base fee for contractor-only plan currently waived for six months for new clients.

NOTE: Get one month free when you run your first payroll. Offer will be applied to your Gusto invoice(s) while all applicable terms and conditions are met or fulfilled.

• Easy-to-use payroll: Gusto is our pick for simple payroll because it offers full-service payroll with tax filing services and automatic and unlimited pay runs. Gusto also handles garnishment deductions and sends child support payments for all states except South Carolina. It includes year-end tax reporting, something most of the others on our list charge extra for.
• Gusto Wallet: Gusto stands out for employee financial benefits because of Gusto Wallet. This free app lets your employees choose where to send their paycheck—even splitting it among accounts—set up and track savings goals, get paid faster, create a budget, and more. Gusto recently added time clock features to the app. Wallet earned 4.4 out of 5 stars on Android and 4.8 out of 5 stars on iOS.
• HR tools: Gusto starts with only hiring/onboarding in its cheapest plan and progresses to fuller support in the Premium plan. Most providers on our list add items in modules. The applicant tracking systems are good, and Gusto posts your job on free boards including LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and Google Jobs. At its highest plan, it has a resource center, compliance alerts, and access to HR experts with expertise in local laws. Nonetheless, if you need learning management or more robust performance management (such as 360-degree feedback), we recommend Rippling or Paychex instead.

Gusto earned an average of 4.55 out of 5 stars on various user review sites, which is the highest approval rating after Rippling. People gave high praise to the intuitive interface, while those that left negative reviews said they wanted more functionality.

Pros

• Intuitive platform
• Integrates with over 80 applications
• Customizable workflows and reports
• Strong mobile app for HR managers

Cons

• Lacks learning management tools
• Payroll is an add-on
• No dedicated representatives

BambooHR requires you to call for a quote, which is similar to most of the HR payroll services that compete in this guide with Paycom. Based on a quote we received, pricing is as follows:

• Core: Custom-priced
  • Includes employee management, hiring and onboarding, benefits tracking, workflow automation, and email support
• Pro: $8.25 per employee monthly for a business with 15 workers
  • Core + performance management and employee engagement tools

Add-ons

• Payroll: $75 + $4.05 per employee monthly
• Time tracking: $3 per employee monthly
• Benefits administration: Custom-priced

• Employee data and analytics: BambooHR’s Essentials Plan concentrates on employee records, data, and workflows. You can store company documents and individually signed forms, track benefits, and view general reports by company or department. You can also set up workflows for different tasks. It’s similar to Rippling’s Unity module in that it provides a single database to which you can add other functions or integrations.
• Customizations: With the Pro plan, you get a wider range of customizations, including hiring workflows, checklists, and permissions. It’s a good option if you are in a specialized industry that may require actions beyond the norm for onboarding or employee management.
• Payroll: Like Rippling, BambooHR treats payroll as an add-on, and it automates payroll as Paycom does. Additionally, it offers unlimited pay runs and over 100 standard payroll reports—more than most of the others on our list. One drawback is that it does not offer pay cards except through third parties.

BambooHR earned an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from real-world users, the third-highest score on our list. They said it was easy to set up and very user-friendly while keeping them organized. Users also praised its simplicity. It has an API and 80 integrations, which is not bad for its price range. Overall, it’s simpler software than most (except Gusto) and easy to use.

Pros

• Dedicated HR managers
• Payroll processing in all 50 states
• Helps with employee relations and HR problem-solving
• Provides compliance training

Cons

• Does not offer healthcare enrollment
• Pricey depending on the number of employees
• Does not have an international payroll plan

Bambee’s HR services start at $99 per month and increase based on the number of employees. All plans include HR Autopilot and HR Manager. For those needing payroll, Bambee offers its Guided Payroll as an add-on, but you will have to call for a custom quote.

• No Employees Yet: $99 per month
  • Includes access to Bambee HR, four core HR policies, two custom HR policies, two job descriptions, and chat and email support
• 1–4 Employees: $299 per month + $500 one-time setup fee
  • Also includes three job descriptions and phone support
• 5–19 Employees: $399 per month + $500 one-time setup fee
  • Also includes four custom HR policies and four job descriptions
• 20–49 Employees: $499 per month + $1,500 one-time setup fee
  • Also includes eight custom HR policies and five job descriptions
• 50–70 Employees: $1,299 per month + $2,000 one-time setup fee
  • Also includes 12 custom HR policies
• 71-plus Employees: Custom-priced

• Payroll/HR combo: Bambee brings payroll and HR under the same roof to provide everything from payroll processing in all 50 states to onboarding and automatic taxes. Plus, like BambooHR, its payroll feature is offered as an add-on.
• Wage and compliance guidance: Bambee ensures compliance with all payroll and HR issues making sure your payroll processes stay compliant with all state and federal laws.
• Dedicated rep: Unlike Gusto, which only offers dedicated support with its highest tier, Bambee is a fully managed HR solution with a dedicated representative that helps you every step of the way. Your dedicated HR rep will conduct regular audits to help you identify any HR gaps in your company. They will then help you put an action plan in place to get your internal practices up to date.
• HR Autopilot: Bambee’s HR Autopilot feature ensures all core policies are up-to-date and signed by your employees. Plus, they will help you create custom policies that fit your company’s needs.
• Training: Bambee offers compliance and mandatory training for all employees. Also, it provides a report on employee progress and completion rates.

Bambee scored a 4.05 out of 5 average on third-party software review sites, G2 and Capterra. Users praised how knowledgeable and easy it is to get ahold of the dedicated HR reps; however, others stated that their point of contact changed multiple times throughout the relationship making it difficult to build rapport. They also like how easy it is to navigate the platform on both the web and mobile versions. Users did complain that only admins can access certain data within the platform—they would prefer if they could assign managers as well.

Pros

• Great choice of payroll and HR tools to customize your plan
• Handles new hire reporting
• Has a PEO option
• 24/7 live support from customer service and HR experts; offers dedicated payroll support

Cons

• Software comes with a learning curve (due to the many features)
• Some of its payroll tax administration services cost extra
• Charges by pay runs

Paychex offers three basic plans for small to midsize companies, each providing payroll plus an increasing number of HR services.

• Paychex Flex Essentials: $39 per month + $5 per employee
  • Includes full-service payroll, tax filing services, direct deposits, new hire reporting, garnishment payments, and a financial wellness program
• Paychex Flex Select: Custom-priced
  • Essentials + check logo and signing services, learning management, and access to a dedicated payroll specialist
• Paychex Flex Pro: Custom-priced
  • Select + onboarding, background checks, state unemployment insurance

• Paychex Solo: Paychex Solo offers a plan with self-employed payroll and tax services, incorporation services, and even a 401(k) for retirement planning.
• User-friendly payroll: Like several on our list, it has automatic pay runs and customizable earning/deduction types. Paychex handles payroll tax payments and filings but charges extra for year-end tax reporting. Like ADP, you can get check-stuffing services, and it also offers a pay card program like ADP and Gusto.
• HR features: Depending on what plan you choose, you get hiring and onboarding, time and attendance, employee benefits, workers’ compensation, and learning management. It has 60 options for analysis and customizable reports, which can help with compliance reporting. Your HR consultant provides advice that’s both personalized and actionable.
• Business insurance: Paychex is the only one on our list that offers such a wide range of insurances, including worker’s compensation, liability, umbrella, cyber liability, and commercial property insurance.

Paychex earned 4.15 out of 5 stars, on average, between G2 and Capterra scores. Recent reviews for Paychex were generally positive, although employees found it easier to navigate than managers did. Users like the customization available and the robust payroll tools. Alternatively, users complained most about having multiple contacts in multiple departments instead of one dedicated representative.

Pros

• Feature-rich platform with a wide range of HR solutions
• Grows with your business
• International payroll and HR available
• Highly experienced PEO (IRS- and ESAC-certified)

Cons

• Customer service isn’t always easy to contact
• Year-end tax reporting, time tracking, and access to benefits plans costs extra
• Benefits, time tracking, and workers’ compensation are add-on products

Like so many on our list, ADP offers custom pricing based on the modules you need and the size of your company. For features similar to Paycom’s basic offerings, we suggest the Enhanced plan; however, Paycom charges extra for payroll, while ADP includes that in all its plans. These are the most recent quotes we’ve received for using ADP Run:

• Essential: $65 + $3 per employee, per month
  • Includes payroll, tax filings, onboarding, direct deposits and a Wisely debit card, new hire reporting, and employee discounts
• Enhanced: $88 + $3.60 per employee, per month
  • Essential + check signing services, SUI management, background checks, and job postings via ZipRecruiter
• Complete: $144 + $3.50 per employee, per month
  • Enhanced + HR forms and documents, an employee handbook wizard, and an HR help desk
• HR Pro: $220 + $4.50 per employee, per month
  • Complete + training programs, enhanced HR help desk support, and additional assistance in creating your employee handbook

Add-ons

• Time and attendance: Custom-priced
• Employee benefits: Custom-priced

• Local and global payroll: ADP’s full-service payroll includes not only direct deposit but also the Wisely debit card, something not all on our list offer. It also offers check signing and stuffing services. ADP handles international payroll for contractors, salary, or hourly employees.
• Strong benefits options: ADP offers health, vision, and dental benefits, as well as life insurance, retirement, FSPs, and more. It also has nonstandard benefits, like an employee discount program—something not found in many providers on our list. However, it lacks the financial wellness tools that both Paychex and Gusto offer.
• HR tools: Like most on our list, ADP can take your employee from hiring to retiring. The recruiting tools include posting to ZipRecruiter, onboarding, and background checks. Several on our list offer similar features but as an add-on, and few include background checks in the plan. Globally, its HR experts around the world keep you up to date on compliances and regulations that affect you and your people. You can analyze data globally or by specific location.
• PEO: Like Paychex and Rippling, ADP offers PEO services through ADP TotalSource. This gives you HR services, including compliance support and access to Fortune 500-level benefits, at great prices. It’s a great choice for companies that are expanding but not ready to add to their HR staff. It’s on our list of best PEOs for growing companies. To learn more about its features, read our ADP TotalSource review.
• High-ranking mobile app: ADP earned high ratings on both Android and iOS. While it does not work for multicompany access, it does let you run payroll, manage taxes, download reports, and view insurance policies and certificates.

ADP has several programs, ranging from 4.2 to 4.5 out of 5 stars in user feedback. ADP Run has an average of 4.5 out of 5 on G2 and Capterra. Users like its easy-to-navigate interface and the integrations with other software, like Gusto, ZipRecruiter, and Wave Accounting. While managers overall liked the software, they complained about the prices and how customer support seems to be taking a downturn.

Pros

• Intuitive interface highly rated by users
• Offers hardware and software onboarding
• Integrates with 500-plus third-party software
• PEO services available on demand

Cons

• Gets pricey as you add functions
• Limited employee payment options
• No live customer support for software issues unless you pay extra

Rippling is the most modular of all the Paycom competitors on our list.

• Rippling Unity: $35 + $8 per employee monthly
  • Includes access to Rippling’s core workforce management platform + full-service payroll and time tracking solutions
• HR Cloud: Custom-priced
  • Includes US and global full-service payroll, time and attendance, benefits administration, flex benefits (FSA, HSA), recruiting, learning management, headcount planning, and performance management
• IT Cloud: Custom-priced
  • Includes device, app, and computer inventory management
• Finance Cloud: Custom-priced
  • Includes corporate cards, expense management, and bill pay

• IT support: Rippling offers the greatest depth of IT support. Rippling can provide, set up, secure, and manage employee work computers. You can buy them from Rippling, supply your own, or repurpose an existing computer for a new employee. Plus, it sets up the apps and manages them for you, and also removes employee accounts when they leave the company.
• Huge number of integrations: Rippling integrates with over 500 business programs, including Slack, G Suite, and other popular business applications. Most on our list integrate with major software; Paylocity has 300 options available. However, Rippling’s App Management module makes it extremely easy to grant new employees access to the software they need—just specify what they need during onboarding, and Rippling handles the rest.
• Local and international payroll: Rippling’s payroll module includes tax filings, direct deposits, garnishments, multiple job codes, and multiple pay rates. Like Gusto, Rippling can pay international contractors, but Rippling ranks as one of our top international payroll providers. For global employee payroll, however, consider ADP.
• Flexible PEO: Rippling offers PEO services as Paychex and ADP do. However, Rippling lets you turn it on and off directly from your account and easily transition to using Rippling’s platform again. This makes it a great option if you only need PEO for a short time, like during a transition period.

Rippling consistently tops the charts for user satisfaction, often blowing away the competition. Currently, it averages 4.85 out of 5 stars over several user review sites (G2 and Capterra). People sing high praises for its features and ease of use. The few complaints concerned its learning curve and glitches in two-factor authentication—both very minor.

Pros

• “On-demand payment” payroll options
• Expense management system
• Strong compliance support
• Wide range of HR solutions and integration options

Cons

• Tax filings cost extra
• Costly implementation fee
• Expensive for small businesses

Like most on our list, you need to contact Paylocity for custom pricing based on your needs. Our latest quote was for a business with 25 employees. For $200 plus $9 per employee, per month, we received payroll and tax filing, benefits administration, some hiring tools, time and PTO management, performance reviews, an LMS, and reporting. Setup costs an additional $700, and Paylocity charges $7 per W-2 filed at the end of the year. Overall, it’s one of the pricier Paycom competitors (based on our quote)—but it offers a lot.

Paylocity’s packages include:

• Payroll Software
• Human Resources Software
• Workforce Management Software
• Talent Management Software
• Benefits Management Software
• Employee Experience Platform
• All-in-one HRIS Software

• Extensive payroll tools: Paylocity impresses with its payroll capabilities. In addition to the tools you’d expect from a payroll system for midsized companies, like garnishment support, you also get automated expense tracking (Paycom has this, too). It automatically files taxes, although W-2 filing costs extra. It has pay cards through a third party, whereas ADP and Paychex offer them natively.
• HR functionality: Like most of the Paycom competitors on our list, Paylocity offers a document library and employee self-service portals. However, it goes further with compliance tools that include HR and employee training videos. Its HR Edge module includes a dedicated HR consultant as well.
• Integrations: Paylocity rivals Rippling in the number of integrations. With over 300, you can ensure easy data flow to and from Paylocity. Integrations cover everything from applicant tracking and employment verification to learning management and time and attendance.

All the HRIS services on our list score over 4 out of 5 stars for user satisfaction. Paylocity has an average of 4.35 out of 5 stars on G2 and Capterra, putting it in the middle of the pack. Overall, managers found the application easy to use, although it can take some time to learn because of the number of tools. Employees said it was easy to find their information and use the features. Users disliked the lack of a dedicated representative and available customer support.