Paylocity

Paylocity is a unified platform for HR, payroll and workforce management designed for modern mid‑sized to enterprise employers. The software combines payroll, benefits administration, time & labor, talent management and employee engagement tools under one cloud‑based system. Paylocity also integrates finance and IT processes, promising to streamline work and provide real‑time insights to help organizations focus on their people.

What Is Paylocity?

Paylocity is an all‑in‑one human capital management (HCM) system that helps HR teams manage the entire employee lifecycle. Core modules include payroll, benefits administration, time & attendance tracking, employee scheduling, automated HR workflows, document management, employee self‑service, recruiting and onboarding, compensation management, employee engagement, reporting & analytics, and compliance tools. By bundling these capabilities and integrating finance and IT, Paylocity aims to reduce manual work and give managers and employees a single system of record.

Key Features of Paylocity

• Payroll & Tax – Automated payroll with audits, on‑demand pay and tax filing. Supports global payroll in 100+ countries.
  
• Benefits Administration – Manage benefits enrollment, eligibility and carrier feeds; employees can view plans through a self‑service portal.
  
• Time & Labor – Time tracking, scheduling and expense management with integrated time cards
  
• Reporting & Analytics – HR reporting, analytics and an optional Modern Workforce Index to benchmark against peers.
  
• Integrations & APIs – Open architecture integrates with numerous HRIS and benefits providers; one customer praised having “APIs coming out of my ears”.
  

How Paylocity Works

Paylocity is delivered as a cloud‑based system accessible via browser and mobile app. Employees can clock in/out, view paychecks, request time off and access benefits information through a self‑service portal. HR teams configure workflows for payroll processing, open enrollment, recruiting and performance reviews, and the platform sends automated reminders. Paylocity’s community hub and Employee Voice surveys help collect feedback and foster recognition, while dashboards and reports give leadership visibility into metrics like turnover, engagement and payroll costs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easy to use with intuitive UX – Users highlight Paylocity’s well‑designed interface and straightforward modules; the Help Center provides step‑by‑step guides. A Capterra reviewer praised the intuitive time‑card feature and the ability to run compliance reports.
  
• All‑in‑one functionality – Combines payroll, HR, benefits, time & labor and recruiting, which saves time and reduces the need for multiple systems. Success stories describe it as a “one‑stop shop for HR”.
  
• Strong reporting and automation – Users cite efficient payroll management, strong reporting and automatic alerts
  
• Responsive mobile app – Employers appreciate the mobile app’s ease of use, especially for deskless workers.
  
• Flexible integrations – Open API and numerous third‑party integrations, including benefits providers and other HR systems.
  

Cons

• Pricing opacity & contractor limitations – Paylocity doesn’t publish pricing and requires quotes. Forbes notes it lacks built‑in contractor payments and advanced candidate matching.
  
• Module integration issues – The Time & Labor and HR & Payroll modules sometimes fail to sync properly, leaving off important details.
  
• Implementation challenges – Some customers experienced a bumpy implementation due to account manager transitions, causing delays in benefits setup. Another Capterra review complained about numerous meetings during onboarding.
  
• Reporting complexity – A reviewer mentioned having to pull multiple reports to get desired analytics and found some reporting clunky.
  

Pricing & Plans

Paylocity does not publish standardized pricing; all plans require contacting the sales team for a custom quote. Software Advice confirms that pricing is available upon request. Paylocity emphasizes that pricing varies based on modules selected and company size. Prospects can request a demo through the website.

User Experience & Interface

Users generally describe Paylocity as user‑friendly and visually appealing. Capterra reviewers commend its intuitive time‑card system and easy navigation. Software Advice reviewers appreciate the modern UX and note that modules are easy to learn, with a robust Help Center. However, some users find the dashboard overwhelming and note a learning curve when configuring certain workflows.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Paylocity supports more than 60 integrations with HR, finance and productivity tools (e.g., benefits providers, background checks, job boards, learning platforms). Customers highlight the open API’s flexibility, saying “I have APIs coming out of my ears!”. The platform also integrates with global payroll vendors to support payments in over 100 countries.

Customer Support & Onboarding

Experiences with Paylocity’s support are mixed. Many reviewers praise the company’s responsive customer service and appreciate dedicated implementation managers; one success story notes that tax compliance experts jump in quickly when there’s a payroll deadline. A Capterra reviewer said switching from ADP was easy thanks to Paylocity’s “awesome” onboarding support. Conversely, several users complain about long wait times, inconsistent answers and unresolved tickets. Implementation can be complex, requiring multiple training sessions.

Best Use Cases

Paylocity is best suited for:

• Mid‑size and enterprise organizations that need payroll, HR and engagement in one system.
  
• Businesses heavily focused on employee engagement; its community hub, recognition tools and Employee Voice surveys are standouts.
  
• Companies seeking global payroll support across 100+ countries.
  
• Organizations with deskless or mobile workforces, thanks to a strong mobile app.
  
  

Alternatives & Competitors

• Gusto – Simpler payroll and HR solution for small businesses; transparent pricing but fewer enterprise features.
  
• Rippling – Provides unified HR and IT management with strong automation; pricing is modular.
  
• Paychex – Offers comprehensive payroll and HR services with contractor payments and robust compliance.
  
• Lattice or 15Five – Better for performance management and employee development; may require integrating with separate payroll software.
  

Final Verdict

Paylocity delivers a comprehensive, all‑in‑one HCM platform with strong payroll, benefits, time tracking and employee engagement capabilities. Customers appreciate its intuitive interface, robust reporting and community features that foster recognition and feedback. The mobile app and global payroll support are valuable for dispersed teams. However, the lack of transparent pricing, occasional product glitches, module sync issues and inconsistent customer support are notable drawbacks. If your organization wants a unified HR platform and is willing to engage with Paylocity’s sales team for pricing and implementation, it’s a strong contender. For smaller businesses or those needing specialized performance management, alternatives like Gusto or Lattice might be a better fit.

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