Link copied to clipboard

# Paylocity vs Workday HCM Comparison - What are their main differences?

Share
[
Export
](/compare/paylocity/workday-hcm/export.csv)

PaylocityWorkday HCM[+ Add Product](#)

Pricing

**Paylocity**
Free Trial

No pricing available

**Workday HCM**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Paylocity**
2 monthsFaster

Based on 641 responses

**Workday HCM**
8 months

Based on 18 responses

Return on Investment

**Paylocity**
12 months1 month sooner

Based on 545 responses

**Workday HCM**
13 months

Based on 17 responses

Perceived Cost

**Paylocity**
$$$$$

**Workday HCM**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Paylocity**
9%

**Workday HCM**
11%2% more

 ![Paylocity](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/bd6131cf9b0260bb95666ba5a37a54bb/paylocity.svg "Paylocity")

 ![Workday HCM](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/606c76b1813abca2e96fde9dc8fa51ec/workday-hcm.svg "Workday HCM")

G2 offers free advice on this comparison.

Chat with an expert

How would you like to receive Software Advice?

 ![](/assets/advisor_router/laptop_form-f1a7012279826105416befde8d882ffc7589b1f9db09c93a1379d601cafe8e0d.svg)

FormAnswer questions at your own pace, no call required.

 ![](/assets/advisor_router/ai_agent-4d78629a3ba354fed449a65c60df3a6f2eda90fb98411b711df4b25d7be52a38.svg)

AI AgentChat live and get a recommendation in minutes.

 ![](/assets/advisor_router/phone_call_picker-c48821ec36f4182d8ee3e54cfbd3937500eec54d7b7e0cfb80dc80a8a733842f.svg)

Phone CallTalk it through live with a software advisor.

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**Paylocity**
[
Ease of Use (1348)
](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1356825&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Helpful (661)
](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1361528&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Poor Customer Support (483)
](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1353052&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Missing Features (333)
](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1355941&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

**Workday HCM**
[
Ease of Use (117)
](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1936141&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Features (42)
](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1935286&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Poor Interface Design (38)
](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1936245&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)[
Not User-Friendly (36)
](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews?filters%5Bsentiment_snippet%5D=1935744&qs=pros-and-cons#reviews)

Integrations

**Paylocity**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_bd35168858a5693ac47d68eaf646dc72/7shifts.png "Product Avatar Image")

7shifts

](https://www.g2.com/products/7shifts/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_0f17fb63572214090b446f377a65a0b4/accusourcehr-inc.png "Product Avatar Image")

AccuSourceHR, Inc.

](https://www.g2.com/products/accusourcehr-inc/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_ee6b01af5dad93b23887dbfdbb1dd055/alerus.png "Product Avatar Image")

Alerus

](https://www.g2.com/products/alerus/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_699c6acef8e4e38dbda8556f0e5b2695/altametrics.png "Product Avatar Image")

Altametrics

](https://www.g2.com/products/altametrics/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/integrations)

**Workday HCM**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_9ebc3fe7d1c6fa5903e282d3b3df7bd3/absencesoft.png "Product Avatar Image")

AbsenceSoft

](https://www.g2.com/products/absencesoft/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e0d253028a5bb1cd17403705bba47168/accurate-background-accurate-background.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Accurate Background

](https://www.g2.com/products/accurate-background-accurate-background/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_f32312ab58fff0da8324cf2f23238814/adaptive-from-workday.png "Product Avatar Image")

Adaptive from Workday

](https://www.g2.com/products/adaptive-from-workday/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_655078e0d371d8c5d65524f6ae30a0ba/adobe-acrobat-sign.png "Product Avatar Image")

Adobe Acrobat Sign

](https://www.g2.com/products/adobe-acrobat-sign/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/integrations)

Screenshots

**Paylocity**
 ![Paylocity screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/188650/Compliance_2x.jpg)

**Workday HCM**
 ![Workday HCM screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/1486449/Workday-Human-Capital-Management-_HCM_-Homepage.png)

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**Paylocity**

8.9

8.94,961

**Workday HCM**

8.6

8.61,338

Ease of Use

**Paylocity**

8.9

8.95,164

**Workday HCM**

8.2

8.21,751

Ease of Setup

**Paylocity**

8.2

8.23,280

**Workday HCM**

7.5

7.5798

Ease of Admin

**Paylocity**

8.6

8.62,974

**Workday HCM**

7.9

7.9340

Quality of Support

**Paylocity**

8.6

8.64,414

**Workday HCM**

8.2

8.21,059

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Paylocity**

8.7

8.72,973

**Workday HCM**

8.3

8.3322

Product Direction (% positive)

**Paylocity**

8.7

8.74,666

**Workday HCM**

8.1

8.11,272

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Time Tracking

8.1

2,366

8.5

550

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

7.3

1,808

8.2

719

Onboarding

7.7

2,215

8.1

860

Core HR

8.2

2,310

8.7

1,260

Payroll

8.5

2,279

8.6

504

Performance Management

7.5

644

8.0

393

Benefits Administration

8.2

1,851

8.3

843

Corporate Learning Management Systems

7.6

211

8.3

30

Training eLearning

8.0

1,738

8.3

589

Expense Management

8.5

2,376

Not enough data

Vendor Management

7.3

45

Not enough data

Time & Attendance

9.8

24

Not enough data

Pay Equity

Not enough data

8.1

7

Candidate Relationship Management

8.3

2,148

Not enough data

Employee Experience

7.6

149

Not enough data

Invoice Management

8.9

503

Not enough data

AP Automation

8.7

375

Not enough data

Purchasing

8.1

58

Not enough data

Healthcare HR

Not enough data

8.7

33

Enterprise Payment

8.9

121

Not enough data

Procure to Pay

8.0

40

Not enough data

Career Management

Not enough data

8.4

93

Interview Scheduling

8.4

1,904

Not enough data

Recruiting Automation

7.9

2,136

Not enough data

Global Payroll

Not enough data

8.3

41

Spend Management

9.0

523

Not enough data

Workforce Management

7.9

1,799

Not enough data

User Insights

**Reviewers' Company Size**

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
19.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
70.6%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
9.6%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
19.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
70.6%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
9.6%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
5.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
21.5%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
72.7%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
5.8%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
21.5%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
72.7%

**Reviewers' Industry**

[![Paylocity](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/bd6131cf9b0260bb95666ba5a37a54bb/paylocity.svg "Paylocity")](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews)
Paylocity

Computer Software
10.2%

Hospital & Health Care
6.8%

Information Technology and Services
6.6%

Non-Profit Organization Management
5.7%

Financial Services
3.9%

Other
66.8%

[![Workday HCM](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/606c76b1813abca2e96fde9dc8fa51ec/workday-hcm.svg "Workday HCM")](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews)
Workday HCM

Information Technology and Services
10.7%

Computer Software
8.2%

Hospital & Health Care
6.7%

Financial Services
6.2%

Higher Education
5.2%

Other
62.9%

Alternatives

**Paylocity Alternatives**

 ![Rippling](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/49f7d8e6cbfe097f90afa19d824891bc/rippling.svg "Rippling")

[
Rippling
](/products/rippling/reviews)

 ![isolved](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/13a7cc0061d21b68444997f6c3d85ca0/isolved.svg "isolved")

[
isolved
](/products/isolved/reviews)

 ![SAP SuccessFactors HCM](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/edf2d15ffc689390deffd10a34a9fc03/sap-sap-successfactors-hcm.svg "SAP SuccessFactors HCM")

[
SAP SuccessFactors HCM
](/products/sap-sap-successfactors-hcm/reviews)

 ![Paycom](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/770f0a3b32b7b97c9e00cf3c0a3a83a1/paycom.svg "Paycom")

[
Paycom
](/products/paycom/reviews)

**Workday HCM Alternatives**

 ![Rippling](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/49f7d8e6cbfe097f90afa19d824891bc/rippling.svg "Rippling")

[
Rippling
](/products/rippling/reviews)

 ![Paycom](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/770f0a3b32b7b97c9e00cf3c0a3a83a1/paycom.svg "Paycom")

[
Paycom
](/products/paycom/reviews)

 ![UKG Pro](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/b835aef8b35fc2846401a2836372f785/ukg-pro.svg "UKG Pro")

[
UKG Pro
](/products/ukg-pro/reviews)

 ![Paycor](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/3d4b526c8b16bcdbe6eeeb5586149ed5/paycor.svg "Paycor")

[
Paycor
](/products/paycor/reviews)

## Paylocity vs Workday HCM FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between Workday HCM vs Paylocity?

Paylocity stands out for higher reviewer satisfaction in ease of use, setup, and support, while Workday HCM is favored by larger enterprises for its robust automation and integration capabilities.

| | [Workday HCM](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews) | [Paylocity](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| G2 Rating (reviews) | 4.1/5 (1698 reviews) | 4.4/5 (6156 reviews) |
| Largest Segment | Enterprise | Mid-Market |
| Ease of Setup score | 7.7 | 8.2 |
| Quality of Support score | 8.2 | 8.7 |
| Top Reviewer-Cited Strength | Automation and centralized data | Ease of use (1,347 all-time mentions) |

### How do the pricing models of Workday HCM and Paylocity compare?

Paylocity is rated as the stronger value, with higher satisfaction on price and cost-related dimensions.

- **Workday HCM:** Reviewers note that Workday HCM delivers a strong ROI for large enterprises but cite a high financial commitment and complexity for smaller organizations.
- **Paylocity:** Reviewers consistently highlight Paylocity's budget-friendly pricing and cost savings compared to previous HRIS solutions, especially for small and mid-sized businesses.
- **Switching-reason:** Recent reviews mention switching to Paylocity for better value, lower costs, and more comprehensive HR modules compared to legacy payroll providers.

### What are the best alternatives to Workday HCM and Paylocity?

The top 3 alternatives to Workday HCM and Paylocity are Rippling, Paycom, and isolved.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Workday HCM](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews) | 4.1/5 (1698 reviews) | Enterprise | High financial commitment for large organizations | Automation and centralized data |
| [Paylocity](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews) | 4.4/5 (6156 reviews) | Mid-Market | Budget-friendly pricing, cost savings for SMBs | Ease of use (1,347 all-time mentions) |
| [Rippling](https://www.g2.com/products/rippling/reviews) | 4.8/5 (13,242 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Comprehensive HR and payroll integration |
| [Paycom](https://www.g2.com/products/paycom/reviews) | 4.5/5 (6,916 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Robust payroll and HR automation |
| [isolved](https://www.g2.com/products/isolved/reviews) | 4.3/5 (1,320 reviews) | Mid-Market | — | Flexible HR solutions for growing businesses |

### Which Core HR features should I prioritize when comparing Workday HCM and Paylocity?

Buyers should prioritize ease of use, automation, integrations, onboarding, and reporting when comparing Workday HCM and Paylocity.

- **Ease of Use:** Paylocity scores 8.9, Workday HCM 8.2; 1,347 all-time mentions for Paylocity's ease of use.
- **Automation:** Workday HCM is frequently cited for strong automation and workflow streamlining in recent reviews.
- **Integrations:** Workday HCM integrates with tools like Slack (6 all-time mentions) and Okta (5 all-time mentions); Paylocity has 229 all-time mentions for integrations.
- **Onboarding:** Both products are frequently cited for onboarding, with Paylocity reviewers highlighting streamlined digital onboarding and Workday HCM noted for robust onboarding flows.
- **Reporting:** Workday HCM is praised for real-time reporting and analytics, while Paylocity reviewers mention simple, customizable reports.

### What are the pros and cons of Workday HCM vs Paylocity?

Paylocity's headline strength is ease of use, while Workday HCM is recognized for robust automation and centralized data.

- **Workday HCM strengths:** Automation and workflow streamlining, centralized HR data, advanced integrations, and robust reporting and analytics.
- **Workday HCM trade-offs:** High financial commitment, complex setup and customization, steep learning curve for new users, and best fit for large enterprises.
- **Paylocity strengths:** Ease of use (1,347 all-time mentions), intuitive interface, helpful customer support (602 all-time mentions), cost savings, and strong onboarding and payroll management.
- **Paylocity trade-offs:** Reviewers cite inconsistent customer support (483 all-time mentions), limited customization in some modules, and occasional delays in support response.

### Is Workday HCM or Paylocity better for small businesses?

Paylocity is the better fit for small businesses, with strong reviewer sentiment and a mid-market segment focus.

- **Workday HCM:** Largest segment is Enterprise; reviewers note the platform is best suited for large organizations due to its complexity and cost.
- **Paylocity:** Largest segment is Mid-Market; reviewers highlight ease of use, budget-friendly pricing, and suitability for small and mid-sized businesses.

### Which Core HR platform has better integrations?

Paylocity is favored for integrations, with more reviewer-cited integration mentions and positive sentiment.

- **Workday HCM:** Integrates with Slack (6 all-time mentions) and Okta (5 all-time mentions), with reviewers noting strong integration capabilities for enterprise environments.
- **Paylocity:** 229 all-time mentions for integrations, with reviewers highlighting integration with background check providers and benefits carriers.

### How do Workday HCM and Paylocity compare on customer support?

Paylocity leads on Quality of Support with a 0.5-point advantage over Workday HCM (8.7 vs 8.2).

- **Workday HCM:** Reviewers describe support as helpful and knowledgeable, especially for enterprise implementations, but note a learning curve and occasional delays for complex issues.
- **Paylocity:** Reviewers consistently praise customer support for responsiveness and helpfulness (602 all-time mentions), though some mention inconsistent experiences and long wait times.

### Which is easier to implement, Workday HCM or Paylocity?

Paylocity is easier to implement, with a 0.5-point higher Ease of Setup score (8.2 vs 7.7).

- **Workday HCM:** Reviewers describe setup as complex and time-consuming, especially for organizations with advanced requirements, but note that experienced administrators can streamline the process.
- **Paylocity:** Reviewers highlight smooth onboarding, easy initial setup, and effective support teams that guide new customers through implementation.

### Which product has better Onboarding?

Paylocity is favored for Onboarding, with more frequent positive reviewer mentions and higher satisfaction scores.

- **Workday HCM:** Onboarding is robust and integrated with other HR modules; reviewers note strong automation but mention a steeper learning curve for new hires.
- **Paylocity:** Onboarding is frequently cited as streamlined and user-friendly, with reviewers highlighting digital onboarding, reduced paperwork, and ease of use for both HR teams and new employees.