Head to head

Payactiv vs UKG

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Payactiv

Free for employers Free tier

Payactiv is an earned wage access and financial wellness platform for employers with hourly or deskless workforces. It costs the employer nothing to offer. Employees pay per transfer based on method, from free ACH transfers up to $3.49 for instant transfers to outside cards, per the published fee table.

Where Payactiv fits

  • Hourly employers in healthcare, contact centers, restaurants and retail
  • Employers on Paychex, UKG or OnShift that want a built-in EWA option
  • HR teams that also want a payroll card and tips payouts
  • HCM and payroll platforms that want to embed branded EWA via API

UKG

Sales-quoted

HR, payroll and workforce management suite, with UKG Pro for larger employers and UKG Ready for smaller ones. Pricing is by quote.

Where UKG fits

  • Large employers with shift-based frontline staff
  • Companies that need time and scheduling tied to payroll
  • Teams that will build on documented APIs
  • Buyers running a formal HR system selection

At a glance

DetailPayactivUKG
Starting priceFree for employersSales-quoted
Free tier✓Yes–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underPayroll, WellbeingATS, Benefits administration, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance, Workforce management

Where they pull apart

Payactiv

Stands out: Payactiv publishes an itemized employee fee table and makes instant transfers to its own Visa card free once direct deposit of $200 per pay period is set up. It also runs white-label EWA for partners, including Paychex Pay On Demand, UKG Wallet and OnShift Wallet, and offers an Access-as-a-Service API with sandbox.

Watch out: Fees vary by program: the Paychex Pay On Demand version charges $2.99 to $4.99 for some transfer types, and instant transfers to non-Payactiv cards cost $3.49. Public peer reviews are thin, so ask for customer references.

Not the right fit for

  • Employers seeking a full payroll or HCM replacement
  • Buyers who need a large base of public peer reviews before buying

UKG

Stands out: Deep time, scheduling and labor tools for frontline workforces, backed by a developer hub with documented APIs and webhooks.

Watch out: There is no public price, and rollout is a real implementation project. Pro versus Ready is a scoping decision made with sales.

Not the right fit for

  • Small companies that want a published price
  • Teams without budget for an implementation

Pros and cons

Payactiv

  • No setup or recurring cost to the employer
  • Itemized employee fee table with several free transfer options
  • Developer API for embedding EWA, cards and payouts
  • Employee fees vary by program and are higher in the Paychex version
  • Instant transfers to non-Payactiv cards cost $3.49
  • Very few public Capterra reviews

UKG

  • Strong time and scheduling tools
  • Documented APIs and webhooks
  • Separate Ready product for smaller firms
  • No public price
  • Implementation takes real effort
  • Product and module choices get complex

What each one costs

Payactiv

Free for employers

Payactiv states there are no setup or recurring costs to the business. Employees pay by disbursement type, per its program pricing page: ACH bank transfers (1 to 3 business days), Uber, Amazon and bill pay, and financial counseling are free. Real-time transfers to a Payactiv Visa card are free with direct deposit of at least $200 per pay period, otherwise $2.49. Real-time transfers to other debit or payroll cards, Walmart cash pickup, and Venmo or PayPal cost $3.49. Fees differ for the Paychex Pay On Demand program, where they range from $2.99 to $4.99 depending on the employer's program. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

UKG

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. The quote depends on the product (Pro or Ready), modules and headcount. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try Payactiv or UKG for free?
Payactiv carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Payactiv alternatives All UKG alternatives Every Payroll tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?