Compare/Head to head

Paycor vs Paylocity

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

Starting price

Paycor

Sales-quoted

US HCM suite for payroll, HR, time and talent, owned by Paychex. Pricing is quote-based.

Where Paycor fits

  • US SMBs that want HR and payroll in one suite
  • Mid-market firms that need time and scheduling too
  • Teams that will build on Paycor's APIs
  • Buyers comfortable with a scoped demo and quote

Paylocity

Sales-quoted

US HR, payroll and workforce platform that also covers finance and IT tools. Pricing is sales-quoted.

Where Paylocity fits

  • Midsize US employers that want HR and payroll together
  • Hourly-hiring teams that want Grayscale automation
  • Companies replacing several HR point tools
  • Teams that will build on documented APIs

At a glance

DetailPaycorPaylocity
Starting priceSales-quotedSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendanceATS, Benefits administration, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance

Where they pull apart

Paycor

Stands out: Full US HCM with its own public developer portal, run as a Paychex business unit after the acquisition.

Watch out: No published per-employee rate. Small-business deals advertise 50% off for the first six months, so check the price after that period.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need a published per-employee price
  • Global employers that need EOR coverage

Paylocity

Stands out: One platform covers HR, payroll, recruiting, finance and IT, and Paylocity added Grayscale's AI recruiting automation in 2026.

Watch out: There is no public per-employee price. You need a sales conversation, and implementation and module choice shape the total.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need a published price
  • Companies that mainly need global EOR hiring

Pros and cons

Paycor

  • Payroll, HR, time and talent in one suite
  • Public developer portal with REST APIs
  • Backed by Paychex
  • No published per-employee price
  • Intro discount can hide the ongoing rate
  • Built for US employers only

Paylocity

  • HR, payroll, finance and IT in one
  • Grayscale recruiting automation added
  • Documented APIs for integrations
  • No public price
  • Sales process before any number
  • Aimed at US employers

What each one costs

Paycor

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. The small-business offer for 1 to 49 employees advertises 50% off for the first six months; price depends on headcount and modules. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Paylocity

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. The quote depends on headcount and the modules you choose. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Paycor or Paylocity for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Paycor alternatives All Paylocity alternatives Every ATS tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?