Which "Pay" is Best?Comparing Paycom, Paycor, and Paylocity
This analysis compares Paycom, Paycor, and Paylocity across several key criteria to help you decide which might be right for your organization.
September 17, 2025
By Chris Harvey
If you’re evaluating HRIS systems, you’ve likely noticed a trend where many vendors include “Pay” in their names. Historically, these solutions originated as payroll systems, so including pay in the name signaled payroll strength. Today, though, this naming similarity can cause confusion.
For organizations with 100–500 employees, the three main “Pay” solutions are Paycom, Paycor, and Paylocity. If you’re considering them all, you’ve probably asked yourself: “Which ‘Pay’ is best for my organization?”
The truth: there is no universal “best.” Each vendor has thousands of satisfied customers. What matters most is finding the solution that best aligns with your organization’s needs, priorities, and culture.
This analysis compares Paycom, Paycor, and Paylocity across several key criteria to help you decide which might be right for your organization.
Comparison of Key Criteria:
Feature & Functionality / Ease of Use / Integration – Paycor Leads
Paycor: Well-suited for small to mid-sized businesses, Paycor offers a balanced feature set across talent management, payroll, and benefits. Its straightforward interface makes it easy for HR teams to adopt. A standout advantage is its smooth integration with third-party applications, which makes it flexible for organizations already using other tools.
Paylocity: Paylocity has a modern, employee-friendly design. Its strengths are social collaboration, engagement tools, and customizable workflows. Organizations that prioritize a fresh, intuitive interface appreciate Paylocity.
Paycom: Paycom’s strength is in payroll and compliance management, supported by employee self-service and administrative controls. However, its interface feels dated compared to competitors, and its third-party integration capabilities are the weakest of the three.
“Pay” Vendor Solution Comparison*
*Comparison Ratings of Paycom, Paycor, and Paylocity are based on customer reviews and ratings received on the HR Technology Advice website as of 9/1/2025
Reporting & Analytics – Paycor Shines
Paycor: Frequently praised for customizable, easy-to-use reporting. HR teams like its flexibility for tailoring and exporting reports, making it ideal for organizations where data-driven decision- making is a priority.
Paylocity: Provides strong reporting tools and clean data visualization. While slightly less customizable than Paycor, its reports are sufficient for most day-to-day HR needs.
Paycom: Reporting is less flexible and can require workarounds. For organizations where advanced reporting is mission-critical, this is a limitation.
Support – Paycom Most Responsive
Paycom: Customers highlight responsive, knowledgeable support, though like most vendors, satisfaction has dipped compared to a few years ago.
Paycor: Support is generally praised, especially by small and mid-sized businesses implementing HR tech for the first time.
Paylocity: Receives positive reviews for onboarding support, though some customers note responsiveness varies after go-live.
Final Thoughts: Which “Pay” Is the Best Fit for You?
· Choose Paycor if you want a feature-rich, easy-to-use solution with strong integrations, excellent reporting, and a solid implementation track record. It’s particularly strong for small and mid-sized organizations.
· Choose Paylocity if employee engagement, collaboration, and modern workflows are top priorities. Its tools and design make it a strong fit for organizations that value culture and communication.
· Choose Paycom if payroll accuracy and compliance are your central needs. While weaker on usability and integrations, its payroll depth and compliance functionality remain a solid alternative.
There’s no one-size-fits-all HRIS. The “best” system is the one that aligns with your specific needs, culture, and goals. Take time to demo each option, ask detailed questions, and gather peer input before deciding.
Tip: In this comparison, we focused on the three “Pay” solutions. But in practice, we recommend shortlisting at least four vendors during your HRIS evaluation. Depending on your needs, other vendors may also be worth considering.
For additional research and customer reviews of Paycom, Paycor, and Paylocity, click on these links:
Read more HRIS solution research on HR Technology Advice. https://www.hrtechnologyadvice.com/hr-vendor-fit
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At HR Technology Advice, we have received hundreds of inquiries from HR professionals researching their next HRIS. Among the most frequently mentioned vendors customers are switching from include ADP Workforce Now, Paycom, and Paylocity.
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