Justworks vs Paylocity: Payroll Software Comparison (2026)

Justworks offers transparent pricing and a focus on HR tools with payroll, while Paylocity provides extensive, customizable HR and payroll features with a strong emphasis on automation and integrations.

AI Citation Scorecard

How often each is cited by major AI engines when buyers ask payroll software questions. Last 90 days across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot.

Tied overall — both at 13% cited across 60 probes.
ChatGPT
Justworks
1 / 6 probes
17%
Average
Paylocity
1 / 6 probes
17%
Average
Perplexity
Justworks
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Paylocity
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Gemini
Justworks
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Paylocity
0 / 6 probes
0%
Invisible
Claude
Justworks
1 / 6 probes
17%
Average
PaylocityLeads
2 / 6 probes
33%
Good
Copilot
JustworksLeads
2 / 6 probes
33%
Good
Paylocity
1 / 6 probes
17%
Average
Scale:NoneLowFairStrongExcellent

Probes run hourly; each (engine × query) combo retests every ~3 days.

Pricing

Justworks
Starting price
$8/month/employee
Free tier
justworks.com
Paylocity
Starting price
Free tier
paylocity.com

Key Features

Justworks
  • Payroll for all employees
  • HR tools
  • Expert support
  • Access to Time Tracking
Paylocity
  • Automated payroll workflows
  • 24/7 self-service portal
  • AI-powered expense management
  • Employee experience dashboard
  • Marketplace integrations
  • Customizable HR workflows
  • Real-time access auditing
  • Mobile access for employers and employees

When to choose Justworks

Justworks is suitable for businesses seeking transparent, per-employee pricing for payroll and HR tools, offering 24/7 support and easy onboarding without an implementation fee. It is geared towards smaller to mid-sized teams.

When to choose Paylocity

Paylocity is suitable for businesses that require a comprehensive and customizable HR and payroll platform with advanced features like AI-powered expense management, automated workflows, and a wide array of integrations. It is designed for organizations that can navigate a higher learning curve and custom pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences in pricing?
Justworks offers transparent pricing starting at $8/month/employee. Paylocity does not publicly list its pricing; it offers custom pricing based on needs.
Which platform offers more integrations?
Paylocity offers a marketplace with integrations, listing specific ones like Slack, Salesforce, Google, Microsoft Teams, Workday, QuickBooks, ADP, and Oracle. Justworks does not list specific integrations.
What are the differences in HR features?
Justworks provides HR tools and expert support. Paylocity offers a wider range of HR features including customizable HR workflows, an employee experience dashboard, AI-powered expense management, and a 24/7 self-service portal.
Which platform has mobile access?
Paylocity explicitly states it offers mobile access for employers and employees. Justworks does not mention mobile access in its feature list.
Which platform has a free tier?
Neither Justworks nor Paylocity offer a free tier.

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