Key takeaway: Paylocity is a cloud HCM platform competing with Paycor and ADP for mid-market companies (50–5,000 employees). Core HR/payroll starts around $5/employee/month. The recruiting add-on costs approximately $3–$5/employee/month extra. For a 200-person company, expect $19,200–$24,000/year for HR + recruiting combined.
What does Paylocity cost in 2026?
| Module | Per Employee/Month | For 200 Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Core HR/Payroll | ~$5/PEPM | ~$12,000/yr |
| Recruiting add-on | ~$3–5/PEPM | ~$7,200–12,000/yr |
| Combined | ~$8–10/PEPM | ~$19,200–24,000/yr |
Paylocity's pricing page (checked August 2026) quotes through sales rather than listing prices; the figures here are buyer-reported estimates, so confirm with a current quote.
Paylocity charges a base platform fee plus per-employee pricing. The recruiting module includes basic ATS functionality with job posting, applicant tracking, and offer management.
What moves a Paylocity quote?
- Module mix: payroll, HR, benefits administration, time and attendance, and recruiting are each priced separately; quotes drop fast as you trim modules.
- Headcount breakpoints: PEPM rates step down at volume thresholds, so companies near a breakpoint should ask for the next tier's rate.
- Implementation and year-two pricing: setup fees are usually separate, and first-year discounts are common. Get the renewal rate in writing before signing.
Because the recruiting module is only sold to Paylocity HR/payroll customers, the real comparison is not against dedicated ATSs but against the recruiting add-ons of Paycor and ADP.
What features does the recruiting module include?
- Job posting: distribute to major job boards
- Applicant tracking: basic pipeline management
- Career page: branded careers site
- Offer management: offer letters with e-signatures
- Onboarding: seamless transition from candidate to employee
- Video interviews: built-in video screening
- Text recruiting: SMS-based candidate communication
What are the limitations?
Basic ATS: Paylocity's recruiting is functional but not competitive with dedicated platforms.
Mid-market focus: Not designed for very small or very large organizations.
No AI sourcing: Does not include proactive candidate discovery.
Bundling economics: Recruiting only makes sense if you also use Paylocity for HR/payroll.
How does Paylocity compare to alternatives?
| Feature | Paylocity | Paycor | ADP | Rippling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core HR | $5/PEPM | $6/PEPM | $4/PEPM | $8/PEPM |
| ATS depth | Basic | Basic | Basic | Basic-medium |
| Video interviews | Included | No | No | No |
| Best for | Mid-market HCM | Mid-market HCM | All sizes | Modern platform |
Paylocity is a solid choice for mid-market companies wanting HR, payroll, and basic recruiting in one platform, with the added bonus of built-in video interviewing. Teams that outgrow the bundled ATS should compare dedicated options in our best applicant tracking systems guide, or explore the full range of options in our recruiting tools guide.
How does Noon AI complement Paylocity?
Noon AI adds proactive sourcing to Paylocity's basic ATS: it finds candidates across the open web, evaluates them against your role's criteria, and engages them over email, LinkedIn, and SMS. Candidates sourced by Noon AI can be tracked through Paylocity and onboarded into HR and payroll. Unlike per-employee pricing models, you can book a demo to see how Noon's flat-rate sourcing layer integrates with your existing HCM stack.
Frequently asked questions
Does Paylocity include an ATS? The ATS is an add-on module, not included in base HR/payroll.
Is Paylocity good for recruiting? Adequate for basic hiring needs. For complex recruiting, a dedicated ATS is recommended.
What size companies use Paylocity? Mid-market companies with 50–5,000 employees.
Does Paylocity have AI sourcing? No, the recruiting module focuses on applicant tracking, not proactive sourcing.
What is Paylocity's contract length? Annual contracts with auto-renewal are standard.
