Paylocity vs Workday Human Capital Management comparison

Paylocity and Workday are both solutions in the Cloud HCM category. Paylocity is ranked #33, while Workday is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.5. Paylocity holds a 0.8% mindshare in CHCM, compared to Workday’s 1.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Paylocity users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Workday users who would recommend it.

Paylocity

Read 1 Paylocity review

870 Views
539 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Workday Human Capital Manag...

Read 8 Workday Human Capital Management reviews

900 Views
900 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Paylocity

Workday Human Capital Manag...

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Paylocity and Workday Human Capital Management based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Workday, SAP, Oracle and others in Cloud HCM.

To learn more, read our detailed Cloud HCM Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Cloud HCM

April 2026

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Paylocity

Ranking in Cloud HCM

33rd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Benefits Administration (34th), Talent Management (47th)

Workday Human Capital Manag...

Ranking in Cloud HCM

13th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.4

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Cloud HCM category, the mindshare of Paylocity is 0.8%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Workday Human Capital Management is 1.1%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud HCM Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Workday Human Capital Management	1.1%
Paylocity	0.8%
Other	98.1%

Cloud HCM

Featured Reviews

Rae Passo

HR Specialist with 201-500 employees

Has a comprehensive and intuitive knowledge base, and time saving payroll administration features

Paylocity is not great at communicating customer support related issues such as account manager changes. They claim to provide concierge level of support, but it has not been great. Some of the Paylocity systems are limited. For example, I can't create custom offer letters. I can create generic offer letters with a logo, but I can't edit them or create sections. It does not read like a MS Word document and needs to be more robust. At present, I can't send attachments, add hyperlinks to videos, or embed questions in videos. Also, the number of notifications regarding benefits needs to be increased so that new employees get reminders more than once.

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Amit_Rai

Senior Software Engineer at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees

Automation has transformed hire to retire processes and delivers powerful HR analytics

In Workday Human Capital Management, I feel that the security part needs to be improved. Workday gives complete control to the implementers regarding security and who is going to see what data. There are sometimes loopholes that are not identified unless fully tested. If Workday had a security alert system, even a small alert would help the security architect secure all information better, especially sensitive data such as payroll. Additionally, customization is another area of improvement, as Workday provides a default blue and yellow theme, which may not align with a company's branding. If Workday provided the option to customize themes based on a company's preferences, it would enhance the user experience.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"My favorite feature is payroll administration, which has been awesome. You can import as many batches as you want to and run them synchronously or asynchronously. Since I work in a finance company with commissions, bonuses, and distribution, it's great to be able to do that. I can upload multiple things. Also, I can upload different sets of commission lists into the same payroll batch and upload the time card imports and overtime imports if I want to and separate them. I can create multiple batches around an individual or one one set of audit backing, and then I can approve them or leave them open. The way that Paylocity has set up their payroll system is really good and saves us a lot of time. It's very specific and helpful."

"According to me, the most valuable feature is autonomy of business processes and the security configuration within the tenant, specifically the configuration. The solution is highly stable. It’s designed to handle most tasks automatically. I rate it a nine out of ten. The solution is highly scalable. I rate it an eight out of ten. This solution consistently supports its customers through its implementation partners or sales support. The setup is designed to be user-friendly and straightforward. Workday HCM is user-friendly and easier to implement within the organization"

"The reports I can download with compensation details come in a very organized manner, and I can record any future payments through the software, such as deferred cash bonuses that need to be paid one year later."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is a cloud-based system and easy to use."

"Workday Human Capital Management is a user-friendly solution."

"Workday Human Capital Management's most valuable feature is self-service."

"The solution has good accessibility; it's easy to use and not very confusing."

"The product is a complete solution for security."

"The unique selling point of Workday is its easy-to-use user interface, which is quite difficult in other ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle Fusion."

Cons

"Some of the Paylocity systems are limited. For example, I can't create custom offer letters. I can create generic offer letters with a logo, but I can't edit them or create sections. It does not read like a MS Word document and needs to be more robust."

"The solution should focus more on user experience and less on the technical side."

"Currently, the product's payroll feature works only in four countries. It should work for more countries."

"The compensation module is not dynamic enough or flexible enough to accommodate the complexities in our salary structure."

"We have had issues with respect to incidents."

"In Workday Human Capital Management, I feel that the security part needs to be improved."

"The solution should enhance its flexibility and promptly incorporate the brainstormed ideas into the upcoming releases. Typically, after their brainstorming session, it takes one or two update cycles for the changes to reflect in the tenant."

"It would be good if the solution provided more extensive training sessions."

"The tool has certain shortcomings when it comes to its integration capabilities with other systems in our company, making it an area where improvements are required."

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"The solution’s pricing is better than SAP SuccessFactors."

"Each module comes with an additional cost. It operates on a mid-price model. So, there is an additional payment for each module needed. The solution might be costlier for smaller companies, making it more suitable for mid to large-sized enterprises."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

27%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

University

Comms Service Provider

23%

Government

11%

Healthcare Company

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	1
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	7

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

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What needs improvement with Workday Human Capital Management?

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What is your primary use case for Workday Human Capital Management?

Workday Human Capital Management's key use case is the hire to retire business process. The business processes we have in Workday include hiring an employee, transfers, promotions, and termination ...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Workday Human Capital Management?

I am using only Workday Human Capital Management, not anything else. I am not able to answer what metrics we use to measure the impact of Workday Human Capital Management because that is a task for...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cloud HCM

April 2026

Download Paylocity product report

Buyer's Guide

Workday Human Capital Management

April 2026

Download Workday Human Capital Management product report

Overview

Paylocity offers HR and payroll solutions tailored to streamline processes for businesses, enhancing efficiency through automation and accessibility. Its flexible tools empower organizations to manage their workforce effortlessly.

Paylocity addresses key HR and payroll challenges with a suite of features designed to optimize workforce management. By providing seamless integration and customization, it caters to businesses seeking scalable solutions. Its user-friendly platform allows HR professionals to focus on strategic initiatives while efficiently handling everyday operations. Leveraging advanced technology, it ensures compliance and boosts productivity.

What are the essential features of Paylocity?

Payroll Management: Automates calculations and tax filing, reducing errors and saving time.
Time and Labor: Tracks employee hours and attendance accurately for better workforce planning.
Talent Management: Supports recruitment and performance tracking to enhance employee development.
Benefits Administration: Manages enrollment and compliance efficiently, providing easy access for employees.

What benefits and ROI should be considered?

Cost Savings: Reduces manual work and enhances accuracy, leading to financial efficiency.
Time Efficiency: Streamlines processes which allows HR teams to focus on higher-value tasks.
Employee Engagement: Improves access to HR resources, leading to higher satisfaction and productivity.
Scalability: Adapts to growing business needs, offering flexibility for expansion.

Paylocity is widely adopted across industries such as manufacturing, retail, and healthcare where it improves efficiency and compliance. Its tailored approach ensures that each sector can harness its full potential, addressing specific with customized features and support.

Paylocity

Workday Human Capital Management is a single, unified system, offering one security model and a seamless user experience. Infused with artificial intelligence, Workday provides a cloud-based platform that intelligently adapts to your organization's evolving needs. This user-friendly, global system leverages AI to deliver personalized experiences and predictive insights, ensuring you're always on the latest version, whether on a browser or mobile device. As part of the unified Workday suite, which includes Financial Management, Payroll, and Recruiting, its AI capabilities help you make smarter, data-driven decisions for the future of your workforce.

Workday

Sample Customers

POLYWOOD, University Clinical Healthcare, New England Authentic Eats, Revere Plastics, Stonewall Kitchen, Circuit Transit, Powerhouse Retail, Mountainside Fitness, Crafton Tull, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Gurley Leep Automotive, Taco Johns

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