ADP Workforce Now vs Paylocity
The established giant versus the engagement-focused challenger. Both are strong mid-market choices with different strengths.
The short answer
Pick ADP Workforce Now if compliance depth, the reassurance of a very large provider, a broad integration marketplace, and the option to move to ADP's PEO later matter most. Pick Paylocity if a modern user experience, employee engagement, and strong mobile tools for your workforce matter most.
Both run reliable US payroll for midsize companies. The choice usually comes down to which experience your employees and managers will actually use, and which service model your HR team prefers.
Side-by-side comparison
| ADP Workforce Now | Paylocity | |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Compliance depth and marketplace | Engagement and mobile |
| Typical size | 50 to 1,000+ employees | 50 to 2,500 employees |
| PEO option | ADP TotalSource | No PEO |
| Pricing | Quote based | Quote based |
| Company | Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) | Paylocity Holding Corporation |
| Ownership | Public (NASDAQ: ADP) | Public (NASDAQ: PCTY) |
| Headquarters | Roseland, New Jersey | Schaumburg, Illinois |
How these two products got here
ADP has processed payroll since 1949 and is one of the largest payroll and HR providers in the world. ADP Workforce Now is its platform for midsize organizations, sitting between ADP RUN for small businesses and ADP's enterprise offerings. Its scale shows up in compliance experience, data, and the size of its partner marketplace.
Paylocity, founded in 1997, has grown by offering a more modern alternative. It emphasizes employee experience, with Community for internal communication, built-in surveys and recognition, and a mobile app designed for employees. It often wins evaluations where HR wants employees to engage with the system rather than simply receive a pay stub.
Many companies evaluating ADP Workforce Now are coming from ADP RUN or from another ADP product. Many evaluating Paylocity are leaving an older payroll provider for a better employee experience.
Where ADP Workforce Now has the edge
- Compliance experience. ADP's size gives it deep experience with tax filing and changes in labor law across many jurisdictions.
- Integration marketplace. A large catalog of partner apps connects to Workforce Now.
- Benchmarks. ADP's data can support pay and workforce benchmarking.
- Growth path. ADP offers a PEO, HR outsourcing, and enterprise platforms if your needs change.
Where Paylocity has the edge
- User experience. Reviewers often describe Paylocity as more modern and intuitive.
- Engagement tools. Community, surveys, and recognition are part of the suite.
- Mobile. Employees can do most tasks on their phones.
- Frontline communication. Helpful for distributed, hourly, or field teams.
Pricing and total cost
Neither vendor publishes pricing. Both quote by module and headcount. ADP often sells capabilities as add-ons, so map your requirements carefully. With both, ask for implementation fees, renewal caps, and a full list of what is included. Compare three-year totals, not first-year prices.
Implementation, support, and switching
Both vendors assign implementation teams. Expect several weeks to a few months depending on complexity. Ask for a named lead and run a parallel payroll before go-live.
Service quality after go-live is the most common theme in reviews of both vendors. Ask how you will be supported, who your contact will be, and how to escalate problems. Talk to references who have been customers for more than two years.
Who uses the system every day
Payroll administrators, managers, and employees experience these systems very differently. Ask to sit with a current customer's payroll admin for an hour if possible, and ask employees at reference companies what they use the mobile app for. If your employees rarely sit at a computer, the employee experience may matter more than any feature on the admin side.
Contracts and renewals
Read contract terms carefully with both vendors. Ask about the length of the initial term, how much prices can increase at renewal, what happens if you add or remove modules, and how much notice you need to give before leaving. Ask for these terms in writing before you sign, and try to align renewal dates with your fiscal planning cycle.
Which one should you choose?
Choose ADP Workforce Now if
- Compliance depth and the security of a very large provider matter most.
- You want a large integration marketplace.
- You may want to move to a PEO or HR outsourcing later.
- You value workforce benchmarks.
Choose Paylocity if
- Employee experience and engagement matter most.
- You have distributed, hourly, or field teams.
- You want a modern mobile app.
- You want surveys and recognition built in.
Run a fair head-to-head demo
Give both vendors the same scenarios, a week in advance, and score them on the same scale. These scenarios tend to separate these two products:
- Run payroll for multiple locations and pay rates.
- Show the employee mobile app from first login.
- Connect your accounting system and one other key tool.
- Post a company announcement and run a short survey.
- Explain support after go-live and escalation paths.
Our free demo scorecard keeps the scoring consistent.
Frequently asked questions
Is ADP more expensive than Paylocity?
Does Paylocity offer a PEO?
Which has the better mobile app?
Get a personalized comparison
Tell us about your team and a member of our research team will send a short, specific recommendation on ADP Workforce Now versus Paylocity for your situation, usually within two business days.