Paylocity vs When I Work
Compare Paylocity and When I Work on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Paylocity
US mid-market HR + payroll (+ finance/IT) — custom quote (‘Explore Payroll Pricing’); Ignite AI. Landscape vs Gusto.
Best for
- • US mid-market companies (roughly 100–1,000 employees) that want payroll+HR in one modern platform
- • Teams comparing Paylocity vs ADP Workforce Now vs Paycor
- • Orgs that may add finance/IT and Ignite AI later
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
No universal winner. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.
Tie
- • Integrations
Choose Paylocity if: US mid-market companies (roughly 100–1,000 employees) that want payroll+HR in one modern platform
Choose When I Work if: Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price
When I Work
Per-user hourly scheduling — Essentials from $2.50/user/mo; Pro $5; Premium $8; 14-day trial. Time & attendance is a paid toggle.
Best for
- • Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price
- • Operators who will trial 14 days before buying Deputy or Homebase hubs
- • Multi-location teams that stay on Essentials+ for templates and OpenShifts
Starting from $2.50/user/mo
No free plan
Paylocity vs When I Work at a glance
Criterion-level leaders from verified research.
Scorecard preview
Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.
- Starting pricingDepends
Paylocity
When I Work
- Free planDepends
Paylocity
When I Work
- User / licence minimumDepends
Paylocity
When I Work
- IntegrationsTie
Paylocity
When I Work
The biggest differences
Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.
Starting pricing
DependsPaylocity
Paylocity starting price was not verified in current research — confirm on the vendor pricing page; When I Work researched starting price from $2.5/mo. Better value depends on plan rungs, currency, and add-ons.
When I Work
Paylocity starting price was not verified in current research — confirm on the vendor pricing page; When I Work researched starting price from $2.5/mo. Better value depends on plan rungs, currency, and add-ons.
Which should you choose?
Choose Paylocity if
- US mid-market companies (roughly 100–1,000 employees) that want payroll+HR in one modern platform
- Teams comparing Paylocity vs ADP Workforce Now vs Paycor
- Orgs that may add finance/IT and Ignite AI later
Choose When I Work if
- Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price
- Operators who will trial 14 days before buying Deputy or Homebase hubs
- Multi-location teams that stay on Essentials+ for templates and OpenShifts
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider
Gusto
US SMB payroll + benefits + light HR — Simple from $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22.
ADP Workforce Now
Mid-market payroll + HR (Select / Plus / Premium packaging) — custom PEPM quote; no published seat $. Landscape vs Gusto.
Paycor
HR + payroll HCM (Paychex-owned since 2025) — custom quote; WISE AI. Landscape vs Gusto / Paylocity.
Homebase
SMB hourly WFM (scheduling, time, hiring) priced per location — free Basic ≤10 employees at 1 site; paid Essentials from $24/location/mo annual.
How we compare
A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology
1
Collect
Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.
2
Normalize
Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.
3
Compare
Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.
4
Explain
Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.
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- No invented scores or prices
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