Paylocity vs Asana
A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Paylocity
Paylocity is a modern HR and payroll platform designed for mid-market businesses. It combines payroll processing with employee engagement tools, learning management, and workforce analytics. Paylocity stands out for its strong mobile experience and focus on building connected, engaged workplaces.
Asana
Asana is a leading project management platform that helps teams organize, track, and manage their work. It offers multiple views including lists, boards, timelines, and calendars to suit different working styles. Asana is trusted by over 130,000 organizations worldwide for managing everything from daily tasks to complex cross-functional projects.
Pros
- ✓Strong employee engagement and communication tools
- ✓Excellent mobile app for both managers and employees
- ✓Modern UI with good user adoption rates
- ✓Robust payroll with strong compliance features
Cons
- ✗Pricing requires a sales call and is not published online
- ✗Implementation can be complex for larger organizations
- ✗Some advanced features require additional modules at extra cost
Pros
- ✓Intuitive interface that teams adopt quickly with minimal training
- ✓Multiple project views including list, board, and Gantt timeline
- ✓Strong automation features to reduce manual work
- ✓Generous free plan for small teams
Cons
- ✗Can feel overwhelming for simple use cases with too many features
- ✗Pricing jumps significantly from free to paid plans
- ✗No built-in time tracking on lower tiers
- ✗Limited native reporting on free plan
Paylocity vs Asana: Side by Side
| Factor | Paylocity | Asana |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Project Management |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | Free |
| Best For | Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees | Teams of all sizes wanting a flexible, feature-rich project management tool |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Paylocity Features
- ✓Payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓talent management
- ✓workforce management
- ✓analytics
- ✓employee self-service
Asana Features
- ✓Task and project management
- ✓timeline view
- ✓board view
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓reporting dashboards
- ✓goals tracking
- ✓integrations
- ✓mobile app
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Paylocity if mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Choose Asana if teams of all sizes wanting a flexible, feature-rich project management tool.
Best For
Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees
Best For
Teams of all sizes wanting a flexible, feature-rich project management tool
Also Consider
If neither Paylocity nor Asana is the right fit, Justworks is worth evaluating.
Justworks
Small businesses wanting Fortune 500 benefits
From $59/employee/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Paylocity and Asana?
Paylocity is best for mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Asana is best for teams of all sizes wanting a flexible, feature-rich project management tool.
Which is better, Paylocity or Asana?
Choose Paylocity if mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Choose Asana if teams of all sizes wanting a flexible, feature-rich project management tool.
How much does Paylocity cost?
Paylocity starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Asana cost?
Asana starts at Free. Pricing model: Freemium.
Who should use Paylocity?
Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees
Who should use Asana?
Teams of all sizes wanting a flexible, feature-rich project management tool