Paylocity vs Salesforce
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.
Salesforce
Salesforce is the world's leading CRM platform used by over 150,000 businesses of all sizes. It offers a highly customizable suite of sales, service, marketing, and analytics tools. Salesforce is the gold standard for enterprise CRM but has solutions for businesses of all sizes through its Starter and Pro plans.
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
- ✓Most powerful and customizable CRM on the market
- ✓Massive ecosystem with 3,000+ AppExchange integrations
- ✓Industry-leading reporting and analytics
- ✓Strong community and support resources
Cons
- ✗Expensive and complex for small teams
- ✗Long implementation timelines for enterprise deployments
- ✗Requires dedicated admin resources to get the most out of it
Paylocity vs Salesforce: Side by Side
| Factor | Paylocity | Salesforce |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | CRM Software |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
| Best For | Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees | Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Paylocity Features
- ✓Payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓talent management
- ✓workforce management
- ✓analytics
- ✓employee self-service
Salesforce Features
- ✓Contact and lead management
- ✓opportunity tracking
- ✓workflow automation
- ✓AI insights
- ✓reporting and dashboards
- ✓AppExchange integrations
- ✓mobile app
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Paylocity if mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm.
Best For
Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees
Best For
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM
Also Consider
If neither Paylocity nor Salesforce 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 Salesforce?
Paylocity is best for mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Salesforce is best for mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm.
Which is better, Paylocity or Salesforce?
Choose Paylocity if mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Choose Salesforce if mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable crm.
How much does Paylocity cost?
Paylocity starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Salesforce cost?
Salesforce starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
Who should use Paylocity?
Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees
Who should use Salesforce?
Mid to large enterprises needing a highly customizable CRM