Paylocity vs Workday Recruiting
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.
Workday Recruiting
Workday Recruiting is an enterprise-grade applicant tracking system built into the broader Workday HCM suite. It offers end-to-end recruiting from sourcing to offer management within a unified platform.
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
- ✓Seamlessly integrated with Workday HR and Payroll
- ✓Strong reporting and analytics
- ✓Excellent for large enterprises
- ✓Unified candidate and employee data
- ✓Configurable workflows
Cons
- ✗Very expensive for small businesses
- ✗Complex implementation process
- ✗Requires dedicated admin
- ✗Overkill for teams under 500 employees
Paylocity vs Workday Recruiting: Side by Side
| Factor | Paylocity | Workday Recruiting |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Category | HR Software | Applicant Tracking |
| Pricing Model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Best For | Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees | Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data |
| Our Pick | — | — |
Paylocity Features
- ✓Payroll
- ✓benefits
- ✓talent management
- ✓workforce management
- ✓analytics
- ✓employee self-service
Workday Recruiting Features
- ✓Applicant tracking
- ✓interview management
- ✓candidate sourcing
- ✓onboarding
- ✓analytics
- ✓compliance
Pricing Comparison
Our Take
Choose Paylocity if mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Best For
Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees
Best For
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data
Also Consider
If neither Paylocity nor Workday Recruiting 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 Workday Recruiting?
Paylocity is best for mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Workday Recruiting is best for large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
Which is better, Paylocity or Workday Recruiting?
Choose Paylocity if mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees. Choose Workday Recruiting if large enterprises already using workday hcm wanting unified recruiting and hr data.
How much does Paylocity cost?
Paylocity starts at Custom pricing. Pricing model: Paid.
How much does Workday Recruiting cost?
Visit Workday Recruiting website for current pricing.
Who should use Paylocity?
Mid-market businesses with 20-1000 employees
Who should use Workday Recruiting?
Large enterprises already using Workday HCM wanting unified recruiting and HR data