- OfficePortal vs Paylocity in one line: Paylocity is a quote-based HCM suite for US mid-sized employers; OfficePortal is a complete HR system with published prices for growing teams anywhere.
- Independent estimates put Paylocity at roughly $20 to $40 per employee per month, plus implementation fees. OfficePortal Premium is $4 per user per month billed yearly.
- Both handle attendance, scheduling, time off, performance and payroll.
- Paylocity files US payroll taxes and offers global payroll in 100+ countries. OfficePortal does neither, but runs HR for teams in any location.
- OfficePortal has a free plan for up to five users. Paylocity sells through demos and quotes.
What is Paylocity?
Paylocity is a US human capital management company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and listed on the NASDAQ as PCTY. It reports more than 40,000 clients, and its annual report says those clients average more than 150 employees. The suite covers payroll with tax filing, time and attendance, scheduling, time off, performance, benefits and an internal social feed called Community. Global payroll in more than 100 countries comes through a separate platform it acquired in 2021.
Is Paylocity good for small businesses?
It can work, but it's built for bigger companies. With quote-based pricing, implementation fees and a suite aimed at employers with 150-plus people, small teams often pay for depth they won't use. If you're under 100 people, a lighter system with published pricing is usually easier to run and justify.
What makes OfficePortal the better fit for growing teams?
- Clear, low pricing: Premium is $4 per user per month billed yearly, listed on our pricing page, with no hidden fees.
- Start free: the Standard plan is free for up to five users, with no time limit.
- Attendance that holds up: web and biometric check-in plus GPS and selfie add-ons in attendance tracking.
- Rosters and overtime: shift scheduling calculates overtime automatically.
- Leave and reviews: leave management and performance reviews in the same system.
- Connected tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace integrations, a REST API, and Office 365 single sign-on on Premium.
- Hands-on setup: our onboarding team helps with setup, data migration and training.
How much does Paylocity cost?
Paylocity doesn't publish prices. Independent pricing guides put the full suite at roughly $20 to $40 per employee per month, with a one-time implementation fee often estimated at 10 to 20% of annual software cost. For 50 people, that's about $1,000 to $2,000 a month before setup. OfficePortal Premium costs $200 a month for the same 50 people.
Paylocity disadvantages: why do companies look for alternatives?
- No published pricing, and estimates suggest it's expensive for smaller teams.
- Implementation fees and a setup project before you go live.
- Support quality. On review sites, slow or uneven support is among the most-mentioned complaints, and some say it depends on the rep you get.
- Reporting and customisation. Reviewers often mention reporting gaps and limited flexibility to configure things themselves.
- Time and attendance friction. Some reviewers report timekeeping edits being overridden or time-off syncing issues.
- Sized for 150-plus employees, which can feel heavy for small teams.
What does Paylocity do well?
A lot. Reviewers praise its ease of use more than anything else, and many like having payroll, benefits, time and talent in one system. It files US payroll taxes, offers global payroll in 100+ countries, and as a large public company it has a long track record. For US employers with a few hundred staff, it's a solid choice.
Who should choose which?
- Paylocity: US employers with 150 or more people that want payroll tax filing, benefits and global payroll from one vendor, and can budget for implementation.
- OfficePortal: small and growing teams that want attendance, shifts, leave, reviews and payroll at a published price, or that have people outside the US.
Does OfficePortal file US payroll taxes?
No. OfficePortal doesn't file US federal, state or local payroll taxes or run payroll in multiple countries. If you need either, Paylocity covers them.
How do you switch from Paylocity to OfficePortal?
- Export employee records, pay history, deductions, time-off balances and review history.
- Book a demo. Our onboarding team helps with setup, data migration and training.
- Configure attendance, shifts and leave policies, then run a payroll in parallel before you switch.
Comparing more HCM suites? See OfficePortal vs Paycor, OfficePortal vs Dayforce or our list of HR software alternatives.