Paylocity vs Sage HR — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Sage HR starts at $5.5/mo. Paylocity uses custom pricing — request a quote to compare.
Mid-market cloud HCM (Human Capital Management) platform focused on 50-1,000 employee businesses, founded 1997. Positioned as the modern, culture-first alternative to ADP Workforce Now for mid-market companies that want a single system for payroll + HR + talent + engagement. Distinctive for its Community feature (internal social network) + video employee training + mobile-first workforce experience. Priced quote-based (~$4-$15/employee/mo reference) across Payroll / HCM Bundle / Premium HCM tiers. Publicly traded NASDAQ: PCTY, $12B market cap. Serves 40K+ customers primarily in US.
Sage HR (formerly CakeHR) is Sage's cloud HR platform for SMBs. Core HR ~$5.50/employee/mo; add-on modules (Leave, Performance, Timesheets, Shift Scheduling, Recruitment, Expenses) priced separately per employee. 30-day free trial. UK-headquartered.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Paylocity monthly | Paylocity annual | Sage HR monthly | Sage HR annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Payroll & Tax / + Expenses | $4 | $4 | $1.5 | $1.5 |
| Mid tier 1 | HCM Bundle / + Performance | $8 | $8 | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 2 | — / + Shift Scheduling | — | — | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 3 | — / + Timesheets | — | — | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 4 | — / Core HR + Leave Management | — | — | $5.5 | $5.5 |
| Mid tier 5 | — / + HR Advice Essentials | — | — | $100 | $100 |
| Pro / power | Premium HCM / + Recruitment | $15 | $15 | $200 | $200 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Paylocity is worth it if… US-based mid-market companies (50-1,000 employees) that need payroll + HR + benefits + basic talent in one platform — particularly if you value modern mobile UX and employee-engagement features that ADP lacks. Payroll & Tax covers core payroll processing; HCM Bundle adds HR + benefits + time; Premium HCM adds recruiting + onboarding + engagement + analytics.
Sage HR is worth it if… Sage HR is ideal for UK/EU small-to-mid businesses (5-200 employees) that want modular HR without US-heavy pricing tiers.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Paylocity over Sage HR if…
Choose Paylocity if…
- You're comfortable with Paylocity's a free entry tier entry point.
- You match the profile Paylocity is built for: US-based mid-market companies (50-1,000 employees) that need payroll + HR + benefits + basic talent in one platform — particularly if you value modern mobile UX and employee-engagement features that ADP lacks.
- You're building for recruiting.
Choose Sage HR if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $5.5/mo).
- You match the profile Sage HR is built for: ideal for UK/EU small-to-mid businesses (5-200 employees) that want modular HR without US-heavy pricing tiers.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Paylocity | Sage HR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | Custom pricing | $5.5/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Per Seat |
| Verification | Pricing under review | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 27, 2026. Tracked daily.