Paylocity vs Sage HR: Pricing Comparison (2026)
Paylocity starts at $4/mo. Sage HR starts at $5.5/mo. Paylocity is $1.5/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Sage HR.
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
| # | Plan | Paylocity monthly | Paylocity annual | Sage HR monthly | Sage HR annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Payroll & Tax / Core HR | 4 | 4 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| 2 | HCM Bundle / + Leave Management | 8 | 8 | ~1.50 | ~1.50 |
| 3 | Premium HCM / + Performance | 15 | 15 | ~3 | ~3 |
| 4 | + Recruitment / Timesheets / Shift Scheduling / Expenses | — | — | varies | varies |
What each is best for
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.
At a glance
| Paylocity | Sage HR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | — | — |
| Entry price | $4/mo | $5.5/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Per Seat |
| Last verified | August 12, 2026 | August 18, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified August 18, 2026. Tracked daily.