The short answer
TriNet is an IRS-certified PEO: a flat per-employee fee by quote covers payroll and tax administration, benefits administration, workers' comp administration and EPLI. Paylocity is HR, payroll, time, benefits and finance software for US employers, also priced by quote, with nonrefundable implementation fees.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
TriNet wins 1Paylocity wins 13 ties
| Dimension | TriNet | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| PricingBoth quote. TriNet charges a flat per-employee monthly fee, with benefit premiums and payroll taxes billed separately. Paylocity charges a base fee plus per-employee fees that grow with the products used, plus nonrefundable implementation fees. Benefit premiums (medical, dental, vision) are separate from the PEPM fee, Payroll taxes themselves (employer FICA, FUTA, SUTA) are separate; tax administration is included, Add-ons such as background checks, drug screening and premium learning courses | Quote only | Quote only |
| CapabilitiesIn benefits administration, TriNet runs medical, dental, vision and life insurance with ACA and COBRA administration support and workers' comp claims support. Paylocity covers benefits inside a wider suite of payroll, HR, time, talent and finance modules. Medical, Dental, Vision, Life insurance | 9 of 12 core capabilities | 6 of 12 core capabilities |
| IntegrationsPaylocity lists 435 integrations, including Greenhouse, Checkr and Indeed, with an OAuth2 API and webhooks. TriNet lists 12, including QuickBooks Online, NetSuite and BambooHR. 435 | 12 native | 435 native |
| Fit and supportTriNet serves small and mid-size businesses and includes HR expertise. Paylocity serves small businesses to enterprises, with phone and email support Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central Time. Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises |
| SecurityBoth state SOC 2 Type II. Paylocity adds ISO 27001; TriNet adds HIPAA. Yes | SOC 2 | SOC 2, ISO 27001 |
| Attribute | TriNet | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per employee | Base fee + per employee |
| Best for | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises |
| Mobile apps | TriNet mobile app (pay stubs, time off) | iOS, Android, Apple Watch |
| Single sign-on | Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Okta, OneLogin | SAML (SP- and IdP-initiated) |
| Native integrations | 12 | 435 |
| Support channels | Phone, Online, Advisory support (HR Plus), Dedicated support (HR Plus) | Phone, Email, PEAK Knowledge Base (in-product) |
| Founded | 1988 | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Dublin, California | Schaumburg, Illinois, US |
| Attribute | TriNet | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Price transparency | Quote only | Quote only |
| Open API | ||
| SOC 2 Type II | ||
| Automatic tax filing | ||
| Ownership | Publicly traded | Publicly traded |
Pricing. Both quote. TriNet charges a flat per-employee monthly fee, with benefit premiums and payroll taxes billed separately. Paylocity charges a base fee plus per-employee fees that grow with the products used, plus nonrefundable implementation fees.
Capabilities. In benefits administration, TriNet runs medical, dental, vision and life insurance with ACA and COBRA administration support and workers' comp claims support. Paylocity covers benefits inside a wider suite of payroll, HR, time, talent and finance modules.
Integrations. Paylocity lists 435 integrations, including Greenhouse, Checkr and Indeed, with an OAuth2 API and webhooks. TriNet lists 12, including QuickBooks Online, NetSuite and BambooHR.
Fit and support. TriNet serves small and mid-size businesses and includes HR expertise. Paylocity serves small businesses to enterprises, with phone and email support Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Central Time.
Security. Both state SOC 2 Type II. Paylocity adds ISO 27001; TriNet adds HIPAA.
Employee Navigator has the highest LeadChange Score in Benefits Administration after excluding these two (7.8/10).
TriNet is a PEO: it administers payroll tax, benefits and workers' comp for you and adds HR experts and EPLI under one fee. Paylocity is software your own team runs, covering payroll, HR, time, talent, benefits and finance.
Neither publishes a price. TriNet quotes a flat per-employee monthly fee and bills benefit premiums and payroll taxes on top. Paylocity’s recurring fee is a base fee plus per-employee fees that depend on headcount and products, and it charges nonrefundable implementation fees and extra for W-2 preparation and time clocks.
Paylocity assumes liability, penalty or interest charges that result from a Paylocity error. TriNet runs payroll tax calculation, withholding, remittance and filing as part of its fee.
Paylocity’s Ignite AI adds purpose-built agents for pay, time and recruiting, an assistant for handbook questions and plain-language explanations of payroll variances before you submit. TriNet lists AI-powered tools that handle routine HR questions and tasks.
Paylocity has apps for iOS, Android and Apple Watch, and employees can clock in from a phone with geofencing. TriNet’s mobile app shows pay stubs and time off.
Paylocity’s global payroll lets US-based companies pay employees in 100+ countries. TriNet’s compliance guidance is for all 50 US states.
TriNet lists 12 integrations and Paylocity lists 435. Both connect to Greenhouse.
Both TriNet and Paylocity state SOC 2 Type II. Only TriNet states HIPAA (BAA). Only Paylocity states ISO 27001.
TriNet ranks #5 of 6 in our benefits administration ranking. Besides Paylocity, the highest-scored are Employee Navigator, Gusto, and BambooHR. Every alternative, matched to the reason you might switch: TriNet alternatives.
Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices. Then, if you like, ask to hear from both.
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A 0–10 editorial assessment built only from verified facts, across six weighted dimensions: capabilities, pricing, integrations, security, fit and support, and data confidence.
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