Paycor Review
Paycor is a human capital management platform for payroll, HR, time, recruiting, talent and benefits, owned by Paychex since April 2025.
- Company size
- Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises
- Pricing model
- Quote only
- Integrations
- 100
- Deployment
- Cloud
Best for
- Small and midsize US employers that want payroll and HR in one system
- Companies with hourly staff that need time, scheduling and payroll together
- Teams that want to add recruiting and talent tools as they grow
Not ideal for
- Buyers who want posted prices: every plan is quoted
- Very small teams that only need a self-serve payroll app
- Companies outside the US that need local payroll in other countries
How we evaluated Paycor
This review rests on 20 facts checked against Paycor’s official pricing pages and documentation, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score and the pros and cons use only those verified facts, as our methodology explains, and third-party ratings are quoted, never scored.
Our verdict
Paycor suits US employers from small businesses to companies with 1,000+ employees that want payroll, HR, time, recruiting and talent tools on one platform with open APIs. Plans run from Basic payroll to Complete + ASO, all priced by quote. It holds SOC 1 and SOC 2 Type 2 attestations and supports single sign-on. It is less suited to buyers who want to see a price before talking to sales.
Strengths
Plans that grow with you
Basic covers payroll and tax filing; Essential, Core and Complete add compliance, HR, recruiting and talent tools, and Complete + ASO adds administrative services.
Audited security and SSO
Paycor says it complies with SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2, encrypts data at rest and in transit, and supports single sign-on with Microsoft, Google, OneLogin and Okta.
Evidence: SOC 2 Type II: Yes
Open APIs and a marketplace
Paycor offers open APIs with webhook event notifications, and its marketplace connects partners such as Deputy, Payscale, Sage Intacct and Sterling.
Evidence: Open API: Yes
AI teammate inside the product
WISE monitors, guides and acts on your behalf inside the tools you use, and a mobile-first AI assistant answers employee questions.
Evidence: AI features: WISE: AI teammate that monitors, guides and acts inside the tools you use, Mobile-first AI HR assistant for employees
Tax filing included from Basic
Even the Basic plan includes federal and state tax filing, direct deposit, new hire filing and employee self-service.
Evidence: Automatic tax filing: Yes
Backed by Paychex
Paycor, founded in 1990 in Cincinnati, became part of Paychex when the acquisition closed on April 14, 2025.
Evidence: Founded: 1990
Weaknesses
No published prices
Small businesses answer a few questions for a custom quote, and mid-market plans are also quoted.
Evidence: Pricing model: Quote only
Key tools sit in higher plans
Recruiting, talent and engagement tools come with Complete, so a payroll-only plan covers far less than the full platform.
US payroll only
Paycor's pages describe US federal and state payroll; companies with staff abroad will need another provider.
Evidence: Automatic tax filing: Yes
Price at a glance
Pricing model
Quote only
Quick answers
- How much does Paycor cost per month?
- Paycor does not publish prices. Small businesses get a custom quote, and mid-market plans are quoted too.Based on Pricing model: Quote only
- Who owns Paycor?
- Paychex. It completed its acquisition of Paycor HCM, Inc. on April 14, 2025.Based on Parent company: Paychex, Inc.
- Is Paycor legit?
- Yes. Paycor was founded in 1990 in Cincinnati, is now part of Paychex, and complies with SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2.Based on Founded: 1990
- What plans does Paycor offer?
- Small-business plans are Basic, Essential, Core, Complete and Complete + ASO; larger companies get mid-market plans.Based on Best for: Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises
Coverage of core payroll software capabilities
Each core capability we evaluate in Payroll Software, checked against Paycor’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.
10 verified of 12 core capabilities
Payroll Software
- Gross-to-net calculation
- Payroll tax filing
- Overtime and regular rate · not verified yet
- Multi-state payroll · not verified yet
- Deductions and garnishments
- Off-cycle runs
- Direct deposit and pay options
- Time and benefits integration
- Accounting and GL export
- Reports and audit trail
- Employee self-service
- Year-end forms
Specifications
Pricing
- Price transparency
- Quote only
Fit
- Industry focus
- Healthcare, Professional services, Manufacturing, Nonprofits, Restaurants, Education, Retail, Technology, Finance
Product
- Modules
- HR and payroll, Talent acquisition, Talent management, Workforce management (time, scheduling), Benefits administration, Analytics, Expense management
- Mobile apps
- Yes
- AI features
- WISE: AI teammate that monitors, guides and acts inside the tools you use, Mobile-first AI HR assistant for employees
Integrations
- Open API
- Yes
- Webhooks
- Yes
Paycor integrations
5 integrations we documented, by how they connect. Paycor reports 100 native integrations in total.
Partner and marketplace apps
Paycor integration coverage
The 10 apps that payroll software products document most often, and whether Paycor documents each.
5 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by Paycor; median of the 19 products compared: 3
- QuickBooks · documented by 11 of 19
- Checkr · documented by 6 of 19
- Vestwell · documented by 6 of 19
- Employee Navigator · documented by 5 of 19
- Xero · documented by 5 of 19
- Clover · documented by 4 of 19
- Deputy · documented by 4 of 19
- Greenhouse · documented by 4 of 19
- Indeed · documented by 4 of 19
- Okta · documented by 4 of 19
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier or API), 19 live payroll software products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Where it ranks
- #6 of 14 scoredPayroll Software
- #8 of 10 scoredHCM Software
- #17 of 19 scoredHRIS Software
- #10 of 11 scoredTime & Attendance Software
- #6 of 10 scoredPayroll Services
- #5 of 6 scoredHRIS Software for Education
- #9 of 10 scoredHRIS Software for Enterprises
- #10 of 11 scoredHRIS Software for Healthcare
- #10 of 11 scoredHRIS Software for Manufacturing
- #15 of 16 scoredHRIS Software for Mid-Sized Companies
- #7 of 8 scoredHRIS Software for Nonprofits
- #6 of 9 scoredHRIS Software for QuickBooks
Paycor alternatives
Gusto39% similar
Compare Paycor
Security and compliance
- SOC 2 Type IIYes
- GDPR programYes
- Single sign-onMicrosoft, Google, OneLogin, Okta
About Paycor
- Founded
- 1990
- Headquarters
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Ownership
- Subsidiary
- Parent company
- Paychex, Inc.
Official profiles
Paycor: frequently asked questions
Does Paycor have an API?
Yes. Paycor offers open APIs, and its developer guides describe webhook event notifications sent to your URL.
Does Paycor support single sign-on?
Yes. Paycor supports Microsoft SSO and providers such as Google, OneLogin and Okta.
Does Paycor use AI?
Yes. WISE is an AI teammate that monitors and acts inside your tools, and an AI assistant answers employee questions on mobile.
What is Paycor used for?
Paycor, on the market since 1990, is a payroll software product built for small businesses, mid-market companies, and enterprises. Its modules include HR and payroll, Talent acquisition, Talent management, Workforce management, and 3 more.
What are the best alternatives to Paycor?
In our payroll software ranking, the highest-scored products other than Paycor are Patriot Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, and Gusto. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Paycor alternatives.
Which is better, Paycor or BambooHR?
It depends on the team. Choose Paycor if: you want payroll and tax filing at the core: Paycor’s Basic plan is a payroll and tax service. Choose BambooHR if: you want to see the price first: Pro is $17.50 per employee a month above 25 employees. The full comparison: Paycor vs BambooHR.
What are the pros and cons of Paycor?
Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: plans that grow with you, audited security and SSO, and open APIs and a marketplace. It is less suited to buyers who want posted prices: every plan is quoted and very small teams that only need a self-serve payroll app.
What does Paycor integrate with?
Paycor lists 100 integrations, including Deputy, Payscale, Sage Intacct, 15Five, and 6 more. Every documented connection: Paycor integrations.
Does Paycor have a mobile app?
Yes. Paycor confirms a mobile app for employees and admins.
Get Paycor pricing for your team
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What changed
FeaturesPaycor no longer lists Compliance solutions in its modules.
PublishedFirst published.
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