Buddy Punch vs Paychex: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Buddy Punch and Paychex. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Buddy Punch starts at $5.49/mo, making it $15/mo cheaper than Paychex ($20/mo). Paychex offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Buddy Punch vs Paychex: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Buddy Punch | Paychex |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $5.49/mo | $20/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Buddy Punch is the more affordable option, starting at $5.49/mo compared to Paychex's $20/mo. Both are HR & People tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 33 features compared. At comparable tiers, the monthly price difference is $43.01.
Paychex stands out with a free plan for getting started.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your HR & People needs.
| Pricing Plans |  Buddy Punch Try it freeAffiliate |  Paychex Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Starter $5/month $4 / year Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | ProPopular $7/monthCheapest $6 / year Includes
| Small Business Payroll $20/month $240 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Enterprise $12/monthCheapest $11 / year Includes
| Midsize to Enterprise PayrollPopular $50/month $600 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | One Employee Payroll Custom pricing Includes
|
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Buddy Punch
Time tracking and attendance software with GPS tracking, PTO management, and payroll integrations.
View all Buddy Punch plansPaychex
Paychex offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Paychex
Try Paychex freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Buddy Punch if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Buddy Punch starts at $5.49/mo, saving $14.51/mo compared to Paychex at $20/mo
- •You want more features built-in—Buddy Punch offers 13 additional features across its plans
- •You want Buddy Punch's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 3 pricing tiers
Choose Paychex if:
- •You need a free plan with Basic Payroll, Employee Self-Service—Paychex offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Paychex offers negotiated terms for large deployments
Paychex offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Buddy Punch requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Paychex a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Paychex's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $50/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against Buddy Punch's tiering starting at $5.49/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Paychex's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Buddy Punch's 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Paychex is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Best choice: Buddy Punch
Try Buddy Punch freeFrequently Asked Questions: Buddy Punch vs Paychex
Which is cheaper, Buddy Punch or Paychex?
How many pricing plans does Buddy Punch have vs Paychex?
Does Buddy Punch or Paychex offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Buddy Punch or Paychex?
What is the most popular Buddy Punch plan?
What is the most popular Paychex plan?
Does Buddy Punch or Paychex offer custom enterprise pricing?
Sources
- Buddy Punch Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Paychex Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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