Justworks vs Paychex: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Justworks and Paychex. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Justworks starts at $8/mo, making it $12/mo cheaper than Paychex ($20/mo). Paychex offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Justworks vs Paychex: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Justworks | Paychex |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/mo | $20/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Justworks is the more affordable option, starting at $8/mo compared to Paychex's $20/mo. Both are HR & People tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 25 features compared. At comparable tiers, the monthly price difference is $59.
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 |  Justworks Try it free |  Paychex Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Payroll $8/month Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | PEO Basic $79/month Includes
| Small Business Payroll $20/monthCheapest $240 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | PEO PlusPopular $109/month Includes
| Midsize to Enterprise PayrollPopular $50/monthCheapest $600 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | One Employee Payroll Custom pricing Includes
|
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Paychex
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 Justworks if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Justworks starts at $8/mo, saving $12/mo compared to Paychex at $20/mo
- •You want more features built-in—Justworks offers 5 additional features across its plans
- •You prefer Justworks's per-seat model with its 3-tier structure
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 Justworks 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 Justworks' tiering starting at $8/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Paychex's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Justworks' 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.
Frequently Asked Questions: Justworks vs Paychex
Which is cheaper, Justworks or Paychex?
How many pricing plans does Justworks have vs Paychex?
Does Justworks or Paychex offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Justworks or Paychex?
What is the most popular Justworks plan?
What is the most popular Paychex plan?
Does Justworks or Paychex offer custom enterprise pricing?
Sources
- Justworks Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Paychex Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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