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HR & People

Paychex vs Remote: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Paychex and Remote. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Remote starts at $12/mo, making it $8/mo cheaper than Paychex ($20/mo). Paychex offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026
Try Paychex freeTry Remote free

Paychex vs Remote: Quick Pricing Facts

FeaturePaychexRemote
Starting Price$20/mo$12/mo
Number of Plans49
Free TierYesNo
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Remote is the more affordable option, starting at $12/mo compared to Paychex's $20/mo. Both are HR & People tools with 13 combined pricing plans and 66 features compared.

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
Paychex
Remote
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Basic Payroll
  • Employee Self-Service
Start with Free
Recruit
$199/month
Includes
  • Source from 800m+ profiles
  • Get smart AI matches from our talent network
  • Advertise on remote.com/jobs
  • Access talent insights to find top hiring locations
  • Track candidates from application to hire
  • Cancel anytime
Start with Recruit
Tier 2
Small Business Payroll
$20/monthCheapest
$240 / year
Includes
  • Full Payroll Processing
  • Tax Filing
  • Employee Management
Start with Small Business Payroll
Employer of Record
$699/month
Includes
  • Hire without opening a local entity in 90+ countries
  • Onboarding with a dedicated specialist
  • Local payroll paid on time, every time
  • Compliance protections built-in
  • Competitive, flexible and localized benefits
  • Dedicated in-house experts for local support
  • Includes HR Essentials as standard
Start with Employer of Record
Tier 3
Midsize to Enterprise PayrollPopular
$50/month
$600 / year
Includes
  • Advanced Payroll Features
  • Custom Reporting
  • Dedicated Support
Start with Midsize to Enterprise Payroll
Payroll
$29/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Powerful, transparent international payroll
  • Simple self-service platform
  • Personalized support from dedicated specialists
  • Adhere to local payroll regulations in every country
  • Integrated benefits management
  • Includes HR Core as standard
Start with Payroll
Tier 4
One Employee Payroll
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Payroll for Single Employee
  • Basic Tax Services
Start with One Employee Payroll
Contractor Management
$29/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Only pay for contractors you actively work with
  • Work with international contractors
  • Create, edit, and sign tailored, localized contracts
  • Approve contractor invoices with one click or auto-pay
  • Transparent payments with complete visibility
  • Includes HR Core as standard
Start with Contractor Management
Tier 5
—
Contractor Management Plus
$99/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Robust indemnity protection and compliance with local laws
  • Coverage up to $100,000 per contractor for penalties
  • Create, edit, and sign tailored, compliant contracts
  • Transparent payments with zero hidden fees
  • Includes HR Core as standard
Start with Contractor Management Plus
Tier 6
—
Contractor of Record
$325/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Direct contractor engagement and payment by Remote
  • Uncapped indemnity ensuring comprehensive protection for your business
  • Transparent payments with full visibility
  • AI-powered tools to reduce misclassification risks
  • Facilitate IP transfer with Remote IP Guard
  • Includes HR Core as standard
Start with Contractor of Record
Tier 7
—
Professional Employer Organization
$99/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Hire and manage employees across the U.S.
  • Fast, guided onboarding for new hires
  • Payroll processed accurately and on time
  • Compliance support across federal, state, and local levels
  • Access to high-quality, large-group benefits
  • Dedicated HR and compliance experts for ongoing support
  • PEO is billed in USD and requires a U.S. bank account
Start with Professional Employer Organization
Tier 8
—
Equity
$39/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Transparent, trustworthy equity processes
  • Tax handling and reporting obligation assistance
  • Simple equity knowledge accessible on-demand
  • Fully compliant legal documentation for your global team
  • Deep insights into your equity program
  • For direct employees, EoR, and contractors of Delaware C-Corps
Start with Equity
Tier 9
—
HR Management
$12/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Guided onboarding and offboarding
  • Employee profile and document management
  • Contract templates and e-signing
  • Time off and time tracking
  • Expense management
  • Employee and manager self-serve experiencea
  • Mobile app
Start with HR Management

Swipe to compare plans →

Paychex

Payroll and HR solutions for small to mid-sized businesses

View all Paychex plans

Remote

Global HR platform for hiring and paying remote workers

View all Remote plans
Our Pick

Remote

Remote starts at $8/mo lower ($12/mo vs $20/mo), offers 9 tiers vs 4.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Remote

Try Remote free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Paychex if:

  • •You need a free plan with Basic Payroll, Employee Self-Service—Paychex offers no-cost access with no credit card required
  • •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Paychex offers negotiated terms for large deployments
  • •Paychex's 4-tier per-seat structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning

Choose Remote if:

  • •You want lower per-user costs—Remote starts at $12/mo, saving $8/mo compared to Paychex at $20/mo
  • •You need 9 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • •You want more features built-in—Remote offers 46 additional features across its plans

Paychex offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Remote 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 Remote's tiering starting at $12/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Paychex's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Remote's 9 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Paychex vs Remote

Which is cheaper, Paychex or Remote?
As of March 2026, Remote starts at a lower price point. Paychex starts at $20/mo while Remote starts at $12/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Paychex have vs Remote?
Paychex offers 4 pricing plans, while Remote offers 9 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Paychex or Remote offer a free plan?
Paychex offers a free plan, while Remote does not. If budget is a concern, Paychex lets you get started at no cost.
Can I save money by paying annually for Paychex or Remote?
Both Paychex and Remote offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular Paychex plan?
The Midsize to Enterprise Payroll plan is Paychex's most popular tier, priced at $50/mo. Key features include Advanced Payroll Features, Custom Reporting, Dedicated Support.
Does Paychex or Remote offer custom enterprise pricing?
Paychex offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Remote lists all its pricing publicly.
How do Paychex and Remote compare for HR & People?
Both Paychex and Remote are HR & People tools. Paychex offers 4 plans starting at $20/mo, while Remote offers 9 plans starting at $12/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your HR & People needs.

Sources

  1. Paychex Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
  2. Remote Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page

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