Paychex vs Workday: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Paychex and Workday. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Paychex starts at $20/mo and Workday starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 6 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Paychex vs Workday: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Paychex | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $20/mo | Custom pricing |
| Number of Plans | 4 | 2 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Paychex and Workday are both priced at $20/mo, making them equally accessible HR & People tools. Together they offer 6 pricing plans with 17 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
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 Try it free |  Workday Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | HCMPopular Custom pricing Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | Small Business Payroll $20/monthCheapest $240 / year Includes
| Financial Management Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Midsize to Enterprise PayrollPopular $50/monthCheapest $600 / year Includes
| — |
| Tier 4 | One Employee Payroll Custom pricing Includes
| — |
Swipe to compare plans →
Paychex
Paychex offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 2.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Paychex
Try Paychex freeWhich 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
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want more features built-in—Paychex offers 3 additional features across its plans
Choose Workday if:
- •You prioritize Workday's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •Workday's per-seat pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps
- •Workday's focused feature set keeps your team in control without tool bloat
Paychex offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Workday 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 Workday's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Paychex's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Workday's 2 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: Paychex vs Workday
How many pricing plans does Paychex have vs Workday?
Does Paychex or Workday offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Paychex or Workday?
What is the most popular Paychex plan?
What is the most popular Workday plan?
Does Paychex or Workday offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Paychex and Workday compare for HR & People?
Sources
- Paychex Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Workday Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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