Paycor costs $99 to $299 a month plus $6 to $16 per employee
Paycor stopped posting prices in 2025 and now quotes every deal. Buyer reports put the Basic plan near $99 a month plus $6 per employee, rising to about $299 a month plus $16 per employee on the Complete plan. For 50 to 500 staff the all in figure usually lands between $19 and $27 per employee a month.
What Paycor charges
| Basic | About $99 a month plus $6 per employee. |
|---|---|
| Complete | About $299 a month plus $16 per employee. |
| Mid market all in | About $19 to $27 per employee a month. |
| 25 person company | Roughly $249 a month on Basic. |
| Owner | Paychex completed a $4.1 billion purchase in April 2025. |
What pushes a quote up
| Headcount | The per employee part grows with staff. |
|---|---|
| Plan | Recruiting, learning and analytics sit in higher plans. |
| Implementation | A one off setup fee is common. |
| Term | Annual contracts are standard. |
| Negotiation | Quotes move, especially against a rival bid. |
Watch the ownership change
Paychex completed its purchase of Paycor in April 2025. Paycor still runs as its own unit and has announced no price changes, but a new owner is a reason to keep your contract term short until the picture settles.
If you are choosing between Paycor and Paylocity at 50 to 500 staff, the two land in the same $19 to $27 band, so the decision is about features and service, not price.
Why the price is hidden
Software sold this way is priced by the sales team, not by a price list. The rep learns your size, your budget and how badly you need it, then builds a quote. Two companies the same size often pay different amounts for the same product. That is why the numbers on this page come from buyers and analysts, not from the vendor.
How to judge the quote in your hand
- Ask for the all in per employee number, base fee included.
- Ask for the all in number: licence, setup, training and support for year one.
- Ask what renewal looks like in year two and three, in writing.
- Get a second quote from a rival and say so on the call.
- Buy at quarter end, when reps chase targets.
- Cut seats and modules you will not use in the first 90 days.
Ways to pay less
- Keep the first term short while the new ownership settles.
- Pay yearly if the discount is real, not just a rounding of the monthly price.
- Start on the lowest tier and upgrade when you hit a wall.
- Ask for the setup fee to be waived or split over the year.
- Check the free trial or demo before you sign anything.
Before you decide
The most useful comparison for Paycor is not a feature list, it is one number: cost per employee per month with everything switched on. Ask for that, then ask Paylocity, ADP and Gusto for the same number with the same modules. At 50 to 500 staff the answers usually land close together, so service and implementation quality decide it.
Given the Paychex purchase in 2025, ask how long your rate is locked and what notice applies at renewal.
Payroll software is also a switching cost question. Year end is the cleanest time to move, because W-2 history stays in one place. If you switch mid year you carry two sets of records, and most providers charge to import the first half of the year. Ask for that fee up front and factor it in.
What will this cost me?
Pick the job, your state's cost level and the last detail. The estimate updates as you change them.
An estimate built from published 2026 cost guides. It is not a quote. Get a written quote before work starts.
Common questions
How much does Paycor cost?
About $99 to $299 a month base, plus $6 to $16 per employee a month.
Does Paycor publish pricing?
No. It removed its public pricing page in 2025.
What do mid size companies pay?
About $19 to $27 per employee a month all in.
Who owns Paycor?
Paychex, since April 2025.