Paycor Review

Pros

• Easy to use
• Easy setup
• Strong payroll features
• HR guidance from certified professionals

Cons

• Pricey compared to other options
• Lengthy troubleshooting times
• Limited integration options

What Is Paycor?

Paycor is a cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) program, including full-service payroll, benefits administration, and other HR solutions. The software was designed to streamline services, so it is best suited for an owner-operator or business owner with a small HR department.

Paycor is a solid solution for small to medium-sized businesses looking for enterprise-level HR assistance. However, that assistance comes at a steep price, which kept Paycor off our list of the best cheap payroll software.

Paycor Pricing

Paycor’s low 1.5/5 star pricing rating is due to the software’s lack of pricing transparency and lack of a free trial. The software earned points in the pricing customization category based on what we do know about Paycor’s pricing model, as there are feature add-ons available, and set-up fees aren’t mandatory in all cases.

If you’re interested in Paycor, you must reach out to Paycor for a custom pricing quote.

Previously, Paycor’s published pricing started at $99/month + $5 per person paid for businesses with under 50 employees, which put it in the expensive range for payroll software pricing. However, Paycor runs promotions for new customers to help reduce costs.

Paycor Basic Payroll

Paycor’s Basic plan includes:

• Direct deposit and check stuffing
• Reports
• New-hire filing EVS
• Unlimited payroll runs
• Calculates paychecks
• Online pay stub portal
• Reports
• Online check stub
• Basic wage garnishments
• Federal and state payroll tax filing
• Additional local and state tax authorities
• Check stuffing
• Work number
• On-Demand Pay
• AutoRun payroll

Paycor Essential Payroll

Paycor’s Essential plan includes everything in the Basic plan, plus:

• Wage garnishment remittance
• Reporting options and customization
• Labor distribution
• General ledger report
• Job costing
• HR support center
• Month-end accounting package
• Labor law poster
• PTO management
• Time off request management
• Electronic custom data file
• Onboarding support
• Paycor Recruit & Hire
• Paycor Analytics
• 401(k) EDI processing
• 360 degree 401(k) integration
• Premium Only plan
• Electronic GL
• E-Verify Service

Paycor Core Payroll

Paycor’s Core plan includes everything in the Essential plan, plus:

• Expense management
• Reimbursements
• Custom expense policies
• Expense reports
• One-on-one support from a certified HR professional
• Employee record-keeping
• Employee self-service
• HR system automation
• HR Support Center On-Demand
• Employee import
• Online document storage
• Performance management
• Role profiles
• Job assessments
• Establish and manage job competencies
• Talent attributes
• Role-based reviews
• COR Leadership

Paycor Complete

Paycor’s Complete plan includes everything in the Core plan, plus:

• Benchmarking
• Prebuilt analytics dashboards
• Paycor Compensation Planning
• Paycor Talent Management
• Paycor Engage

Extra Paycor Costs & Fees

Like most payroll software options, Paycor isn’t without its extra fees and costs. Most of Paycor’s fees are one-off or situational, such as W-2 amendment or late payment fees. However, Paycor also sets workers’ compensation, time tracking and scheduling, benefits administration, and recruiting support as add-on services, so you’ll have to pay extra for them.

That said, treating those services as add-ons allows businesses to build custom service packages that best suit their needs. As such, you may avoid paying extra for services your business doesn’t actually need.

Is Paycor Easy To Use?

Paycor’s 3.7/5 star rating in the pricing category reflects the software’s ease of use — as long as you stay within Paycor’s ecosystem. The software’s rating came down due to its limited integrations, some complaints about glitching, and room for improvement in the setup/onboarding process.

As cloud-based software, Paycor can be accessed wherever there is a stable internet connection. Off-web, Paycor operates a highly-rated mobile app for employers and employees that can be used on both Android and iOS platforms.

Even if you have never run payroll before, Paycor’s program can walk you through each step of the process. Most businesses hoping to streamline payroll and HR processes will appreciate how intuitive Paycor is, but some may wish for more customization options.

If you’re interested in trialing Paycor, taking Paycor’s online tour or watching the Paycor demo will let you test the software’s ease of use for yourself.

Paycor Features

With a strong 4.6/5 star rating in the pricing category, Paycor’s services should suit any business looking for a full-service payroll software and HR solution. The software only lost significant points as it charges extra fees for some features, lacks integrations, and doesn’t support access to HR professionals.

However, Paycor’s robust feature set ranks highly among the top payroll software solutions on the market. As payroll software, Paycor can handle all the basics of payroll for your business — from auto-scheduling payroll runs to filing your business’s payroll taxes. As an HCM software, Paycor also boasts an impressive suite of HR, employee management, and benefits management solutions.

Smaller businesses may find themselves underutilizing the software’s robust feature set. So, if your business needs simpler payroll solutions, we recommend checking out some of the solutions that make our best payroll software for small businesses.

Paycor Customer Service

Paycor scores exceptionally well in the customer service category, earning a 4.5/5 star rating based on its extended live support options and excellent self-service support.

However, Paycor’s customer reviews lowered its overall rating, as nearly all user review complaints center on a lack of action in times of need or a general slowness in responding to issues.

That said, Paycor offers users plenty of ways to get in touch when they need support. Here’s a breakdown of Paycor’s customer service options:

Like many payroll software solutions, Paycor lacks an easy way to get in touch with payroll experts. Most customer service representatives will be able to help you troubleshoot software issues but may not have the answers to payroll-specific problems. However, Paycor does operate an in-depth payroll support library with up-to-date payroll-specific resources.

Paycor Integrations

Currently, Paycor has 300+ available integrations, including Deputy, GoodHire, Indeed, Square, and Toast. Compared to other payroll solutions, Paycor’s selection of accounting, HR, and time and attendance software is lacking.

However, user reviews mention integrations with non-listed partners, meaning the company can create bespoke integrations, depending on need.

The company also has an API available for app creation within the platform. You can visit the Paycor app marketplace for a complete list of currently available integrations.

Paycor Reviews

Paycor performed well in the user reviews category with a 4.1/5 star rating based on data from user reviews across the web and app stores.

Paycor’s reviews generally skew positive, with most users satisfied with the software. Customers especially enjoyed the automatic onboarding process, eliminating the slog of paperwork on the employer’s end and the ease of running payroll.

In general, reviews are positive, especially about the payroll platform. However, the functionality of a few other platforms and the inability to talk to an expert immediately were two areas that needed improvement.

Negative Paycor Reviews & Complaints

• Nontransparent pricing and fees
• Cumbersome HR platform
• It takes a long time to get support

Positive Paycor Reviews

• Easy to use
• Constantly updating
• Excellent mobile app

Is Paycor Secure?

Paycor is a secure platform that utilizes industry-standard security features and protocols to keep customer data safe. Paycor does not have a history of data breaches. Data is encrypted at the file level to help protect information from security breaches.

Here’s a look at some of Paycor’s security features:

• Multifactor authentication
• Risk assessment team
• Google Authenticator
• Data encryption
• Intrusion detection
• Vulnerability scanning
• SOC 2 Type 2 certification

Final Verdict: Is Paycor Worth It?

Paycor is a solid HCM software for businesses looking for an easy-to-use platform with guided assistance from a trustworthy service. However, as a standalone payroll solution, Paycor’s price, limited benefits administration options, and lone accounting integration make it less appealing than options such as Gusto or ADP.

For larger businesses needing advanced HCM software with full-service payroll, Paycor is an excellent option. However, smaller businesses may be looking for simplicity and affordability over advanced features.

If you’re not sure that Paycor is the right choice for your business, you might be interested in considering other payroll software solutions. Patriot Payroll or Gusto may be better options if your business is looking for a simple and affordable payroll solution without all the bells and whistles. If you want to learn more about Paycor alternatives, including feature lists, pricing, and more, check out our Patriot Payroll review or Gusto review.

Payroll Software Review Methodology

We research, evaluate, and test each payroll software app that we review at Merchant Maverick, placing special emphasis on key characteristics to generate granular ratings.

Our exhaustive, 76-point rubric guides the star rating of each payroll provider we review, examining pricing, ease of use, features, customer service, and user reviews. Each section is weighted differently.

• Pricing (10% of the overall rating)
• Ease of Use (20% of the overall rating)
• Features (40% of the overall rating)
• Customer Service (20% of the overall rating)
• User Reviews (10% of the overall rating)

When rating payroll software, we are looking for very specific qualities. The speed and cost of payroll runs and the availability of tax filing services are given high weight, as are the quality and availability of accounting, time-tracking, HR integrations, and user onboarding services. We also look for the presence of client and employee portals, benefits administration, PTO and time management tools, and many more vital features.

Learn more about how we rate payroll software providers.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Paycor	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Paycor for yourself.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Paycor	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Paycor for yourself.