Paycor vs Dayforce

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Our analysts compared Paycor vs Dayforce based on data from our 400+ point analysis of HR Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Best for: Employee engagement and document management

Ranked at number two on our best HR software list, Paycor is a comprehensive, cloud-based HR system designed for businesses of all sizes that serve industries like healthcare, manufacturing, retail and technology.

It supports key HR functions, including talent management, benefits administration, payroll processing and compliance, catering to teams ranging from a single employee to over 1,000.

Paycor is a SelectHub award winner in employee onboarding and administration, self-service and performance management. It’s also in our top ten for applicant tracking and recruiting, benefits management, compensation management, and succession management.

The platform’s mission is to empower leaders with easy-to-access resources and personalized experiences featuring customizable homepages and learning paths. Managers can gain valuable insights to evaluate performance, track wins and identify areas for improvement.

Struggling with employee retention? Paycor helps by providing data on recognition frequency, promotion rates, pay adjustments and completed one-on-ones.

For recruiters, Paycor offers tools to enhance job postings and streamline the hiring process, utilizing AI for smart candidate sourcing. Key features include performance management, applicant tracking, recruiting, benefits management, compensation management, employee engagement, onboarding and employee self-service.

84% of users give it two thumbs up, noting its straightforward performance, payroll and scheduling management. In contrast, some have encountered complex reporting issues and occasional bugs following updates.

Pricing starts at $99 per user per month, with a free trial available.

To view other popular Paycor solutions, visit our Paycor company page.

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Dayforce is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform that offers a full suite of tools for managing payroll, workforce management, career development, benefits and HR tasks.

It's a great pick for larger teams looking to streamline onboarding and training with performance management tools that support ongoing career development. Plus, its self-service portal gives employees more independence.

Ranked in the top five on our HR software list, Dayforce stands out as the Best for Reporting and Dashboards. It shines with features like employee engagement, succession management and compensation management.

With tools for workforce insights, personalized coaching, and mobile access, managers can enhance engagement and adapt more efficiently, which helps cut down on turnover and anticipate trends. Mobile time-tracking tablets and time clocks help minimize errors and ensure more accurate payroll.

The platform offers customizable dashboards, automated payroll calculations, centralized employee info and engagement tracking. Users love its intuitive, easy-to-use design and self-service options that lighten the admin load. However, some find the reporting feature a bit tricky; while reports are customizable, getting them set up can be complex.

Pricing varies based on the number of users and chosen modules, generally falling between $6 and $12 per employee per month, which is mid-range compared to other options out there.

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Product Insights

  • Centralize HR: Complete all core HR tasks through one unified platform, eliminating multiple logins on different systems. Track and consolidate data so HR managers can generate comprehensive reports that summarize HR practices. Interview management, document access control, AI-based benefits advisor, budget allocation, compensation grid, automated tax filing, mobile scheduling, charts and visualizations are all fully supported for every aspect of HR.
  • Improve Document Management: Add flexibility with Paycor’s document management function, which is rated 100 in our analysis. This system includes fully supported features such as a document repository, document search and sharing capabilities. Digital signatures and a range of compliance documents further enhance the process, particularly during onboarding.
  • Boost Employee Engagement: Gauge employee engagement with pulse surveys that earn our highest rating. They measure engagement and job satisfaction, while self-paced learning fosters career development. Additionally, Paycor provides easy access to employee information, including pay, time tracking and time-off requests.
  • Streamline Data Entry: Upload applicant information and automatically import data, modifications and relevant fields to eliminate duplicate entries.
  • Strengthen Applicant Tracking and Recruiting: Manage all job candidates, their statuses and priority job listings efficiently. Assign specific hiring processes to each job record and use AI to generate job descriptions. Rated 86 out of 100, this function also streamlines the post-interview process by automatically saving feedback with user-friendly scoring.
  • Save Time: Automate workflows, reminders and notifications to reduce tedious, time-intensive manual tasks. Let employees focus on the critical, ROI-enhancing tasks.
  • Facilitate Onboarding and Administration: Establish timelines and provide training resources tailored to business needs. Paycor offers status calls, project scopes and demos for comprehensive support throughout onboarding, earning a 96 for this module.
  • Tailor Experiences: Customize homepages and their features for efficiency and comfort.
  • Enhance Visibility: Put important information at the forefront with homepage-based trends and alerts.
  • Get Tax Assistance: Monitor tax registrations and get tax recommendations, including notifications on employee location changes.
  • Empower Managers: Sharpen soft skills, including coaching, optimizing and retaining employees. Paycor’s core leadership model focuses on helping employees set goals, get feedback, stay motivated and celebrate successes.
  • Provide Leader Insights: Give managers insight into who's clocked in and who's nearing overtime, snapshots of employee records, time-off requests, upcoming birthdays, and anniversaries.
  • Plan for the Future: Keep employees and managers informed on individual progress and areas for improvement with assessments and role profiles. Help managers plan by finding talent gaps and risks via dashboards and insights. New to succession management? Paycor has a succession planning template for beginners.
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  • Centralize Records: Store all your documents in a secure repository, using filters to easily find the forms you need. You can also monitor and manage compensation levels, performance metrics, and org charts. Dayforce’s document management gets an 81 out of 100, according to our data.
  • Improve Payroll Accuracy: Reduce timesheet errors for more accurate payroll processing. While payroll management scores a 75, Dayforce payroll calculates pay in real time as it's recorded, giving admins continuous data throughout the pay period and providing more time for verification, review and audits.
  • Enhance Engagement: Promote stronger team engagement and communication with TeamRelate. Managers can track employee engagement daily, tailor coaching, and gauge employee communication styles and motivators through surveys. Its employee engagement tools come in at a perfect 100.
  • Navigate Compliance: Access real-time information on all legislative rules globally, including monitoring regulations in over 200 countries, to ensure compliance. Configure what the system monitors based on specific needs.
  • Work Flexibly: Update availability, check schedules and submit time-off requests on the go. Users can preview earnings, clock in and out, and view the People Directory to contact coworkers.
  • Boost Communication: Enhance communication by highlighting managers and colleagues in interactive org charts. Build and arrange employees based on the company’s structure and hierarchy.
  • Manage Time and Time Off: Replace punch clocks with tablets offering accurate time and attendance information. Employees can record time, request time off or trade shifts, and view schedules via the mobile app.
  • View Workforce Insights: Track critical organizational indicators like turnover by location and age to understand operational trends.
  • Ease Benefits Management: Simplify benefits enrollment with side-by-side plan comparisons and smart recommendations. Employees can update their coverage via self-service.
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  • Leader Insights: Just like report cards, give new managers a detailed look at their successes and areas for growth. Managers view the number of completed 1-on-1s, pay rate changes and recognition, supporting employee development and engagement.
  • Benefits Management: Centralize employee information and empower employees to self-enroll in benefits plans through the system. Gain high-level insights into maximizing employee benefits packages with analytics.
  • Compensation Management: Ensure workers are getting paid the correct amount based on experience, skillset, education, certifications, job title and performance (great for reducing turnover and boosting morale).
  • Career Development: Let everyone know when there’s an opportunity for advancement, develop goals that align with larger business objectives and reward high performers.
  • Learning Management and Development: Search for courses, take notes, provide feedback and access various learning tools from any internet-connected device.
  • Payroll Management: Enable easy access to pay stubs, history and tax forms without admin intervention. Ensure accurate payroll processing, calculations and deductions. Automate payroll calculations, tax withholdings and direct deposits, reducing manual entry errors.
  • Time and Attendance: Monitor employee hours and forecast labor costs using historical data. Clock in and out from Paycor's app. Manage time-off requests and resolve time clock errors.
  • Scheduling: Ensure peak productivity with real-time analytics. Manage leaves and sick days, ensuring there are enough people to get the job done when unexpected call-outs occur.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Combine HR, payroll and time data into a single report. Track, store and compile data to provide managers with insights into business practices.
  • Smart Sourcing: Use Paycor's AI smart sourcing to analyze job descriptions, focusing on key factors like responsibilities and experience to find the best candidates. Run targeted campaigns to attract and engage potential hires, speeding up your talent search.
  • Job Posting Assistance: Paycor has customizable templates and AI to take skills recruiters type in and turn them into job descriptions. The platform connects to various job sites, including Facebook and LinkedIn, letting managers see which employees share job postings.
  • Compliance: Paycor offers comprehensive compliance solutions, from application tracking and EEO/OFCCP compliance reporting to simplifying ACA requirements with detailed reports and employee eligibility tracking. They also have online resources on compliance updates and changes to state laws.
  • Performance Management: Ensure regular 1-on-1s, track goals and collect feedback. Use job assessments, role profiles, templates and role-based reviews.
  • Learning Management: Get self-paced tailored training and coaching. Employees and managers can take bite-size learning courses on key topics like compliance.
  • Pulse Surveys: Turn employee feedback into actionable improvements. Empower staff to share their experiences and identify needed changes to mitigate turnover.
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  • Core HR: Centralize employee info, manage performance, carry out recruiting, oversee payroll and get reports for data-driven decision-making.
  • Employee Self-Service (ESS): Let users enroll in benefits, view pay details, update personal information, access learning resources and stay current on announcements.
  • Payroll: Roll out a variety of payroll tasks, including tax management, employee verification and data entry for unique situations like retroactive payments. Dashboards provide insights and reporting tools support payroll reconciliation.
  • Benefits: Fast track enrollment by letting employees independently enroll for coverage. Admins can access enrollment totals, a library of qualification rules, on-demand calculations and streamlined COBRA management. It also integrates with hundreds of carriers and incorporates features to ensure ACA compliance.
  • Talent Management: Manage every phase of an employee lifecycle, from recruiting and onboarding to succession planning. Track performance in a holistic view, plan budgets effectively and reskill current employees with AI talent tools.
  • Workforce Management: Process payroll, manage sick days or vacation time, and view reports on key trends like spending for proactive planning.
  • Compliance Support: Safeguard sensitive information with role-based access and ease multi-jurisdictional tax filings with tax services for federal, state and local jurisdictions.
  • Customer Support: Get help with questions and concerns through live chat or phone. Access additional resources on the website like the help center and webinars.
  • Dayforce Wallet: Provide employees access to their earned wages before payday. This flexibility improves financial wellness and reduces employee stress associated with waiting for a paycheck. It also provides functionalities such as budgeting tools and financial planning resources. Note: The amount available depends on completed shifts and standard transfer time is between 1-3 business days. Faster transfers require additional fees.
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Product Ranking

#33

among all
HR Management Software

#9

among all
HR Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

85
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86
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89
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88
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Availability and Scalability
Document Management
Employee Engagement
Platform Security
Performance Management
Availability and Scalability
Employee Engagement
Platform Security
Reporting and Dashboard
Succession Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Paycor
Dayforce
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Applicant Tracking And Recruiting Benefits Management Compensation Management Document Management Employee Engagement Employee Onboarding And Administration Employee Self Service Learning Management Payroll Management Performance Management Platform Capabilities Reporting And Dashboard Succession Management Time And Attendance Management Workforce Management 86 89 86 100 100 96 92 92 90 99 59 92 98 86 47 64 78 88 81 100 74 78 82 75 83 86 100 100 87 90 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Paycor
Dayforce
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Availability And Scalability Deployment Options Integrations And Extensibility Mobile Platform Security 100 50 76 100 100 50 61 100 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Vendor Qualification Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 4226 reviews
Great User Sentiment 3463 reviews
85%
of users recommend this product

Paycor has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 4226 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

85%
of users recommend this product

Dayforce has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 3463 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

4.3 (14)
5.0 (24)
4.1 (758)
4.2 (792)
4.4 (2846)
4.3 (969)
4.5 (11)
4.6 (541)
3.7 (597)
4.0 (1137)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Paycor and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall HR Management Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Document Management, Employee Engagement, Employee Onboarding and Administration and Performance Management.

Analysts' Pick Award
Document Management Award
Employee Engagement Award
Employee Onboarding and Administration Award
Performance Management Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Dayforce and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Employee Engagement, Reporting and Dashboard and Succession Management.

Employee Engagement Award
Reporting and Dashboard Award
Succession Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Time Tracking: 86% of users like Paycor's time tracking feature for its simplicity and accessibility.
Payroll: 88% of users found payroll processing convenient and reliable, particularly when processing bi-weekly payroll.
Ease of Use and Navigation: 77% of users appreciate Paycor's intuitive platform, noting that it’s easy to use and navigate, which simplifies daily HR tasks.
Integration and Customization: The platform's ability to integrate various features and customize settings to meet specific needs is frequently highlighted as a strength.
Training Opportunities: Paycor offers a variety of training options, including online webinars, recorded sessions and certification courses, which users find beneficial.
Employee Recognition and Communication Tools: Features that support employee recognition and communication are well-regarded. Users find these tools effective in engaging and managing their workforce.
Onboarding: The onboarding feature is praised for its effectiveness in streamlining the new employee integration process.
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Easy PTO Tracking: Dayforce simplifies requesting and viewing PTO and tracking employee hours.
User-Friendly Interface and Features: Dayforce receives praise for being easy to set up and navigate.
Comprehensive: Dayforce is effective for managing payroll, benefits, and workforce management (WFM), providing real-time data and streamlined record-keeping. Custom reporting, time management and compensation planning are highlighted as strong features.
Consistency: The system integrates well across various functions such as HR, payroll, and time management, helping to consolidate processes and improve efficiency.
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Login Frustrations: Users note that the login process can be inconvenient as it adds an extra step to accessing information.
Customer Service: Some recent reviews cite difficulties with the support process, specifically over the phone with wait times.
Timecard Issue: A recent review notes experiencing a glitch with timecard integration, which impacted payroll processing.
Reporting: Users find the reporting features cumbersome and inconsistent. The complexity of reports and the lack of simplicity in generating them are notable pain points.
Integration With Third-Party Platforms: There are some minor issues with integrating Paycor with third-party platforms, such as benefits systems, which can lead to excessive delays and unresolved problems.
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Reporting: Report creation can be cumbersome and not very user-friendly. The ability to convert fixed reports into customizable formats and access more diverse formats is limited.
Outdated Employee Self-Service: Some users found this feature outdated without improved auditing and traceability features for payroll elections.
Frequent Updates: Some updates lead to slow down and create a learning curve for some users.
Implementation Process: Users reported implementation can have high up-front costs, take longer than expected and cause frustration.
Customer Support: Users experienced long response times and additional fees.
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Paycor is a popular HR management software designed for both in-office and remote teams, as well as HR managers aiming to improve performance management. Suitable for small, medium, and large businesses across the United States, Paycor supports teams of 50 to 500 employees and can scale to accommodate organizations with up to 2,500 members.Key features include personalized coaching, Smart Source recruiting, online learning and leader insights. Financial managers benefit from Paycor’s analytics tool, which helps with compensation planning, pay equity monitoring and trend analysis. The software also integrates with general ledger data and offers self-service options for employees to access pay stubs, history and tax forms.Jumping on a live chat, I found Paycor's the most personable experience compared to competitors. I selected “just browsing” and received prompts for webinars, compliance checks, product info, and pricing. The only downside was there wasn't an option to start a new chat and the previous conversation kept reappearing even after refreshing.The mobile app provides employees with easy access to their wages, flexible pay options and paycheck details from anywhere. They can view deductions and adjust federal and state tax withholdings directly through the app.Users appreciate Paycor for its intuitive navigation, self-service features and employee recognition tools. However, some have experienced extended wait times for customer support and challenges with implementation, which sometimes require additional support team intervention.Pricing for Paycor begins at $99 per user per month. A free trial is available for prospective users to evaluate the platform before committing.I found Paycor’s platform pretty straightforward after trying it out, specifically when it came to managing compliance and employee details. I appreciate how the system highlights potential compliance issues and provides clickable warnings for detailed insights. For example, if there's a tax registration issue, I can quickly see specifics like the tax authority, client ID, and tax code, as well as the exact problem, such as a missing tax ID. The platform then guides me to a resolution page where I can easily add the necessary tax ID to fix the issue.When it comes to managing employees, I found the “Manage People” section intuitive. I can filter employees by department, location, title, or status, including options like 3rd-party payable, Active, FMLA, Laid off, or on paid leave. To perform tasks such as assigning a new responsibility, I simply check the box next to the employee’s name. If an employee needs a specific form or document, checking their name is all it takes.The homepage is handy for checking time-related information at a glance. I can see scheduled absences, approaching overtime, and current clock-in or break statuses without needing to dig through multiple screens.For new hires, I can view their name, hire date, email and onboarding progress in one place. Clicking on their name provides access to important details for updates, such as tax information, compensation, and work schedule adjustments.Sharing documents is simple with the “Bulk Actions” feature. I can select and send documents like the employee handbook, PTO policy, or exit interview questions by setting a date and clicking “share form(s).” I can also track the status of these documents in the Forms & Documents Tracking Center.I like the drag-and-drop menu options for customizing my homepage. Managing my tasks is made easier with the “My Task” option, and viewing my available PTO balance and requesting time off are just a few clicks away. I can specify the dates and whether it’s a full or partial day leave, add any necessary notes for my supervisor, and submit the request easily.Accessing and downloading my pay stubs and tax documents directly from the platform is convenient, and setting up direct deposit is straightforward. I can even split my paycheck between two accounts if needed, with one as the primary. Plus, I can check how many days are left until my next paycheck right from the homepage.I'm a fan of the Recognition Center because it lets me view positive comments from colleagues and leave recognition for others.Overall, Paycor’s platform has simplified many of my HR tasks and made the process more efficient.

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Dayforce, a popular AI-powered HCM solution, caters to businesses across various industries on a global scale. It’s perfect for large teams and companies needing a scalable and adaptable platform. Most of its features are user-friendly, making it relatively easy to learn and navigate.Dayforce stands out with its mobile time-off requests, smart benefit enrollment recommendations, TeamRelate, Dayforce Wallet and automated payroll calculations. It also offers robust support for day-to-day operations, including reports and dashboards, org charts, shift trades, and compliance.The mobile app and self-service platform give employees the freedom to handle tasks like accessing pay stubs, viewing schedules, and submitting time-off requests independently, which reduces the need for admin intervention.Dayforce tackles common HR challenges like managing varied payroll and compliance needs, dealing with tricky reporting, and making employee self-service easier. While users appreciate its mobile features and schedule management, they’ve mentioned that reporting can be a bit complex and time-consuming, sometimes leading to long waits for customer support.The demo reveals a comprehensive hub serving as a centralized dashboard, providing news updates, team objectives, pending tasks, and recommended applications like performance management and recruiting.Personally, I thought the scheduling module looked a little cluttered/complicated for beginners, but you can use filters to narrow down results and make it look less busy/cleaner.Payroll processing demands a hawk's eye when it comes to details. I thought Dayforce had a reasonably straightforward payroll design.Engagement surveys offer compact insights into employee sentiment and effectiveness, while customizable dashboards and scorecards display key metrics on workforce dynamics, such as availability, recruitment metrics, and turnover rates.Automated alerts and integration with job boards enhance recruiting, and self-service features support career development, HR and benefits enrollment.The chatbot provided a brief welcome and directed me to the Help Center after I chose support. The chat ended there, and I encountered the issue of the conversation not clearing when the page was reopened.Pricing is competitive, based on user numbers and selected modules (charged per month).Overall, Dayforce is a comprehensive HCM software that effectively supports managing people, pay and compliance.

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