HCM Software · Platform Comparison
isolved, ADP Workforce Now, Paycom, Paycor, UKG, Paylocity, Rippling, and Gusto, compared on company size fit, pricing transparency, and what each platform actually does best. No platform wins every category, including ours.
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Bottom line up front: there is no single best HCM software for every company. ADP and UKG suit larger, more complex organizations. Gusto and Rippling suit small, self-service-minded teams. isolved fits mid-market companies (roughly 50-1,000 employees) that want one connected platform plus a partner (BEG) handling implementation and support, instead of a self-serve portal or a rotating support queue. Below is an honest side-by-side, including where isolved is not the natural fit.
How We Evaluated
"Best" depends on company size, pricing transparency, and support model more than any single feature. There is no universal winner. We compared eight platforms on the factors that actually determine fit.
A platform built for 5,000-employee enterprises is over-built and overpriced for a 60-person company, and the reverse is just as true.
Some platforms publish starting prices online. Most require a sales call and a custom quote. Neither is wrong, but it changes how you shop.
Self-service portal, direct-vendor support queue, or a partner-managed relationship. This determines who you call when something breaks.
Side by Side
| Platform | Best company size | Pricing model | Notable feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| isolved | Small to mid-market (10-2,000 employees) | Quote-based, scoped per employee per module | isolved Connector for Claude, the only HCM platform with a live AI task-completion integration | Mid-market companies that want a single partner (BEG) managing implementation and support year-round, not a self-service portal |
| ADP Workforce Now | Mid-market to enterprise | Quote-based, bundled tiers, add-on modules common | Deep payroll tax compliance backed by the largest payroll processor in the country | Companies that want the brand-name safety of the largest provider and do not mind a larger, less personalized support structure |
| Paycom | Mid-market to enterprise | Quote-based, single-database model | Beti, employee-driven payroll where staff verify their own check before submission | Organizations that want employees to self-audit payroll and are comfortable with a highly automated, less flexible workflow |
| Paycor | Small to mid-market | Quote-based, tiered by module | Strong recruiting and onboarding workflows built for people-first leaders | Small and mid-size teams prioritizing hiring and onboarding over deep payroll complexity |
| UKG (Ready / Pro) | Mid-market to large enterprise | Quote-based, enterprise procurement process | Workforce management depth: complex scheduling, labor forecasting, and union rule engines | Larger, shift-heavy operations (healthcare, manufacturing, retail) that need advanced labor forecasting more than a lightweight buying experience |
| Paylocity | Mid-market | Quote-based, modular add-ons | Employee community and engagement tools layered on top of core HCM | Mid-market companies that weight culture and engagement tooling heavily alongside standard payroll and HR |
| Rippling | Small to mid-market, IT-heavy teams | Published starting price, modular per-app pricing | Combines HR with IT device management and app provisioning in one system | Tech-forward companies that want HR and IT/device provisioning unified, and have in-house staff to manage a more complex, DIY setup |
| Gusto | Small business (under 100 employees) | Published tiered pricing, most transparent of the group | Simple, published pricing and fast self-serve setup with no sales call required | Very small businesses that want to self-serve online and do not yet need multi-state complexity or dedicated implementation support |
Pricing models and feature positioning reflect publicly available vendor information as of mid-2026. Vendors change packaging and pricing frequently; confirm current terms directly with each provider.
Where isolved Actually Fits
No. isolved is a strong fit for mid-market companies, roughly 50 to 1,000 employees, that want one connected platform and a partner managing implementation and support. It is not the natural pick for a 5-person startup or a 10,000-employee enterprise.
Mid-market companies that have outgrown a small-business tool like Gusto but do not want the procurement complexity or self-service model of an enterprise suite like Workday or UKG Pro. Companies that value a single BEG contact over a support ticket queue, and want implementation included rather than billed separately by a professional services team. Industries with shift differentials, credentialing, or certified payroll (healthcare, construction, senior care) benefit from BEG's industry-specific configuration experience.
A 5-person company that wants to self-serve online in an afternoon is often better served by Gusto. A 10,000-employee enterprise with a dedicated HRIS team and complex global requirements may need Workday or an enterprise UKG deployment. A tech company that wants HR and device/IT provisioning in one login may prefer Rippling. We would rather tell you that up front than oversell a fit that will not work.
Documented Results
A composite organization studied in isolved's published Forrester Total Economic Impact research documented a 330% return on investment from consolidating payroll, HR, time, and benefits onto isolved. This is a vendor-commissioned but Forrester-conducted study; treat it as directional evidence of the value of platform consolidation, not a guarantee for every organization.
The BEG Difference
BEG is an authorized isolved reseller. Buying through BEG does not change the platform, it changes who supports you: one BEG contact who manages your implementation and stays with your account afterward, instead of a queue. Implementation is included, not billed as separate professional services.
FAQ
For companies roughly 50 to 1,000 employees, isolved, Paycor, and Paylocity are the most common fits, with UKG Ready as an option for shift-heavy operations. The right choice depends on whether you want partner-managed implementation, self-service software, or advanced workforce scheduling as the priority.
Payroll software runs pay calculations and tax filings. HCM software includes payroll plus HR records, time and attendance, benefits administration, and often talent and recruiting, all connected on one platform so data does not have to be re-entered across separate systems.
Gusto and Rippling publish starting prices online. ADP Workforce Now, Paycom, Paycor, UKG, Paylocity, and isolved are quote-based, priced per employee per month according to headcount, modules, and complexity. BEG provides a transparent cost comparison on the discovery call before you commit to anything.
Better depends on what you are optimizing for. ADP has the deepest brand-name payroll tax infrastructure at scale. Paycom emphasizes employee-driven payroll verification. isolved's differentiators are the isolved Connector for Claude AI integration and BEG's included, partner-managed implementation and support model.
ADP, Paychex, Paycom, Paylocity, Paycor, UKG, and isolved are the most commonly used systems among mid-size companies, based on category coverage across HCM buyer guides. Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll are more common among businesses under 50 employees.
BEG is an authorized isolved reseller and implementation partner, so isolved is what we sell and support. If your company profile is a clear mismatch for isolved, for example a very early-stage startup or a 10,000-employee enterprise, we will tell you that directly rather than force a fit.
Want to see how isolved compares to one specific competitor? Read isolved vs Paycom or browse the full isolved HCM software hub for pricing, implementation, and industry-specific pages.
See Where isolved Fits Your Company
BEG will walk through your current HR stack and give you a straight answer on whether isolved is the right fit, not just a sales pitch.
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