# Payactiv vs Paychex Pay

The clearest difference is monetization model: Payactiv at free against Paychex Pay's free with in-app purchases. Payactiv also leads on ratings volume (78K vs 321) and review sentiment (36% vs 12%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Payactiv against 4.7 for Paychex Pay. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Payactiv has 78K ratings behind it against 321, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 36% of Payactiv's written reviews are positive against 12% of Paychex Pay's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Payactiv | Paychex Pay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (78K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payactiv/id792617775/reviews)** | [4.7 (321 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paychex-pay/id6449838354/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **78K** | 321 |
| Positive reviews | **35.8% of reviews** | 11.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#142** | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [PayActiv Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/792617778) | [Paychex, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/476461118) |

## What reviewers say

### Payactiv

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/payactiv/id792617775)

**Currently charting:** #142 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Access your earned wages before payday, pay bills on time, and manage unexpected expenses with user-friendly digital tools. This app helps you achieve financial stability and reach your financial wellness goals without predatory loans or interest.

**Highlights:** Early access to wages, Government payment early access, Spending and saving tools, Low balance alerts, Payactiv Visa Card, Integrated bill pay, Touchless payments

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick access to money
- 👍 Convenient feature
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Helpful in emergencies
- 👍 Wonderful app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Hours/funds not updating properly
- 🔒 Security and login issues
- 💩 Poor customer service
- 💰 High fees

**Reported bugs**

- App not loading or logging in
- Funds disappearing or not updating
- Issues linking bank accounts and cards

**Requested features**

- Same-day access to funds
- Reduce withdrawal fees
- Improve app stability and reliability
- Better customer support


### Paychex Pay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paychex-pay/id6449838354)

Manage your finances with an online account featuring a debit card and optional savings. Get paid faster, move money easily, and make quick purchases. Earn rewards and benefit from identity theft protection.

**Highlights:** Get paid up to 2 days earlier, Move money between accounts, Send money to friends, Contactless payments, Mobile check deposit, Optional savings account, Cash back rewards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Payactiv free?

Payactiv is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Paychex Pay free?

Paychex Pay is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Payactiv or Paychex Pay?

Payactiv is rated higher. Payactiv averages 4.7 out of 5 from 78K ratings, while Paychex Pay averages 4.7 from 321 ratings.

### Do Payactiv or Paychex Pay have ads?

Neither Payactiv nor Paychex Pay shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Payactiv or Paychex Pay?

Payactiv ships an update every 2 months, and Paychex Pay every 2 months. Most recently, Payactiv was updated on October 1, 2026 and Paychex Pay on October 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*