Payroll Company Review • Updated October 2026
Coastal Payroll Review 2026: Pricing, Services, Pros & Cons
Coastal Payroll is a San Diego-based payroll and HR service bureau built on the isolved platform. Here’s what it offers, what it costs and whether its hands-on service model is right for your business.
Compare Payroll Quotes → See Coastal PricingIs Coastal Payroll Good? Our Verdict
Coastal Payroll is a good choice for small and mid-sized businesses — especially those with about 50 to 500 employees — that want a responsive, dedicated service team and the option to fully outsource payroll. It runs on the isolved HCM platform, so you get payroll, time, HR, benefits and applicant tracking in one system. We rate it 3.9/5: excellent service, held back by unpublished pricing, a less modern interface and few public reviews.
Coastal Payroll appears in our best payroll outsourcing companies rankings as the best pick for personal, local-style service.
On this page
Coastal Payroll Ratings Breakdown
Overall: 3.9/5, the average of the five categories.
What users say
Coastal Payroll averages about 4.3/5 on G2, though from only a handful of reviews, so treat it as an early signal rather than a large sample.
Independent reviewers most often praise its personalized, boutique-level service and managed payroll, and most often note a dated interface and a slower pace of new features than larger national providers.
Coastal Payroll Pros and Cons
✔ Pros
- Personal service: a dedicated, responsive team instead of a national call center
- Fully managed payroll option that frees up your HR staff
- All-in-one HCM on isolved: payroll, time, HR, benefits and ATS
- Flexible integrations, including custom connectors built in-house
- Tax compliance handled for federal, state and local filings
⚠ Cons
- No published pricing — custom quotes only
- Per-employee pricing can be high for very small teams
- Interface feels dated next to newer platforms
- Slower product innovation than large national providers
- Few public user reviews to judge by
Coastal Payroll Services
Coastal Payroll offers outsourced payroll processing, time and attendance, HR and compliance, benefits administration and applicant tracking, delivered on the isolved HCM platform with Coastal’s own implementation and support team.
| Service | What’s included |
|---|---|
| Payroll processing | Fully outsourced or self-service payroll, direct deposit, federal/state/local tax filing, W-2s and 1099s, reporting |
| Time & attendance | Time clocks and mobile punches that flow straight into payroll |
| HR & compliance | Onboarding, document management, HR compliance support and an employee intranet |
| Benefits administration | Enrollment, carrier connections and ACA reporting support |
| Talent acquisition | Applicant tracking system (ATS) and onboarding workflows |
| Integrations | Open integration architecture with accounting, benefits and insurance carriers, plus custom connectors |
Because Coastal delivers isolved, you may also want to read our isolved review. Learn more about payroll processing, payroll tax filing and direct deposit.
Considering Coastal Payroll? Compare its quote side by side with other top payroll providers — free.
Compare Payroll QuotesHow Much Does Coastal Payroll Cost?
Coastal Payroll doesn’t publish pricing; third-party estimates put it at roughly $22–$28 per employee per month, depending on company size and modules. That’s in line with other mid-market providers, which typically run $12–$30 per employee per month.
| Employees | Est. monthly cost$22–$28 PEPM | Est. yearly cost |
|---|---|---|
| 25 employees | $550–$700 | $6,600–$8,400 |
| 50 employees | $1,100–$1,400 | $13,200–$16,800 |
| 100 employees | $2,200–$2,800 | $26,400–$33,600 |
| 250 employees | $5,500–$7,000 | $66,000–$84,000 |
Estimates based on a third-party 2026 range (OutSail); Coastal Payroll has not confirmed these figures. Implementation fees and add-on modules may apply.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Coastal Payroll
Great fit if you…
- Have roughly 50–500 employees
- Want a dedicated contact who knows your account
- Prefer to fully outsource payroll processing
- Need payroll, time, HR and ATS in one system
- Have custom integration needs
Coastal Payroll vs. ADP vs. Paylocity vs. Paychex
How Coastal compares with the mid-market providers it’s most often weighed against.
| Coastal Payroll | ADP Workforce Now | Paylocity | Paychex Flex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Personal, boutique-style service | Deep compliance and one vendor for everything | Modern employee experience | Dedicated payroll specialist |
| Platform | isolved HCM | ADP proprietary | Paylocity proprietary | Paychex Flex |
| Pricing | ~$22–$28 PEPM (est.) | ~$23–$30 PEPM base (est.) | Custom quote (PEPM) | Custom quote (per-run) |
| Sweet spot | 50–500 employees | 50–1,000+ | 50–750 | 1–1,000+ |
| Our review | — | ADP review | Paylocity review | Paychex review |
Other alternatives: Paycom, Paycor, isolved and Rippling. Browse all payroll company reviews or the best payroll software.
About Coastal Payroll
Coastal Payroll Services was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. It operates as a human capital management service bureau, combining the isolved HCM platform with its own implementation, managed payroll, compliance and customer support services for small and mid-sized employers.
Coastal Payroll FAQs
Is Coastal Payroll a good payroll company?
Coastal Payroll is a solid choice for small and mid-sized businesses that want personal, hands-on service and a full HR and payroll platform. It is known for a boutique service model and managed payroll options, while its main drawbacks are unpublished pricing and an interface that feels less modern than some larger competitors.
Where is Coastal Payroll located?
Coastal Payroll is headquartered in San Diego, California, and was founded in 2007. It operates as a payroll and human capital management service bureau.
How much does Coastal Payroll cost?
Coastal Payroll does not publish pricing. Third-party estimates put it at roughly $22 to $28 per employee per month depending on company size and modules, or about $2,200 to $2,800 per month for 100 employees.
What software does Coastal Payroll use?
Coastal Payroll delivers its payroll and HR services on the isolved HCM platform, adding its own implementation, managed payroll and customer support on top of the software.
What services does Coastal Payroll offer?
Coastal Payroll offers outsourced payroll processing and tax filing, time and attendance, HR and compliance support, benefits administration, applicant tracking and onboarding, and integrations with accounting and benefits systems.
Who is Coastal Payroll best for?
Coastal Payroll is best for businesses with roughly 50 to 500 employees that want a dedicated, responsive service team and the option to fully outsource payroll processing rather than run it themselves.
Is Coastal Payroll better than ADP?
Coastal Payroll typically offers more personal, boutique-style service, while ADP offers greater scale, more products such as a PEO and global payroll, and a larger integration marketplace. Businesses that prioritize a dedicated contact often prefer Coastal, while fast-growing or multi-country companies often prefer ADP.
Should I buy isolved directly or through Coastal Payroll?
isolved is sold through partners like Coastal Payroll, which handle implementation, support and optional managed payroll. Choosing a partner is really choosing a service team, so compare the support model and pricing of several isolved partners and other providers.
Does Coastal Payroll file payroll taxes?
Yes. Coastal Payroll handles federal, state and local payroll tax calculation, deposits and filings, along with year-end W-2 and 1099 forms.
What are the best alternatives to Coastal Payroll?
Popular alternatives include ADP Workforce Now, Paylocity, Paycom, Paychex Flex and other isolved partners for mid-sized businesses, and Gusto or OnPay for smaller teams that want published pricing.
Compare Coastal Payroll With Top Alternatives
Get free, no-obligation quotes from payroll providers that fit your team size and service expectations.
Get Free Payroll Quotes →Free to use • No obligation • Takes about 2 minutes