The ADP quick read
- You want a brand-name provider with deep HR and compliance support
- You expect to grow into benefits, 401(k), and HR
- You're comfortable with a short sales process
- You value live phone support and HR specialists
- You're a solo owner who wants quick online sign-up
- Price transparency is your top priority
- You only pay 1099 contractors
| Best fit | Small businesses wanting payroll + compliance support from an established provider |
|---|---|
| Weakest fit | Very small businesses that just need cheap, transparent payroll |
| Starting price | Quote-based — contact sales for pricing |
| Pricing transparency | Limited — quote-based, expect a sales conversation |
| Payroll tax support | Good — federal, state, and local filings included |
| Contractor support | Good — 1099 payments and year-end filings |
| W-2 support | Full-service, included in paid plans |
| Multi-state support | Strong — handles employees across U.S. states |
| Benefits | Strong — broker-supported health, 401(k), HSA/FSA, workers' comp |
| HR tools | Strong — onboarding, HRIS, performance, and handbook tools |
| Accounting integrations | QuickBooks Online, Xero, and common partners |
| Setup difficulty | Moderate |
| Support quality | Strong — phone, chat, and email; priority on higher plans |
| Overall rating | 8.4 / 10 |
A CPA's take on ADP
As a CPA and business owner, I care less about whether payroll software has the longest feature list and more about whether it helps a business owner avoid expensive payroll mistakes. The right payroll provider should make tax payments, filings, employee onboarding, contractor payments, and year-end forms feel routine — because payroll is one area where small mistakes can create real compliance problems.
As a CPA, I've seen plenty of small business clients land on ADP because they wanted a brand-name partner. That's legitimate — I just always tell them to get the quote in writing and ask what's included for year-end W-2s and 1099s.
ADP's depth. Whatever you grow into — 401(k), benefits, workers' comp, time tracking, HR services — ADP has something already on the shelf.
Pricing transparency. Get an itemized quote and confirm what's included in year-end forms, tax filings, and add-ons before signing.
Growing small businesses that want one provider for payroll, HR, and benefits.
If your priority is published pricing and a 10-minute online setup, compare against Gusto, OnPay, or Patriot first.
A 30-second decision
- You want a household-name provider
- You expect to grow into HR services and benefits
- You'd like live, knowledgeable support
- You want fully published pricing
- You're a one-person S corporation (Gusto Solo is cleaner)
- You're paying only contractors
Who ADP is best for
- Small businesses wanting payroll + compliance support from an established provider
- Employers planning to add HR services, benefits, or retirement
- Multi-state businesses wanting a national provider
- Very small businesses that just need cheap, transparent payroll
- Contractor-only businesses
- Buyers who refuse to talk to a sales rep
ADP pricing
Payroll pricing changes frequently. Always confirm current pricing on the provider’s site before signing up.
ADP RUN uses package-based pricing across Essential Payroll, Enhanced Payroll, Complete Payroll & HR Plus, and HR Pro Payroll & HR. Pricing is generally quote-based — we like ADP's depth, but we wish pricing were easier to compare before talking to sales.
- Full-service payroll
- Direct deposit
- Tax filing
- New-hire reporting
- Employee self-service
- Everything in Essential
- Check signing/stuffing
- SUI management
- Background checks (add-on)
- Everything in Enhanced
- HR HelpDesk
- HR toolkit
- Handbook wizard
- Everything in Complete
- Enhanced HR HelpDesk
- Harassment training
- EAP
- Pricing is quote-based — ask for a written quote that itemizes base fee, per-employee, year-end forms, and any add-ons.
- Year-end W-2s and 1099s are sometimes billed separately — confirm before signing.
- Promotional discounts often expire after the first few months; ask what the rack rate becomes.
- Cancellation and contract length terms vary — read the agreement.
See current ADP plans and offers.
Feature scorecard
Payroll features
- Unlimited payroll runs
- Direct deposit
- Multiple pay schedules
- Bonus, off-cycle, and reimbursement runs
- Employee self-service portal
- Federal, state, and local payroll tax calculation
- Automatic deposits and filings
- Quarterly and annual filings
- Tax-notice support
- 1099 contractor payments
- Year-end 1099-NEC filings
- Multi-state payroll supported
- Remote-employee tax setup
- W-2 generation and filing
- 1099 generation and filing
- Employee/contractor year-end form access
HR, benefits, and compliance tools
- Employee records and HRIS
- Onboarding workflows
- PTO tracking
- Performance and recruiting tools (on relevant tiers)
- Employee handbook templates
- Health, dental, and vision (broker-supported)
- 401(k) and retirement
- HSA / FSA
- Workers' comp
- Commuter and ancillary benefits
- New-hire reporting
- Federal, state, and local payroll tax filings
- W-2 and 1099 year-end filings
- Tax-notice support
Ease of use and setup
- Guided onboarding with a dedicated implementation rep
- Modern RUN dashboard, but deeper than most small-biz tools
- Mobile app for owners and employees
- Steeper learning curve than Gusto or OnPay if you're new to payroll
- EIN
- State payroll tax account numbers
- State unemployment account numbers
- Employee information (I-9, W-4)
- Contractor information (W-9)
- Prior payroll history
- Bank account for funding
- Pay schedule
- Benefits information (if any)
- Workers' comp details (if any)
- Accounting software login
- PTO policy
- Existing payroll provider info (if switching)
Integrations
- QuickBooks Online
- Xero
- Sage Intacct
- Wave
- ADP Time & Attendance
- When I Work
- Deputy
- Homebase
- ADP-sponsored health, dental, vision
- ADP retirement plans
- Workers' comp pay-as-you-go
- ADP Marketplace (hundreds of partners)
- Common SSO providers
PayrollSignal take: Integrations matter because payroll is rarely isolated. If your payroll system doesn’t talk cleanly to your accounting software, time tracking, or benefits tools, you may end up spending more time fixing payroll than running it.
Customer support
| Support feature | Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Phone support | Yes | 24/7 phone support included |
| Chat support | Yes | In-app chat |
| Email support | Yes | Available across plans |
| 24/7 support | Depends | Varies by plan / module |
| Dedicated representative | Yes | Yes on Complete and HR Pro tiers |
| HR advisor access | Yes | Included on HR-focused plans |
| Tax-notice support | Yes | Included with full-service payroll |
| Setup support | Yes | Assisted implementation standard |
Payroll support matters more than ordinary software support because payroll problems often have deadlines attached. A login issue is annoying. A missed payroll tax deadline can be expensive.
ADP pros and cons
- Trusted national brand
- Deep HR, benefits, and retirement add-ons
- Strong multi-state and compliance experience
- Live phone support and HR specialists
- Room to scale without changing providers
- Pricing is generally quote-based
- Add-on costs can stack up
- Less ideal for the smallest businesses
- Sales-driven buying process
Which businesses should use ADP?
Overkill — Gusto's contractor plan or Gusto Solo is usually cleaner.
Gusto Solo is purpose-built for one-person S corps and is PayrollSignal's Green Light pick for this scenario.
Works fine but may feel heavier than newer platforms.
Strong fit, especially if HR support matters.
ADP shines as you add benefits, 401(k), and HR services.
National footprint and compliance experience are real advantages.
Capable, but Square or Homebase may fit hourly workflows better.
ADP RUN scales into ADP Workforce Now.
Move to ADP Workforce Now for true enterprise scale.
PayrollSignal Fit Meter
Watch-outs before you buy
- Get an itemized quote — confirm year-end W-2/1099 fees, tax-filing inclusions, and contract length.
- Ask whether the quoted rate is promotional and what it renews at.
- If you only need basic payroll, ADP is likely more platform than you need today.
Best alternatives to ADP
Published pricing, clean UX, and a free contractor-only plan.
ADP has deeper HR services, broader benefits, and more scale.
Best for: Modern small businesses that want transparent pricing and built-in benefits
Comparable HR depth with strong service.
ADP often wins on brand recognition and product breadth at the larger end.
Best for: Service-led payroll/HR provider
Flat $49 base + $6/person includes multi-state by default.
ADP has more HR depth if you'll need it later.
Best for: Multi-state small businesses that want flat transparent pricing
Not sure if ADP is right for you?
Payroll companies can look similar on the surface, but the best choice depends on your employees, contractors, states, benefits needs, HR support, accounting software, and growth plans. Take the free PayrollSignal quiz and get a recommendation built for your business.
How we reviewed this provider
We review payroll providers based on small business fit, not just feature count. A provider can have many features and still be the wrong choice for a very small business if it’s too expensive, too complex, or unclear about pricing.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Payroll functionality | 20% |
| Payroll tax & compliance support | 20% |
| Pricing & transparency | 15% |
| Ease of use | 15% |
| HR, onboarding & benefits | 10% |
| Integrations | 10% |
| Customer support | 5% |
| Scalability | 5% |
Our ratings are intended to help small business owners choose payroll software based on fit. A lower-rated provider may still be the better choice for a specific business if its pricing, integrations, service model, or HR features better match that business’s needs.
ADP FAQs
The bottom line
ADP RUN is a strong payroll option for small businesses that want a trusted, scalable provider and are comfortable with a quote-based buying process. It isn't the cleanest fit for the most price-sensitive users, but it deserves serious consideration for growing employers.
If you already know ADP fits your needs, you can check current pricing below. If you’re still comparing options, take the free PayrollSignal quiz first.