Our verdict
Most small US businesses will find Gusto simpler and easier to budget. ADP RUN suits businesses that value a large provider's compliance depth and support.
Gusto is a modern, transparent payroll platform popular with small US businesses. ADP RUN is the small-business product from the largest payroll provider, with deep compliance resources and quote-based pricing.
Choose Gusto if…
- You want transparent, published pricing
- You value a modern, friendly interface
- You have a small, simple team
Choose ADP RUN if…
- You want a large, long-established provider
- You need extensive HR compliance support
- You expect to grow into larger ADP products
Side by side
| Criterion | Gusto | ADP RUN |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.5 / 10 | 7.8 / 10 |
| Features & fit | 8.4 | 8.2 |
| Ease of use | 9.2 | 7.6 |
| Value for money | 8.3 | 7.0 |
| Support & reliability | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Security & privacy | 8.4 | 8.6 |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 8.6 | 8.0 |
| Starting price (indicative) | Base fee from around $49 / month plus a per-person fee | Quote-based |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Best for | US small businesses hiring their first employees | US businesses wanting a large, established provider |
Feature by feature
| Feature | Gusto | ADP RUN |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Published tiers | Quote-based |
| Ease of use | Excellent | Good |
| Contractor payments | Included | Included |
| HR tools | Onboarding, PTO, performance on higher tiers | HR Pro tier and add-ons |
| Support | Email, chat, phone on higher tiers | Phone and chat |
| Best for | Small teams wanting simplicity | Compliance-focused businesses |
Pricing compared
Gusto
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | ≈ $49 / mo base + $6 / employee / mo | Base fee plus per person |
| Plus | ≈ $80 / mo base + $12 / employee / mo | — |
| Premium | ≈ $180 / mo base + $22 / employee / mo | — |
ADP RUN
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Custom quote | Quote |
| Enhanced | Custom quote | Quote |
| Complete | Custom quote | Quote |
| HR Pro | Custom quote | Quote |
| Team size | Gusto | ADP RUN |
|---|---|---|
| 5 seats | $79 (Simple) | Flat pricing |
| 10 seats | $109 (Simple) | Flat pricing |
| 25 seats | $199 (Simple) | Flat pricing |
Indicative USD list prices; excludes tax, add-ons and promotions. Confirm on each vendor’s site.
Pricing
Gusto publishes its prices. ADP prices by quote, often with promotions.
Experience
Gusto is known for ease of use. ADP is functional with a broader but more complex set of options.
Scale
ADP offers a path to enterprise products; Gusto focuses on small and mid-sized businesses.
Pros & cons
Gusto
- Intuitive payroll runs
- Automatic tax filings
- Benefits and onboarding included
- Primarily US-focused
- Per-person fees add up
ADP RUN
- Deep compliance expertise
- Scales to larger plans
- HR and insurance options
- Quote-only pricing
- Upsells for add-ons
Key features of each
Gusto
- Full-service payroll. Automatic calculations and filings.
- Benefits. Health insurance and retirement options.
- Onboarding. Offer letters and digital paperwork.
- Time off. PTO policies and tracking.
Integrates with: QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, Slack.
ADP RUN
- Automated tax filing. Federal, state and local payroll taxes.
- HR tools. Handbook wizard and compliance resources on higher tiers.
- Employee app. Payslips and W-2s on mobile.
- Integrations. Accounting and time-tracking connections.
Integrates with: QuickBooks, Xero, Deputy, When I Work.
Who should avoid each
Skip Gusto if…
- Large international teams
- Complex enterprise HR needs
Best for: US small businesses hiring their first employees; Teams wanting payroll plus simple HR; Businesses paying contractors.
Skip ADP RUN if…
- Buyers wanting transparent pricing
- Tiny teams on tight budgets
Best for: US businesses wanting a large, established provider; Companies valuing phone support; Firms needing HR compliance help.
Switching between Gusto and ADP RUN
Migration difficulty: Moderate
Switch at a quarter start where possible; provide year-to-date payroll data to the new provider.
- Pick a quarter-start switch date.
- Export employee and YTD payroll data.
- Set up tax accounts and benefits in the new system.
- Run a parallel payroll to check.
- Notify employees and close the old account after final filings.
Weigh it your way
Adjust the weights to your priorities to see which tool comes out ahead for you. Print or export the result for your team.
| Tool | Features | Ease | Value | Support | Security | Integrations | Your score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Gusto | 8.4 | 9.2 | 8.3 | 8.0 | 8.4 | 8.6 | 8.53 |
| 2. ADP RUN | 8.2 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 8.6 | 8.0 | 7.83 |
Drag the sliders to match your priorities. Scores are our editorial sub-scores; weights start at the values we publish on the methodology page. Nothing you change is stored or sent anywhere.
How our scores and weights work · Add a third tool side by side
Frequently asked questions
Is Gusto cheaper than ADP?
Often, for small teams, though ADP promotions vary. Compare quotes at your headcount.
Can I switch mid-year?
Yes, but switching at a quarter start makes tax filings cleaner.
Does Gusto or ADP RUN have a free plan?
Gusto has no free plan or trial; ADP RUN has no free plan or trial. Indicative starting prices: Gusto — Base fee from around $49 / month plus a per-person fee; ADP RUN — Quote-based.
Which scores higher in our review, Gusto or ADP RUN?
Gusto scores 8.5/10 and ADP RUN 7.8/10 on our weighted rubric. Gusto leads on 4 of six criteria. A higher score does not make it right for every buyer — see the “choose if” lists above.
