Many small business owners wind up making a choice between payroll startup Gusto and ADP’s Run. It’s not a surprise why either is in the running for many businesses: Gusto offers a modern app that checks many boxes, while ADP is one of the biggest names in payroll.
To make an informed decision, take a closer look at what their customers and the experts have to say. Also, it may be worth considering additional providers who get better ratings and reviews.
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Hundreds of small business owners have shared their opinions online, and here’s what they have to say about the Gusto vs. ADP debate. Finance experts have also shared their two cents, but their top choice might not be who you’d expect.
Run by ADP
Ease of Setup
Ease of Admin
Quality of Support
Performance
Reliability
Customization
Reporting
Gusto
Ease of Setup
Ease of Admin
Quality of Support
Performance
Reliability
Customization
Reporting
Full-service payroll starts with accurate payroll calculations, easy ways to pay employees, and automated tax filings. But many services — including both Gusto and ADP — can do a lot more for you. Here’s a closer look at what these two competitors offer. Some features that come standard with other providers require pricey upgrades with both these options.
| Run by ADP | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base price | No published price. Negotiate with sales. Price is per pay run, not monthly. | Starting at $39 per month |
| Per worker cost | No published price. Negotiate with sales. Price is per pay run, not monthly. | Starting at $6 per person |
| Full-service payroll | ||
| Automated federal, state, and local tax filings and payments | Included | Included |
| Unlimited pay runs | Additional fees | Included |
| Multi-state payroll | Additional fees | Included |
| Edit or cancel a pay run | Additional fees | Included |
| Multiple pay rates and schedules | Included | Included |
| Garnishments | Included | Included |
| Accounting and time tracking integrations | Included | Included |
| New hire reporting | Additional fees | Included |
| Year-end filings, W-2s, and 1099s | Additional fees | Included |
| Onboarding and Employee Self-Service | ||
| Employee self-onboarding | Included | Included |
| Employee self-service portal | Included | Included |
| Document e-sign for I-9s and W-4s | Included | Included |
| Send and sign offer letters electronically | Additional fees | Included |
| Employee lifetime account access | Not available | Included |
| HR and Team Management | ||
| Manage and track time off | Additional fees | Included |
| Org charts | Additional fees | Additional fees |
| Document storage and audits | Additional fees | Included |
| Custom onboarding workflows | Not available | Not available |
| Benefits and Compliance | ||
| Medical, dental, and vision plans | Additional fees | Pay premiums only |
| Integrated workers’ comp plans | Additional fees | Pay premiums only |
| Integrated 401(k) plan | Additional fees | Pay premiums only |
| Reporting and Usability | ||
| Payroll and employee reports | Included | Included |
| Real-time reporting filters | Not available | Not available |
| Custom report designer | Not available | Not available |
How easy is it to get set up? And will you receive support if there’s ever a bump in the road? Small business customers say ADP Run offers better support overall, but Gusto offers a wider array of support services for a lower price. Neither offers a tax accuracy guarantee.
| Run by ADP | Gusto | |
| Setup and data migration | Additional fees | Included |
| Expert phone support | Included | Included |
| Chat support | Not available | Included |
| Accuracy guarantee | Not available | Not available |
If you’re using payroll software, you’re probably saving your business a lot of time and headaches. In fact, our research shows that the average small business owner spends 17 hours a month on payroll if they try to do everything themselves. So give yourself a pat on the back for making smart moves!
But should you choose ADP’s Run or Gusto? Here’s a more detailed breakdown to help with your comparison:
Basic payroll services: You should expect your payroll provider to make it easy to pay employees, while handling all the payroll taxes and employee deductions for you. Since payroll and taxes are at the heart of what a provider does, there also shouldn’t be any additional fees for things like W-2 or 1099 forms.
Gusto includes full-service payroll functionality at its lowest price point — including all quarterly and annual tax filings. ADP charges extra for W-2 and 1099 filings. Also, Run’s pricing is based on the number or pay runs each month. Gusto charges a flat monthly fee that’s often a better value than ADP — but not the best value in the market.
HR and compliance: From employee onboarding and new hire reporting to staying compliant with Workers’ Comp requirements, there can be a lot for employers to juggle. Also, seemingly small tasks like creating an employee roster or keeping track of PTO time can suck up a lot of time. Both these providers help shoulder some of the load.
ADP and Gusto both call “designing for people” a priority, so it shouldn’t be surprising that they offer HR functionality that compliments their payroll services. However, many HR features require expensive upgrades, and may be available for no added cost through other providers.
Real time payroll reporting: For many businesses, employment costs can be one of their biggest burdens. Having the ability to analyze costs, reconcile payroll expenditures, and get the numbers right for your taxes can help you get ahead. Take a closer look to understand what reports are available, and how much flexibility you’ll have to customize them on the fly.
Payroll reporting is available through ADP and Gusto. Both offer a series of canned reports, with some limited ability to customize. With Gusto, custom reports must be exported before report data can be seen. You may want to consider a provider that gives you the ability to design, update, and review in-app reports in real time.
Setup and ongoing support: It can be tricky to migrate your employees’ prior wage data when you switch providers, so it’s nice to have a little help at the beginning. And payroll is complex, so you should be able to quickly connect with someone who knows their stuff if you ever have questions down the road.
If you want help with setup, ADP Run charges an additional fee, but Gusto offers a migration service as part of its lowest-priced package. Both offer a number of ways to get payroll support when you need it, but neither provider is best in class when viewed through the lens of customer reviews.
The similarities between Gusto and ADP outnumber the differences, but these two providers are definitely not the same. Pricing, in particular, is a big differentiator. You’ll also be choosing between a more modern, energetic design and a proven level of support.
Can you have the best of both worlds when you choose a payroll provider? Take a look at ratings and reviews for other premium payroll companies to make a good decision about who can do the best job of serving your business.
Or compare ADP Run and Gusto head-to-head with the other top payroll companies:
We’ll even migrate all your employee info and prior wages for you.
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