We looked at pricing, ease of use, features, and other criteria to find who ADP Run is best for. Explore our guide to determine whether ADP Run payroll is right for you.
ADP Run Review: Is It Right for Your Business in 2022?
Charlette has over 10 years of experience in accounting and finance and 2 years of partnering with HR leaders on freelance projects. She uses this extensive experience to answer your questions about payroll.
Robie has more than five years of content writing experience and specializes in writing about payroll and human resources software for small businesses.
This article is part of a larger series on Payroll Services.
ADP Run is a cloud-based payroll and HR software that helps small businesses manage payroll, taxes, and basic hiring processes. It features an intuitive platform with built-in compliance tools, including HR support. It even offers access to employee benefits, workers’ compensation, and time tracking solutions.
What We Recommend ADP Run For
ADP has been leading the development of human resource solutions for over 70 years, providing online tools to help users streamline and automate essential employee management processes. While it offers solutions to fit the HR needs of all business sizes, its ADP Run product is designed specifically for small businesses with up to 49 employees. Aside from full-service payroll, automated tax payments and filings, and multiple payment options, it has robust compliance tools to help keep you compliant with payroll and tax regulations.
ADP Run also has a scalable platform, allowing you to add more features like time tracking and employee benefits. Its higher tiers include access to ZipRecruiter, so you can easily post job listings and find qualified candidates to fill up vacant positions. And as your business grows, you can transition to ADP’s more robust HR and payroll solutions, including its professional employer organization (PEO) option, ADP TotalSource.
In short, ADP Run is best for:
- Startups and companies with fewer than 49 employees: Considered ADP’s small business payroll and HR software product, ADP Run has all the essential tools you need to process payroll, manage payroll taxes, onboard new hires, and find qualified candidates (through its partnership with ZipRecruiter). New clients even get three months of free payroll processing.
- Small business owners needing HR tools and support: As one of our selections for best HR payroll software, ADP offers integrated HR tools such as onboarding, employee and employer training, and access to a library of HR forms, policies, and documents that you can use. It even provides HR Help Desk support if you need assistance navigating through complicated employee-related issues.
- Firms needing payroll software that connects to its existing software: ADP Run is compatible with numerous popular accounting solutions such as QuickBooks, Wave, and Xero. It also integrates with enterprise business solutions offered by Oracle, Sage, Workday, and SAP. Other integrations include those with HR software, time tracking solutions, benefits services, productivity apps, and POS software.
When ADP Run Would Not Be a Good Fit
- Midsize to large companies: ADP’s other products such as ADP Workforce Now and ADP Vantage HCM, are more suitable for midsize and large operations. These include a wider range of HR solutions like talent management and analytics. You may also want to consider other payroll services like Paychex. See our expert comparison on Paychex vs ADP.
- Businesses that need only ADP Run’s add-on features: Features such as retirement, time tracking, workers’ compensation, and health insurance are excluded from the introductory payroll packages—and you have to pay extra to have these solutions added to ADP Run. Providers like Gusto, which offers a simple time tracking feature with premium plans, include most of these features in its plans.
Looking for something different? Read our guide to the best online payroll services for small businesses to find a payroll service or software that’s right for you.
ADP Run Overview
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Multiple payment options | Setup fee required |
| Integration with popular business software | No state unemployment support for its basic Essential package |
| Built-in compliance tools that flag potential errors | Benefits, time tracking, and workers' compensation are add-on products |
| Automated tax payments and filings | Year-end reporting (W-2s/1099s) cost extra |
ADP Run Pricing
Processing payroll is the core function of ADP Run, and it offers well-thought-out tiered packages based on the payroll and HR features needed. However, ADP Run’s pricing isn’t readily available on its website, so you have to contact the provider to discuss your requirements and request a quote.
Essential | Enhanced | Complete | HR Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Pricing | Custom-priced | Custom-priced | Custom-priced | Custom-priced |
Payroll Processing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Direct Deposit | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Access to Wisely Direct Debit Card | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Tax Payments and Filings | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Year-End Reporting (W-2s/1099s) | With add-on fees | With add-on fees | With add-on fees | With add-on fees |
New Hire Reporting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Customizable Reports | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Employee Self- Service Portal | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
New Hire Onboarding | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
State Unemployment Insurance Management | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
ZipRecruiter Job Postings | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Background Checks | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
HR Help Desk | N/A | N/A | Expert assistance | Enhanced assistance* |
*The Enhanced HR Help Desk service includes scheduled check-ins and one-off questions with ADP’s designated team of HR business advisers.
If you want to enhance ADP Run’s functionality, you can purchase some of its products as paid add-ons (custom priced).
- Time and attendance
- Workers’ compensation (pay-as-you-go plans)
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans
ADP Run Features
Running payroll with ADP Run is very simple, just requiring several steps. That’s one factor that makes it a valuable solution for small business owners looking for an easy yet efficient way to pay both employees and contractors.
Payroll Processing
ADP Run provides the payroll features you would expect, such as automatic pay runs and the capability to run payroll on computers and mobile devices. Its system can handle computations for hourly, salaried, and contract workers.
Sending employees their pay is also very easy given ADP Run’s multiple payment options—salaries can be sent via direct deposits and through the Wisely Direct Debit Card. If you prefer paychecks, ADP can stuff and seal the paychecks into envelopes and deliver these to your office so that you can hand them out to employees.
Tax Services
ADP processes tax-compliant payroll deductions and sends your payments and tax forms to the correct federal, state, and local tax entities. Its representatives will respond to tax agency notices for you; and if ADP makes a tax filing mistake, it will cover all the penalties and fines imposed by the tax authorities. Note, however, that with ADP Run, W-2/1099 year-end reporting costs extra.
Benefit Processing Support
Processing payroll involves a lot more than just cutting a paycheck. Most businesses also need to process deductions. If you need assistance in supporting workers’ compensation, retirement plans, and health insurance, ADP offers those services for a fee. It also aids in processing unique deductions such as court-ordered wage garnishments, including responding to unemployment claims, which can save you a lot of hassle and help keep your business compliant.
Employee Self-Service Portal
Employees can access pay stubs through ADP Run’s online portal, including up to three years of W-2/1099 forms. In addition to viewing their pay history, your staff can manage their retirement accounts online.
Compliance Tools
Aside from helping you stay compliant with tax regulations, payroll requirements, and wage laws, ADP will provide the latest updates so that you are constantly on top of all the regulatory changes across all 50 states. ADP Run also has a smart system that notifies you if it spots potential payroll errors.
HR Support
What’s great about ADP Run is that it comes with HR tools that other small business payroll software don’t offer. It provides basic employee/employer training, job postings through ZipRecruiter, and a library of HR forms and documents. You can also call its dedicated team of HR experts if you need help handling HR issues. ADP Run even has a simple-to-use employee handbook wizard to help you create one that complies with federal employment regulations.
Third-Party Software Integrations
While ADP Run connects seamlessly with other ADP products, it also integrates well with a variety of third-party solutions. Here are some of its partner systems:
- Accounting: QuickBooks, Wave, and Xero
- Enterprise resource planning (ERP): SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, Oracle, and Sage Intacct
- Time and attendance: QuickBooks Time, ClockShark, Deputy, When I Work, and 7shifts
- Recruiting and onboarding: GoodHire, Greenhouse, iCIMS, JazzHR, and ZipRecruiter
- Learning management: SAP Litmos, Brainier, Cornerstone, and Absorb LMS
- Benefits administration: Flock, PlanSource, Decisely, and Employee Navigator
- POS: Aloha, Clover, Micros, PosiTouch, Revel, Upserve, and Toast
- Collaboration and productivity tools: Docufree, signNow, OrgChart Now, Pingboard, Slack, and Microsoft Teams
ADP Run Ease of Use
- Simple setup process
- Employee self-service onboarding
- Phone and chat support
- Free webinar training courses
- Help center with how-to guides
- Online library of HR forms
Considering how much this payroll software can do, we found the interface simple to navigate. Plus, if you have a small company with just a handful of employees, you should be able to set up your business in ADP Run in less than 20 minutes. If you have a lot of data to migrate into the system and need help with setup, ADP can assist you with implementation. This support is not free but likely worth it if you need help setting up the payroll services correctly.
Top ADP Run Alternatives
Best for: Small businesses | Best for: QuickBooks accounting small business users | Best for: Startups planning to grow significantly |
Base monthly fee from: $39–$149 | Base monthly fee from: $45–$125 | Base monthly fee from: $39 |
Per employee monthly fee from: $6–$12 | Per employee monthly fee from: $4–$10 | Per employee monthly fee from: $5 |
If you’re unsure this payroll solution is right for you, see how it compares with ADP competitors.
What Users Think About ADP Run
Most of the online ADP Run reviews are positive, with many users highlighting its ease of use and how its payroll tools help them save time and simplify processes. However, some reviewers complained about ADP Run’s pricing, stating that it can be expensive for small business owners. Others mentioned that while contacting its support team can be tedious (due to the long wait times), the quality of support that they received is generally good.
At the time of publication, ADP Run earned the following scores on popular user review sites:
- Capterra: 4.5 out of 5 based on around 680 reviews
- G2: 4.6 out of 5 based on about 600 reviews
These are some of the trends I noticed when reading through online ADP Run reviews:
Users Like: | Users Don’t Like: |
|---|---|
Easy to use | Can be expensive for small businesses; add-on features are a little pricey |
Simplifies payroll processes | Occasional mobile app glitches |
Support team is generally helpful | Long hold times when contacting support |
Bottom Line
ADP Run is a good option for small businesses with up to 49 employees. It helps you pay employees, manage payroll taxes, and has a variety of HR solutions (like new hire onboarding, job postings, and access to basic employee training programs) that other small business payroll software providers don’t offer. It even provides expert HR support, so you can easily get professional services to help you better manage your employees and complicated HR issues.
Sign up for an ADP Run demo today to learn more about its functionalities.
