QuickBooks Payroll vs ADP Run: Which One Is Right for You?
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.
Juvy has over 10 years of content writing experience and was a licensed teacher. She has evaluated and written about dozens of payroll and HR software solutions for small business to provide the best answers to your software questions.
This article is part of a larger series on Payroll Services.
QuickBooks Payroll and ADP Run both offer easy-to-use payroll services and include tax filing and workers’ compensation management. When comparing QuickBooks Payroll vs ADP Run, the primary difference is in human resources (HR) features. QuickBooks Payroll concentrates on payroll processing with unlimited pay runs but has limited HR functionality and integrates only with Intuit products. Meanwhile, ADP Run is more expensive but has more flexible plans, pay cards, expanded HR functions, and more than 50 software integrations.
To help you choose the best one for you, we recommend the following:
- QuickBooks Payroll: Best for QuickBooks users and small businesses on a budget
- ADP Run: Best for growing businesses needing a robust variety of payroll and HR options
QuickBooks Payroll vs ADP Run Quick Comparison
 |  (One to 49 Employees) | |
|---|---|---|
Pricing | From $45 to $125 plus $5 to $10 per employee; custom pricing available | $3 per employee plus $65 per weekly pay run*; custom pricing available for premium plans |
Pay Options | Checks and direct deposit (next-day or same-day for higher plans) | Checks (signing and delivery available), direct deposit (two-day payout), and pay cards |
Health Insurance | 50 states and Washington, D.C. | 50 states and Washington, D.C. |
Other Employee Benefits | 401(k)** | Retirement and learning |
Workers’ Comp | With Premium and Elite plans via AP Intego | Pay-as-you-go plans |
Payroll on Autopilot | Only for salaried workers on direct deposit | ✓ |
HR Support | HR Support center; personal HR adviser with Elite plan | Background checks, onboarding, new hire support, handbooks, and advising |
Software Integrations | Intuit products | 50-plus apps for accounting, point-of-sale (POS), project management, benefits, learning, recruiting and onboarding, time and attendance, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) |
Customer Service | Six days a week; inconsistent quality | 24/7 phone support; reports of delays and unhelpful reps |
**Based on quotes we received for biweekly payroll. You need to contact the provider for a quote.
**Additional fees may apply.
Takeaway: QuickBooks and ADP Run are both popular and well-regarded payroll systems. ADP is pricier but more flexible, offering HR and more personalized assistance, making it a good choice for businesses needing more than payroll software. On the other hand, QuickBooks is easy-to-use but has limited integrations and HR features, making it ideal if you need just payroll.
When neither QuickBooks nor ADP Run works for you, we recommend Rippling, especially if you’re uncertain about getting HR or payroll software or a professional employer organization (PEO). It is best for businesses planning to scale and allows users to turn the PEO service off yet still access the HR and payroll system.
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Best Use Cases of QuickBooks Payroll & ADP Run
Pros
- Built-in integration with QuickBooks accounting
- Fast direct deposit (next- or same-day)
- Unlimited pay runs
- User-friendly
Cons
- Few integrations without QuickBooks Online
- Few employee benefits
- Does not integrate with QuickBooks for Mac
Deciding Factors
- Has multiple, affordable plans ranging from $45 to $125 monthly plus per-employee pricing of $5 to $10 per month
- Transparent pricing
- Unlimited pay runs
- Offers online guides in setting the system up
- 24/7 chat support
- Phone support also available on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time
QuickBooks Payroll is a better choice if you:
- Do several pay runs per month or have multiple pay runs per pay period
- Want to eliminate the time between inputting pay runs and employees getting paid
- Need QuickBooks integration
- Need only basic payroll software without the extras
Businesses that do more frequent pay runs, different pay runs for different types of employees, and sporadic payroll processing will find QuickBooks more cost-effective because, unlike ADP, it doesn’t charge extra for more payroll runs.
Pros
- Dedicated account manager
- Highly customizable
- Multiple HR features at each plan level
- Employee portal with mobile app
Cons
- Feature-heavy for those wanting simple payroll
- Users say it can be hard to access online portals
- Poor customer service at times
Deciding Factors
- Based on a quote we received for biweekly payroll, pricing ranges from $65 to $220 monthly plus $3 to $4.50 per employee monthly pricing
- Offers custom quotes depending on the frequency of pay runs
- Time tracking, retirement, health insurance, and workers’ compensation available as optional paid add-ons
- Has integrated HR tools, such as onboarding, training, library of useful HR forms, policies, and documents
- Compatible with popular accounting solutions such as Wave and Xero
ADP Run is a better choice than QuickBooks Payroll if you:
- Prefer to use a Mac
- Have complex HR needs or want easy access to an HR adviser
- Need to run payroll in other countries
- Want a customizable plan
- Require an employee app
ADP Run can help businesses with more complex employee situations and regulatory requirements due to its wide range of HR features, which includes state-specific HR support for those who need assistance in complex employee-related concerns. Because it can scale easily, it’s also good for growing businesses. If you have an international business, ADP Run is the better choice. Finally, the mobile app and employee portal make it the better choice for businesses where employees are on the move―QuickBooks Payroll has a great payroll app but not an employee self-service app.
Best for Inexpensive & Fast Pay Runs: QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks beats ADP Run in pricing and speed for pay runs. With a monthly plan that allows unlimited pay runs, you can handle hourly and salaried employees separately, do out-of-cycle reimbursements, and pay several departments or stores on different schedules. Payments can also be deposited into your employees’ accounts the same day with some plans. In contrast, ADP Run has a two-day lead time.
Best for Employee Access: ADP Run
ADP Run is the winner hands-down when it comes to employee access. It offers the following features:
- An employee portal: Employees can access pay information and W-2 statements, view and request paid time off (PTO), track time and attendance, punch in/out, view pay card accounts, see benefits information, do performance evaluations, and even contact co-workers. Features may vary according to the plan you have. Note that QuickBooks Payroll also offers a workforce portal, but it only allows employees to access paycheck information, W-2s, withholdings, and PTO balances.
- A mobile app: The ADP Run app works for managers and employees. It has 4.4 out of 5 stars for Android and 4.7 out of 5 stars in the App Store—excellent ratings for this kind of application. What’s more, it offers nearly all the functions in the employee portal.
Best for Flexibility: ADP Run
| (One to 49 Employees) | |
|---|---|---|
Integrations | Intuit Products | Accounting, POS, Productivity, Benefits, Benefits Administration, Learning, Hiring, Time and Attendance, ERP |
Pay options | Manual check, direct deposit | Manual check, direct deposit, pay card |
Plan flexibility | Good; Offers 3 plans | Excellent; Offers various plans based on business size |
QuickBooks Payroll integrates only with other Intuit products, such as QuickBooks for accounting and QuickBooks Time. ADP Run integrates with these and dozens of other popular software, including the following:
- Accounting: Wave and Xero
- POS: Clover, Revel, and Toast
- Productivity: Slack, Duufree, and Microsoft Teams
- Benefits: LifeMart, PayActive, and SmartDollar
- Benefits Administration: BerniePortal, Employee Navigator, Flock, and PlanSource
- Learning: Cornerstone, Grovo, Litmos, and Mastery Training Services
- Recruiting and onboarding: ZipRecruiter, TempWorks, and Avointe
- Time and attendance: Deputy and Homebase
- ERP: FinancialForce, SAP SuccessFactors, and Oracle
Additionally, ADP Run can pay workers using pay cards, something QuickBooks Payroll does not offer. ADP Run’s plans also contain more HR features, including legal support, work-life employee assistance programs, and recruiting. It also offers different programs according to business size, from one to 49 employees to more than 1,000—as well as a self-serve option for one to 10 employees. It has more flexibility in pricing as well.
Best for Basic Payroll Functions: ADP Run
Both ADP Run and QuickBooks Payroll provide easy-to-use interfaces and the most important payroll functions. Here, we compare their most popular plans. ADP Run has an edge due to its additional features, such as new hire reporting and paycheck delivery.
| (One to 49 Employees) | |
|---|---|---|
Unlimited Pay Runs | ✓ | ✕ |
Checks | ✓ | Yes, plus check signing and stuffing |
Direct Deposit | Next- and same-day | Two-day |
W-2s and 1099s | ✓ | ✓ |
Tax Filing | ✓ | ✓ |
Payroll on Autopilot | ✓ | ✓ |
Workers’ Comp/State Unemployment Insurance Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Time Tracking | ✓ | ✕ |
New Hire Reporting | ✕ | ✓ |
Paycheck Delivery | ✕ | ✓ |
Garnishments | Calculations | Payments |
Reports | 20; customizable | 39; customizable |
ADP Run vs QuickBooks Payroll: What Users Think
| (One to 49 Employees) | |
|---|---|---|
G2 Rating | 3.6 out of 5 | 4.0 out of 5 |
Capterra Rating | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 |
Our Reviews |
- QuickBooks Payroll: It has 3.6 out of 5 stars on G2 and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Capterra. Users praised its ease of use, and many compared it to ADP Run, saying that for payroll, it was as good but far less expensive. Complaints included the need for a better mobile app and some customer service issues.
- ADP Run: G2 has this platform at 4 out of 5 stars, while Capterra has it at 4.5 out of 5 stars. Managers said the interface made running payroll easy, while employees said the interface was great for accessing their information. Nonetheless, the most common complaint was difficulty finding particular information, which varied by user, but implies that the system can be complex when you dig in.
Are you still unsure of what you need?
Our guides on the best payroll services for small businesses and finding the right payroll solution may help.
Bottom Line
Both QuickBooks Payroll and ADP Run can help you get your employees paid correctly and on time. They offer direct deposit and checks, file your payroll taxes, and can process salary, hourly, tip, and contractor payments. With either, you can stay compliant with payroll regulations.
When it comes to the power of software and service, ADP Run is the clear winner in this comparison. However, with greater power comes higher pricing and more complexity. For businesses needing HR, it could be less expensive than purchasing two separate programs and making them work together. So, if you are a growing business or need HR functionality in addition to payroll, ADP Run may be the best choice. Sign up today to get three months free.
