ADP competitors are available to your company as an alternative payroll solution. ADP can take care of payroll, HR, and taxes for larger companies. It does not always fit smaller ones. It is usually best for tech-reliant companies needing an integrated way to manage HR, payroll, and IT. If you are a small business owner in need of an affordable solution there are ADP alternatives. You just have to find the right one for your organization!
The 7 Best ADP Alternatives
Here is a list of the best ADP competitors currently available to small businesses. Some have advanced features. Others are less expensive due and only have the basics. Depending on the size and needs of your company there is an ADP alternative that you can add to the mix.
- Gusto: Best general ADP competitor for small businesses with full-service payroll and solid HR tools.
- QuickBooks Payroll: Best for small business QuickBooks accounting users needing fast direct deposits.
- TriNet Zenefits (formerly Zenefits): Best for companies in heavily regulated industries needing top-notch HR support.
- Paycor: Best for companies needing a fully configurable payroll tool for complex salary calculations.
- Paychex: Best for solopreneurs and growing businesses looking for dedicated support.
- Square Payroll: Best for retail and restaurant business owners who plan to use or are already using Square POS.
- Justworks: Best for businesses that need a reasonably priced PEO
ADP vs Alternatives
| Program | Cost | Offers | Payroll Options | Time Tracking |
| ADP | $3/employee + $40/week payroll run | Free payroll for new users for the first 3 months | Yes | Yes, for an additional customized fee |
| Gusto | $6/employee + $40/month | Free one month trial for new users | Yes | Yes, in higher priced plans |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $4/employee + $45/month | Free one month trial for new users | Yes | Yes, in higher priced plans |
| TriNet Zenefits | $10/employee each month | Free 14 day trial for new users | Yes, for a monthly fee of $6/employee | Yes |
| Paycor | $5/employee + $99/month | ½ off monthly base for the first 6 months | Yes | Yes, for an additional customized fee |
| Square Payroll | $6/employee + $35 base cost | None | Yes | Yes |
| Justworks | $59/employee | None | Yes | Yes, for a monthly fee of $8/employee |
7 Best ADP Alternatives
All of these ADP competitors are for small businesses. Some have more advanced features that will cost extra. Others come with built in tools for HR, accounting, payroll, and additional benefits. Weigh the pros and cons for each of the payroll companies like ADP that are listed below:
Gusto: Best general ADP competitor for small businesses with full-service payroll and solid HR tools.
Go with Gusto for price and ease of use. The platform comes with tax filing tools and unlimited payroll runs. What is not great is their customer support, which has a history of being not the best in the business.
pros
- Price to fit any budget.
- Full-service payroll features.
- Benefit options include health insurance and retirement.
cons
- Payroll specialists are not included.
- Low quality customer support.
- 11 states unable to access health insurance benefits.
QuickBooks Payroll: Best for small business QuickBooks accounting users needing fast direct deposits.
This is an ADP alternative for integration with QuickBooks accounting. Their payroll platform is seamless and fast! They offer automated local tax filings, those features are reserved for only the highest priced tiers.
pros
- Payroll runs are unlimited.
- Direct deposit features include the same and next day.
- Tax penalty protection program.
cons
- Low quality customer support.
- Limited HR tools.
- Tax protection and filing only in highest priced plans.
TriNet Zenefits (formerly Zenefits): Best for companies in heavily regulated industries needing top-notch HR support.
TriNet Zenefits is the ADP competitor that comes with lots of payroll and HR solutions. Plus, it is easy to learn and use up to a point. If you need an expert advisor to help you learn the ropes you will need to pay an additional cost.
pros
- Easy set up and usage.
- Payroll runs are unlimited.
- Lots of integration options and HR solutions included.
cons
- Payroll specialists are not included.
- Low quality customer support.
- 5 employee minimum required for basic plans with add-ons.
Paycor: Best for companies needing a fully configurable payroll tool for complex salary calculations.
Paycor is an APD alternative that lines up payroll and HR into one program. Track employee time, scheduling, compensation, and engagement. There are no small business discounts and costs can be on the higher side.
pros
- Easy set up and usage.
- Payroll runs are unlimited.
- Pay grids can be customized.
cons
- Expensive compared to other ADP competitors.
- Limited HR tools.
- No customer support via phone on the weekends.
Paychex: Best for solopreneurs and growing businesses looking for dedicated support.
No one can do it all. Paychex is the ADP alternative that can help you manage a lot of it. Their customer support is available in the United States 24/7. Flexible plans make it easy to find one in your price range. Double check the fine print. Total cost details are not always transparent.
pros
- 24/7 customer support in the United States.
- Direct deposits made in two days.
- HR solutions include onboard, background checks, and time tracking.
cons
- Limited payroll runs.
- Dedicated payroll specialists only come with higher priced plans.
- Additional fee for payroll tax administration and reporting.
Square Payroll: Best for retail and restaurant business owners who plan to use or are already using Square POS.
This is the ADP alternative for contractor-only payroll runs that won’t break your bank. It integrates perfectly with Square POS. There is no additional tech or software to purchase. This platform can do instant payments, too. It requires four days to process standard direct deposits.
pros
- Payroll runs are unlimited.
- Affordable payroll plans for contractors.
- Next-day direct deposit options available.
cons
- Square Payment account required for instant payments.
- Limited HR tools.
- Customer code needed to access phone support.
Justworks: Best for businesses that need a reasonably priced PEO.
This ADP competitor has an interface that’s simple and intuitive. Justworks is ready to help if you do get stuck. They offer customer support by phone, email, chat, text, and even Slack. Third-party integrations are not their strong suit and the options available are limited.
pros
- Easy set up and usage.
- 24/7 customer support.
- Affordable PEO tools and features.
cons
- Only the most expensive tiers offer medical, dental, and vision plans.
- Time tracking an additional fee to add-on.
- Minimal third-party integrations.
How We Evaluated ADP Alternatives
Analyzing each of these companies requires a look at cost. Each of the ADP competitors’ price tags were put to the test. Features like time tracking and payroll factored into the analysis, too. All of the 7 ADP alternatives featured had offers for new users depending on the needs of the organization.
FAQS
What are ADP competitors?
The ADP alternatives are Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, TriNet Zenefits, Paycor, Paychex, Square Payroll, and Justworks.
