ADP has long been a prominent player in the fast-evolving landscape of payroll services. However, the competition is fierce, and numerous other companies are vying for the top spot by providing exceptional payroll solutions. In this article, we will explore the top eight ADP competitors that have emerged as formidable contenders, each offering unique features and capabilities to meet your organization’s payroll needs.
Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, these ADP competitors are sure to impress with their efficiency, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Lets dive in and find the perfect fit for your payroll requirements!
Summary of the Most Popular ADP Competitors
- Square Payroll: Best for retail outlets, restaurants, and businesses that already use the Square POS point-of-sale system
- Paychex: Best for smaller, growing businesses and solopreneurs
- Paycor: Best for businesses that need a fully configurable payroll solution capable of complex wage calculation
- QuickBooks Payroll: Best for small organizations and those that use the QuickBooks accounting software
- Gusto: Best all-around ADP Payroll competitor
- Justworks: Best for organizations in need of a budget-friendly professional employer organization (PEO)
- Rippling: Best for tech-friendly businesses looking for an integrated payroll, HR, and IT solution
- TriNet Zenefits (formerly Zenefits): Best for businesses involved in highly regulated industries
Comparison Table
| Software | Pricing | New User Promotion | Payroll | Time Tracking | Tax Filing |
| Square Payroll | $35 base monthly fee + $5 per employee per month | None | Included | Included | Automatically calculates and pays state and federal taxes |
| Paychex | $39 base monthly fee + $5 per employee per month | Free three-month trial period | Included | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| Paycor | $99 base monthly fee + $5 per employee per month | Free three-month trial period | Included | Paid add-on | Paid add-on |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $45 base monthly fee + $5 per employee per month | 30-day free trial period | Included | Included in higher-tier subscription plans | Automatic tax filing and payments included in all plans |
| Gusto | $40 base monthly fee + $6 per employee per month | None | Included | Included in higher-tier subscription plans | Automatic tax filing and payments |
| Justworks | $59 per employee per month | None | Included | Paid add-on at $8 per employee per month | Automatic tax filing and payments |
| Rippling | $35 base monthly fee + $8 per employee per month | None | Included | Included | Automatic tax filing and payments |
| TriNet Zenefits | $10 per employee per month | 14-day free trial period | Paid add-on at $6 per employee per month | Included | Automatic tax filing and payments |
Top ADP Competitors
Let’s take a closer look at the top eight ADP competitors, their basic features, pros and cons, and pricing structures.
Square Payroll
The Square Payroll solution is aimed at small businesses, organizations that rely primarily on contract workers, and restaurants or retail outlets that already use the Square POS point-of-sale system.
Features
Square Payroll offers multiple payment options, including direct deposits, paychecks, and pay-on-demand. The software can also file and pay all relevant taxes, features a built-in time-tracking function, and maintains partnerships with several insurance carriers to offer various employee benefits.
Pros
- Low-cost plan for contractor-only organizations
- Extremely user friendly
- Offers unlimited pay runs
- Options for instant payments or next-day direct deposits
- Effortless integration with Square Payroll
Cons
- Instant and next-day payments are only available with a Square Payments account
- Four-day processing duration for standard direct deposits
Paychex
Paychex is a comprehensive payroll solution that offers various subscription plans to suit specific needs and is ideal for self-employed entrepreneurs. Similarly, it also supports several HR functions, including employee training, screening, and onboarding.
Features
Paychex is highly scalable and flexible and can work well with small businesses with just a handful of employees and larger organizations with hundreds of employees. It offers multiple payment options, including direct deposits, pay cards, and paychecks.
The pay-on-demand feature gives employees access to their wages before the prescribed payroll date. Includes a host of HR features such as onboarding support, time and attendance tracking, benefits administration, workers’ compensation, and more.
Pros
- Direct deposits processed in just two days
- Round-the-clock customer support
- Built in HR solutions
- Scalable and Flexible
Cons
- Non-transparent pricing
- No unlimited pay runs
- Tax administration costs extra
- Payroll specialist support is not offered in the base plan
Plans & Pricing
Paychex is available in three subscription plans, starting with the Flex Essential plan at $39 per month plus $5 per employee per month. The higher Flex Select and Flex Pro plans are custom priced based on specific requirements.
Paycor
Paycor is a completely customizable payroll solution with integrated HR tools. It suits businesses of various sizes and is ideal for organizations with complex payroll requirements. On TrustRadius, Paycor has a rating of 6.9 out of 10.
Features
Paycor is an all-inclusive payroll and HR solution offering onboarding, time tracking, and performance management functions. It provides the flexibility to customize pay grids and multiple payment options such as check stuffing, direct deposits, and pay-on-demand. Paycor also ensures compliance with prevalent tax regulations.
Pros
- Fully configurable and customizable
- User friendly
- Comprehensive HR tools
- Offers unlimited pay runs
Cons
- Can get expensive for smaller companies
- Only basic HR functions offered with the base plan
- Phone support only available on weekdays
Plans & Pricing
Paycor offers four different subscription plans to businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The Basic plan costs $99 monthly plus $5 per employee. The Essential plan costs $149 monthly plus $7 per employee. The Core plan costs $199 monthly plus $8 per employee, and the Complete plan costs $199 monthly plus $14. Mid-market plans for organizations with 50 or more employees are custom priced based on specific requirements.
QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is an ideal solution for small businesses and covers most standard payroll functions, from onboarding to tax filing. The premium plan allows for same-day or next-day direct deposits.
Features
QuickBooks payroll seamlessly integrates with other QuickBooks products, offers users an intuitive interface, and provides swift direct deposits. It also ensures that all relevant taxes are filed and paid on time and protects users with its tax accuracy guarantee and tax penalty protection features.
Pros
- Seamless integration with other QuickBooks products
- Fast direct deposits
- Offers unlimited payroll runs
- Tax penalty protection
Cons
- Offers only basic HR tools
- Automated tax filing and tax penalty protection are not available with the base plan
- Questionable customer support
Plans & Pricing
QuickBooks Payroll is available in three distinct subscription plans. The Core plan costs $45 monthly plus $ 5 per employee per month, the Premium plan costs $ 75 monthly plus $ 8 per employee per month, and the Elite plan costs $125 monthly plus $10 per employee per month. QuickBooks is available to contractor-only organizations at a $15 monthly fee for up to 20 workers and $2 per worker for each additional independent contractor.
Gusto
Gusto offers small businesses a cost-effective ADP alternative that takes a no-frills approach to running payroll. In addition to allowing unlimited payroll runs, it also automatically files and pays local, state, and federal taxes and sends W-2s and 1099s out to the workforce. Unlike some of its competitors, these features are available at no extra cost.
Features
Gusto is a complete payroll solution that incorporates basic HR tools. Also, the user-friendly interface is intuitive and easy to master, and no special training is required to use the software efficiently. Available payment options include direct deposits, pay cards, checks, and pay-on-demand, while included HR features extend to onboarding, time tracking, benefits administration, and more.
Gusto also offers a broad range of employee benefits, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, health savings accounts, retirement plans, flexible spending accounts, workers’ compensation, and college savings plans.
Pros
- Affordable
- User-friendly
- Includes full-service payroll, unlimited payroll runs, tax management services, and basic HR functions
- Offers a wide range of employee benefits
Cons
- Customer support could be better
- No access to support from a payroll specialist
- Health insurance only available in 39 states
Plans & Pricing
The Simple plan costs $40 monthly plus $6 per employee per month, while the Plus plan costs $80 monthly plus $12 per employee per month. Gusto also offers a custom-priced Premium plan, while the Contractor-only plan costs $35 monthly plus $6 per contractor per month.
Justworks
Justworks is a PEO service provider that, in addition to offering full-service payroll, assists small businesses with the administration of various HR functions at an affordable price. It also provides several employee benefits options.
Features
Justworks can manage payments for salaried and hourly employees, as well as vendors and contractors, and supports direct deposit and check payments. HR advisory services are included in all subscription plans at no extra charge, and employees have access to a wide range of benefits, including health insurance, health advocacy services, gym memberships, and other wellness perks.
Justworks also offers comprehensive round-the-clock customer support over the phone, chat, email, SMS, and Slack.
Pros
- Intuitive user interface
- Attractive pricing
- Benefits packages from top health insurance companies
- Excellent customer support across several channels
Cons
- The basic plan does not include medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Limited integrations with third-party services
- Time tracking costs an extra $8
Plans & Pricing
The Basic plan costs $59 per employee per month for the first 49 employees, which goes down to $49 per month for additional employees. The Plus plan costs $99 per employee per month for the first 49 employees, which goes down to $89 per month for additional employees.
Rippling
Rippling stands out from the other providers mentioned here as it’s the only solution that offers businesses IT management solutions for their hardware and apps. Above all, Payroll, IT, and HR modules can be bought independently, and they integrate with Rippling’s core employee management platform.
Features
Rippling offers a full-service solution that can also manage international payments. Also, it allows employees access to pay stubs and tax forms through a dedicated mobile app and automatically files and pays all relevant local, state, and federal taxes.
The HR module brings with it comprehensive employee management tools such as automated onboarding and offboarding processes, applicant tracking, attendance and time tracking, benefits administration, and more. Rippling can integrate with over 500 third-party apps, such as accounting, recruiting, training, expense management, and office management software.
Pros
- Modular HR and IT solutions that can be bought separately
- Transparent pricing
- Flexible subscription plans
- Integration capabilities
Cons
- Users must purchase the Rippling Unity core employee management platform before adding on required modules
- Limited payment options
- Can get expensive
- HR helpdesk support is a paid add-on
Plans & Pricing
The core Rippling Unity platform costs $35 monthly, while the HR payroll plan adds $8 per employee per month. Rippling’s suite of PEO services can be had for $65 per employee per month.
TriNet Zenefits (Formally Zenefits)
TriNet Zenefits is a comprehensive employee management solution designed to automate and streamline payroll, HR, and benefits administration functions. Also, its inbuilt compliance tool makes it perfect for companies in strictly regulated industries.
Features
TriNet Zenefits is an all-inclusive HR platform designed to manage the complete employee lifecycle, right from hiring and onboarding to retirement. Alongside its full-service payroll solution that offers unlimited runs, TriNet Zenefits’ HR functionality includes benefits administration, performance reviews, time tracking, compensation planning, engagement surveys, compliance support, and more.
Additionally, all local, state, and federal taxes are filed and paid automatically, and the software integrates with over 40 popular apps.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Allows for unlimited pay runs
- Comprehensive HR solutions
- Several integration options
Cons
- Requires a minimum of five employees
- Customer support could be better
- Health insurance available in only 49 states
- No payroll specialist support
Plans & Pricing
The base Essential plan costs $10 per employee per month, the Growth plan costs $20 per employee per month, and the Zen plan costs $27 per employee per month. TriNet Zenefits also has several paid add-ons. These include the Payroll service at $6 per employee per month, advisory services at $10 per employee per month, benefits administration at $5 per employee per month, and recruiting tools for a $62 monthly fee.
Our Methodology for Picking the Top ADP Competitors
To create this guide covering several top payroll companies like ADP, we carefully selected the included products based on their functionality and tools. We also considered some of the more economical options available today for business owners looking for low-cost, no-frills options.
We then shortlisted the top eight services that are most like ADP. In conclusion, this guide is designed to help you pick the right solution for your organization based on the number of employees and your specific requirements.
Conclusion
As we explored the 8 Best ADP Competitors for 2023, it became evident that these companies are leading the charge with cutting-edge solutions and unparalleled features.
From streamlined payroll processing to advanced reporting capabilities, each competitor showcased its unique strengths, catering to the diverse needs of businesses across various industries. Whether you’re seeking scalability for a growing enterprise, user-friendly interfaces for a small business, or specialized solutions for a specific niche, these ADP competitors have proven their worth.
Understanding how to calculate payroll for your small business can significantly improve your day-to-day operations. Therefore, to optimize your business flow, having a precise and dependable payroll calculation system can provide much-needed relief, enabling you and your employees to focus on delivering your best work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key features of ADP’s main competitors?
The main competitors of ADP offer a range of key features that cater to diverse payroll needs. These features include streamlined payroll processing, advanced reporting and analytics, user-friendly interfaces, robust compliance management, integrated HR solutions, customizable payroll configurations, excellent customer support, and scalable options for businesses of all sizes.
Each competitor brings unique strengths to the table, providing comprehensive solutions to meet the demands of modern payroll management.
