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What is ADP?
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey, ADP provides payroll and workforce-management software and services. The company reports more than 1.1 million clients and 42 million workers paid across 140+ countries and territories.
ADP provides payroll, payroll-tax filing and workforce-management software through RUN Powered by ADP for businesses with 1–49 employees and Workforce Now for larger employers. Core workflows cover employee setup, payroll calculation, tax withholding, filings, direct deposit, year-end forms and employee access through web and mobile tools. ADP also offers recurring payroll automation, contractor payments, time tracking, job costing, benefits and human-resources features.
The product breadth is substantial, but packaging differs by product, employee count and selected add-ons. RUN includes payroll, tax filing, reporting, direct deposit, W-2 and 1099 preparation, while higher packages add garnishment payments, state unemployment management, HR support, onboarding and tracking tools. Workforce Now adds broader HR, benefits, talent, time, analytics and learning capabilities. ADP does not publish complete contract pricing, and payroll-run, implementation, form and add-on fees require a quote.
ADP serves small businesses, midsize employers and multinational organizations that want payroll administration and compliance support from one provider. Small employers typically evaluate RUN packages, while organizations with 50 or more employees may consider Workforce Now. Official pricing is quote-based and varies with employee count, payroll frequency, jurisdictions, worker type, payment method and add-ons. Third-party benchmarks place RUN commonly around $59–$150 per month plus $12–$25 per employee per month, but those figures are not guaranteed ADP rates.
Key features
Payroll tax filing
Calculates payroll taxes and supports payroll-tax deduction and filing in all 50 states.
Direct deposit
Supports direct deposit alongside Wisely and ADPCheck payment options.
Year-end forms
Prepares and electronically files W-2 and 1099 forms.
Recurring payroll
RUN & DONE automates recurring payroll workflows for eligible employers.
Workforce management
Workforce Now adds time and attendance, benefits administration and broader workforce-management modules.
Human resources
Higher RUN packages provide HR HelpDesk, handbook tools, forms and HR tracking.
Reporting and interfaces
RUN includes reporting and a general-ledger interface, with accounting, POS and HR software connections available.
ADP pricing
ADP publishes no official base price for RUN or Workforce Now. Vendr benchmarks RUN commonly at $59–$150 per month plus $12–$25 per employee per month, while its anonymized ADP median contract is $51,372 per year across 11 deals. Actual pricing varies by workforce size, payroll frequency, jurisdictions, worker types, payment methods and add-ons.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Payroll | Custom | Payroll, tax filing, direct deposit, support, reporting, general-ledger interface, new-hire reporting, W-2 and 1099 processing |
| Enhanced Payroll | Custom | Essential Payroll features, check signing, state unemployment insurance management, garnishment payment, job costing, labor-law posters, ZipRecruiter and electronic I-9 |
| Complete Payroll & HR Plus | Custom | Enhanced Payroll features, HR HelpDesk, handbook wizard, forms and HR tracking |
| HR Pro Payroll & HR | Custom | Complete Payroll & HR Plus features, enhanced HR support and employee perks |
Free trial: No public free-trial terms are listed; ADP requires a quote for package pricing.
Pros & cons
Pros
- RUN combines payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit and W-2 and 1099 preparation for small employers.
- ADP supports payroll-tax filing in all 50 states and pays workers across more than 140 countries and territories.
- Higher packages add practical controls such as garnishment payments, state unemployment management and job costing.
- Workforce Now extends the platform into benefits, time, talent, analytics and learning management.
Cons
- ADP does not publish official package prices, so buyers must complete a sales-led quote process.
- Payroll-run, implementation, form and add-on fees can increase the cost beyond the base subscription.
- Feature availability and packaging vary substantially between RUN and Workforce Now tiers.
- The breadth of modules can make product selection and contract comparison more involved for smaller employers.
Who is ADP best for?
- Small businesses needing payroll-tax filing, direct deposit and year-end forms in one service.
- Midsize employers evaluating payroll, HR, benefits and workforce-management modules together.
- Organizations with multistate payroll requirements and changing worker types or jurisdictions.
- Employers that prefer vendor-managed payroll compliance over assembling separate tax tools.
Coverage
Integrations
Notable customers
Frequently asked questions
How much does ADP cost?
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ADP uses quote-based pricing for RUN and Workforce Now and does not publish official base rates. Vendr benchmarks RUN commonly at $59–$150 per month plus $12–$25 per employee per month, but final pricing depends on employees, payroll frequency, jurisdictions, payment methods and add-ons.
How long does ADP payroll take to run?
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ADP states that three out of four RUN customers run payroll in 15 minutes or less. RUN also supports recurring payroll through RUN & DONE, while tax filing, direct deposit and year-end forms are handled within the payroll workflow.
How does ADP compare with Paychex?
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ADP and Paychex both target employers that want managed payroll, tax filing and HR services. ADP publishes RUN for 1–49 employees and Workforce Now for larger organizations, while the deciding factors are usually quote, package fit, integrations and the level of HR and workforce-management functionality required.
What integrations does ADP support?
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ADP names Clover POS and ADP Marketplace apps, along with accounting, POS, HR, benefits, retirement and time-scheduling software connections. The specific integrations available can depend on the ADP product, package and selected add-ons.
Who is ADP best for?
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ADP is suited to small businesses, midsize employers and larger organizations that need payroll processing and tax administration with optional HR and workforce modules. RUN is positioned for 1–49 employees, while Workforce Now is aimed primarily at organizations with 50–999 employees.
Is ADP accurate and secure for payroll compliance?
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ADP provides payroll-tax deduction and filing in all 50 states and prepares W-2 and 1099 forms. Its official RUN page reports that nine out of ten customers trust ADP to pay accurately and on time, based on a 2026 internal survey of 1,281 RUN customers; the cited evidence does not establish an independent accuracy audit.
Sources
Facts and pricing verified on October 19, 2026. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm with ADP before buying. How we research
