Gusto is rated #1 in payroll | G2 Fall 2025
Gusto vs ADP
What would you do with an extra 100 hours a year? That’s the average time Gusto customers save on taxes and compliance after switching from ADP.¹
Don’t get caught up using clunky, outdated systems. Choose the modern platform for payroll, benefits, and HR—trusted by 500,000 businesses and counting.
Thinking of switching from ADP? Make the move to Gusto in less than 7 days² and simplify payroll today. Learn more about switching.
4.5/5 stars
average rating from Gusto customers.*
100 hours
average time saved annually on tax and compliance work after switching from ADP.
9 out of 10
customers would recommend Gusto*
Why Gusto over ADP?
A platform built for today’s challenges
Traditional payroll providers may come with processes or contracts that can slow you down. With Gusto’s intuitive interface, you can focus on running your business—not running in circles.
Peace of mind with clear pricing
While ADP is known for complicated contracts and surprise charges, Gusto offers clear pricing with no hidden fees. It’s no wonder users say “Gusto provides a better product for nearly half the cost.”*
Award-winning customer support
When you need help, you’ll get support from a real person. Our team was ranked #1 in customer satisfaction by G2 in 2025‡, so you know you're in good hands.
Compare pricing and features: Gusto vs ADP
What to consider when choosing a payroll provider?
How large is your team?
Some payroll platforms are perfect for corporations or large enterprises, but overlook the needs of small and midsize businesses. Select a service that meets your needs where you currently are — and one that can grow with you down the line.
What's included in pricing?
Many platforms offer additional features, but those costs can add up quickly. Look for a payroll platform that doesn’t charge for every little change you want to make.
Is it easy to switch?
Migrating your payroll data could be a daunting task, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Ask about this process, and more importantly, who on your payment provider’s end oversees this task.
How can I get help when I need it?
Getting in touch with customer support should be simple and easy, with ample resources at your fingertips to help you get the most of your new payroll software. Ask about online, email, chat, and phone support.
Switch to Gusto in less than seven days.
While other providers charge extra for setting up, filing W-2’s, and off-cycle payroll runs, it’s all included with Gusto. Switch to see why we’re voted #1 (over and over again).
Time to switch source: Techvalidate survey of 712 Gusto Customers, October 2023
Comparison details: Gusto vs ADP
Pricing
Setup and monthly fees
At Gusto, it's easy to get started and you won't pay any fees until you run your first payroll. Monthly fees are straightforward, starting at a base fee of $49 per month, plus an additional $6 per employee per month. Learn more about our product plans and current promotions.
ADP Run often requires a setup fee, and the monthly cost fluctuates depending on features added and number of employees.
Gusto | ADP | |
Monthly fee | Starting at $49/mo + $6/mo per person | No upfront pricing |
Set up fee | Free | $ Extra fees |
Payroll
Running payroll
Gusto takes the time-consuming task of running payroll and turns it into a simple, few-click process. Our online software simplifies this complicated task, freeing up your time to focus on your team while we do the heavy lifting, no matter which state your employees live in, how they're taxed, or what their pay rate may be. You can even set up Gusto to run payroll automatically each pay period.
ADP Run is also a cloud-based system that can be accessed anywhere. This software comes with many features for reporting and can also be set up to issue payroll automatically.
Processing payroll
You can run unlimited payrolls with Gusto at no extra cost. ADP Run charges per payroll.
Tax filings
Gusto automatically calculates and files payroll taxes every time you run payroll at no extra charge. Both W-2 forms for your employees and 1099 forms for your contractors are calculated and filed to the appropriate tax agencies right from the platform. Plus, we file end-of-year taxes. ADP Run charges extra fees to file W-2 forms and 1099 forms.
Run payroll in multiple states
We go wherever you go. Gusto can be used compliantly anywhere in the United States. Multiple locations across several states are seamlessly managed through our platform. ADP Run requires extra fees to use in more than one state.
Gusto | ADP | |
Unlimited Payrolls | ✔ | $ Pay per payroll |
File 1099's | ✔ | $ Extra fees |
Benefits
Employee benefits
With more than 3,500 health insurance plans, Gusto's licensed advisors can help you find the right coverage for your team and your budget. Once you select insurance plans for your team, you can administer all medical, dental, and vision plans through our platform for free.
There are other benefits options you can offer your team through Gusto. Our options include 401(k) programs, commuter benefits, life and disability insurance, and Gusto Cashout™, a free benefit for employees to access funds between paydays.
ADP offers workers' compensation, retirement options via 401(k), and health and business insurance.
Signup costs
With Gusto, there are no administration fees to enroll in workers' comp or health benefits – you'll only pay the premiums. Also, there are no set up fees for 401(k) retirement plans. Learn more about pricing for benefits. ADP Run often charges premiums plus fees.
Gusto | ADP | |
Health benefits | Pay premiums only | Premiums + fees |
Workers' comp | Pay premiums only | Premiums + fees |
The Cashout Program is issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A., Member FDIC. The Sunrise Banks, N.A. Privacy Policy can be found here.
HR tools
Offer letters and onboarding
We can't wait for your new hires to get started. That's why our Plus and Premium plans help you to create and issue offer letters and streamline the employee onboarding process so that you can start your relationship on the right foot. ADP Run supports offer letter generation, but additional fees may apply.
Employee self-service
With Gusto, your employees can self-onboard, which means sensitive information is kept strictly confidential. Moreover, our platform offers lifetime access for every employee. That means employees can access their W-2s and other important benefit information even after they leave your company, without you needing to step in. ADP Run also offers a self-enrollment system for employees to submit their own information.
Time tracking
Gusto's Plus and Premium plans include access to time tracking tools that automatically sync your team's hours and time-off with payroll. We also integrate with other popular time tracking tools like Homebase, TSheets, and more. ADP Run Complete & HR plans charge extra fees to track hours and requests for time off.
Gusto | ADP | |
Time tracking | ✔ (Plus and Premium) | $ Extra fees |
Time-off requests | ✔ (Plus and Premium) | $ Extra fees |
Online offer letters | ✔ (Plus and Premium) | $ Extra fees |
Customer service
Support team
All of Gusto's products come with access to customer support via phone, email, and chat Monday through Friday. Our FAQ and Help Center are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. ADP products are supported by an online FAQ and chat, in addition to phone support.
Integrations
Integration capabilities
Gusto integrates with dozens of the most popular accounting, time tracking, point of sale (POS), business operations, and expense management softwares, including FreshBooks, Expensify, Intuit QuickBooks, Homebase, and Accelo. You can see a full list here.
Run Powered By ADP also offers integrations with ERPs, accounting solutions, timesheets, recruiting, benefits, and productivity platforms, including iCIMS, Slack, Oracle, and Xero.
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Gusto vs ADP FAQs
At Gusto, our small business platform lets business owners, HR professionals, and benefits administrators manage team support through a single, all-in-one dashboard. From onboarding a new employee to retirement plans, our payroll management platform supports your team’s experience at every step on the way. And with no hidden fees and a transparent payment structure, we make it easy to grow. Learn more about all Gusto can do by visiting here.
We are here to help you make the most of Gusto, whether you’re switching from another provider or you’re brand new to payroll software. Before you get in touch with us, you’ll need just a few pieces of basic information about your employees and your company, including your EIN and your employees’ social security numbers, addresses, and salaries. And if you’re switching to us mid-year, make sure you have information available about the payroll taxes you’ve paid so far for this calendar year.
Our sales team is available to answer any questions you may have. They can be reached directly by emailing [email protected], calling (844) 793-0395, or via live chat. Our sales team is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.
Gusto offers more hands-off payroll automation for small businesses, with AutoPilot running payroll automatically on schedule, calculating taxes in real time, and including year-end W-2/1099 filings at no extra cost.
Hands-off payroll: AutoPilot runs on schedule with automatic tax calculations and year-end W-2/1099 filings included.
No limits: Unlimited payroll runs, with no extra fees for running payroll more than once a month.
Gusto scales more predictably for small and mid-sized businesses, offering simple plan upgrades and flat, transparent pricing — without the enterprise complexity built into ADP's platform.
Scales with SMBs, not enterprise bloat: Simple plan upgrades, predictable pricing, and 50-state coverage as you grow.
Lower admin drag as you grow: Keep HR and payroll teams lean and compliant without added complexity.
Yes — Gusto is built for first-time payroll admins, with most teams running their first payroll within hours to days, versus a longer, more complex ADP RUN setup process.
Go live fast: Most teams run their first payroll in hours to days, not weeks.
Fewer clicks, cleaner flow: Gusto's modern UI consistently tests easier to navigate than ADP RUN.
Gusto includes built-in 50-state payroll support with automatic guidance on state reciprocity and courtesy withholding, so multi-state employers don't need a dedicated payroll expert to stay compliant.
50-state payroll built in: Clear, automated guidance on reciprocity agreements and courtesy withholding rules.
Straightforward admin: Guided setup minimizes errors, no payroll specialist required.
Gusto publishes transparent, upfront pricing, while ADP typically requires a sales call to get a quote — making Gusto easier to budget for as a small business.
Transparent, published pricing: See exact costs upfront, no sales call required.
Month-to-month predictability: Budget confidently as headcount changes throughout the year.
Gusto offers faster, more direct support for small teams, with in-app chat, callback, and email options during business hours — without the tiered escalation structure common at ADP.
Get help fast: In-app chat, callback, and email support during business hours, plus a robust self-serve Help Center.
No enterprise maze: Small teams get answers quickly, without navigating tiered gatekeeping.
Gusto integrates benefits administration directly with payroll and onboarding, keeping enrollment simpler and more transparent for small businesses than ADP's more enterprise-oriented benefits stack.
Built-in and SMB-friendly: Benefits are tightly integrated with payroll and onboarding from day one.
Less complexity, more clarity: Enrollment and ongoing admin stay lightweight for small HR teams.
Gusto offers more direct, simpler accounting syncs, with native integrations for QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero built for modern, cloud-first finance workflows.
Direct, dead-simple syncs: Native integrations with QuickBooks Online/Desktop and Xero.
Built for modern stacks: Frictionless setup for cloud-first SMB finance operations.
Explore how Gusto stacks up to competitors
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¹ Source: Survey of 538 Gusto Customers, September 2024
**Gusto was ranked G2’s Best Payroll Software of 2025
†according to Gusto's internal payroll data May 2025.
†according to Gusto's internal payroll data May 2025.