How Much Does ADP Payroll Cost? [2026 Guide]

ADP payroll pricing is mostly quote-based. ADP does not publish standard prices for RUN Powered by ADP, ADP Workforce Now, or its ADP TotalSource professional employer organization, or PEO. Businesses must contact ADP for a customized quote.

The main exception is Roll by ADP, a mobile-first payroll product that costs $39 per month plus $5 for each W-2 employee or 1099 contractor actively paid through Roll during that month. Optional services or features may cost extra.

For ADP RUN, two third-party publications reported in 2026 that the Essential package may start at $79 per month plus $4 per employee, but ADP has not publicly confirmed that figure. So, your quote may differ.

ADP says it serves more than 1.1 million clients and provides payroll, global human capital management, and outsourcing services in more than 140 countries. Its product range extends from mobile payroll for very small employers to services spanning payroll, HR, benefits, workforce management, PEO, and enterprise HCM.

That breadth makes a single answer to “How much does ADP cost?” impossible. The relevant price depends on the ADP product, the number of workers, the payroll frequency, the selected package, the operating locations, and any separately purchased services.

Does ADP publish pricing?

ADP does not publish standard prices for its primary RUN, Workforce Now, or TotalSource offerings. Each product page directs prospective customers to request pricing or contact sales.

Here is the current pricing status by product:

For RUN, ADP says payroll cost may depend on payroll frequency, the number of people paid, how often workers are added or removed, and the services included. This allows ADP to configure a package around each customer, but it also makes comparison shopping and advance budgeting more difficult.

Before evaluating an ADP quote, request an itemized breakdown showing:

• The recurring base charge

• Per-employee or per-payee charges

• Charges tied to payroll frequency

• Off-cycle and bonus payroll costs

• Setup or implementation charges

• Year-end W-2 and 1099 service costs

• Time and attendance charges

• Benefits, retirement, and workers’ compensation costs

• Contractor-payment fees

• Contract, renewal, cancellation, and price-change terms

• Which promotional discounts expire and when

A quote should also identify which product and package it covers. A RUN quote for a 20-person business is not comparable to a Workforce Now quote or a TotalSource PEO proposal.

ADP payroll products and pricing

RUN Powered by ADP pricing for 1–49 employees

RUN Powered by ADP is the company’s primary payroll and HR platform for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. It has four packages:

ADP does not publish a regular base price or employee price for any RUN package.

Business.com and Tech.co reported in 2026 that RUN Essential may start at $79 per month plus $4 per employee. Both sources acknowledge that ADP prices products on a case-by-case basis. Treat this figure as a preliminary budgeting estimate, not a guaranteed starting rate.

Estimated RUN Essential costs

The following examples apply the third-party formula of $79 per month plus $4 per employee.

Assumptions: These estimates use the reported Essential price of $79 + ($4 × employees). They exclude differences based on payroll frequency, off-cycle processing, add-ons, setup, insurance premiums, implementation work, contractor fees, year-end form-service fees, and promotional pricing. Actual ADP quotes may be higher or lower.

No sufficiently reliable evidence confirms the content brief’s proposed prices for Enhanced, Complete, or HR Pro. Businesses must request quotes for those tiers.

ADP Workforce Now pricing for 50 or more employees

ADP Workforce Now is a different product from RUN. It combines payroll and HR capabilities for midsize and larger employers and currently has three core packages:

• Select: Payroll, tax services, HR records, onboarding, reporting, and employee tools

• Plus: Everything in Select, with benefits administration

• Premium: Everything in Plus, with time and attendance

ADP does not publish a starting price or per-employee rate for these packages. Optional products for recruiting, performance, learning, compensation, analytics, and other workforce functions may further affect the quote.

As one third-party benchmark, HR software advisory firm OutSail estimated that a 200-employee company using Workforce Now Plus might budget approximately $55,000–$72,000 per year for the base software, before first-year implementation. This is advisory data, not an ADP price, and should not be applied automatically to smaller, larger, or differently configured businesses.

Companies considering Workforce Now should request separate figures for:

• Recurring platform charges

• Payroll processing

• Benefits administration

• Time and attendance

• Recruiting and talent modules

• Implementation and data conversion

• Training

• Integrations

• Year-end services

• Premium or outsourced support

ADP TotalSource pricing

ADP TotalSource is an IRS-certified PEO for small and midsize businesses. It combines payroll and tax support with benefits administration, HR services, workers’ compensation support, risk management, and other employer services.

ADP requires prospective TotalSource customers to request a custom quote.

ADP’s general PEO pricing guide says PEO administrative charges in the broader market may range from:

• 2%–12% of payroll, or

• Approximately $40–$160 per employee per month

Those figures describe possible PEO pricing models across the industry. They are not a published ADP TotalSource price.

PEO proposals also require a different type of comparison from that for payroll software subscriptions. Benefits premiums and workers’ compensation costs may be billed separately from the PEO’s administrative charge. A PEO also creates a co-employment relationship and provides services beyond processing payroll.

Roll by ADP pricing

Roll by ADP is the only major ADP payroll product with a clearly published standard price:

$39 per month plus $5 for each W-2 employee or 1099 contractor actively paid through Roll during that month

Roll is a mobile-first payroll application with an AI-powered chat interface. It includes payroll calculations, tax filing, in-app guidance, employee self-service, reports, and assistance with basic HR questions. Same-day deposit is available for a transaction fee.

Roll cost examples

Formula: $39 monthly base fee + ($5 × actively paid workers).

These examples assume that every listed worker is paid through Roll during the month. Roll applies the $5 charge to actively paid W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. The estimates exclude same-day deposit fees and other optional or pass-through costs.

Roll may suit employers who want mobile payroll without a wider HR platform. RUN is the more relevant product for businesses that need payroll plus configurable HR, insurance, retirement, recruiting, or time-management services.

ADP RUN features by package

All four RUN packages include considerably more than just wage calculation. ADP’s package comparison lists tax filing, direct deposit, employee access, new-hire reporting, automatic recurring payroll, general-ledger exports, multi-jurisdiction payroll, onboarding, background checks, and other tools across the four packages.

ADP says it creates and delivers W-2 and 1099 forms for an additional fee and e-files them with the IRS. The package-comparison page does not publish the fee amount.

Availability also does not necessarily mean that an optional service has the same price or terms for every customer. Ask ADP to identify every included and separately billed item in the sales order.

ADP additional costs and fees to ask about

Buyers often search for “ADP hidden fees,” but many possible charges are better described as quote-specific costs, usage charges, add-ons, or separate services. ADP does not publish a universal fee schedule for all RUN customers.

Payroll frequency and off-cycle costs

ADP states that RUN payroll fees increase with frequency. RUN customers can process payroll outside their normal schedule, but more frequent processing may increase the bill.

This matters for businesses that regularly process:

• Weekly payroll

• Off-cycle corrections

• Bonus payroll

• Commissions

• Termination checks

• Separate contractor payments

Ask for the cost of your expected annual payroll schedule rather than comparing only a monthly headline estimate.

Time and attendance

Time and attendance are listed as an add-on across all four RUN packages. ADP does not publish its regular price on the RUN comparison page.

A business comparing Essential with a competing package that includes time tracking should add ADP’s quoted time cost before concluding the total price.

Health insurance, workers’ compensation, and retirement

RUN makes health insurance, workers’ compensation, and retirement services available across its packages, but these are separate services rather than included insurance or retirement benefits.

Depending on the service, total expenses may include:

• Insurance premiums

• Administrative charges

• Retirement-plan expenses

• Participant charges

• Workers’ compensation premiums

• Broker or partner costs

ADP publishes a $100 monthly base recordkeeping fee for its Starter-k Complete retirement offering. The participant fee is $0 for 0 to 4 active participants and $5 per active participant per month once the plan has 5 or more active participants. Other services and delivery options may add costs.

That price should not be generalized to ADP’s other retirement products.

Contractor-payment costs

ADP says its RUN contractor-payment bundle uses a monthly base price plus a per-contractor charge. Year-end processing fees also apply. The company does not publish the amounts on its general RUN pricing page.

This contractor bundle is distinct from standard W-2 payroll. Do not interpret its year-end fee as proof that every RUN customer pays the same amount for employee W-2 services.

Setup and implementation

ADP does not publish a universal RUN setup fee. A Business News Daily review based on a 2023 sales conversation reported a $200 setup charge that the representative offered to waive. Workforce Now and TotalSource implementations may involve substantially more work, but their costs remain quote-based.

Ask the salesperson to list the implementation, conversion, tax account setup, training, and integration charges separately.

W-2 and 1099 fees

ADP’s current RUN package comparison lists W-2 and 1099 form services in every package, but it also states that creating and delivering those forms carries an additional fee. ADP says it will e-file the forms with the IRS, but it does not publish the fee amount on the package-comparison page.

The reviewed official sources do not support the proposed universal charge of $55 plus $6.50 per form, sometimes reported online. Additional charges may also apply to amendments, contractor-payment bundles, special processing, or contract-specific services.

Request the current year-end fee schedule in writing.

Contracts and cancellation

ADP’s current RUN page says customers do not have to sign a long-term contract and that RUN services can be terminated at any time.

That statement applies to RUN and should not be extended automatically to Workforce Now, TotalSource, global payroll, retirement, insurance, or other ADP services. Those arrangements may have separate agreements and termination procedures.

Before signing, review the sales order and product terms for:

• Required notice

• Final payroll obligations

• Final billing

• Data access

• Tax filings after termination

• Benefits termination

• Insurance and retirement consequences

• Separate cancellation of add-ons

Annual price changes

The reviewed official sources do not establish a universal annual increase or renewal percentage for RUN. Do not assume that every account increases by 3%–8%.

Ask the salesperson to state how long the quoted rates remain valid, whether discounts expire, and how ADP communicates future price changes.

ADP pricing vs. Gusto pricing

The central pricing difference between ADP RUN and Gusto is disclosure. ADP requires a quote for RUN. Gusto publishes monthly prices for Simple, Plus, and Premium.

• Simple: $49 per month plus $6 per person

• Plus: $80 per month plus $12 per person

• Premium: $180 per month plus $22 per person

Side-by-side comparison

The recurring subscription comparison does not show that one provider is always less expensive.

Using the reported RUN estimate:

• At 10 employees, RUN Essential would be about $10 more per month than Gusto Simple.

• At 25 employees, RUN Essential would be about $20 less per month than Gusto Simple.

Those figures do not account for payroll frequency, time tracking, implementation, support differences, or other services. The ADP estimates also exclude its undisclosed additional fee for W-2 and 1099 form services.

They also compare an estimated ADP price with a published Gusto price.

Two notable pricing differences are Gusto’s published rates and unlimited payroll runs. ADP RUN’s documented distinctions include 24/7 payroll support, phone-based payroll processing, and a broader set of package and service options.

Gusto Simple may also require add-ons or an upgrade. It supports single-state payroll, while multi-state payroll and built-in time tracking require the Plus plan. For a 10-person company, Gusto Plus costs $200 per month, or $2,400 per year.

The most useful comparison is therefore not “Which base fee is lower?” It is “What does each provider charge for the complete set of services this business needs?”

You can also read our full Gusto vs. ADP comparison.

Is ADP worth the price?

ADP may be worth the price when a business values product breadth, around-the-clock RUN support, configurable HR services, or a provider capable of supporting increasingly complex payroll and workforce requirements.

ADP may be worth considering for:

Small businesses that want assisted payroll and 24/7 support. RUN processes payroll through its web platform, mobile app, or by phone and includes 24/7 payroll support in every package.

Growing organizations. ADP has separate platforms for employers with fewer than 50 employees, midsize organizations, and large enterprises.

Employers who need configurable HR services. Higher RUN packages add live HR assistance, employee handbooks, compliance resources, recruiting, learning, and third-party legal services.

Midsize businesses needing integrated HR, benefits, and time tools. Workforce Now combines payroll and HR in Select, adds benefits administration in Plus, and adds time and attendance in Premium.

Businesses seeking a PEO. TotalSource combines payroll with HR, benefits, workers’ compensation, risk, and compliance services under a PEO relationship.

Global organizations. ADP provides payroll, HCM, and outsourcing services across more than 140 countries, although global services require separate quotes and product evaluation.

ADP may be less suitable for:

Buyers who need exact pricing before speaking with sales. Standard RUN, Workforce Now, and TotalSource rates are not available publicly.

Businesses that run many off-cycle payrolls. ADP says RUN fees increase with payroll frequency, while some providers include unlimited runs in a monthly subscription.

Very small employers needing only mobile payroll. Roll may be a more proportionate ADP product than a wider RUN package.

Businesses seeking a single flat price that includes time tracking. RUN treats time and attendance as an add-on across all four packages.

Teams that do not need ADP’s broader product ecosystem. A smaller payroll platform may be sufficient when payroll requirements are straightforward and advanced HR, PEO, global, or workforce-management services are unnecessary.

The deciding factor is the itemized quote. Compare the full annual cost at your actual payroll frequency and include every service you expect to use.

• Related content: How to Switch from ADP to Gusto

Who is ADP best for?

ADP does not serve only one type of buyer. Each product addresses a different level of payroll and HR complexity.

Roll by ADP is suited to:

• Very small employers

• Mobile-first business owners

• Businesses with straightforward U.S. payroll

• Buyers who want a published ADP price

• Employers who do not need extensive HR tools

RUN Powered by ADP is suited to:

• Businesses with 1–49 employees

• Employers who want payroll support available around the clock

• Businesses that may add HR, time, insurance, or retirement services

• Teams needing multi-jurisdiction payroll

• Companies that want a choice among payroll-only and payroll-plus-HR packages

ADP Workforce Now is suited to:

• Midsize and larger organizations

• Businesses combining payroll with HR records and onboarding

• Employers who need benefits administration or workforce management

• Organizations needing configurable talent, analytics, and compliance products

• Companies are prepared for a sales and implementation process

ADP TotalSource is suited to:

• Small and midsize businesses seeking a PEO

• Employers who want payroll, benefits, HR, and risk services from one provider

• Businesses are comfortable with a co-employment arrangement

• Organizations willing to compare a detailed PEO proposal rather than a software subscription

Buyers should compare products that match their actual service model. Roll, RUN, Workforce Now, and TotalSource are not interchangeable versions of one payroll plan.

ADP payroll pricing FAQ

How much does ADP cost per employee?

ADP does not publish a standard per-employee price for RUN or Workforce Now. Third-party sources estimate that RUN Essential may start at $79 per month plus $4 per employee. Roll by ADP has an official price of $39 per month, plus $5 per W-2 employee or 1099 contractor actively paid through Roll during that month.

How much does ADP payroll cost per month?

A third-party estimate puts RUN Essential at about $99 per month for five employees, $119 for 10, and $179 for 25. Roll officially costs $64, $89, and $164 per month at those headcounts when every listed worker is actively paid during the month. Actual RUN quotes may differ.

Why doesn’t ADP show RUN pricing?

ADP customizes RUN prices based on factors such as payroll frequency, employee count, package, and added services. Businesses must request a quote, which allows configuration but prevents buyers from confirming their exact cost before contacting sales.

Is ADP more expensive than Gusto?

Not necessarily. At 10 employees, the reported RUN Essential estimate is $119 per month, compared with $109 for Gusto Simple. At 25 employees, the RUN estimate is $179, compared with $199 for Gusto Simple. ADP frequency charges, year-end form service fees, and add-ons may affect the final comparison.

Does ADP charge a setup fee?

ADP does not publish a universal RUN setup fee. One 2023 sales quote reported by Business News Daily included a waivable $200 charge, but that example should not be treated as a current standard. Request all implementation and conversion charges in writing.

Does ADP require a contract?

ADP’s current RUN page says businesses do not have to sign a long-term contract and may terminate services at any time. Workforce Now, TotalSource, insurance, retirement, global payroll, and other products may have separate contract terms.

Does ADP charge for every payroll run?

ADP does not publish a standard per-run price. Its RUN page says payroll fees increase with frequency and that processing payroll outside the normal schedule can increase fees. Ask ADP to calculate the annual price using your regular and expected off-cycle runs.

Does ADP charge extra for W-2 filing?

ADP’s current RUN package comparison lists W-2 and 1099 form services in all four packages, but it says that creating and delivering the forms carries an additional fee. ADP does not publish the amount on that page, and the reviewed sources do not verify a universal per-form price. Request the current year-end fee schedule in writing.

Can businesses negotiate ADP pricing?

ADP’s quote-based model gives buyers the opportunity to discuss pricing and contract terms, but no reliable source has established a standard discount. Request competing quotes and negotiate the itemized total, implementation charges, discount duration, and future price-change terms.

How much does ADP TotalSource cost?

ADP TotalSource requires a custom quote. ADP says PEOs generally charge 2%–12% of payroll, or approximately $40–$160 per employee per month, but these are broad industry ranges rather than published TotalSource prices.

Sources

ADP publishes a standard price only for Roll by ADP, the Starter-k retirement fee, and its general PEO cost guide; RUN, Workforce Now, and TotalSource are quote-based. RUN Essential figures are third-party estimates, clearly labeled, not ADP rates.

• Roll by ADP pricing — $39/month + $5 per actively paid W-2 employee or 1099 contractor

• RUN Powered by ADP package comparison — Essential, Enhanced, Complete & HR Plus, HR Pro; included features; W-2/1099 form service carries an additional fee

• ADP Workforce Now options — Select, Plus, Premium

• ADP "What is the cost of a PEO?" cost guide — 2%–12% of payroll or $40–$160 per employee per month

• ADP Starter-k Complete retirement pricing — $100/month base; $0 for 1–4 participants; $5/participant at 5+

Third-party estimates cited in this guide:

• Business.com, "ADP Review" — RUN Essential ~$79/month + $4/employee estimate; $200 setup charge from a 2023 sales quote (originally via Business News Daily)

• Tech.co, ADP RUN pricing analysis — RUN Essential entry estimate

• OutSail, ADP Workforce Now estimate — ≈$55,000–$72,000/year base software for a 200-employee Plus configuration

Disclaimer

Pricing is accurate as of June 2026. ADP does not publish standard pricing for RUN Powered by ADP, ADP Workforce Now, or ADP TotalSource; any amounts shown for those products are third-party estimates or general industry ranges, not guaranteed prices, and your ADP quote may differ. Published figures for Roll by ADP, the Starter-k retirement fee, and the PEO cost guide are taken from ADP's pages and are subject to change without notice. Estimates exclude factors that can materially change the total, including payroll frequency and off-cycle runs, add-on modules, time and attendance, setup and implementation, year-end W-2/1099 form-service fees, contractor-payment fees, insurance premiums, and retirement or workers' compensation costs. This content is informational only, is not financial, tax, or legal advice, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ADP, Inc. ADP®, RUN Powered by ADP®, Roll by ADP®, ADP Workforce Now®, and ADP TotalSource® are trademarks of ADP, Inc. Verify current pricing and terms directly with ADP before purchasing.