Quick answer: Gusto publishes its prices: $49/month + $6 per person on Simple, $80 + $12 on Plus and $180 + $22 on Premium. ADP’s small business product, RUN Powered by ADP, is quote-only across four packages and currently advertises three months free. For a US team under about 50 people on straightforward payroll, Gusto is usually cheaper and faster to set up. ADP fits multi-entity, union or high-growth employers that want one vendor from small business to enterprise.
Gusto and ADP are two of the most popular payroll platforms, but they’re built for very different audiences—one prioritizes simplicity and price, the other prioritizes scale and depth. Gusto is the go-to for small businesses and startups. ADP serves everyone from SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Here’s how they stack up.
Gusto vs ADP: Quick Comparison
| Factor | Gusto | ADP |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Startups, SMBs (1–500 employees) | SMBs to enterprise (any size) |
| Starting Price | $49/month + $6/person (published) | Quote-only (RUN: 3 months free offer) |
| Full-Service Payroll | Yes (all 50 states) | Yes (all 50 states) |
| Tax Filing | Automatic (federal, state, local) | Automatic (federal, state, local) |
| Benefits Administration | Yes (health, dental, 401k) | Yes (comprehensive) |
| HR Features | Strong for size | Enterprise-grade |
| International Payroll | Limited (via EOR partners) | Yes (ADP GlobalView) |
| Ease of Use | Excellent | Moderate |
Pricing
Gusto Pricing
- Simple: $49/month + $6/person — single-state payroll, unlimited payrolls, tax filings and payments, basic PTO policies
- Plus: $80/month + $12/person — multi-state payroll, next-day pay, time tracking
- Premium: $180/month + $22/person — dedicated Service Advisor, certified HR experts, performance and compensation management, priority support
- Contractor Only: $35/month + $6/person — base fee currently $0 for the first six months
Gusto prices vendor-published on gusto.com/product/pricing, checked September 2026. See our full Gusto pricing breakdown for add-on fees and costs at 1, 5, 10 and 25 employees.
ADP Pricing
ADP does not publish prices for RUN Powered by ADP, its small business payroll product. Every package is quoted after a sales conversation, and the price depends on headcount, pay frequency and the options you add. ADP currently advertises three months free for new small business payroll customers (terms apply). The four packages, as ADP describes them:
| RUN package | What ADP says it adds | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Payroll | Payroll, taxes and compliance help | Quote |
| Enhanced Payroll | Essential plus ZipRecruiter, State Unemployment Insurance management and a garnishment payment service | Quote |
| Complete Payroll & HR+ | Enhanced plus basic HR support | Quote |
| HR Pro Payroll & HR | Complete plus enhanced HR support and perks for owners and employees | Quote |
Package names and descriptions from ADP’s RUN page, checked September 2026.
For larger businesses, ADP also offers ADP Workforce Now (mid-market, 50–1,000 employees) and ADP Vantage (enterprise, 1,000+ employees), each with custom pricing.
Gusto prices are published by Gusto; ADP prices are quote-only, so budget from a written quote priced at your expected headcount.
Payroll Features
Payroll Processing
Gusto offers auto-pilot payroll (set it and forget it), off-cycle payroll for bonuses, and a simple interface where you can run payroll in minutes. Automatic W-2s and 1099s are included. Strong for W-2 employees + 1099 contractors in one system.
ADP handles more complex payroll scenarios — union payroll, shift differentials, garnishments, and multi-entity payroll. Larger companies often need these capabilities. ADP’s reliability and 70+ years in payroll gives enterprise customers confidence.
Tax Compliance
Both platforms handle federal, state, and local tax filing automatically. Gusto’s tax guarantee means if they make an error, they pay the penalties. ADP similarly handles tax compliance and year-end filing.
Direct Deposit
Gusto includes next-day pay on Plus and Premium and sells it as a $15/month + $3 per person add-on on Simple; same-day and instant pay are included in Premium. ADP’s timelines depend on the package quoted. Both support multiple bank accounts per employee.
HR Features
Gusto includes employee onboarding, digital offer letters, I-9 and W-4 completion, org charts, time-off tracking, and an employee self-service portal. For most small businesses, Gusto’s HR toolkit is more than sufficient.
ADP offers deeper HR functionality — succession planning, performance management, learning management, and sophisticated workforce analytics in Workforce Now. ADP also has a massive HR library and compliance resources.
Benefits Administration
Gusto offers integrated health insurance (medical, dental, vision) in most states, 401(k) via Gusto-partnered providers, HSA/FSA, commuter benefits, and workers’ comp. Setup is quick and employee-facing enrollment is clean.
ADP handles benefits administration with more carrier options, including large group health plans, COBRA administration, and benefits reconciliation. Better for companies with complex benefit structures.
Gusto vs ADP Pricing: Which Costs Less?
Gusto usually costs less for small teams, and you can check that before talking to sales. A 10-person company pays $109/month on Gusto Simple or $200/month on Plus. ADP RUN has no public rate card, so the only comparison that counts is a written ADP quote against those published Gusto figures, both priced for the same headcount and states.
Two details change the maths. ADP’s current three-months-free offer lowers first-year cost, so compare twelve-month totals, not month one. And Gusto’s Simple plan is single-state, so a team in two states needs Plus before the comparison is fair.
Which Is Better for Small Businesses: ADP or Gusto?
For most small businesses with fewer than 50 employees in one or two states, Gusto is the better fit: published pricing, founder-friendly setup, unlimited payroll runs and HR basics in one subscription. ADP RUN makes more sense when you want packaged extras such as SUI management and garnishment payments, a phone-first service relationship, or a provider you will not have to leave as you scale into the hundreds.
Gusto vs ADP for Startups
Startups tend to prefer Gusto. You can sign up, set up payroll and run the first payroll without a sales call; contractor-only startups can begin on Gusto’s Contractor Only plan ($35/month + $6 per person, with the base fee at $0 for the first six months) and move to a W-2 plan at the first hire. ADP suits startups that expect rapid multi-state hiring and would prefer to sign with a long-term enterprise vendor early.
How Do Gusto and ADP Compare for Multi-State Payroll?
Both run payroll in all 50 states, but Gusto gates it by plan. Simple covers a single state; multi-state payroll starts on Plus ($80/month + $12 per person). Gusto can also register you for payroll taxes in a new state as an add-on priced by state. ADP handles multi-state filing across its products and is the stronger choice when you have employees in many states, multiple legal entities or local tax jurisdictions to manage.
What Types of Businesses Are Best Matched to ADP Versus Gusto?
- Gusto: startups, agencies, restaurants and professional-services firms under about 100 people with straightforward salaried or hourly payroll, and contractor-heavy teams.
- ADP: businesses with union payroll, garnishment volume, multiple entities or heavy compliance exposure, and companies planning to grow past a few hundred employees on one vendor.
Who Should Choose Gusto?
- Startups and small businesses (under 100 employees)
- Companies that want simple, transparent pricing
- Teams that value an intuitive, modern UI
- Businesses with a mix of employees and contractors
- Companies wanting integrated benefits without a broker
Who Should Choose ADP?
- Mid-size to enterprise companies (100+ employees)
- Businesses with complex payroll needs (multiple entities, union workers)
- Global companies needing international payroll
- Organizations wanting a single vendor for payroll + full HRIS
- Companies that prioritize proven reliability and enterprise support
Our Verdict
For small businesses (under 100 employees), Gusto wins on ease of use, transparent pricing, and modern UX. For growing and enterprise companies that need complex payroll, international capabilities, or a full HRIS suite, ADP’s scale and depth make it the stronger choice. If you’re unsure which bucket you fall into, headcount is usually the fastest signal: under 100 employees points to Gusto, more than that points toward ADP.
See our full Best Payroll Software Guide 2026 and HR Software Buyer’s Guide for more options.
Related Payroll Resources
- Best Payroll Software in 2026
- Best ADP Alternatives
- Best Gusto Alternatives
- ADP vs Paychex
- Gusto Pricing 2026
- How to Switch Payroll Providers
Gusto vs ADP: How the Costs Actually Compare
Quick Answer: Gusto publishes its rates: $49 monthly plus $6 per person on Simple, with full-service payroll included. ADP Workforce Now quotes per organisation and typically lands higher once modules are added, though it scales considerably further. At ten employees Gusto usually wins on both price and setup speed.
The comparison changes direction somewhere between 50 and 100 employees. Below that, Gusto’s published pricing and self-serve setup are difficult to beat, and ADP’s infrastructure is largely capability you are not using. Above it, multi-state filing depth, benefits complexity and the availability of dedicated service start to matter, and ADP’s pricing becomes easier to justify.
One practical note on quotes: ADP prices modularly, so ask for the breakdown by module and price it at your expected headcount in three years. A quote sized for today understates what the arrangement costs once you have grown into it.
Where Each One Genuinely Wins
Gusto
Setup a founder can complete without help, pricing legible without a sales conversation, and an interface that non-specialists operate confidently. For a US team on straightforward salaried payroll, that combination is the product.
ADP Workforce Now
Decades of tax-filing infrastructure, depth across complex multi-state payroll, and room to scale well past where Gusto stops being the right answer. Its compliance track record is the reason larger organisations choose it.
Which Should You Choose?
For a US team under about 50 employees on straightforward salaried payroll, Gusto is the more sensible default — published pricing, self-serve setup, and no sales conversation required. For organisations across several states, with complex benefits, or expecting to pass a few hundred employees, ADP Workforce Now has the depth and the room to grow into.
Gusto prices checked September 2026 on gusto.com; ADP RUN packages checked September 2026 on adp.com (ADP does not publish prices). Verify on the vendor site before budgeting.
Related reading: Gusto Review 2026: Pros, Cons, Pricing and Who It Fits, Gusto vs Paychex 2026: Published Prices vs Quote-Based Payroll
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gusto better than ADP for small business?
Yes, for most small businesses Gusto is easier to use, more affordable with transparent pricing, and faster to set up. ADP’s complexity and custom pricing model is better suited for larger organizations.
Does Gusto handle multi-state payroll?
Yes. Gusto runs payroll in all 50 states, but multi-state payroll starts on the Plus plan ($80/month + $12 per person); Simple is single-state. Gusto can register you in a new state for an add-on fee that varies by state. Checked September 2026.
Can I switch from ADP to Gusto?
Yes. Gusto offers migration support and can import historical payroll data. The process typically takes 2–4 weeks. Gusto’s team assists with setup and can handle year-to-date data to ensure accurate W-2s at year end.
Which is cheaper: Gusto or ADP?
Gusto, for most small teams. Gusto publishes $49/month + $6 per person on Simple ($109 for 10 people), while ADP RUN is quote-only. ADP’s current three-months-free offer can narrow the first-year gap, so compare twelve-month totals from a written quote.
Is ADP better than Gusto for compliance?
For complex compliance, yes. ADP’s Enhanced RUN package adds State Unemployment Insurance management and a garnishment payment service, and its HR Pro tier adds enhanced HR support. Gusto covers automated federal, state and local tax filing well for small businesses; certified HR experts sit on its Premium plan.
Is Gusto or ADP better for payroll?
Gusto is easier to set up and clearer to price for small teams. ADP Workforce Now offers deeper multi-state filing and broader compliance infrastructure. Below roughly 50 employees Gusto usually wins; above that the balance shifts toward ADP.
Is Gusto the same as ADP?
No. Both run full-service payroll with tax filing, but Gusto is built for small businesses with published pricing and self-serve setup, while ADP serves small business through large enterprise with quoted, modular pricing.
How much does ADP Workforce Now cost?
ADP quotes rather than publishes, with pricing driven by headcount, modules and contract length. Ask for the quote broken out by module and priced at your expected headcount in three years, since per-employee pricing compounds.
What are common complaints about Gusto?
Users most often cite per-employee cost rising as headcount grows, limited support for employing people internationally, and support responsiveness during peak periods such as year end. Payroll accuracy itself is rarely the complaint.
Who are Gusto’s main competitors?
OnPay, Patriot Payroll and Paychex compete most directly on small business payroll. Rippling competes where HR and IT integration matters, and BambooHR where employee records, not payroll, are the priority.
Can you switch from Gusto to ADP?
Yes. Move year-to-date earnings and deductions, employee tax elections, state registrations and benefit amounts, and time the switch for a quarter or calendar-year boundary. Run one parallel cycle before going live.
Which is better for a growing business?
ADP scales further before you outgrow it, particularly across multiple states. Gusto remains a strong fit well past 100 employees for companies whose payroll stays straightforward, so growth alone is not automatically a reason to switch.
Does Gusto or ADP handle benefits better?
ADP offers broader benefits administration and carrier connections at scale. Gusto covers benefits well for small businesses and is simpler to administer. Complexity of your benefit offering matters more here than headcount.
Do Gusto and ADP offer free trials?
Neither runs an open self-service trial for full payroll. Both provide demos, and it is worth asking to see your own scenarios — your states, your pay frequency, your benefit deductions rather than a generic environment.
Is Gusto good for a business with hourly staff?
Yes. It handles hourly payroll, and time tracking is included on Plus and Premium or available on Simple as the Time & Attendance Plus add-on ($6/month per person after a free trial). Large shift-based workforces usually add dedicated scheduling on top.
Does ADP work for small businesses?
Yes — ADP has small business products alongside Workforce Now. The question is whether you need its depth, since a small US team on straightforward payroll often gets the same outcome from Gusto at lower cost and with faster setup.
Which has better reporting, Gusto or ADP?
ADP offers deeper reporting and analytics, particularly across multiple states and entities. Gusto’s reporting covers what most small businesses need without configuration, which is a different kind of advantage.
Can Gusto and ADP both handle contractors?
Both pay 1099 contractors and generate year-end forms. If you pay only contractors and no employees, cheaper contractor-specific options exist that avoid a full payroll subscription.
Do Gusto or ADP charge for year-end forms?
Practice varies by plan and provider, and it is a common source of unexpected cost. Ask specifically whether W-2 and 1099 generation and distribution are included in the quoted price.
Do Gusto and ADP both offer employee self-service?
Both give employees access to payslips, tax documents and personal details. ADP’s portal covers more ground at scale; Gusto’s is simpler and generally needs less explanation to a workforce using it for the first time.
Is Gusto pricing better than ADP for a 10-person team?
On published numbers, Gusto costs $109/month (Simple) or $200/month (Plus) for 10 people, checked September 2026. ADP must quote, so ask for a 10-person, twelve-month RUN quote and set it against those figures.
