Compare/Payroll
I use GustoGusto vs ADP
On paper ADP can cost less, especially past 15 people. Gusto earns its price with public pricing, no contract, and setup you finish yourself in an afternoon.
Shanin Drucquer, owner of Iconic LandscapingUpdated October 2026
Where this comes from: I run payroll for my landscaping crew on Gusto. ADP’s packages are from adp.com, and its RUN prices from 2026 quotes and pricing reports, since ADP sells RUN by quote.
Which to pick
My pick for most small businesses
Gusto
- Every price is public; ADP RUN is quote-only
- Month to month, cancel anytime
- Sign up and run payroll today, no sales call
You want to know the price before a sales call
Every plan is on its pricing page, from $49 + $6/person, month to month. ADP RUN is quote-only.
You want the lowest monthly bill, run from your phone
ADP’s app-based payroll at a published $39 + $5/employee, below Gusto Simple’s $49 + $6/person.
You have more than about 15 people
At the most-cited estimate, RUN Essential costs less than Gusto Simple from 16 people. Compare a real quote.
You expect to need recruiting and HR support tiers
Enhanced adds ZipRecruiter and state unemployment management; Complete and HR Pro add HR support.
$100 Visa gift card after your first payroll, through my referral link.
Is Gusto cheaper than ADP?
Gusto is list price. ADP RUN Essential is the most-cited 2026 estimate ($79 + $4 per employee); your quote may differ, and some ADP quotes bill per payroll run, so weekly payroll costs more. Roll by ADP ($39 + $5/employee) costs less than both at any size, but it’s app-only and built for very small teams.
Monthly cost for 8 people
Gusto
Simple
$97
ADP RUN
RUN Essential
$111
Gusto is $14 a month cheaper, about $168 a year.
Gusto is cheaper up to 15 people. From 16, ADP RUN costs less.
Start with Gusto“I dismiss people in the off-season so I’m not billed for them, then re-add them in spring.”
Shanin Drucquer, Iconic LandscapingWhere they actually differ
Pricing
Gusto
Published on its site (better)
ADP
RUN by quote; Roll published
Contract
Gusto
Month to month (better)
ADP
Set in your quote
New-customer offer
Gusto
$0 base fee for 6 months on the contractor plan
ADP
3 months of free payroll (better)
Billing
Gusto
Monthly base fee plus a fee per person
ADP
Per month or per payroll run, depending on the quote
HR help
Gusto
HR experts on Premium
ADP
Basic HR on Complete, more on HR Pro
Benefits
Gusto
Health insurance with no Gusto admin fee through its brokers
ADP
Insurance and retirement as add-ons
| Feature | Gusto | ADP |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Published on its site (better) | RUN by quote; Roll published |
| Contract | Month to month (better) | Set in your quote |
| New-customer offer | $0 base fee for 6 months on the contractor plan | 3 months of free payroll (better) |
| Billing | Monthly base fee plus a fee per person | Per month or per payroll run, depending on the quote |
| HR help | HR experts on Premium | Basic HR on Complete, more on HR Pro |
| Benefits | Health insurance with no Gusto admin fee through its brokers | Insurance and retirement as add-ons |
Both file federal, state, and local payroll taxes, pay employees and contractors, offer time tracking, and connect to QuickBooks Online.
Prices checked: Gusto September 30, 2026, ADP October 13, 2026. Sources: Gusto pricing, RUN Powered by ADP, TechRepublic: ADP RUN review and pricing.
“Setup took me about an hour with my EIN, bank account, and state account numbers in hand.”
Shanin Drucquer, Iconic LandscapingEvery plan, side by side
Each plan includes everything in the plans listed before it.
Gusto
Simple$49 + $6/person
Single-state payroll, tax filing, unlimited payrolls, onboarding
Plus$80 + $12/person
Multi-state payroll, next-day pay, time tracking, workforce cost reports
Premium$180 + $22/person
Same-day and instant pay, HR experts, a dedicated advisor, priority support
Contractor Only$35 + $6/contractor
1099 contractors only, with a $0 base fee for the first 6 months
ADP
Roll by ADP$39 + $5/employee
App-based payroll for very small teams, with a published price
RUN Essential$79 + $4/employee
Payroll, taxes, and compliance help (estimate; quote-only)
RUN Enhanced adds ZipRecruiter, state unemployment management, and garnishment payments. Complete Payroll & HR+ adds basic HR support, and HR Pro adds enhanced HR support. All three are quote-only.
What costs extra
The plan price covers payroll. These come on top, or are the reasons to move up a plan.
Gusto
- Time tracking
- Included on Plus, or $6/person on Simple
- Next-day pay
- Plus and Premium, or $15/mo + $3/person on Simple
- Failed payroll debit
- $100 fee
ADP
- Time tracking
- Add-on, priced in your quote
- Next-day pay
- Priced in your quote
- Failed payroll debit
- Not listed publicly
Ask ADP for an itemized quote: base fee, per-employee price, any per-run fees, year-end form fees, and setup.
Switching from ADP to Gusto
- 1.
Read your ADP agreement first
Check the notice period and any cancellation terms before you set a date.
- 2.
Pick a quarter start
Switching on January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1 keeps each quarter’s filings in one system.
- 3.
Export your payroll history
Pull year-to-date payroll registers from ADP. Gusto asks for them during setup so W-2s come out right.
- 4.
Run one payroll, then cancel
Turn ADP off after your first Gusto payroll clears, and confirm ADP won’t file for the new quarter.
Common questions
Is Gusto cheaper than ADP?
Up to about 15 people, yes. At the most-cited estimate for RUN Essential, 10 people cost $109 a month on Gusto Simple and about $119 a month on ADP; at 25 people it flips to $199 a month against about $179 a month. Roll by ADP is cheaper than both at any size, but it’s app-only.
How much does ADP payroll cost?
Roll by ADP is $39 + $5/employee. RUN is quote-only; 2026 reports put Essential around $79 + $4/employee, with Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro higher.
Is ADP better than Gusto?
Not on price alone: ADP can cost less, especially past 15 people. Gusto is simpler to buy and run, with published prices, no contract, and self-serve setup. ADP is stronger if you want recruiting and HR support tiers from one large provider as you grow.
Does ADP have a free trial?
Not a trial, but ADP advertises 3 months of free payroll for new small business clients. Gusto’s contractor plan has no base fee for the first 6 months.
What is Roll by ADP?
ADP’s app-based payroll for very small businesses, run mostly from your phone. It’s the one ADP product with a published price: $39 + $5/employee.
Which is easier to set up?
Gusto setup took me about an hour with my EIN, bank account, and state account numbers in hand, and you do it yourself online. ADP sets you up after the sales process.
Do Gusto and ADP work with QuickBooks?
Both connect to QuickBooks Online. I skip Gusto’s sync and categorize its withdrawals from my bank feed instead.
Sources: Gusto pricing, RUN Powered by ADP, TechRepublic: ADP RUN review and pricing. How we research
Start with Gusto if you want to sign up today and cancel anytime. Past 15 people, or if you want recruiting and HR tiers, get an ADP quote and compare it to Gusto’s public price.
I may earn a referral fee from these links, at no cost to you.How we researchHow I make money
Gusto · from $49/mo
$100 after your first payroll