- You have fewer than 100 employees and want predictable monthly costs with no sales calls. You value a clean, modern interface that non-HR staff can use without training. You want benefits administration, unlimited pay runs, and workers' comp bundled into your base plan. You're a startup or small business that needs to get payroll running quickly without a lengthy implementation process. You pay contractors regularly and want a simple contractor-only plan option.
- You have 50+ employees and expect to grow past 200 in the next few years. You need international payroll across multiple countries, not just U.S.-based. You require advanced compliance features like SUI management, garnishment processing, or industry-specific tax handling. You want 24/7 phone support availability (though response quality varies). You prefer a single vendor that can scale from small business payroll all the way to enterprise HR without switching platforms.
Gusto's Simple plan starts at $49/mo base plus $6 per employee per month (recently increased from $40 in March 2026). The Plus plan runs $80/mo plus $12/employee, adding multi-state support, time tracking, and hiring tools. Premium costs $180/mo plus $22/employee with a dedicated success manager and priority support. A contractor-only plan is $35/mo plus $6/contractor. ADP RUN's Essential plan starts around $79/mo base plus roughly $4-5 per employee, but all ADP pricing requires a sales call. Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro plans add features at higher (undisclosed) price points. ADP commonly charges setup fees and per-run fees that Gusto doesn't. For a 20-employee company on base plans, Gusto runs about $169/mo while ADP RUN starts around $159-179/mo, but ADP's add-on costs for features Gusto includes (like benefits admin) can push the real number significantly higher.
Both platforms handle core payroll, direct deposit, W-2/1099 filing, and new hire reporting. Gusto stands out with built-in benefits administration (3,500+ health plans), free workers' comp administration, employee self-onboarding, and a clean expense management tool. ADP counters with stronger compliance infrastructure, garnishment handling, SUI management, retirement plan administration through its own 401(k) product, and deeper reporting for mid-size companies. Gusto's interface is noticeably more modern. Users consistently describe it as something you can hand to a non-HR person and they'll figure out in minutes. ADP's UI feels dated by comparison, with simple tasks often requiring more clicks than necessary. For integrations, Gusto connects with QuickBooks, Xero, and most popular accounting tools. ADP offers a broader integration marketplace but locks some behind higher-tier plans.
Final Take
Gusto is the better choice for most small businesses. It costs less when you factor in bundled features, it's dramatically easier to use, and it publishes pricing so you know what you're paying before you talk to anyone. ADP makes sense when you need global payroll, expect to scale significantly, or have compliance needs that go beyond standard U.S. payroll. Just know that ADP's pricing will be a black box until you get on a call, and several users report surprise price increases after the first year. Both platforms struggle with customer support quality, which is worth factoring into your decision regardless of which direction you go.
Gusto vs Rippling
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ADP vs Paychex
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Gusto vs Justworks
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