ADP

ADP has been processing payroll since 1949, which makes it older than most of the companies it serves. With over 67,000 employees and $20+ billion in annual revenue, it's the biggest name in payroll by a wide margin. The company offers a tiered product lineup: RUN for small businesses (1-49 employees), Workforce Now for mid-market (50-999), and Vantage HCM for enterprise. There's also TotalSource, their PEO offering for companies that want to outsource HR entirely.

The platform does just about everything: payroll, tax filing, benefits administration, time tracking, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and global payroll in 140+ countries. The ADP Marketplace has 700+ integrations, which is more than most competitors offer. For compliance-heavy businesses or companies operating across multiple states, ADP's automated tax filing and regulatory updates are genuinely useful.

The trade-offs are real, though. Pricing is completely opaque. You won't find a single dollar figure on their website, and quotes vary wildly based on company size and negotiation. Customer support is the most common complaint in reviews, with users reporting 45+ minute hold times and slow issue resolution. The interface feels dated compared to newer players like Gusto or Rippling, and simple tasks can take more clicks than they should. Growing companies also face a forced migration from RUN to Workforce Now, which can be disruptive. ADP is the safe, established choice, but you'll pay a premium for that stability, and the experience won't feel modern.

• Mid-market and enterprise companies (50-1,000+ employees) that need proven, large-scale payroll and HR infrastructure. Especially strong for multi-state US operations and companies needing global payroll across 140+ countries.

• Small startups wanting a modern, self-serve experience. Budget-conscious businesses that need transparent pricing. Companies that prioritize fast, responsive customer support. Teams under 20 employees who'd be better served by Gusto or Justworks.

• All-in-one platform covering payroll, HR, benefits, time tracking, and compliance in one system.
• Automated tax filing and compliance that handles multi-state complexity and regulatory changes.
• 75+ year track record with high confidence in payroll accuracy and data security.

• Poor customer support with long wait times (45+ minutes), slow issue resolution, and lack of urgency.
• Completely opaque pricing with surprise increases and expensive add-ons for features competitors include by default.
• Dated, clunky UI where simple tasks take too many clicks, plus occasional system downtime during payroll runs.

RUN (small biz): ~$79/mo base + ~$4/employee. Workforce Now (mid-market): ~$19-30/employee/month depending on modules, up to $48 with compensation services. Implementation fee typically 10-20% of annual software cost. TotalSource PEO pricing is fully custom. All pricing requires a sales call.