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Most buyers should pick Gusto.
Gusto is the clearer choice if you need a published price and defined payroll, time, HR, and benefits features: Simple starts at $49/month plus $6 per person. RUN may suit a small business that wants ADP, but its plan prices and RUN-specific capabilities aren’t published in the published details, so get plan and add-on costs in writing. Neither lists a free plan. ADP advertises a “3 Months Free” promotion, not a published free trial; Gusto’s trial status isn’t published.
01Side by side
| RUN Powered by ADP | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Not published | $49/month + $6/person |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Best for | Small businesses looking for ADP | Teams wanting payroll, HR, and benefits |
| Core strength | Small-business payroll and HR solutions | Payroll automation, HR, and benefits |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | RUN-specific details not published | Team time syncs to payroll |
| Team/seat costs | Per-person costs not published | Per-person rates published by plan |
| Support | Review support score: 5 | Review support score: 4 |
RUN Powered by ADP Choose RUN Powered by ADP if
- Choose RUN Powered by ADP if you specifically want ADP.
- Choose RUN Powered by ADP if you’ll confirm costs before buying.
- Choose RUN Powered by ADP if you want to compare its HR add-ons.
Gusto Choose Gusto if
- Choose Gusto if you want published starting prices.
- Choose Gusto if you need time tracking synced to payroll.
- Choose Gusto if you want listed payroll, HR, and benefits features.
02Pricing compared
Gusto is easier to budget for: its pricing page lists Simple at $49 per month plus $6 per person, Plus at $80 plus $12 per person, and Premium at $180 plus $22 per person. Plans are month-to-month, and annual rates are not listed. Gusto Solo pricing is also not published.
ADP lists four RUN tiers for businesses with 1–49 employees—Essential Payroll, Enhanced Payroll, Complete Payroll & HR Plus, and HR Pro Payroll & HR—but publishes no prices. Costs for time tracking, retirement, health insurance, and workers’ compensation are also not listed. ADP advertises “3 Months Free,” not a published free trial. Neither product lists a free plan, and Gusto’s trial status is not published. Ask ADP for a written quote covering the plan and any add-ons before comparing totals.
03Features and depth
Gusto publishes more detail about what its payroll and HR software includes. Simple lists unlimited payrolls, tax filings and payments, and basic PTO and holiday pay. Plus adds time tracking, scheduling, multi-state payroll, and contractor invoice management. Premium lists HR guidance, compliance tools, and premium account support. Gusto also describes hiring and onboarding, benefits, and contractor management.
ADP’s small-business site lists payroll, HR, time and attendance, retirement, health benefits, and workers’ compensation. But it does not specify which HR or payroll capabilities come with each RUN tier, or what is included versus sold separately. That makes a feature-for-feature comparison difficult from the published details here. Gusto’s listed benefits include health, dental, vision, and 401(k); costs vary by benefit, and some options carry separate fees. With ADP, confirm both the included features and add-on prices for the specific RUN plan you’re considering.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The published information does not establish which product is easier to use. Gusto describes specific workflows—payroll, time tracking, hiring, onboarding, and benefits—so buyers can see more of what they would manage in the platform. ADP’s small-business site lists a wider set of service categories, but does not explain RUN’s specific capabilities or workflows.
That difference is about published detail, not proof that one interface is simpler. Before switching, ask both providers to walk through your actual payroll and HR tasks, including time entry, tax filings, employee onboarding, and benefit administration. For ADP, also request a written list of what your quoted RUN tier includes. Gusto’s tier boundaries and per-person fees are clearer in the pricing details, but check which paid add-ons your team would need.
Questions people ask
How much does Gusto cost compared with RUN by ADP?
Gusto lists Simple at $49 per month plus $6 per person, with higher-priced Plus and Premium plans. ADP does not publish RUN plan prices in the published details. Its add-on prices are also not published, so request a quote before comparing total costs.
Does RUN by ADP have a free trial?
ADP advertises a “3 Months Free” promotion, but the published pricing details do not describe it as a free trial. Gusto’s free-trial status is not published. Neither product lists a free plan, so confirm eligibility and promotion terms directly before signing up.
Which product includes time tracking?
Gusto lists time tracking and scheduling in Plus, along with multi-state payroll. ADP lists time and attendance among its small-business solutions, but the published details do not say which RUN plan includes it or what it costs. Confirm the package and fees with ADP.
Which is better for a small business?
Gusto is the more transparent option in the published details: its plan prices and several included features are published. RUN may fit a business that prefers ADP, but its prices and plan-specific capabilities are not specified here. Compare written quotes against the features your team needs.