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Most buyers should pick SurePayroll.
Choose SurePayroll if you want published payroll pricing and tax filing: its listed No Tax Filing price starts at $20/month plus $4 per employee, while Full Service is listed at $29/month plus $7 per employee. The source also shows alternate prices of $29 and $39, so confirm the quote. Choose RUN if you want ADP’s broader small-business payroll, HR, time, benefits and retirement lineup; RUN-specific features and prices aren’t published. Neither lists a free plan.
01Side by side
| RUN Powered by ADP | SurePayroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Not published | $20/month listed; alternate listed prices conflict |
| Free plan | No free plan | No free plan |
| Best for | Small businesses wanting ADP payroll and adjacent services | Small businesses, household employers, and contractor payers |
| Core strength | Payroll plus ADP’s listed HR, time, benefits, retirement services | Unlimited payroll; Full Service files and deposits payroll taxes |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations & records | RUN-specific integrations and data access not described | 24/7 reports, paystubs, history; accounting integration costs $4.99/month |
| Team/seat costs | 1–49 employees; per-employee and overage costs unpublished | No Tax Filing $4; Full Service $7 per employee/month |
| Support | Provided review score: 5/5 | Provided review score: 4.5/5 |
RUN Powered by ADP Choose RUN Powered by ADP if
- Choose RUN Powered by ADP if you want ADP’s broader small-business services.
- Choose RUN Powered by ADP if you need payroll alongside HR and time options.
- Choose RUN Powered by ADP if you’ll confirm plan and add-on costs first.
SurePayroll Choose SurePayroll if
- Choose SurePayroll if you want published monthly payroll plan prices.
- Choose SurePayroll if you want Full Service tax filing and deposits.
- Choose SurePayroll if you pay household employees or 1099 contractors.
02Pricing compared
SurePayroll has published prices, but the listings conflict. Its No Tax Filing plan is shown at $20/month plus $4 per employee, and Full Service at $29/month plus $7 per employee. The same pricing material also lists those plans at $29 and $39, respectively, so confirm the current quote. Monthly billing is listed; annual plan prices are not published. Year-end forms cost $50 annually plus $5 per form.
ADP does not publish RUN plan prices. It lists Essential Payroll, Enhanced Payroll, Complete Payroll & HR Plus, and HR Pro Payroll & HR for businesses with 1–49 employees, but not their rates or specific usage limits. ADP advertises “3 Months Free”; that is a promotion, not a published free trial. Neither product lists a free plan.
03Features and depth
SurePayroll’s listed scope is specific: unlimited payroll runs, including off-cycle runs, online payroll records, and support for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. Its Full Service plan calculates, files, and deposits federal, state, and local payroll taxes. It also lists free 2-day direct deposit and automatic payroll scheduling. With No Tax Filing, the employer handles tax filing and deposits.
ADP’s small-business lineup includes payroll, HR, time and attendance, retirement, health benefits, and workers’ compensation. But its homepage does not say which of those services are included in RUN or spell out RUN’s payroll capabilities. That makes a feature-by-feature comparison difficult without a quote. SurePayroll’s listed add-ons include multi-state payroll, timeclock integration, and accounting software integration; fees may apply. ADP add-on prices are not published on the vendor's site. If you want to compare what you would actually receive, ask ADP to itemize inclusions and add-on costs.
04Ease of use and learning curve
There is not enough published product detail here to reliably compare setup or learning curves. SurePayroll says users can access reports, paystubs, and payroll history online 24/7 from any device, and can schedule payroll to run automatically. Those features describe access and workflow, not how easy setup is.
ADP’s published materials do not explain RUN’s interface, onboarding, or training. The review summaries score ease of use at 6.5 for SurePayroll and 5 for RUN, but do not provide enough detail to explain those ratings. Before switching, ask both vendors what migration help is included and whether your tax, state, and worker setup needs add fees.
Questions people ask
What is ADP RUN?
RUN Powered by ADP is ADP’s payroll and HR offering for small businesses. ADP’s small-business lineup also lists time, benefits, retirement, and workers’ compensation services, but the published materials do not specify which features are included in RUN plans.
Are SurePayroll and Paychex the same?
The published materials describe SurePayroll as online payroll software for small businesses and household employers, but they do not establish its relationship to Paychex. We can’t confirm from these sources whether they are the same company, related businesses, or separate providers.
Is Gusto cheaper than ADP?
We can’t make a supported price comparison from the published information: it includes no Gusto pricing, and ADP does not publish RUN plan rates here. SurePayroll’s listed prices also conflict, so confirm current quotes before comparing total monthly costs.
How do I speak with an actual person at ADP?
The published ADP material does not include a phone number, support hours, or instructions for reaching a person. Check ADP’s current contact options or ask for a named support contact when requesting a RUN quote; we can’t verify a specific route from these sources.