Take a look at this side-by-side comparison between two popular payroll apps, ADP Run vs. Gusto. It will give you the information that you need to choose the best payroll software for you and your company.
ADP Run vs. Gusto: Overview
Gusto offers four plans: Core, Complete, and Concierge. Gusto charges a monthly subscription fee and a per-employee charge. All plans include full-service payroll.
Instead of focusing today on how to do payroll, we are doing a complete comparison of Gusto Powered by Adobe.
Who is Gusto for?
Gusto was created for small business owners and offers a robust set of features that are well-suited to growing businesses. Gusto has three payroll plans that make it easy for growing businesses, to upgrade to the next plan if necessary.
Gusto also offers excellent restaurant payroll features, and even includes payroll for accountants. Gusto doesn’t support mobile apps, but you can access the Payroll Application from your mobile device via a web browser.
Who is Run Powered by ADP?
ADP allows for easy payroll processing from any device, whether it is a smartphone, a laptop, or a desktop computer. However, a mobile app must be purchased separately.
RUN Powered By ADP is a system designed for small businesses with 1 to 49 employees. It offers simple system navigation and a variety of wizards that can help you with anything from product setup to hiring new employees.
RUN Powered By ADP is a great payroll application for restaurants, and even includes payroll for accountants.
Compare pricing and features: Gusto vs ADP
| Gusto | ADP Run | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Monthly fee | Starting at $39/mo. + $6/mo. per user | No upfront pricing |
| Setup fee | Free |  Extra fees |
| Payroll | ||
| Unlimited payrolls |  |
Pay per payroll |
| Automated federal and state tax filing | |
|
| Direct deposit | |
|
| File W-2s | |
Extra fees |
| File 1099s | |
Extra fees |
| Multiple pay rates and schedules | |
|
| Multiple states | |
Extra fees |
| Contractor payments | |
|
| E-sign I-9 and W-4 | |
|
| Lifetime access for employees | |
 |
| Household employer payroll | |
|
| International payroll | |
Extra fees |
| Benefits | ||
| Health benefits | Pay premiums only | Premiums + fees |
| Workers’ comp | Pay premiums only | Premiums + fees |
| Available add-ons | 401(k) retirement529 college savings, commuter benefits life and disability, HSA and FSA | 401(k) retirement computer benefits Life and disability, HSA and FSAHRA |
| HR tools | ||
| Time tracking | (Complete and Concierge) |
Extra fees |
| Team directory and org chart | (Complete and Concierge) |
Extra fees |
| Time-off requests | (Complete and Concierge) |
Extra fees |
| Online offer letters | (Complete and Concierge) |
Extra fees |
| Secure document vault and e-signing | (Complete and Concierge) |
(Run Complete & HR) |
| Custom employee handbook | (Concierge) |
(Run Complete & HR) |
| Job description and policy templates | (Concierge) |
(Run Complete & HR) |
| Proactive compliance updates | (Concierge) |
(Run Complete & HR) |
| Certified HR pros | (Concierge) |
(Run Complete & HR) |
| Direct phone line for dedicated support | (Concierge) |
(Run Complete & HR) |
| Custom Onboarding Checklist | (Complete and Concierge) |
|
| Software Provisioning | (Complete and Concierge) |
|
| Integrations | ||
| QuickBooks | |
|
| Xero | |
|
| Google (G-suite) SSO | |
|
ADP Run vs. Gusto: Features
Gusto and Run Powered by ADP offer many features that make payroll processing and preparation easier for small businesses.
What Gusto has to offer
Gusto has a wide range of features that are available to small business owners. The features depend on the plan purchased. These features include:
- Reporting new hires: Gusto reports all new hires to you.
- Flexible payroll schedules This is great for businesses with unusual pay schedules, as well as those who have biweekly and weekly pay schedules.
- Unlimited Pay Runs: This is crucial if you are paying commissions or bonuses on a frequent basis.
- Multistate payroll Employees from two or more states? Gusto can help you with them for no additional cost.
- Direct Deposit: Nearly everybody wants to receive their money by direct deposit. Make sure to offer this option to your employees.
Gusto allows you to preview your payroll before it is processed. This makes it easy to make any corrections. Source: Gusto Payroll Software.
These features are common in many payroll programs, but Gusto has several extra features that can increase the value of your application.
Onboarding new employees: After you have given permissions to a new employee, they can sign in to Gusto and begin their onboarding process. This includes filling in their I-9, W-4, and direct deposit details. Although the onboarding feature is not available in both Complete and Concierge plans it might be worth upgrading.
All tax forms processed: Gusto handles all your payroll taxes. This includes complete form preparation, tax filing, and remittance. Gusto can also process year-end tax forms, including Form 940. This form is filed annually under Federal Unemployment Tax Act. Gusto also prepares year-end W-2s for employees and contractor 1099s for contractors.
AutoPilot(r), payroll: Why spend time entering employee information when your business has the same payroll every pay cycle?
Users can easily enable the AutoPilot feature in Gusto for automatic payroll runs. Source: Gusto Payroll software.
Simply create your regular payroll and enable AutoPilot under your Settings. Payroll will start at the time you specify.
Access to digital pay stubs All employees have 24/7 access to pay stubs both historical and current. They can download or view them at any time. Employees will be able to download their year-end W-2s.
What Run Powered By ADP Offers
RUN Powered By ADP like Gusto offers a variety of features. Many of these are only available to those who have higher plans. These are just a few of the features that all RUN Powered by ADP plans offer:
- Full-service payroll: Full-service payroll is available in all RUN Plans, including the option of using your computer, a smartphone, or a phone to report hours worked.
- Direct deposit Many of your employees may want to receive their wages by direct deposit. RUN Powered By ADP allows this with no additional charge.
- Reporting on new hires: Run Powered by ADP handles both federal and state reporting requirements for your business to ensure compliance.
- Delivery of your payroll: ADP still delivers your paychecks directly to your office. However, check signing and stuffing are not included in the delivery but can be purchased separately.
To ensure proper funding, you can preview payroll before running it. The preview includes the entire Payroll Cash Required amount.
RUN Powered By ADP can also process year-end forms (W-2) for employees and contractors (1099), at an additional charge.
RUN Powered By ADP provides a summary of payrolls that shows total cash requirements. Source: Run Powered by ADP software.
RUN Powered By ADP also offers some additional features.
Previous payroll amounts wizard This feature is great for migrating from another payroll software program to RUN Powered By ADP. It will assist you in entering your payroll totals and ensure accuracy for tax reporting as well as year-end documents.
Onboarding new employees: This feature will also save you time. It allows your employees to complete their new-hire forms online, such as I-9s, W-4s, and direct deposits.
Contractors and employees: Run Powered by ADP allows you to process payroll for both employees and contractors using one interface.
Comprehensive HR Features: Although only available in ADP's most expensive plans, these HR features are a great resource for small businesses that don't have an HR person.
Results
Gusto: Winner
Gusto wins. Gusto has many of the same features as RUN Powered By ADP. However, Gusto offers certain features, such as W-2/1099 processing or unlimited payrolls at no additional charge. RUN powered by ADP charges both.
ADP Run vs. Gusto: Customer Support
Good product support is vital.
This is especially true for those who are new to payroll software. Gusto and Run Powered by ADP both offer excellent product support.
What Gusto has to offer
Gusto provides excellent support, including telephone, email, and chat support during regular business hours.
Gusto's Help Center provides many instructional articles on payroll and HR topics. Gusto includes both a FAQ page and a searchable knowledge base.
What Run Powered By ADP Offers
Administrators and employees can access separate support options through RUN Powered By ADP. Administrators have access to a FAQ page. You can also access online support and help via the application.
RUN Powered By ADP has calculators and articles about payroll, but these are not directly related to the application.
Results
Winner: ADP
RUN Powered By ADP takes this award by a nose thanks to its round-the-clock phone support.
ADP Run vs. Gusto: Ease of use
It is vital that applications are easy to use.
Small business owners are often limited in their time and have little to no experience with new software applications. Therefore, it is important that the application be easy to use.
What Gusto has to offer
Gusto includes step-by-step instructions to help you set up your product.
Gusto has an intuitive user interface with a dashboard display. This displays useful information such as reminders for completing outstanding tasks like time-off approvals or onboarding new employees.
The Gusto Help Center is accessible via a vertical menu bar located to the left of your main screen.
Gusto has the AutoPilot option to automatically pay your employees. Gusto allows you to easily run payroll, regardless of how your payroll is changing from one period to the next. Simply enter the required data, including vacation and sick hours, then review and submit the payroll run.
What Run Powered By ADP Offers
RUN Powered By ADP features an intuitive user interface with a variety of icons that allow you to access payroll and other add-ons.
RUN Powered By ADP features an easy-to-use user interface
. Source: Run Powered by ADP software.
Below the icons, a graph displays your last payroll information. It includes the pay date and period. Below the icons is a list of tasks to complete and access system messages.
RUN Powered By ADP has a number of wizards that can be used to assist new users. These include the Company Setup Wizard which walks you through setting up your company and the New Hire Wizard which allows you to easily add employees.
Results
The winner is It's tied.
Both solutions offer different user experiences but both make it simple to quickly get up and running, navigate through the apps, and access functions and features.
ADP Run vs. Gusto: Pricing
Gusto and RUN Powered By ADP are not cheap, but both offer solid payroll functionality as well as HR and employee management features which are only available in higher-end plans.
What Gusto has to offer
Gusto's pricing is dependent on which plan you choose. The Basic plan is now available. It is intended for small teams with one or two employees. The Core plan is next, and it is quite robust. However, if you need employee onboarding or HR functions you will need to upgrade to one of the more costly plans.
Gusto has three plans available for small businesses. Source: Gusto Payroll Software.
Gusto offers these plans:
- Basic: This plan provides full-service payroll in one state and an employee self-service option. You also get a four-day direct deposit at $19 per month, and a $6/per person charge monthly.
- Core This plan includes full-service payroll. It also includes employee self-serve capabilities, small-business health insurance administration, and workers' compensation administration. The Core plan costs $39/month plus $6/per employee.
- Complete In addition to all the features in the Core plan the Complete plan adds product authorizations, employee onboarding and PTO, time-off requests, and an employee directory. The complete plan costs $39 per month plus $12 per employee monthly.
Concierge: This plan is perfect for small businesses that need a virtual HR department. The Concierge plan offers access to HR professionals and an HR Resource Center, and all the other features of the Core and Complete plans. The Concierge plan costs $149 per month plus $12/per employee.
What Run Powered By ADP Offers
RUN Powered By ADP is for small businesses with 1 to 49 employees. All RUN plans are designed for this demographic.
RUN Powered by ADP offers four payroll plans for small businesses. Source: RUN Powered by ADP software.
Pricing for ADP varies with four options available for small businesses.
- Essential: Designed to help startups and small businesses with basic payroll needs.
- Enhanced This plan offers the same features and the essential plan, but with wage garnishment as well as State Unemployment Insurance (SUI).
- Complete: Run's Complete plan includes both payroll and HR Plus. This includes access to the HR Help Desk and HR forms and documents and HR tracking.
- HR Pro - Provides both payroll services and HR. It also offers access to many employee management tools and resources, such as training and employee assistance programs and the Enhanced Human Resources Help Desk.
RUN Powered By ADP usually costs between $150 and $180 per Month for 10 employees.
There is no fixed price for the ADP plans. To get a quote for your company, you will need to speak with an ADP representative. Additional charges will be added for pay runs that are not part of regular payroll processing such as commissions and bonuses.
Results
Winner: Gusto.
Gusto is not the most cost-effective payroll software, but it's transparent about pricing so you know exactly what you will pay. ADP pricing varies from one business to the next, so expect some sticker shock when you request a quote.
ADP Run vs. Gusto: Integration with Other Software
Integration with your accounting software can help you save time and reduce data entry errors.
Gusto as well as RUN Powered By ADP have excellent integration capabilities.
What Gusto has to offer
Gusto can be integrated with many small business accounting software, including QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks and Xero. It also integrates with timekeeping programs such as TSheets and When You Work.
What Run Powered By ADP Offers
RUN Powered By ADP integrates seamlessly with most popular small business accounting software such as Wave, QuickBooks, Wave and Xero. It also supports time and attendance applications like TSheets and Homebase.
Results
The winner is It's tied.
Gusto and RUN Powered By ADP both offer great integration capabilities. This category is too close to call.
ADP Run vs. Gusto: Reporting Options
Payroll reports are an essential component of any payroll software. Solid reporting options are available with both Gusto as RUN Powered By ADP.
What Gusto has to offer
Gusto provides a wide range of payroll-related and payroll-related reports. These include a payroll journal and benefits report, employee summary, contractor payment report, and an employee summary report.
Reports can be customized according to year and grouped by state, work location, or employee. You can export all reports to a CSV file or save them as a PDF.
What Run Powered By ADP Offers
RUN Powered By ADP provides excellent payroll, tax, and benefits reporting. There are also custom reporting options. The report creation process is slightly more complicated than in Gusto. All reports can be exported into Microsoft Excel to allow for further customization.
Results
Winner: Gusto.
Gusto won this category. Gusto allows you to customize and create reports even though the reporting options in both apps are pretty similar.
