Gusto vs ADP RUN (2026): Which Payroll Service Is Better for Small Businesses?

Last updated: October 2026 | Prices checked against Gusto’s and ADP’s official pricing pages

Gusto and ADP RUN are two of the most common ways small US businesses run payroll. Both calculate paychecks, pay employees by direct deposit and file payroll taxes for you. The difference is in how they are sold and who they are built for. Gusto publishes clear monthly prices and aims at owners who want to set things up themselves in an afternoon. ADP RUN is sold through a sales rep, prices are quoted rather than listed, and it is designed to grow with a company all the way up to ADP’s mid-size platforms.

This guide compares them side by side on price, features, HR tools and support, with a worked cost example for a 10-person team.

Gusto vs ADP RUN at a glance

	Gusto	ADP RUN
Pricing	Published: $49–$180/mo base + $6–$22 per person	Quote only (“Get pricing”)
Plans	Simple, Plus, Premium	Essential, Enhanced, Complete Payroll & HR Plus, HR Pro
Automatic payroll tax filing	Yes, all plans	Yes, all packages
Multi-state payroll	Plus and Premium	All packages (multi-jurisdiction)
Time tracking	Plus and Premium (included)	Add-on
HR help desk	Premium (HR guidance)	Complete and HR Pro
Hiring tools	Basic onboarding	ZipRecruiter from Enhanced; applicant tracking in HR Pro
Best for	Owners who want transparent pricing and a simple setup	Businesses that want phone-first service and room to grow

How much does Gusto cost in 2026?

Gusto lists three plans on its pricing page. Each has a monthly base fee plus a fee for every person you pay that month.

Gusto plan	Base price	Per person	Key additions
Simple	$49/mo	$6/mo	Full-service payroll in one state, unlimited payroll runs, tax filings, basic PTO
Plus	$80/mo	$12/mo	Multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling, next-day direct deposit, contractor invoice management
Premium	$180/mo	$22/mo	HR guidance and tools, a dedicated account partner, compliance tools, same-day pay

Two details matter here. First, Simple only covers employees in one state. If you have a remote employee in another state, you need Plus. Second, contractors in the US are billed at your plan’s per-person rate, but only in the months you actually pay them.

Gusto also advertises free account setup, and it offers a separate option for owners paying themselves through an S corporation.

How much does ADP RUN cost in 2026?

ADP does not publish RUN prices. Every package on its payroll page has a “Get pricing” button, and the final number depends on your headcount, pay frequency, state and add-ons. Third-party pricing trackers report that RUN typically starts around $79 a month plus per-employee fees for the entry package, but treat that as a ballpark until you get a quote.

When we checked in October 2026, ADP was also advertising three months free for new small business payroll customers, with an end date and terms attached. Promotions like this come and go, so ask your rep what is current.

ADP RUN packages compared

ADP RUN package	What’s included
Essential Payroll	Payroll by computer, app or phone, direct deposit, tax filing, W-2s and 1099s, new-hire reporting, multi-jurisdiction payroll, employee access, onboarding, background checks
Enhanced Payroll (most popular)	Everything in Essential, plus check signing security, state unemployment insurance (SUI) management, job costing, labor law poster compliance, ZipRecruiter hiring
Complete Payroll & HR Plus	Everything in Enhanced, plus HR HelpDesk, employee handbook wizard, HR tracking, HR forms and training
HR Pro Payroll & HR	Everything in Complete, plus enhanced HR support, applicant tracking, a learning management system, harassment prevention training and legal assistance

Time and attendance, retirement plans, workers’ compensation and health insurance are available as add-ons with every package.

Cost example: a 10-person team

Let’s say you run a business with 10 employees, all in one state, paid every two weeks.

Option	Monthly cost
Gusto Simple	$49 + (10 × $6) = $109
Gusto Plus	$80 + (10 × $12) = $200
Gusto Premium	$180 + (10 × $22) = $400
ADP RUN	Quote required; compare your quote against the Gusto figures above

If even one of those employees works from another state, Gusto Simple is out and your real starting point becomes Plus at $200 a month. ADP’s packages include multi-jurisdiction payroll from the entry tier, which can narrow the gap.

Tip: When you ask ADP for a quote, request the price in writing for your exact headcount, ask what the price will be after any promotional months end, and ask whether year-end W-2 processing is included or billed separately.

Features compared

Running payroll

Both services handle the core job well: calculating gross-to-net pay, withholding federal and state taxes, paying by direct deposit and filing quarterly and annual returns. Gusto lets you run unlimited payrolls on every plan, which is handy if you pay bonuses or off-cycle checks.

ADP stands out for flexibility in how you run payroll. You can process it online, in the mobile app or by phone with a payroll specialist, and every package includes multi-company management. That matters if you own more than one business.

Taxes and compliance

Both file federal, state and local payroll taxes for you and issue W-2s and 1099s. ADP adds state unemployment insurance (SUI) management and labor law poster compliance from the Enhanced package. Gusto’s Premium plan adds compliance tools and HR guidance.

Time tracking

Gusto includes time tracking and scheduling in Plus and Premium at no extra cost. With ADP, time and attendance is an add-on, so factor it into your quote if your team is hourly.

HR tools

This is where the two diverge as you move up the tiers. ADP’s Complete and HR Pro packages add an HR HelpDesk, an employee handbook wizard, training and, in HR Pro, applicant tracking and legal assistance. If you have no HR person and want someone to call about a tricky termination or leave question, that is a real advantage.

Gusto’s Premium plan offers HR guidance and a dedicated account partner, which covers similar ground for small teams, but ADP’s top package goes further on hiring and training.

Benefits

Both let you add health insurance, retirement plans and workers’ compensation. ADP sells these as add-ons across all packages. Gusto also offers benefits administration inside its platform. In either case, benefit costs are separate from the payroll subscription.

Support

Gusto’s Simple and Plus plans come with basic support, and Premium adds a dedicated partner. ADP’s model is built around reps and payroll specialists, and its phone-based payroll option is useful for owners who prefer to talk to someone.

Pros and cons

Gusto

Pros

• Transparent, published pricing
• Unlimited payroll runs on every plan
• Time tracking included from Plus
• Quick self-service setup

Cons

• Simple plan limited to one state
• Per-person fees add up fast on Premium
• Fewer hiring and training tools than ADP’s top tier

ADP RUN

Pros

• Multi-jurisdiction payroll and multi-company management from the entry package
• Strong HR and hiring tools in the upper packages
• Run payroll by phone with a specialist
• Scales into ADP’s larger platforms as you grow

Cons

• No published prices; you need a quote
• Time tracking and benefits cost extra
• Promotional pricing can make year-one costs hard to compare

Which should you choose?

Choose Gusto if you have a small team in one or a few states, you want to know the price before you talk to anyone, and you are comfortable setting up payroll yourself. For most businesses under 20 people, Gusto Plus is the sweet spot.

Choose ADP RUN if you want a payroll specialist you can call, you own several companies, you expect to grow past 50 employees, or you want built-in HR help, hiring and training without adding more software.

The fastest way to decide: price your team on Gusto’s site (it takes two minutes), then ask ADP for a written quote for the same headcount and features. Compare the totals for the full first year, not just the promotional months.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gusto cheaper than ADP?

Usually, for very small teams. Gusto’s Simple plan costs $49 a month plus $6 per person, and ADP’s entry package is commonly reported to start higher. But ADP prices are negotiated, and promotions can change the math, so compare a real quote.

Can I switch from ADP to Gusto mid-year?

Yes. Both companies support mid-year switches, but you will need year-to-date payroll totals for every employee so W-2s are correct. Switching at the start of a quarter keeps tax filings simpler.

Does Gusto work for contractors only?

Yes. US contractors are billed at your plan’s per-person rate only in the months you pay them, and Gusto supports paying international contractors for a per-payment fee.

Does ADP RUN include time tracking?

Not by default. Time and attendance is an add-on available with all four RUN packages.

Which is better for a one-person S corp?

Gusto offers a dedicated option for owners paying themselves through an S corporation. ADP can also run owner-only payroll, but you will need a quote.

The bottom line

Gusto wins on transparency and ease of use, and for most small teams it will be the cheaper option. ADP RUN wins on service options, HR depth and room to grow. Price both for your exact team before you commit.

Related: if you are also choosing accounting software, see our QuickBooks Online vs Xero comparison, since both connect to Gusto.