At a glance
Gusto
Best for small teams
Starting price$46/mo + $6/ee
Best for1–50 employees
SetupSelf-serve
Rating4.6 ★ (2,100+)
Get a free quote
Paychex
Best for growing teams
Starting priceCustom (≈$100+/mo)
Best for10–200 employees
SetupSales-assisted
Rating4.2 ★ (1,800+)
Get a free quote
ADP RUN
Best for larger SMBs
Starting priceCustom (≈$150+/mo)
Best for25–500 employees
SetupSales-assisted
Rating3.8 ★ (3,400+)
Get a free quote
Full comparison
Feature by feature
| Feature | Gusto | Paychex | ADP RUN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||
| Base price | $46/mo + $6/ee | Custom quote | Custom quote |
| Transparent pricing | Yes — published online | Requires sales call | Requires sales call |
| Payroll | |||
| Unlimited payroll runs | All plans | All plans | All plans |
| Automatic tax filing | Included | Included | Included |
| Multi-state payroll | Plus plan+ | All plans | All plans |
| Contractor payments | Included | Add-on | Add-on |
| HR & Benefits | |||
| Benefits administration | Built in | Add-on | Add-on |
| HR tools | All plans | All plans | Higher plans |
| Dedicated HR support | Not available | Included | Add-on |
| Usability | |||
| Self-serve setup | Yes | Sales call required | Sales call required |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | iOS + Android | iOS + Android |
| Time tracking | Add-on | Included | Add-on |
Pros & cons
What each one gets right — and wrong
Gusto
Pros
Transparent, predictable pricing
Easy self-serve setup — no sales call
Benefits admin built in at no extra cost
Clean, modern interface
Contractor payments included
Cons
Multi-state payroll requires Plus plan
No dedicated HR rep
Less suited for 50+ employees
Paychex
Pros
Dedicated payroll specialist included
Strong compliance and HR support
Multi-state payroll on all plans
Scales well as you grow
Cons
Pricing not published — must get a quote
Can be overkill for very small teams
Interface feels dated vs Gusto
ADP RUN
Pros
Most trusted name in payroll
Robust compliance tools
Integrates with almost everything
Strong enterprise upgrade path
Cons
Expensive relative to alternatives
Notorious for upselling add-ons
Customer service can be slow
Our verdict — who should use what
Best for startups & small teams
Gusto
If you have 1–50 employees and want to get payroll running today without a sales call, Gusto is the clear choice. The pricing is fair, the setup takes an hour, and benefits admin is built in.
Best for growing businesses
Paychex
If you're scaling past 20 employees, need a dedicated payroll rep, or operate across multiple states, Paychex earns its price. The HR support alone can save you from costly compliance mistakes.
Best for complex needs
ADP RUN
If you're at 25+ employees, have complex payroll needs, or want the most battle-tested platform in the industry, ADP is worth the premium — just go in with eyes open on the upsells.
Common questions
FAQ
Is Gusto really cheaper than ADP and Paychex?
For most small businesses, yes — significantly. Gusto publishes its pricing starting at $46/month plus $6 per employee. ADP and Paychex require a custom quote, and real-world pricing typically runs $100–$200+/month for small teams once add-ons are factored in.
Can I switch payroll providers mid-year?
Yes, but it's easiest at the start of a new calendar year or quarter. All three providers offer migration support. Gusto is generally the smoothest to switch to — their onboarding team handles most of the data transfer.
Which payroll software is best for a business with one employee?
Gusto. At one employee, you want simple, affordable, and self-serve. Gusto's Simple plan covers everything you need. ADP and Paychex are overkill and more expensive at this stage.
Does ADP or Paychex include HR tools?
Both do, but typically as add-ons that increase your monthly cost. Gusto includes basic HR tools across all plans. If dedicated HR support is a priority, Paychex has the stronger offering with actual HR specialists assigned to your account.
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