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ADP RUN vs QuickBooks Payroll: two established platforms for growing small businesses. QuickBooks wins when you already live in QuickBooks Online and want published pricing plus native ledger sync. ADP wins at 15+ employees, garnishment volume, and teams that want 24/7 phone support without tier-guessing.
- Total cost includes mandatory QBO for QuickBooks column
- Pricing scenarios at 5, 10, and 25 employees
- When Gusto/OnPay beat both for 5–15 employees
QBO shops vs scale & complexity
Never compare ADP's quote to QuickBooks payroll base alone—both need QuickBooks Online if you want ADP + QBO books. For transparent mid-market pricing at 5–15 employees, also evaluate Gusto vs ADP and OnPay vs QuickBooks.
At-a-glance comparison
| Factor | ADP RUN | QuickBooks Payroll (Workforce) |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Quote-based (Essential → HR Pro tiers) | Published base + per W-2 |
| Est. entry (payroll only) | ~$79–$100 base + ~$4–8/employee | Core $50 + $6.50/W-2 |
| QBO subscription required? | Separate QBO if you want Intuit books | Yes — payroll is add-on only |
| HR depth | Complete/HR Pro tiers add HelpDesk, ATS | Premium/Elite add HR center & advisor |
| Same-day direct deposit | 2–4 days standard; next-day higher tiers | Premium/Elite (Core = next-day W-2) |
| Tax penalty protection | All RUN tiers (ADP filing errors) | Elite only (up to $25K/yr) |
| Setup time | Often 2–3 weeks multi-state | Self-serve + optional guided call (30 days) |
| Multi-state | Included all tiers | Included (no per-state surcharge in current SKUs) |
ADP RUN overview
ADP RUN Powered by ADP targets 1–49 W-2 employees with four quote-based tiers: Essential, Enhanced (most popular), Complete Payroll & HR Plus, and HR Pro. ADP does not publish list prices—you negotiate based on headcount, states, pay frequency, and modules.
All tiers include multi-jurisdiction payroll, tax penalty guarantee for ADP filing errors, 24/7 phone/chat support, and GL export to QuickBooks Online. Enhanced+ adds SUI management and garnishment payment service.
S-corp officers: ADP markets officer-only payroll at ~$127.95/quarter (~$43/mo)—see our ADP for S-corp guide for reasonable-comp context (do not duplicate that analysis here).
Request ADP RUN quoteQuickBooks Payroll overview
QuickBooks Payroll (branded Workforce Payroll / Premium / Elite on newer SKUs) requires an active QuickBooks Online subscription. Payroll is never included in QBO base plans.
Core / Workforce Payroll: $50/mo + $6.50/active W-2 · full-service filing · Auto Payroll · next-day DD for W-2s.
Premium: $88 + $10/W-2 · same-day DD · QuickBooks Time Premium included.
Elite: $134 + $12/W-2 · tax penalty protection up to $25K · personal HR advisor.
Minimum realistic stack for new customers: QBO Simple Start ($38) + Core ($50) + per employee = $94.50/mo for one W-2. All tiers include unlimited 1099-NEC e-file; contractors are not charged the W-2 per-employee fee.
View QuickBooks PayrollPricing at 5, 10, and 25 employees
QuickBooks column = QBO Simple Start ($38) + Workforce Payroll Core ($50) + $6.50 × employees. ADP column = estimated Enhanced tier (~$115 base + ~$5/employee)—request an itemized quote.
| Employees | QuickBooks (QBO + Core) — list price | ADP RUN Enhanced (estimate) | ADP + separate QBO ($38) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | $120.50/mo | ~$140/mo | ~$178/mo |
| 10 | $153.00/mo | ~$165/mo | ~$203/mo |
| 25 | $250.50/mo | ~$240/mo | ~$278/mo |
At 25 employees, ADP estimates can undercut QuickBooks on payroll line alone—but add QBO if you keep Intuit books alongside ADP GL sync. Intuit promos (50% off 3 months) and ADP "3–6 months free" offers change year-one math; budget at list price for planning.
Benchmark: Gusto Simple and OnPay both hit $109/mo at 10 employees with published pricing—often the better value for 5–15 employee teams without ADP-level complexity.
Feature deep-dive
| Feature | ADP RUN | QuickBooks Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting integration | GL export to QBO (post-payroll journal entries) | Native single-vendor ledger |
| Multi-state payroll | All tiers | Included (verify registration burden) |
| Local tax auto-pay | Varies by quote | Premium/Elite emphasized |
| Time tracking | Add-on (~$100/mo for 10 ee per Intuit comparison) | Premium+ includes QuickBooks Time |
| Contractor 1099 | Supported; delivery fees may apply | Unlimited 1099 e-file all tiers |
| HR / onboarding | Complete+ tiers | Premium/Elite HR center |
| Mobile admin app | Yes | QuickBooks mobile app |
| Support model | 24/7 phone all RUN tiers | Phone/chat business hours (QBO tier dependent) |
| Garnishments | Enhanced+ service | Supported on Core+ |
Choose ADP if…
ADP strengths
- 15–49 employees with rising HR/compliance complexity
- Garnishments, SUI audits, or multi-state local tax depth
- Want 24/7 live payroll phone support on every tier
- Tax penalty guarantee without buying top tier
- Growth path to ADP Workforce Now at 50+ employees
- Accountant Connect for firm-managed clients
ADP trade-offs
- Opaque quote-based pricing and renewal increases
- Setup can take weeks for multi-state migrations
- QBO integration is sync, not native ledger
- Overkill for 1–5 employee single-state shops
Choose QuickBooks if…
QuickBooks strengths
- Already on QuickBooks Online for accounting
- Job costing / project profitability in QBO Plus+
- Want published pricing without a sales call
- Same-day pay matters (Premium/Elite)
- 1099-heavy mix with straightforward W-2 count
- Prefer month-to-month without ADP contract negotiation
QuickBooks trade-offs
- Mandatory QBO subscription inflates total cost
- Penalty protection only on Elite ($134 + $12/ee + QBO)
- Annual QBO price increases (~12–17% recent history)
- Not cheapest if you do not need QBO for books
EA neutral take: when neither is best
For many 5–15 employee businesses without garnishment volume, Gusto (~$79/mo @ 5 ee) and OnPay (~$79/mo @ 5 ee) deliver full-service payroll with transparent pricing and faster self-serve setup than ADP quotes.
Choose ADP or QuickBooks when a specific moat matters—ADP for compliance depth at scale, QuickBooks for native books integration. For budget single-state shops, Patriot Full Service (~$62/mo @ 5 ee) remains the cheapest full-service option—see best payroll software for small business.
FAQ
Can ADP sync to QuickBooks Online?
Yes. ADP RUN includes a General Ledger Interface that posts journal entries to QBO after payroll. Setup requires chart-of-accounts mapping—more friction than native QuickBooks Payroll inside the same Intuit account.
Can I switch payroll providers mid-year?
Yes, with planning. You need YTD wage/tax totals, active state accounts, and coordinated final filings from the old provider. Avoid switching in December if you can—W-2 season is cleaner with one full year on a single platform.
Which has better support?
ADP offers 24/7 phone support on all RUN tiers. QuickBooks support hours depend on QBO plan (6am–6pm PT on most tiers). User experience varies—ADP wins availability; QuickBooks wins when payroll and accounting issues are one ticket inside Intuit.
Is QuickBooks Payroll the same as Workforce?
Intuit is rebranding online payroll SKUs to Workforce Payroll / Premium / Elite. Pricing and features align with legacy Core/Premium/Elite names—verify your specific SKU at signup.
Related: ADP payroll review · QuickBooks Payroll review · Gusto vs ADP · OnPay vs QuickBooks · Best payroll software
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I would use for my own clients.
Thomas Camp Jr., EA
Thomas is an Enrolled Agent and tax accountant with over 14 years of experience helping small businesses choose the right payroll, accounting, and operational tools. His recommendations come from hands-on implementation—not feature lists. Verify EA credentials →
