ADP is perhaps the leading name in small business payroll. At the very least, it was one of the first brands in the field, launching in 1949. The company played a part in developing modern outsourced payroll processing infrastructures, and it remains dominant today. But that doesn’t make it the right fit for every small business. If you’re seeking ADP alternatives despite the brand’s preeminence, look no further than the options below.
ADP has continued to dominate the payroll service field because of its extensive suite of customizable, cloud-based solutions that cater to businesses of all sizes. You can use ADP solely for basic payroll processing, or you can bring it on as your PEO. One of its strengths is its high-level HR features: It can entirely handle your background checks, onboarding, time tracking, benefits administration and more.
Of course, this all comes at a price, and ADP doesn’t make it easy to compare costs to other payroll service providers. The company offers custom pricing, so it’s tough to figure out whether other payroll services might be more cost-effective. Even if you do score a great deal, you’ll have to pay additional fees for extra payroll runs and year-end reports. These disadvantages may rule out ADP for some small businesses.
ADP limits the number of payrolls and year-end reports you can run without paying extra.
If your business needs guarantees of cost-effectiveness, unlimited payroll runs and free year-end reports, the ADP alternatives below might suit you better. You may also want to read our in-depth ADP review to make the most informed comparison. Many of the alternatives below are also detailed further in our payroll software best picks list.
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These are some prominent ADP alternatives:
Like ADP, Paychex has been in the payroll game for a while – 50 years, in fact. In that time, it has worked extensively with large businesses, making it uniquely qualified to handle their needs. Its suite of features, which go from basic payroll functions to advanced HR needs, comes alongside 24/7 customer service from a dedicated account specialist. [We’ve detailed how Paychex and ADP stack up here: ADP vs. Paychex Payroll]
These are some of the most important Paychex features:
Paychex offers three pricing plans:
Learn more about Paychex in our Paychex payroll service review.
Payroll services should streamline your payroll, taxes and HR, but some payroll interfaces are needlessly complicated. Not Rippling, though. The HR company offers payroll processing services that you can fully execute in just 90 seconds. Truly anybody can master Rippling’s payroll runs in no time.
These are Rippling’s key features:
Rippling starts at $8 per user per month, though you’ll need to obtain a custom quote. Learn more in our Rippling HR review.
When you’ve employed just one or two people to keep your operations going smoothly, you have only so much time and money to spend on payroll. That’s where OnPay comes in. Its full-service payroll and tax services, straightforward pricing structure, and extensive customer service make it an ideal choice for business owners slim on payroll processing resources. You won’t have to sign any long-term contracts or worry about hidden fees.
OnPay offers only one service plan, which is ideal for very small businesses since you won’t have to conduct a cost-benefit analysis among several choices. Instead, you’ll get all the below services with OnPay:
OnPay costs $36 per month, plus $4 per employee per month. You’ll also pay $5 plus shipping if you need OnPay to print and mail year-end tax forms to your office. This fee increases to $6 plus shipping for direct delivery to your employees. Printing your own W-2 forms is free, though. Learn more in our OnPay payroll software review.
Even the smallest business needs an HR department, but most cannot afford a dedicated HR staff. If this sounds like your business, Gusto’s payroll services might appeal to you. Alongside these payroll services, you can also get HR services so robust it’ll be like having an in-house staff. Your extensive set of HR features won’t put a damper on your payroll platform’s ease of use or your access to customer service. [Learn more about how Gusto and ADP payroll compare: Gusto vs. ADP Payroll]
These are some of Gusto’s combined payroll and HR features:
Gusto offers four pricing plans:
Learn more about Gusto in our Gusto payroll service review.
Leading payment processing and POS system Square has also developed a strong reputation in the payroll service world. Its calling card is its fusion of payroll data and tax rules, with an eye on compliance. This combination keeps your taxation compliant and your payments on deadline. The entire process takes place through a user-friendly platform as uncomplicated as the straightforward interface largely responsible for Square’s prior success.
These are some Square Payroll features:
Square Payroll costs $29 per month, plus $5 per employee per month if you’re paying workers for whom you deduct taxes. If you’re paying contractors, Square Payroll costs just $5 per contractor per month, with no base fee. In either case, Square Payroll won’t make you sign lengthy, binding contracts.
If you need to save money on your contractor payments, Square Payroll only charges you per transaction for contractor payments rather than including the monthly fee.
Unsurprisingly, the leading name in small business accounting software also has plenty to offer on the payroll front. Whether you choose the online or desktop version, Intuit QuickBooks Payroll is a highly flexible option for all your payroll processing and tax needs. Plus, if you’re among the many businesses already using QuickBooks Accounting, your payroll and accounting software integrations will be seamless.
These are some top-notch features you get with QuickBooks Payroll:
QuickBooks Online Payroll plans are priced as follows:
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll plans are available at these prices: