The short answer
RUN Powered by ADP and ADP Workforce Now are both ADP products, priced by quote. RUN is built for small businesses, from one employee up, in four payroll and HR packages.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
ADP RUN Powered by ADP wins 1ADP Workforce Now wins 02 ties
| Dimension | ADP RUN Powered by ADP | ADP Workforce Now |
|---|---|---|
| PricingADP quotes both. RUN adds fees for W-2 and 1099 forms and for more frequent payrolls; Workforce Now includes off-cycle payments and sells ADP API Central consulting hours for a fee. Quote only | Quote only | Quote only |
| CapabilitiesBoth cover payroll and HR. Workforce Now adds benefits administration, time and scheduling, talent and analytics in one suite; RUN adds contractor payments, garnishment payments, state unemployment insurance management and bill pay, with time and attendance as an add-on. Payroll, Payroll tax filing, Contractor payments, HR support (HR HelpDesk), Recruiting (ZipRecruiter; applicant tracking by CareerPlug in HR Pro), New hire onboarding, Learning management (HR Pro), Garnishment payment service, State Unemployment Insurance management, Bill pay and invoicing, Time and attendance (add-on) | 10 of 12 core capabilities | 10 of 12 core capabilities |
| Fit and supportRUN offers 24/7 payroll support by phone or chat and an HR HelpDesk on its HR packages. Workforce Now lists a Client Success Executive for enterprise clients and ADP Professional Services. 24/7 payroll support by phone or chat | Small businesses | Mid-market companies, enterprises |
| Attribute | ADP RUN Powered by ADP | ADP Workforce Now |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses | Mid-market companies, enterprises |
| Support channels | Phone, chat, email (Payroll Center), in-product help center, HR HelpDesk by phone and email (Complete and HR Pro) | Client Success Executive (enterprise), ADP Professional Services, Phone sales line 800-225-5237 |
| Headquarters | Roseland, NJ, US | Roseland, New Jersey, US |
| Attribute | ADP RUN Powered by ADP | ADP Workforce Now |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Quote only | Quote only |
| Price transparency | Quote only | Quote only |
| Mobile apps | RUN Powered by ADP app (iOS), RUN Powered by ADP app (Android) | |
| Open API | ||
| Automatic tax filing | ||
| Founded | 1949 | 1949 |
| Ownership | Publicly traded | Publicly traded |
Pricing. ADP quotes both. RUN adds fees for W-2 and 1099 forms and for more frequent payrolls; Workforce Now includes off-cycle payments and sells ADP API Central consulting hours for a fee.
Capabilities. Both cover payroll and HR. Workforce Now adds benefits administration, time and scheduling, talent and analytics in one suite; RUN adds contractor payments, garnishment payments, state unemployment insurance management and bill pay, with time and attendance as an add-on.
Integrations. Both offer an API. RUN lists connections to QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, Creative Solutions and Clover; ADP publishes no Workforce Now integration list on the pages we reviewed.
Fit and support. RUN offers 24/7 payroll support by phone or chat and an HR HelpDesk on its HR packages. Workforce Now lists a Client Success Executive for enterprise clients and ADP Professional Services.
Security. ADP names no security certification on either product page we reviewed.
Patriot Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (9.3/10).
From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo
No. Both are ADP products, but RUN is built for small businesses and Workforce Now for employers with more than 50 workers.
ADP prices Workforce Now by quote in three packages: Select (payroll and HR), Plus (adds benefits administration) and Premium (adds time and attendance).
ADP positions Workforce Now for businesses with more than 50 employees. The move makes sense when you need benefits administration, time and attendance or talent tools in the same suite rather than as RUN add-ons.
On RUN, payroll fees increase with payroll frequency. Workforce Now runs off-cycle payments at no additional cost.
RUN sells time and attendance as an add-on to any package. Workforce Now includes it in Premium, with Time Kiosk, badge, PIN, face or finger clock-ins and geofencing.
RUN’s ADP Assist answers payroll and HR questions and flags errors before payroll runs. Workforce Now explains pay changes, recommends retro pay and answers workforce questions with AI analytics.
ADP RUN Powered by ADP lists small businesses among the sizes it is built for; ADP Workforce Now is built for mid-market companies and enterprises.
ADP RUN Powered by ADP ranks #12 of 12 in our payroll software ranking. Besides ADP Workforce Now, the highest-scored are Patriot Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, and Gusto. Every alternative, matched to the reason you might switch: ADP RUN Powered by ADP alternatives.
Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices. Then, if you like, ask to hear from both.
LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.We may earn a fee.
How we make money
LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.
What the LeadChange Score means
A 0–10 editorial assessment built only from verified facts, across six weighted dimensions: capabilities, pricing, integrations, security, fit and support, and data confidence.
Payments, commissions and lead fees are never inputs.
