Engage PEO vs ADP TotalSource

Engage PEO5.6/10

ADP TotalSource5.7/10

Scored in PEO Services

The short answer

Both quote. Engage PEO’s HR consultants are licensed employment attorneys, it names sectors from healthcare to restaurants and startups, and it holds SOC 2 Type II. ADP TotalSource assigns a dedicated HR business partner and adds applicant tracking, background checks and pet wellness.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Oct 20, 2026Based on 10 sources, most recently checked Nov 13, 2026

Engage PEO

Best for: Employers in healthcare, hospitality, professional services and startups wanting attorney-led HR advice

Choose Engage PEO if

You want HR consultants who are licensed employment attorneys.
You run a healthcare provider, restaurant, hotel or startup, sectors Engage names.
You want a vendor with SOC 2 Type II.
You employ staff in several states, another focus Engage names.

Engage PEO pricing Engage PEO alternatives

ADP TotalSource

Best for: Small and midsize businesses that want a full-service PEO from ADP

Choose ADP TotalSource if

You want a dedicated HR business partner.
You want applicant tracking, background checks and a career site.
You want an EAP and pet wellness among the benefits.
You want an employee app with 24/7 access.

ADP TotalSource pricing ADP TotalSource alternatives

LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.

Scorecard

Engage PEO wins 1ADP TotalSource wins 03 ties

Engage PEO vs ADP TotalSource by dimension
Dimension	Engage PEO	ADP TotalSource
PricingBoth quote, and neither lists its fees on the pages we reviewed. Quote only1	Quote only	Quote only
CapabilitiesBoth cover payroll and tax administration, benefits, workers' compensation and HR compliance. ADP TotalSource adds talent acquisition and analytics. HR consultants who are licensed employment attorneys, Payroll and tax administration, Group health and voluntary benefits, Workers' compensation solutions, Integrated HR technology for payroll, benefits, time tracking and reporting, IRS-certified CPEO, ESAC accredited since 20122	9 of 10 core capabilities	9 of 10 core capabilities
Fit and supportEngage supports by phone, Monday to Friday from 8AM to 8PM ET. ADP TotalSource assigns a dedicated HR business partner. Phone3	Small businesses, mid-market companies	Small businesses, mid-market companies
SecurityEngage PEO holds SOC 2 Type II. ADP TotalSource names no security certification on the PEO pages we reviewed. Yes2	SOC 2	None verified

Key differences

Where Engage PEO and ADP TotalSource differ (4)
Attribute	Engage PEO	ADP TotalSource
Support channels	Phone3	Dedicated HR business partner, ADP MyLife Advisors (employee support)4
Founded	20112	19495
Headquarters	Hollywood, Florida, US6	Roseland, New Jersey, US7
Ownership	Private equity-backed8	Publicly traded5

Show 4 attributes where they are the same

Where they are the same (4)
Attribute	Engage PEO	ADP TotalSource
Pricing model	Quote only1	Quote only4
Price transparency	Quote only1	Quote only4
Best for	Small businesses, mid-market companies2	Small businesses, mid-market companies4
Automatic tax filing	9	4

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Both quote, and neither lists its fees on the pages we reviewed.

Capabilities. Both cover payroll and tax administration, benefits, workers' compensation and HR compliance. ADP TotalSource adds talent acquisition and analytics.

Integrations. Neither publishes an integration list on the PEO pages we reviewed.

Fit and support. Engage supports by phone, Monday to Friday from 8AM to 8PM ET. ADP TotalSource assigns a dedicated HR business partner.

Security. Engage PEO holds SOC 2 Type II. ADP TotalSource names no security certification on the PEO pages we reviewed.

Neither one?

Justworks

Justworks has the highest LeadChange Score in PEO Services after excluding these two (9.7/10).

From $79/employee/mo (PEO Basic plan)10

Justworks review

More ADP TotalSource comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Is Engage PEO a good company?

Engage PEO has been an IRS-certified PEO since January 1, 2017 and ESAC accredited since 2012, and it holds SOC 2 Type II. It is less suited to buyers who want a published price or support outside weekday hours.

Who owns Engage PEO?

Kohlberg & Company holds a majority stake in Engage PEO, which was founded in 2011 and is based in Hollywood, Florida. ADP TotalSource belongs to ADP, Inc.

Is Engage PEO a good alternative to ADP TotalSource?

For a buyer who wants attorney HR consultants and SOC 2 Type II, yes. ADP TotalSource answers with recruiting tools, one dedicated HR business partner and ESAC accreditation since 1995.

What industries does Engage PEO serve?

Engage names healthcare service providers, restaurants and hotels, professional services firms, startups and multi-state employers. ADP TotalSource names no industry focus on the pages we reviewed; it serves small and midsize businesses.

Which benefits do Engage PEO and ADP TotalSource offer?

Engage lists group health and voluntary benefits. ADP TotalSource’s list is longer: medical, dental, vision, a 401(k), an employee assistance program and pet wellness.

Does Engage PEO include workers' compensation?

Engage lists workers' compensation solutions among its services; ADP TotalSource includes workers' compensation with risk and safety programs.

Is Engage PEO or ADP TotalSource more secure?

Engage PEO states SOC 2 Type II (unverified for ADP TotalSource).

How this page was made

What it is built from
21 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Nov 13, 2026.
Method
Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology
Independent review
Our independent review of Oct 30, 2026 asked for changes. How we review
Hands-on testing
We have not tested either product hands-on: this page uses public information only.
Who made it
The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us
Independence and errors
Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction

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Engage PEO vs ADP TotalSource

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Sources

The 10 pages this page's facts come from. The date beside each is our last check of the facts taken from it (the oldest, when they differ). The numbers beside the figures above link here.

Quotes from the sources

Engage PEO engagepeo.com“Our tailored PEO services streamline operations while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency”
Engage PEO engagepeo.com/about“Engage provides access to comprehensive group health and voluntary benefits, along with workers’ compensation solutions designed to support compliance, cost management, and employee coverage needs.” “Engage is ESAC accredited and has maintained continuous accreditation since 2012. Engage PEO has successfully completed its SOC 1 Type II and SOC 2 Type II examinations, conducted by an independent third-party auditing firm.”
Engage PEO engagepeo.com/contact“To speak with someone, call the Engage Service Center, available Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET. 888-780-8807”
ADP adp.com/solutions/employer-services/totalsource.aspx“Direct access to award-winning ADP MyLife Advisors, with 90% of issues resolved on the first call” “ADP TotalSource pricing is quoted rather than listed, since it is built around factors that are specific to your business”
Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Data_Processing“Starting in 1949 in an office above a Paterson” “On October 21, 2008, ADP switched its stock listing to the NASDAQ Global Select Market”
Engage PEO engagepeo.com/contact-us“Hollywood, FL 33021”
ADP adp.com/about-adp.aspx“1 ADP Blvd., Roseland, NJ 07068.”
Ropes & Gray ropesgray.com/en/news-and-events/news/2023/08/ropes-gray-represents-kohlberg-company-in-agreement-to-acquire-majority-stake-in-engage-peo“As part of this transaction, Kohlberg will acquire a majority stake and partner with existing investor Lightyear Capital LLC and the Engage management team.”
Engage PEO engagepeo.com/services/payroll-tax-administration“Stay on top of payroll taxes with automated calculations, filings, and payments. We handle federal, state, and local taxes to help you avoid costly penalties.”
Justworks justworks.com/pricing“Justworks PEO pricing starts at $79 per month per employee for our Basic plan and $124 per month per employee for our Plus plan. Justworks Payroll customers pay $8 per month per employee plus a $50 base fee.”