Independent research on 266 HR & workforce products. Facts checked against vendors’ official documentation.

We may earn a referral fee. We may earn a referral feeHow we make money

LeadChange Group

Gusto vs ADP RUN Powered by ADP

Gusto8.1/10

ADP RUN Powered by ADP5.1/10

Scored in Payroll Software

The short answer

Gusto publishes its prices: Simple starts at $49 a month plus $6 per person, billed month to month. RUN Powered by ADP sells four packages, from Essential Payroll to HR Pro Payroll & HR, by quote.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Based on 17 sources, most recently checked

Gusto

Starting price
$49/mo + $6/employee/mo1
Best for
US small businesses that want payroll tax filing on every plan

Choose Gusto if

  • You want to know the price before a sales call: $49 a month plus $6 per person on Simple.
  • You run payroll often: every Gusto plan includes unlimited payroll runs.
  • You want health, dental, vision, 401(k), HSA and commuter benefits in the payroll account.
  • You connect payroll to other apps: Gusto lists 154 integrations and offers a REST API with webhooks.

Gusto pricingAlternatives to Gusto

ADP RUN Powered by ADP

Best for
Small businesses paying 1 to 49 employees, including owners who pay only themselves

Choose ADP RUN Powered by ADP if

  • You want payroll support by phone or chat at any hour.
  • You want to run payroll by phone as well as on a computer or the mobile app.
  • You want an HR help desk by phone and email, which comes with Complete Payroll & HR+ and HR Pro.
  • You want applicant tracking and a learning management system in the same package (HR Pro).

ADP RUN pricingADP RUN alternatives

LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.

Scorecard

Gusto wins 3ADP RUN Powered by ADP wins 01 tie

Gusto vs ADP RUN Powered by ADP by dimension
DimensionGustoADP RUN Powered by ADP
PricingGusto lists Simple at $49 a month plus $6 per person, month to month, with no setup fee. ADP RUN quotes every package and adds fees for W-2 and 1099 forms and for more frequent payrolls. $49/mo1$49/mo + $6/employee/moQuote only
CapabilitiesBoth cover payroll, tax filing, contractor payments, hiring and onboarding. Gusto adds time tracking and benefits administration in the same plans; ADP RUN adds garnishment payments, state unemployment insurance management and learning management, with time and attendance as an add-on. Payroll, Benefits, Time and attendance, Hiring and onboarding, HR, Compliance, Contractor payments, Money management211 of 12 core capabilities10 of 12 core capabilities
IntegrationsGusto lists 154 integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack and Salesforce, with a REST API and webhooks. ADP RUN exports the general ledger to QuickBooks, Xero, Wave and Creative Solutions and connects to Clover and ZipRecruiter. 1543154 native15 documented
SecurityGusto states HIPAA compliance and supports single sign-on. ADP RUN names no security certification on the product pages we reviewed, so it is less suited to buyers who need one in writing before a demo. Yes4SOC 2 (type not stated)SOC 2 (type not stated), GDPR

Gusto or ADP RUN Powered by ADP: what matters most to you?

We match on verified product facts for this need, never on who pays us.

Key differences

Where Gusto and ADP RUN Powered by ADP differ (8)
AttributeGustoADP RUN Powered by ADP
Pricing modelBase fee + per employee1Quote only5
Price transparencyPublished1Quote only5
DeploymentCloud4Cloud, mobile5
Mobile appsiOS (Gusto Mobile), Android (Gusto Mobile)6RUN Powered by ADP app (iOS), RUN Powered by ADP app (Android)7
Support channelsPhone, email, chat, online help center, dedicated account partner (Premium)8Phone, chat, email, HR HelpDesk by phone and email (Complete and HR Pro)9
Founded201210194911
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, US12Roseland, NJ, US11
OwnershipPrivate10Publicly traded11
Show 7 attributes where they are the same
Where they are the same (7)
AttributeGustoADP RUN Powered by ADP
Free trial65
Contract termMonthly1Monthly5
Best forSmall businesses10Small businesses11
Minimum employees11113
API1415
Automatic tax filing15
Contractor payments15

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Gusto lists Simple at $49 a month plus $6 per person, month to month, with no setup fee. ADP RUN quotes every package and adds fees for W-2 and 1099 forms and for more frequent payrolls.

Capabilities. Both cover payroll, tax filing, contractor payments, hiring and onboarding. Gusto adds time tracking and benefits administration in the same plans; ADP RUN adds garnishment payments, state unemployment insurance management and learning management, with time and attendance as an add-on.

Integrations. Gusto lists 154 integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack and Salesforce, with a REST API and webhooks. ADP RUN exports the general ledger to QuickBooks, Xero, Wave and Creative Solutions and connects to Clover and ZipRecruiter.

Fit and support. ADP RUN offers 24/7 payroll support by phone or chat, plus an HR HelpDesk on its HR packages. Gusto supports customers by phone, email and chat on weekdays from 6am to 6pm MST, with a dedicated account partner on Premium.

Security. Gusto states HIPAA compliance and supports single sign-on. ADP RUN names no security certification on the product pages we reviewed, so it is less suited to buyers who need one in writing before a demo.

Neither one?

Patriot Payroll

Patriot Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (8.7/10).

From $37/mo + $5/employee/mo (Full Service Payroll plan)16

Patriot Payroll review

Frequently asked questions

How much is Gusto compared to ADP?

Gusto publishes its price: $49 a month plus $6 per person on Simple, so 10 employees come to $109 a month before add-ons. ADP prices RUN by quote, so the comparison needs a written ADP quote for the same headcount and pay frequency.

What are the downsides of Gusto payroll?

Gusto is less suited to teams that need support at night or on weekends: its phone, email and chat hours are weekdays, 6am to 6pm MST. On Simple, payroll covers one state and next-day pay is a paid add-on; Plus includes both.

Who is ADP’s biggest competitor for small-business payroll?

Gusto is one of the payroll services that compete with RUN Powered by ADP for small businesses: both are built for them. ADP says RUN serves over 980,000 small businesses and quotes its price; Gusto publishes its price, from $49 a month plus $6 per person.

Do Gusto and ADP RUN pay tax penalties caused by their own errors?

Both say so. ADP pays fines or penalties caused by its own tax filing errors; Gusto remits late taxes and pays the resulting penalties when a Gusto error caused them, but not penalties from inaccurate payroll information.

How fast is direct deposit with Gusto and ADP RUN?

Gusto starts new employers on 4-day pay, moves them to 2-day pay after 15 days and one successful debit, and includes next-day pay on Plus and Premium. ADP RUN runs on a two-day processing cycle, with payroll approved by 5:00 p.m. ET the business day before the check date.

Can I run payroll from my phone with Gusto or ADP RUN?

Yes. Gusto Mobile runs on iOS and Android; ADP RUN has iOS and Android apps and also lets you run payroll by phone call.

Do Gusto and ADP RUN Powered by ADP offer a free trial?

Neither lists a free trial; both sell through a demo or a quote.

Is Gusto or ADP RUN Powered by ADP more secure?

Gusto states HIPAA (unverified for ADP RUN Powered by ADP). ADP RUN Powered by ADP states GDPR (unverified for Gusto).

How this page was made

  • What it is built from

    41 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Nov 8, 2026.

  • Method

    Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology

  • Independent review

    Not reviewed yet by our independent reviewer. 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

Gusto or ADP RUN Powered by ADP? Your answer in 3 questions

Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices.

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.

Get my answer

Gusto vs ADP RUN Powered by ADP

We may earn a fee.

Sources

The 17 pages this page's facts come from, with the day we last checked each one. The numbers beside the figures above link here.

Quotes from the sources
  1. Gusto gusto.com/product/pricing“Simple Run basic payroll in one state. $49/mo + $6/mo per person” “Simple, transparent pricing Payroll, benefits, and HR all in one place. No hidden fees. Cancel any time.”
  2. Gusto gusto.com/product“With Gusto, you can pay employees and contractors in just a few clicks. Plus, we automatically file your taxes, help with compliance, and identify tax credits to help save you money”
  3. Gusto gusto.com/product/integrations“Showing 1–20 of 154”
  4. Gusto gusto.com/security“We follow HIPAA guidelines to safeguard our customers’ protected health information (PHI). Additionally, we maintain business associate agreements (BAAs) between employers and Gusto, along with any third parties, like insurance companies.” “Gusto uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host its production servers, databases, and supporting services.”
  5. ADP adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx“Payroll costs are influenced by several variables, including how often you run payroll, the number of employees or contractors you pay and how frequently your workforce changes. Pricing may also increase if you add HR tools, benefits administration or more advanced compliance support, such as garnishment management or State Unemployment Insurance.” “Run payroll online, by phone or even on-the-go with our mobile payroll app.”
  6. Gusto Payroll (Gusto)“Yes, you can run payroll, check payroll status, add and view team members and manage your team all from the Gusto mobile app. Download the iOS app here and the Google Play app here.” “We’ve got all kinds of plans for all sizes of business. Explore all the options. You’ll pay nothing ‘til you’re ready to run payroll.”
  7. ADP (Apple App Store listing) apps.apple.com/us/app/adp-run/id388928133“the RUN Powered by ADP® payroll mobile app is built for the way your small business works. Here are some of the features available at your fingertips—wherever your day takes you. • Start payroll with a tap • Avoid payroll mistakes with error detection powered by AI”
  8. Gusto gusto.com/about/contact“Our sales and support teams at Gusto are available to help you via phone, email, and chat Monday through Friday 6am – 6pm MST. For expedited support, sign in to your Gusto account.”
  9. ADP adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/switching-to-adp.aspx“Support from a payroll specialist via phone & email, at no additional fee … ADP offers 24/7 access to real payroll professionals to help resolve issues before they impact your team or business.”
  10. Gusto gusto.com/about“Launched in 2012 as ZenPayroll, Gusto serves more than 500,000 businesses nationwide.” “We’re proud to have support from General Catalyst, T. Rowe, Capital G, and other prominent investors.”
  11. ADP sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/8670/000000867026000030/adp-20260630.htm“In 1949, our founders established ADP with a simple, innovative idea: help clients focus on their business by solving their payroll challenges.” “its corporate headquarters in Roseland, New Jersey”
  12. Gusto gusto.com/about/privacy“Gusto, Inc. Attn: Legal Privacy 525 20th Street San Francisco, CA 94107”
  13. ADP adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-one-employee.aspx“Fast, simple payroll for one employee ADP for One is payroll built for S corps and solopreneurs, from the small business payroll pros at ADP.”
  14. Gusto docs.gusto.com“Leverage Gusto's API to build your own in-app payroll solution, customized for your users' needs, with Gusto Embedded.”
  15. ADP marketplace-cdn.adp.com/dev-portal/pdf/protected/RUN_Powered_by_ADP_API_Catalog“The Marketplace API Catalog for RUN Powered By ADP lists APIs supported by RUN Powered By ADP”
  16. Patriot Software patriotsoftware.com/pricing“Basic Payroll is $17/month + $4 per worker paid; Full Service Payroll is $37/month + $5 per worker paid.”
  17. ADP adp.com/privacy.aspx“ADP has adopted Binding Corporate Rules (BCR) for processing Client employee data and business contact data.”

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.