ADP vs Gusto — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
ADP starts at $79/mo. Gusto starts at $49/mo. Gusto is $30/mo cheaper on the entry tier than ADP.
How pricing works
These two tools don't price the same way, so the headline numbers below aren't directly comparable until you plug in your own volume.
- ADP (Unknown model) — ADP bills on a fixed plan from $79/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
- Gusto (Hybrid) — Gusto is hybrid: a fixed subscription from $49/mo plus metered usage on top (Base fee + per employee). Your real bill moves with volume, not seat count.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
The 75-year-old payroll and HR outsourcing giant serving 1M+ businesses globally. Positioned as the trusted enterprise alternative to newer competitors (Gusto, Rippling, Justworks) for companies that value regulatory rigor + compliance depth over modern UI. Multi-product portfolio: RUN Powered by ADP (SMB, 1-49 employees, published pricing $79-$179/mo + per-employee fees), Workforce Now (mid-market 50-1K employees, custom-quoted), TotalSource (PEO), and Vantage HCM (enterprise 1K+ employees). Also runs Payroll Services and ADP Comprehensive Services as consulting arms. Publicly traded NYSE: ADP, $115B market cap. Real cost varies significantly by employee count + services selected.
US payroll + benefits platform positioned as the alternative to ADP and Paychex for SMBs (1-500 employees). Distinctive for its modern UX (unlike ADP's 1990s-era interface) and built-in benefits marketplace. Valued $9.6B private (2022). Priced $40/mo base + $6/employee (Simple) up to $80+$12 (Premium). Popular with US-based startups and SMBs — no international payroll (unlike Deel/Rippling). Direct competitor to Rippling in the US mid-market.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | ADP monthly | ADP annual | Gusto monthly | Gusto annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | RUN Powered by ADP - Essential / Simple | $79 | $79 | $49 | $49 |
| Mid tier | RUN Powered by ADP - Enhanced / Plus | $129 | $129 | $80 | $80 |
| Pro / power | RUN Powered by ADP - Complete / Premium | $179 | $179 | $180 | $180 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
ADP is worth it if… businesses that need payroll + HR + benefits from a single trusted vendor with 75-year compliance depth — particularly if you're in a regulated industry or have complex multi-state/international operations. RUN Powered by ADP covers 1-49 employees with published pricing ($79 base + per-employee fees for Essential); Workforce Now scales to mid-market with custom quotes; TotalSource offers PEO structure.
Gusto is worth it if… US-based SMBs (1-100 employees) that need payroll + benefits + basic HR in one tool without hiring a bookkeeper — particularly if you're incorporating and running payroll for the first time. Simple covers basic payroll; Plus adds hiring and next-day direct deposit; Premium adds compliance alerts and dedicated support.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose ADP over Gusto if…
Choose ADP if…
- You're comfortable with ADP's from $79/mo entry point.
- You match the profile ADP is built for: businesses that need payroll + HR + benefits from a single trusted vendor with 75-year compliance depth — particularly if you're in a regulated industry or have complex multi-state/international operations.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Gusto if…
- You're fine with a base subscription plus metered usage on top (from $49/mo).
- You match the profile Gusto is built for: US-based SMBs (1-100 employees) that need payroll + benefits + basic HR in one tool without hiring a bookkeeper — particularly if you're incorporating and running payroll for the first time.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| ADP | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $79/mo | $49/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | — | Hybrid |
| Verification | Verified August 12, 2026 | Checked September 24, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 24, 2026. Tracked daily.