Compare/Head to head

ADP RUN vs Gusto

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

ADP RUN

Sales-quoted

Small-business payroll and HR from ADP, in Essential, Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro packages. Sales-quoted.

Where ADP RUN fits

  • US small businesses that want ADP to file taxes
  • Owners who run payroll on a phone
  • Shops that also want hiring and benefits add-ons
  • Teams connecting payroll to Clover POS

Gusto

$49/mo

US small-business payroll, benefits and onboarding in one stack, from around $49/mo plus a per-seat charge.

Where Gusto fits

  • US small companies running payroll in-house
  • HR teams that want benefits next to pay
  • Desks that want MCP on payroll data
  • A first HRIS after spreadsheets

At a glance

DetailADP RUNGusto
Starting priceSales-quoted$49/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underHRIS, PayrollBenefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance
CapterraNot enough reviews4.6 from 4,225 reviews

Where they pull apart

ADP RUN

Stands out: ADP Assist flags payroll errors and answers questions using your company's own payroll data.

Watch out: Package dollars are a quote. Free months offers are signup discounts on a signed order, not a product trial, and the terms change from time to time.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need a public per-employee rate
  • Mid-market teams that need Workforce Now

Gusto

Stands out: Payroll sitting next to HR for US small companies, with a first-party MCP.

Watch out: It is US-only, so it is not a route to hiring people in other countries.

Not the right fit for

  • Global employer-of-record buyers
  • Enterprise HRIS selection processes

Pros and cons

ADP RUN

  • Tax filing across all 50 states
  • ADP Assist flags payroll errors
  • Four packages from payroll to HR
  • No public package dollars
  • Promo months are not a trial
  • Wrong fit past small-business scale

Gusto

  • Payroll, benefits and onboarding in one US stack
  • MCP and API available
  • Fits small-business HR and finance buyers
  • US-only
  • Per-person charges on top of the base
  • Recruiting is basic: no interview scheduling or automated candidate emails

What each one costs

ADP RUN

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. Essential, Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro are named packages with a Get Pricing CTA, and ADP says a per payroll processing fee is most common. ADP often runs free months offers for new clients, which are signup discounts on a signed order, not a trial. Dollars depend on headcount, pay frequency, and add-ons. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Gusto

$49/mo

Simple is $49/mo plus $6 per person, Plus is $80/mo plus $12 per person, and Premium is $180/mo plus $22 per person. Gusto Recruiting (job posting to 100+ boards, applicant tracking and offer letters) is included on Plus and Premium. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try ADP RUN or Gusto for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does ADP RUN or Gusto have an MCP server?
Gusto ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All ADP RUN alternatives All Gusto alternatives Every HRIS tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?