Head to head

ADP RUN vs QuickBooks Payroll

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

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

QuickBooks Payroll

$88/mo + $6.50/employee Free trial

US payroll inside QuickBooks. Workforce Payroll plus Simple Start is $88/mo plus $6.50 per employee.

Where QuickBooks Payroll fits

  • US SMBs already on QuickBooks Online
  • Owners who want ADP-style tax filing without leaving Intuit
  • Teams adding 401(k) and health benefits later
  • Companies that will pay $6.50 per employee on top of $88

At a glance

DetailADP RUNQuickBooks Payroll
Starting priceSales-quoted$88/mo + $6.50/employee
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on recordYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underHRIS, PayrollPayroll

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. A three-month free payroll promo is not a product trial.

Not the right fit for

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

QuickBooks Payroll

Stands out: Full-service tax filing next to the books you already keep in QuickBooks, with optional Payroll AI prep.

Watch out: The $88 figure is the regular bundle, not the 50 percent intro. Per-employee fees stack on top. Background checks via Checkr start at $29.99 per report.

Not the right fit for

  • Employers outside the US
  • Teams that skip Intuit as the system of record

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

QuickBooks Payroll

  • $88/mo plus $6.50 per employee
  • Full-service US tax filing
  • Lives next to QuickBooks books
  • Intro 50% off is temporary
  • Per-employee fees on every plan
  • US-only payroll

What each one costs

ADP RUN

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. Essential, Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro are named packages with a Get Pricing CTA. A three-month free payroll promo is a signup offer, not a trial. Dollars depend on headcount, pay frequency, and add-ons. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

QuickBooks Payroll

$88/mo + $6.50/employee

Workforce Payroll + Simple Start is $88/mo + $6.50/employee (intro 50% off for 3 months is $44). Essentials bundle $125 + $6.50. Premium $203 + $10/employee. The starting price is the regular rate, not the intro. Try-free is offered without a printed day count. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try ADP RUN or QuickBooks Payroll for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. QuickBooks Payroll offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All ADP RUN alternatives All QuickBooks Payroll alternatives Every HRIS tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?