Compare/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.

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

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✓Yes–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. 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

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, 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

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 4 Nov 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 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?