RUN Powered By ADP vs Quickbooks Payroll: Complete Comparison
Discover which HR platform is the perfect fit for your business needs. Compare features, pricing, and user experiences to make an informed decision.
Platform Overview

RUN Powered By ADP
Run Powered By ADP is a cloud-based payroll and HR management software that optimizes various processes and enhances overall efficiency. It offers an intuitive platform and a myriad of automated features. Accessible via web browsers and mobile applications, this innovative platform addresses common pain points in payroll management, such as time-consuming calculations, compliance complexities, and reporting challenges.

Quickbooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is a cloud-based payroll software designed to help businesses run payroll accurately and on time. It simplifies tax compliance by automatically filing federal and state taxes. It also manages employee timesheets, reducing manual entry and saving time whenever you run payroll. With next-day or same-day direct deposits, employers can pay employees quickly and meet payroll deadlines with confidence.
Feature Comparison
Feature | RUN Powered By ADP | Quickbooks Payroll |
---|---|---|
Core Functionality & Automation | ||
Automated Payroll Processing | Full automation | Full automation |
Tax Calculation & Filing | Federal/state/local | Federal/state/local |
Benefits & Deductions | Auto benefits sync | Auto sync |
Off-cycle Payroll | Supported | Supported |
Direct Deposit | Same day available | Same day available |
Payroll Frequency | All frequencies | All standard |
Multi-rate Pay | Multiple rates | Multiple rates |
Retroactive Pay | Auto calculations | Auto adjustments |
Compliance & Legal Management | ||
Multi-jurisdiction Support | Global multi-state | All 50 states + local |
Statutory Compliance | All 50 states + global | All 50 states |
Audit Trail | Comprehensive | Built-in |
Form Generation | All forms + global | W-2, 1099, state forms |
Penalty Protection | Penalty protection | Tax penalty protection |
Real-time Monitoring | Real-time monitoring | Compliance alerts |
Compliance Certifications | SOC 2, industry standards | Standard certifications |
Integration & Scalability | ||
HRMS Integration | ADP ecosystem | Native QB platform |
Accounting Connectivity | Extensive integrations | Extensive QB ecosystem |
Time & Attendance | ADP time tracking | QB Time included |
API Support | Extensive API | Extensive |
Employee Growth | Enterprise global | Up to enterprise |
Multi-entity Management | Global entities | Multi-location |
Third-party Apps | 500+ integrations | 15+ Intuit integrations |
User Experience & Accessibility | ||
Admin Interface | Professional interface | Intuitive interface |
Employee Self-service | Employee portal | Employee portal |
Mobile Compatibility | Mobile app | Mobile app |
Multi-language Support | Multi-language | Limited |
Customization Options | Extensive | Moderate |
Setup Complexity | Complex setup | Easy to moderate |
Training Requirements | Moderate to high | Minimal to moderate |
Security & Data Protection | ||
Data Encryption | Enterprise grade | Standard encryption |
Access Controls | Granular controls | Role-based |
Security Certifications | SOC 1/2, ISO standards | Standard security |
Backup & Recovery | Enterprise backup | Cloud backup |
Privacy Compliance | Global compliance | Compliance ready |
Audit Logging | Comprehensive | Standard logging |
Cost Structure & Support | ||
Base Pricing | Custom enterprise pricing | $50 + $6/employee (Core) |
Payroll Add-on | Integrated platform | Integrated |
Implementation Cost | Higher setup | Moderate |
Hidden Fees | Enterprise transparent | Minimal |
Customer Support | 24/7 global support | 24/7 chat, phone |
Service Guarantees | SLA guarantees | Tax accuracy guarantee |
Global Payroll Cost | Available globally | Not available |
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RUN Powered By ADP vs Quickbooks Payroll: Complete Comparison

RUN Powered By ADP
Who We Recommend RUN Powered By ADP For
RUN Powered by ADP automates payroll and tax filing, easing compliance worries for growing businesses. It's especially helpful for small teams without a full human resources (HR) department. While setup might take some getting used to, the payoff is streamlined payroll and fewer tax headaches. A great fit if you're after reliability, scalability, and peace of mind.
Major Pros Based on Community Feedback:
- Sends timely reminders before and after processing payroll
- Easy and quick implementation
- The company takes full responsibility for anything that goes wrong on its end

Quickbooks Payroll
Who We Recommend Quickbooks Payroll For
QuickBooks payroll can seamlessly integrate with the QuickBooks suite, ensuring all financial records are accurate and up to date. It provides comprehensive, integrated financial insights to help guide your decision-making process. Initial setup feels like a breeze, and the software allows you to run payroll in minutes. The platform is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses operating in diverse industries.
Major Pros Based on Community Feedback:
Detailed Feature Comparison
Core Functionality & Automation
RUN Powered By ADP
ADP delivers comprehensive automated payroll processing with sophisticated tax calculations, multi-state support, and extensive compliance automation. It excels at handling complex payroll scenarios with proven reliability and comprehensive service options ranging from basic processing to full workforce management.
Best use cases: Businesses requiring proven payroll reliability, companies with complex multi-state tax requirements, organizations where established infrastructure and comprehensive service flexibility outweigh modern interface design and cost considerations.
Quickbooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll delivers advanced automated payroll processing with sophisticated tax calculations, multi-state support, and comprehensive reporting. It excels at handling complex pay structures, multiple locations, and automated compliance workflows with enterprise-level reliability.
Best use cases: Companies with complex payroll requirements, multi-state operations, businesses needing detailed labor cost analysis, and organizations where comprehensive automation and advanced reporting capabilities justify higher complexity and cost.
Compliance & Legal Management
RUN Powered By ADP
ADP offers industry-leading compliance management with comprehensive multi-jurisdictional expertise, penalty protection up to $25,000, and continuous regulatory monitoring. It provides enterprise-level compliance infrastructure with dedicated tax experts and extensive audit capabilities.
Best use cases: Multi-state and multi-jurisdictional businesses requiring comprehensive compliance coverage, companies in highly regulated industries, and organizations needing established tax expertise where premium compliance services and penalty protection justify higher service costs.
Quickbooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll offers comprehensive compliance management with automatic tax updates, multi-jurisdictional support, and penalty protection up to $25,000. It provides enterprise-level compliance infrastructure with proactive regulatory monitoring and expert support.
Best use cases: Multi-state businesses needing comprehensive compliance coverage, companies in regulated industries, and organizations requiring enterprise-level tax management where advanced compliance features and penalty protection justify premium pricing.
Integration & Scalability
RUN Powered By ADP
ADP provides extensive integration capabilities with comprehensive API platform and broad third-party connectivity supporting complex business operations. It scales effectively across all business sizes with mature architecture supporting sophisticated multi-entity and enterprise-level requirements.
Best use cases: Large businesses requiring extensive system integrations, companies with complex operational structures, and organizations prioritizing established integration capabilities and proven scalability over modern platform design and competitive pricing.
Quickbooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll provides extensive integration capabilities with 200+ pre-built connectors and robust API access for custom workflows. It scales effectively for growing businesses with sophisticated architecture supporting complex multi-entity and multi-location operations.
Best use cases: Growing businesses needing extensive third-party connectivity, companies with complex operational workflows, and organizations prioritizing comprehensive integration capabilities and scalable infrastructure over simplicity.
User Experience & Accessibility
RUN Powered By ADP
ADP offers comprehensive functionality through established interface design that prioritizes reliability and feature depth over modern usability. Its mature platform approach provides extensive capabilities while requiring user training for optimal utilization of advanced features.
Best use cases: Businesses with dedicated payroll administrators requiring comprehensive functionality, companies prioritizing proven reliability over modern interface design, and organizations where extensive feature depth and established workflows outweigh ease of use considerations.
Quickbooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll offers feature-rich interface with comprehensive functionality that may require training for optimal utilization. Its powerful capabilities come with increased complexity, suited for businesses with dedicated payroll administrators or HR teams.
Best use cases: Businesses with dedicated payroll staff, companies needing comprehensive feature sets, and organizations where payroll complexity and advanced capabilities outweigh ease of use and quick implementation requirements.
Security & Data Protection
RUN Powered By ADP
ADP provides enterprise-grade security with comprehensive compliance standards, advanced data protection, and mature security infrastructure suitable for large business requirements. Security approach emphasizes proven protection with extensive compliance certifications and regulatory expertise.
Best use cases: Large businesses requiring enterprise security standards with extensive compliance certifications, companies in regulated industries with strict data protection requirements, and organizations where established security infrastructure and compliance expertise justify premium service costs.
Quickbooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll provides enterprise-grade security with SOC 2 compliance, advanced encryption, and comprehensive data protection suitable for larger business security requirements. Its security infrastructure supports complex compliance needs and regulatory standards.
Best use cases: Businesses requiring enterprise-level security standards, companies in regulated industries with strict compliance requirements, and organizations needing comprehensive data protection where advanced security features justify increased complexity.
Cost Structure & Support Quality
RUN Powered By ADP
ADP offers tiered pricing starting at approximately $79 base plus $4 per employee with premium Enterprise solutions requiring custom pricing. Established market position and comprehensive service depth typically command premium pricing reflecting extensive infrastructure and service capabilities.
Best use cases: Businesses justifying premium costs for established reliability and comprehensive services, companies where proven infrastructure and extensive support provide clear operational value, and organizations prioritizing service depth and reliability over competitive pricing considerations.
Quickbooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll offers tiered pricing starting at $50 base plus $6 per employee with premium plans reaching $130 base plus $11 per employee. Comprehensive feature sets and expert support justify higher costs for businesses needing advanced capabilities.
Best use cases: Growing businesses requiring comprehensive features, companies with complex payroll needs justifying premium pricing, and organizations where advanced automation and enterprise capabilities provide clear ROI despite higher costs.
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