Updated 30 March 2026
Gusto vs ADP
Gusto charges less per month for small teams. ADP charges less per person at scale. The crossover is around 20 employees. Here is the complete comparison across pricing, features, support, and scalability.
$40 + $6
Gusto Simple (base + per person)
$79 + $4
ADP RUN Essential (base + per person)
~20
Employees where ADP becomes cheaper
100+
Where ADP clearly wins on value
Head-to-Head: 10 Dimensions
A detailed comparison across every dimension that matters when choosing between Gusto and ADP for your payroll provider.
Base Pricing
GUSTO
Simple: $40/mo + $6/person. Plus: $80/mo + $12/person. Premium: custom (~$135/mo + $22/person).
ADP
RUN Essential: $79/mo + $4/person. Enhanced: $128/mo + $6/person. Complete: custom. HR Plus: custom.
Verdict: Gusto is cheaper for under 20 employees. ADP's lower per-person fee wins for larger teams.
Per-Employee Cost at Scale
GUSTO
At 50 employees: $340/mo on Simple, $680/mo on Plus. Cost scales linearly with no volume discounts on published plans.
ADP
At 50 employees: $279/mo on Essential. ADP offers volume discounts for 50+ employees through custom quotes, potentially dropping to $3/person.
Verdict: ADP wins at 50+ employees, especially with negotiated rates.
Payroll Features
GUSTO
Unlimited payroll runs, automated federal and state tax filing, W-2 and 1099 generation, garnishment handling, multiple pay schedules, custom earnings types.
ADP
Unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filing in all 50 states, W-2 and 1099 generation, garnishment management, general ledger integration, payroll analytics.
Verdict: Tie. Both handle core payroll comprehensively. ADP has a slight edge in reporting.
HR Tools
GUSTO
Employee directory, document storage, onboarding checklists, offer letter templates. HR resource center and compliance alerts on Premium only.
ADP
Employee records, document management, HR compliance library, employee handbook builder. More HR depth on higher tiers. ADP also offers ADP Workforce Now for 50+ employees with full HRIS.
Verdict: ADP wins for companies prioritizing HR compliance and policy management.
Benefits Administration
GUSTO
Built-in benefits broker at no extra cost. Health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, commuter benefits, 401(k) through Guideline ($49/mo + $8/participant). Covers all 50 states.
ADP
Benefits administration through ADP TotalSource (PEO model) or standalone ADP benefits. Requires separate setup and often additional fees. Broader carrier network for large groups.
Verdict: Gusto wins for small businesses. Free brokerage is hard to beat. ADP is better for 100+ employees needing custom group plans.
Time Tracking
GUSTO
Built into the Plus plan at no extra cost. Employees clock in/out via web or mobile. Syncs directly with payroll. Geolocation and project tracking available.
ADP
ADP Time requires a separate subscription or hardware purchase. Basic time tracking available on Enhanced tier. More robust options (biometric, kiosks) for larger companies.
Verdict: Gusto wins. Integrated time tracking on Plus saves $3 to $5 per employee vs ADP's add-on pricing.
Mobile App
GUSTO
Gusto Wallet app for employees (paystubs, tax documents, Gusto Cash Out for early wage access). Employer app for approving time off and running payroll.
ADP
ADP Mobile Solutions app for employees (paystubs, W-2s, benefits enrollment). Employer app with payroll preview, approval workflow, and analytics dashboard.
Verdict: Tie. Both have strong mobile apps. ADP's enterprise app has more features. Gusto's is simpler and better designed for small teams.
Customer Support
GUSTO
Email and chat support on Simple and Plus. Priority support on Plus. Dedicated customer success manager on Premium only. No phone support on lower tiers.
ADP
Phone support on all plans. Dedicated payroll specialist on Enhanced and above. 24/7 support for larger accounts. In-person support available through ADP offices.
Verdict: ADP wins decisively for companies that want phone support. Gusto's chat-first model frustrates some users.
Integrations
GUSTO
200+ integrations including QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Slack, Asana, and most major accounting platforms. Open API for custom integrations.
ADP
300+ integrations with enterprise focus. Deeper ERP integrations (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite). ADP Marketplace for third-party apps. Stronger integrations with enterprise accounting.
Verdict: ADP wins for enterprise integrations. Gusto wins for small business accounting tool connections.
Scalability
GUSTO
Best for 1 to 100 employees. No true enterprise tier. Companies outgrowing Gusto typically switch between 75 and 150 employees. US only.
ADP
ADP RUN covers 1 to 49 employees. ADP Workforce Now covers 50 to 999. ADP Vantage HCM covers 1,000+. Global payroll in 140+ countries. True enterprise scalability.
Verdict: ADP wins. The upgrade path from RUN to Workforce Now to Vantage is seamless. Gusto has no enterprise product.
Which One Wins by Company Size
The right choice depends almost entirely on how many employees you have and whether you need multi-state payroll.
1 to 10 employees
GustoAt this size, Gusto costs $40 to $100/mo vs ADP's $79 to $119/mo. The price gap is significant on a small payroll budget. Gusto's modern interface is easier to learn for first-time payroll users. Built-in benefits brokerage is valuable because small businesses rarely have a dedicated HR person to manage broker relationships.
10 to 25 employees
Gusto (for most)Gusto Simple still costs less than ADP Essential up to about 20 employees. At 25 employees, ADP is slightly cheaper ($179 vs $190 on Gusto Simple), but the difference is only $11/mo. If you need multi-state payroll, you are comparing Gusto Plus at $380/mo against ADP Essential at $179/mo, and ADP wins clearly. Single-state teams should stay on Gusto Simple.
25 to 50 employees
Depends on needsThe decision hinges on whether you need multi-state support, time tracking, and next-day deposit. If yes, compare Gusto Plus ($380 to $680/mo) against ADP Enhanced with add-ons. If you only need basic payroll, ADP Essential ($179 to $279/mo) is clearly cheaper. At this size, also consider Rippling ($200 to $400/mo with no base fee).
50 to 100 employees
ADPADP's volume pricing kicks in. Negotiated rates can drop to $3/person, making 100 employees cost roughly $379/mo on ADP vs $640/mo on Gusto Simple or $1,280/mo on Gusto Plus. ADP Workforce Now becomes available and offers a proper HRIS with analytics, compliance management, and dedicated account support that Gusto cannot match.
100+ employees
ADPGusto is not designed for this scale. At 100+ employees, you need ADP Workforce Now ($10 to $15/person custom pricing), enterprise reporting, compliance management, and likely international payroll capabilities. Companies that started on Gusto at 20 employees typically migrate to ADP, Rippling, or Paychex in the 75 to 150 employee range.
Monthly Cost Comparison Table
| Team Size | Gusto Simple | Gusto Plus | ADP Essential | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 employees | $70 | $140 | $99 | Gusto Simple |
| 10 employees | $100 | $200 | $119 | Gusto Simple |
| 15 employees | $130 | $260 | $139 | Gusto Simple |
| 20 employees | $160 | $320 | $159 | ADP (by $1) |
| 25 employees | $190 | $380 | $179 | ADP |
| 50 employees | $340 | $680 | $279 | ADP |
| 75 employees | $490 | $980 | $379 | ADP |
| 100 employees | $640 | $1,280 | $479 | ADP |
Gusto pricing based on published rates. ADP RUN Essential pricing based on publicly listed starting rates. Actual ADP pricing may differ based on custom quotes and promotional offers.
Bottom Line
Choose Gusto if you have under 25 employees, want a modern interface, and value integrated benefits with no extra brokerage fees. Choose ADP if you have 50+ employees, need phone support, require multi-state payroll on the cheapest plan, or want an upgrade path to enterprise HR. For 25 to 50 employees, compare quotes directly. The feature differences matter more than the price gap at that size.