ADP vs QuickBooks Payroll: Pricing and Features Compared (2026)
At 10 employees, QuickBooks Payroll lists around $120 per month versus about $129 for ADP at entry tier, a difference of $9 per month, as of November 2026. ADP quotes; QuickBooks Payroll publishes its prices. ADP is the better fit when: businesses that expect to grow past 50 employees, need benefits and retirement plans from one vendor, or want the most recognized brand when talking to lenders and accountants. QuickBooks Payroll is the better fit when: businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
Prices verified November 2026
Price at a glance
| ADP | QuickBooks Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Essential | Workforce Payroll (Core) |
| Base fee / month | $79 est. | $50 |
| Per employee / month | $5 est. | $7 |
| 1 employee | $84 | $57 |
| 5 employees | $104 | $85 |
| 10 employees | $129 | $120 |
| 25 employees | $204 | $225 |
| 50 employees | $329 | $400 |
| Pricing published? | No, quote only | Yes, fully |
| Billing | Per pay run (weekly payroll costs more than monthly) | Monthly base plus per employee; QuickBooks Online accounting subscription sold separately |
| Contract | Quote-based; promotions change; confirm year-two pricing in writing | Month to month; frequent 50%-off-for-3-months promotions |
| Support | 24/7 phone support; dedicated rep on higher tiers | Chat and phone; expert setup review on Premium and Elite |
Quote-only providers shown as estimates from publicly reported quotes. See each provider page for the estimate basis.
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| Feature | ADP | QuickBooks Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Federal & state tax filing | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited payroll runs | No | Yes |
| Multi-state payroll | Yes | add-on |
| 1099 contractors | Yes | Yes |
| Health benefits | Yes | Yes |
| HR tools | Yes | Premium+ |
| Time tracking | add-on | Premium+ |
| Same-day deposit | add-on | Premium+ |
| PEO option | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
Choose ADP if
Businesses that expect to grow past 50 employees, need benefits and retirement plans from one vendor, or want the most recognized brand when talking to lenders and accountants.
Choose QuickBooks Payroll if
Businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
ADP strengths and weaknesses
- Scales from 1 employee to enterprise without switching platforms
- Deepest HR, benefits, retirement and compliance add-on catalog
- Strong accountant and bank partner ecosystem; most CPAs already work with ADP
- No published pricing; you must talk to sales to get a number
- Billed per pay run, so weekly payroll costs roughly 4x monthly
- Add-on fees for things competitors include (year-end forms, garnishments, some delivery options)
QuickBooks Payroll strengths and weaknesses
- Seamless sync with QuickBooks Online; no journal entries to reconcile
- Tax penalty protection on Elite (Intuit pays penalties from its errors, up to a cap)
- Frequent introductory discounts
- Per-employee fees rose in 2025 and again in 2026
- Core tier does not file local taxes
- Requires a separate QuickBooks Online subscription for full value
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- Prices verified November 2026
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Frequently asked questions
Is ADP or QuickBooks Payroll cheaper?
At list price for 10 employees, QuickBooks Payroll is cheaper by about $9 per month (published price). Promotions and negotiation can change the result; get written 12-month quotes.
Which is easier to use, ADP or QuickBooks Payroll?
QuickBooks Payroll is generally rated easier for owners who run payroll themselves. ADP leans on human support and setup help instead.
Can I switch from ADP to QuickBooks Payroll?
Yes. Most providers migrate your employee data and year-to-date totals for free. Switching at a quarter boundary is cleanest. See our guide to switching payroll providers.
Sources
- ADP pricing page, read November 2026
- QuickBooks Payroll pricing page, read November 2026