ADP vs. Paychex: Discover the difference
ADP1 helps small businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools, trusted expertise and support that’s there when you need it.
- Payroll, HR and benefits all in one place
- Faster, easier technology built for small businesses
- 24/7 live payroll support from real people
- Integrations that connect the way you work
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So, why do small businesses choose ADP over Paychex?
It’s simple. There’s payroll — and then there’s payroll with ADP: faster, easier and trusted by businesses that expect more.
24/7 Support
Support that never clocks out
When you need help, ADP is ready with live payroll professionals available day or night. With Paychex, unless you're on the highest tier plans, you have to pay extra to reach email and live phone support, which can slow you down when problems come up. ADP keeps support personal with 24/7 payroll help and dedicated onboarding that helps get you running fast.
All-in-one platform
More built in, fewer add-ons
ADP brings payroll and HR together in one place, no juggling logins or paying extra for every add-on. It simplifies the back-office work that other systems make complicated, keeping payroll, reporting and compliance tools connected. And with ADP’s top-rated mobile app, managing payroll and HR is easy wherever you are.
Purpose-built technology
A platform that keeps up with small businesses
ADP’s technology is purpose-built for small businesses to make payroll and HR simple and fast, no matter where you are. A super-intuitive interface makes paying your people easy, while AI-enabled tools streamline tasks and help catch costly errors before they happen. You can check your numbers, make quick fixes and approve payroll — all without slowing down your day.
Apps & integrations
Connect all your favorite tools
ADP integrates with hundreds of the apps small businesses rely on, from accounting and POS to HR, time tracking and benefits. Data flows seamlessly between systems, keeping your information safe and your processes connected. Paychex offers fewer integration options, while ADP gives you the freedom to work your way, without the headaches of disconnected tools.
At-a-glance comparison: ADP vs. Paychex
ADP delivers more of what small businesses need — like built-in HR tools, stronger tech and dependable support. See how ADP compares to Paychex across what matters most.
 ADP |
Paychex3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll & HR | ||
| Hiring via ZipRecruiter®4 |  Offered |
not offered |
| One-stop partner marketplace, where clients can search, compare, activate and pay for apps (time, HR, accounting & more) | Offered |
not offered |
| Salary benchmarks data (to help you make competitive job offers and that can help you comply with pay transparency laws) at no added cost in top-tier HR bundles | Offered |
not offered |
| Job description wizard, at no additional fee | Offered |
not offered |
| Online employee onboarding across all bundles (no additional cost) | Offered |
not offered |
| Single invoice billing that combines ADP payroll and complementary partner services | Offered |
not offered |
| New client onboarding across all bundles (no need to call customer service) | Offered |
not offered |
| Register with tax agencies in all 50 states (does not require third-party partner) | Offered |
not offered |
| Support from a payroll specialist via phone & email, no additional fee | Offered |
not offered |
| Rated #1 small business software by G2 in 2025 | Offered |
not offered |
| G2 rating peer review 4.5 (of 5) stars or higher | Offered |
not offered |
| Over 75 years of payroll experience | Offered |
not offered |
| Access to free and discounted legal services (provided by third party)5 | Offered |
not offered |
| Create, send and process payments of client invoices | Offered |
not offered |
See RUN Powered by ADP® in action
Click through our self-led demo to see how easy payroll and HR can be.
Hear from ex-Paychex clients
What small businesses say
I’ve got enough to do running my restaurant — I want to get into payroll and get out quickly. With Paychex, the whole process was daunting… You couldn’t pay me to go back to Paychex.
Maurice Kelly Owner, Matchbox Charlottesville
What small businesses say
I really didn’t like the amount of time that we were spending on payroll with Paychex. We’d have two or three people working on it, and it would take them four, five hours. It was ridiculous.
Michael Shvartsman Operations Manager, Bokam Engineering
What small businesses say
I was used to a certain level of service with ADP, and that was not what I got with Paychex. It was a really easy decision to go back to ADP, and they’ve taken great care of me ever since.
Kraig Torres Owner, Hop City Craft Beer and Wine
What small businesses say
The price point is honestly what got us to look at ADP in the first place, and now, in addition to being able to do things ourselves on our own timeline, we’re saving between 40-44% every single week in payroll costs.
Francis Despres Office Manager, Granite State Sewer & Drain Cleaning
What small businesses say
When I was with Paychex, I was just a number…. With ADP, it’s immediate. You actually have someone you can call who you feel like is part of your team. That’s a huge difference.
Mike Dilger Owner, Detail Pro Shop
Over 900,000 small businesses count on ADP
ADP gives small businesses the tools and support to run easier today and grow stronger tomorrow.
9 out of 10
customers who switched from Paychex say ADP is easier to use.
4 out of 5
customers who switched from Paychex save time running payroll with ADP.
9 out of 10
customers who switched from Paychex have more confidence in ADP to do payroll right.
Internal survey of 519 RUN Powered by ADP® customers in 2025
FAQs about ADP vs. Paychex
Why should my business choose ADP over Paychex?
Both providers offer payroll, but ADP also includes built-in HR tools, compliance resources and flexible plan options for small businesses. You can manage payroll and HR in one place, with the reliability and experience of a company that pays 1 in 6 US employees.
Is it easy to switch to ADP from Paychex?
Yes. ADP helps you transfer your employee and payroll data and provides dedicated onboarding to help make the move seamless. Plus, you can switch at any time — no need to wait for year-end or quarter-end.
How does ADP pricing work?
ADP offers flexible payroll and HR plans based on your business size and needs. Tax filing, compliance resources and reporting are built in, helping you get more value for your investment.
What makes ADP’s technology different?
ADP’s platform is designed to make payroll faster and help with accuracy. You can preview payroll before you run it, correct issues in real time and approve from any device. The mobile experience is highly rated for ease of use and gives you access wherever you work.
How fast can I get started with ADP?
Once you have your EIN, tax documents and bank account, you can begin running payroll right away. Our automated solution is designed for simplicity, so you can process payroll in just minutes from any device. Dedicated onboarding specialists are available to guide you through setup.
Does ADP include HR tools and benefits?
It does. ADP offers HR tools like handbook templates, compliance alerts and recruiting through ZipRecruiter®4, plus access to health and workers’ comp plans through ADPIA®6, an ADP affiliate.
What kind of support will I get with ADP?
All ADP payroll plans include 24/7 access to live payroll professionals. You can reach someone by phone any time of day. HR support is available based on your plan level.
Is ADP right for small businesses?
Absolutely. ADP works with more than 900,000 small businesses — from one-person shops to growing teams — providing the flexibility, reliability and support owners need to save time and help them with compliance challenges.
- Unless otherwise noted, the information on this page pertains to RUN Powered by ADP®.
- Internal survey of 3,099 RUN Powered by ADP® customers in 2025
- Information based on ADP internal research and is accurate as of October 7, 2025 and is subject to change.
- ZipRecruiter is a registered trademark of ZipRecruiter, Inc.
- Legal services are provided by Upnetic Legal Services, a third-party provider.
- Automatic Data Processing Insurance Agency, Inc. (ADPIA) is an affiliate of ADP, Inc. All insurance products will be offered and sold only through Automatic Data Processing Insurance Agency, Inc., its licensed agents or its licensed insurance partners, 1 ADP Blvd., Roseland, NJ 07068. CA license #0D04044. Licensed in 50 states. Certain services may not be available in all states.