ADP vs. QuickBooks Workforce for payroll and HR
When it comes to payroll and HR, small businesses choose ADP over QuickBooks for built-in HR and compliance, real-person support and plans that scale.
- Payroll, HR, benefits and compliance help, all in one platform
- Support from real people, available 24/7
- Flexible plans built around your needs
- Features that are ready to scale when you are
- 75+ years of payroll and compliance expertise
“Switching to ADP from QuickBooks took my business to the next level.”
Creative Floor Covering
ADP vs. QuickBooks Workforce features comparison
QuickBooks keeps your books; ADP2 runs your people. See how the two compare across payroll, HR, compliance and support, and where ADP includes more.
| Capabilities | ADP | QuickBooks³ |
|---|---|---|
| Register with tax agencies in all 50 states (does not require third-party partner) | Offered | Not offered |
| Convenient mobile app for payroll and HR | Offered | Not offered |
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What sets ADP apart from QuickBooks Workforce
Buildt-in HR & compliance
HR and compliance help come standard here
QuickBooks doesn’t offer the same level of built-in HR and compliance depth that ADP does. With ADP, it all works together in one easy-to-use platform.
- Get proactive compliance alerts and pre-built, state-specific handbooks
- Run background checks and hire with ZipRecruiter®, built in
- Manage benefits administration6,7 alongside payroll, not in a separate tool
24/7 Support
We pick up the phone, day or night
QuickBooks doesn't offer 24/7 live payroll support, and longer hours are limited to higher-tier plans. ADP gives every customer round-the-clock access to real experts.
- Access real-person payroll support any time, on every plan, no upgrade required
- Skip the runaround with people who know small business payroll
- Start strong with dedicated onboarding for your first payroll
Flexible pricing
Pricing that fits — not forces — your business
Your business needs aren't static, so your payroll shouldn’t be either. ADP offers flexible plans that adapt as your needs change, instead of rigid tiers.
- Start simple and add HR and benefits when you’re ready
- Avoid surprise fees just to unlock the basics
- Stay in control of your budget as your needs change
Scalability
A platform with room to grow
QuickBooks can hit limits as your team and your needs get more complex. ADP is ready for every stage of your business, no third-party workarounds required.
- Add employees, locations and multi-state payroll without changing platforms
- Turn on benefits, time tracking and HR as you need them
- Partner with a full-service PEO whenever you're ready to outsource HR
Switching from QuickBooks Workforce
#1 in small business payroll software — two years in a row
ADP vs. QuickBooks Workforce reviews
Freed up to run my business
“Switching to ADP from QuickBooks took my business to the next level, because it freed me up to be better at the things I do – like management and sales.”
- Name
- Octavio E. Aguirre
- Title
- Owner
- Company
- Creative Floor Covering
- Industry
- Construction
- Employees
- 10
No more juggling websites
“When we started, we used QuickBooks to do payroll. I had to go to all these different websites to keep up with my records and filings, and it didn’t have any of the helpful features you’d expect from a payroll provider. A lot of people told me to switch to ADP, so I gave it a try — and I loved it.”
- Name
- Dontae Greenfield
- Title
- Co-owner
- Company
- Solid Source Healthcare Resources
- Industry
- Healthcare
- Employees
- 60
ADP offered more
“QuickBooks was fine with payroll but didn’t have the ability to add benefits easily. That was a big reason I chose ADP — they just offered more.”
- Name
- Jaston Epp
- Title
- Owner
- Company
- New City Cleaning Services
- Industry
- Commercial and Residential Cleaning Company
- Employees
- 6-10
The difference HR can see
“Employers don’t understand the value of ADP until they have someone that works in HR and can show them the difference between using just QuickBooks and using ADP.”
- Name
- Laura Barbieri
- Title
- Corporate Director of People Operations
- Company
- SAUCE Miami
- Industry
- Restaurant/hospitality
- Employees
- 10
See why over 900,000 small businesses count on ADP
ADP gives small businesses the tools and support to run easier today and grow stronger tomorrow.
2.5 work dayssaved over a year on payroll, HR and compliance tasks.8
$1,200saved on average a year on payroll and HR admin costs.8
23 minutessaved on average per payroll.9
FAQs about ADP vs.QuickBooks
QuickBooks Workforce is great for getting payroll started, but ADP gives you more as your business grows, including HR, compliance help, benefits and live payroll support in every plan.
You get one connected system that helps you manage your people, not just their paychecks.
Yes. You don’t have to wait until year-end or start from scratch. ADP helps transfer your employee and payroll data, walks you through setup and provides dedicated onboarding so your first payroll runs smoothly.
Yes. ADP integrates with QuickBooks, along with hundreds of other accounting, POS and time-tracking tools, so your payroll data syncs automatically without double entry.
Many businesses run payroll and HR in ADP while keeping QuickBooks for their books.
QuickBooks Workforce uses fixed tiers, where the features and support you get depend on the plan you pick. ADP offers flexible plans built around your size and needs, with tax filing and compliance support built in, so you often get more value for the cost.
For pricing tailored to your business, contact us today.
ADP offers time and attendance tools that sync employee hours directly to payroll, with scheduling options that scale for hourly teams and multiple locations.
QuickBooks includes time tracking within its ecosystem, but ADP connects time, payroll and HR in one platform and integrates with leading time-tracking apps. Available features vary by plan.
ADP calculates, files and pays your federal, state and local payroll taxes, and can register with tax agencies in all 50 states without requiring a third-party partner.
Filings and compliance updates are built into your plan, helping you avoid penalties and stay current as rules change.
Both are built for small businesses. ADP’s dashboard is simple and intuitive; you can run payroll in a few clicks, with clear prompts for tasks like adding employees or handling deductions, plus AI-enabled features and mobile access.
QuickBooks is familiar to existing QuickBooks users, while ADP pairs ease of use with 24/7 real-person support if you ever get stuck.
Switching is straightforward and can happen any time of year. First, gather your business and employee details (EIN, tax documents, bank account and current payroll data).
Then an ADP onboarding specialist helps migrate your data from QuickBooks and set up your account. Finally, you review your first payroll with expert help before you run it, with 24/7 support available any time you need it.
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- G2 recognition as of June 26, 2026 and is subject to change.
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- All insurance products will be offered and sold only through the licensed entity, Automatic Data Processing Insurance Agency, Inc. (ADPIA), or its licensed insurance partners, 1 ADP Blvd., Roseland, NJ 07068. Licensed in 50 states and DC. CA License #0D04044. Not all products or services are available in all states.
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- Internal survey of 95 RUN Powered by ADP® customers in 2026.
- Internal survey of 219 RUN Powered by ADP® customers in 2025.