Compare RUN Powered by ADP® vs. ADP Workforce Now®: Which payroll & HR solution is right for you?

Choosing the right payroll and HR platform is a crucial decision for any company, whether you’re a small business that’s just starting out or a growing organization managing a larger workforce.

ADP offers two powerful solutions — RUN Powered by ADP® and ADP Workforce Now® – each designed to meet the unique needs of different business sizes and structures. In this guide, we’ll break down the key features, benefits and differences between the RUN platform and ADP Workforce Now® to help you decide which solution is the best fit for your business.

For small business payroll & HR: RUN Powered by ADP

RUN Powered by ADP® is a payroll and HR platform designed for small businesses. The RUN platform is built to grow with small businesses and adapt as their needs evolve with features like automatic payroll processing, tax calculations and filings, compliance management and time and attendance tracking. Whether you’re managing a growing team or a solopreneur, the RUN platform is a scalable payroll & HR solution.

Choose the RUN platform to help you

• Pay employees and contractors quickly, with automatic tax deductions and filings
• Avoid common payroll mistakes with AI-enabled error flagging
• Find payroll and HR resources with AI-driven search
• Oversee payroll and HR from a personalized dashboard
• Automate recurring payroll
• Get 24/7 support from payroll and HR professionals
• Manage recruiting, onboarding, training, time tracking and employee perks
• Offer benefits like insurance¹, retirement plans² and flexible pay options
• Leverage data-driven salary benchmarks
• Integrate with your accounting, POS and business systems
• Minimize compliance risks with reliable payroll and HR guidance

The main takeaway? The RUN platform is an all-in-one payroll & HR platform built to scale with the needs of growing small businesses.

For midsized and enterprise payroll & HR: ADP Workforce Now®

ADP Workforce Now® is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform built for midsized and enterprise businesses. It brings core functions—like payroll, HR, time, benefits, talent and analytics—into one system, helping teams work more efficiently and stay aligned as strategic priorities evolve. Backed by experienced support teams, ADP Workforce Now helps organizations simplify daily operations while keeping focus on long-term goals.

Choose ADP Workforce Now® to help you

• Manage payroll, HR, time and benefits in an integrated system
• Automate payroll processing with built-in tax filing and compliance support
• Provide managers and employees with self-service tools and mobile access
• Simplify recruiting, onboarding, performance management and learning
• Leverage data and analytics to make informed HR and business decisions
• Manage benefits administration, including open enrollment and carrier connections
• Improve workforce engagement with employee experience tools
• Offer benefits and flexible pay options to attract and retain talent
• Maintain compliance with knowledgeable guidance and real-time legislative updates
• Integrate with leading ERPs, accounting software and business tools

The main takeaway? ADP Workforce Now is a single-solution software designed to simplify HR processes, automate payroll processing and enhance the employee experience for midsized and enterprise businesses.

Capabilities	RUN Powered by ADP®	ADP Workforce Now®
Business size	Small businesses (1–49)	Midsize and enterprise businesses (50+)
Pricing	Tiered pricing	Custom pricing
Packages	Multiple packages Essential payroll – Core payroll and tax features Enhanced payroll – Essential + HR tools, background checks and ZipRecruiter® job posting3 Complete – Enhanced + live HR support, compliance tools and handbooks HR Pro – Complete + advanced HR help, training and legal support4	Multiple packages Select – Focused on payroll & HR Plus – Payroll & HR + benefits administration Premium – Payroll, HR, benefits admin + time & attendance
Features Overview	Payroll, tax, compliance, HR, time & attendance, retirement solutions, business insurance, benefits	HR, payroll, time & attendance, talent acquisition and management, benefits administration, reporting & analytics, professional services
Payroll	Small business payroll that meets day-to-day or complex payroll and tax needs	Midsized and enterprise business payroll that enables you to pay employees more easily and more quickly
HR Services	Small business HR services that help you grow and manage your team	Midsized and enterprise business HR services that automate and streamline crucial HR processes
Compliance Services	Small business compliance services that keep you on top of tax laws and regulations	Midsized and enterprise business compliance services that help you maintain compliance and scale with your business
Time & Attendance	Small business time and attendance that integrates time tracking and scheduling	Midsized and enterprise business time and attendance services with reporting and insights to help manage labor costs
Add-Ons & Integrations	Add-ons for insurance, retirement, time tracking, plus integrations with top accounting, POS and business systems	Secure integrations through ADP Marketplace and custom integrations with standard APIs
Ease of Use	Guided interface, 24/7 employer & employee access, and a tailored payroll & HR dashboard	Intuitive platform with centralized data and employee self-service