insight
The 6 best payroll software providers for large businesses in 2025, according to ADP
See how top payroll providers match up to ADP
If you’re a large, growing organization with complex payroll needs, it’s critical to embrace an enterprise payroll system that’s reliable and can handle payroll across multiple states — perhaps even countries. It must integrate with your existing systems and have the security infrastructure you need when it comes to moving millions in payroll every month.
Enter ADP, which pays one in six workers in the United States, and provides payroll services for businesses large and small.
Best Large Business Payroll Services of 2025
ADP Review – Best overall large business payroll provider
From helping large businesses scale with ease to helping ensure compliance with local, state and federal as well as global tax and labor laws, ADP remains the provider of choice when it comes to payroll systems for medium- to large-sized companies. For companies with 50–1,000+ employees, ADP Workforce Now provides payroll, HR, time tracking, benefits and talent management with the option to scale with your business. ADP Lyric HCM is designed with large enterprises in mind, combining payroll, HR, benefits, talent, and analytics and benchmarking into one platform focused on how today’s organizations really work.
Key features
- Scalable payroll processing for large, complex workforces
- Multi-state and global tax compliance support
- Seamless integration with major ERP and HR platforms
- Automated tax filing, payments and year-end reporting
- Employee self-service and mobile access
- Distributed team of specialists monitoring cyber threats and fraud attempts
- Dedicated enterprise support and account management
The main takeaway? Whether you need enterprise payroll software that can handle employee payroll across multiple states and jurisdictions, or you need to reliably pay employees in different countries, ADP brings an incomparable depth of experience, compliance know-how, and comprehensive support for clients and their organizational goals.
Paycom Review
Paycom is a tech-forward payroll provider that emphasizes an employee-driven experience. One of its key features is Beti®, which automatically pulls real-time data throughout each pay period. Direct Data Exchange® is another key feature that identifies process inefficiencies through real-time analytics. Manager on the Go® gives supervisors mobile access to approvals and workforce tasks.
Key features
- Beti® self-service payroll
- Single-database architecture
- Real-time payroll previews
- Direct Data Exchange®
- Automatic tax calculations and filings
- Manager on the Go®
- Compliance tools and audit trails
Why ADP is better than Paycom for large business payroll & HR
| Capabilities |  |
Paycom1 |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | ||
| Market Leader Payroll Services NEAT by NelsonHall2 |  |
Not Offered |
| Global payroll countries supported | 140 | Not Offered |
| Managed payroll services | |
Not Offered |
| HR & Business | ||
| Flexibility | ||
| Full HR suite (HR, talent, time, benefits, payroll, recruitment and learning management) | |
|
| Easily create custom reports by clicking on the fields you need, right from the page you're on | |
Not Offered |
| Employee discount program for discounts on travel, wellness, entertainment and more | |
Not Offered |
| Freelance and contractor management platform and marketplace | |
Not Offered |
| Personalized lifestyle benefits with 150+ services to fit employees’ lifestyle needs | |
Not Offered |
| Personalized benefits decision support help create a best-fit health and lifestyle recommendation | |
Not Offered |
| Employee utilization dashboard | |
|
| Integrations | ||
| Industry-leading marketplace for third-party integrations | |
Not Offered |
| Online recruitment with ZipRecruiter® | |
Not Offered |
| Best-of-breed partners across 17 solution categories and nine industries | |
Not Offered |
| Instant access to secure APIs, tools and resources for IT teams and developers | |
Not Offered |
| Dedicated broker and accountant portal | |
Not Offered |
| Services & Support | ||
| Insurance services (e.g., workers’ comp, business, health) | |
Not Offered |
| HR Outsourcing & Managed Services (payroll, HR and benefits) | |
Not Offered |
| Professional employer organization (PEO) | |
Not Offered |
| Employee solution center with phone support for employee questions | |
Not Offered |
| Professional services (for project support) | |
Not Offered |
| Data & Insights | ||
| Unmatched benchmarking and intelligence informed by 42M employees & over 1,100,000 clients | 140 | 5 |
| Executive and manager insights for overtime, turnover risk and more | |
Not Offered |
The main takeaway? Paycom's platform does have some standout features like employee-managed payroll and strong automation tools. These are great for companies looking for streamlined self-service experiences. If you're a growing business, however, with higher levels of complexity or global operations, ADP Workforce Now and ADP Lyric HCM can provide deeper capabilities across payroll, HR outsourcing, compliance, and integrations with security infrastructure and personalized support to accommodate your large company needs — now and into the future.
All your payroll needs, all in one place
Save time and efficiently manage your workforce with unified payroll and HR from ADP.
Paycor Review
Paycor is an all-in-one payroll and HR suite designed for medium and small businesses. Their solutions are built to scale and provide flexibility, accommodating multi-location and multi-pay schedules. With Paycor, employees can manage pay stubs and direct deposit and tax info. Plus, payroll is part of an integrated human capital management (HCM) solution that incorporates benefits, time, tracking and workforce analytics.
Key features
- Automated tax filing
- Employee self-service portal for access to pay stubs, W-2s and direct deposit
- Flexible pay schedules for different employee groups and locations
- On-demand pay options
- Built-in garnishment processing and wage attachments
- Custom reporting and analytics for payroll insights
- Integration with time tracking and benefits systems
Why ADP is better than Paycor for large business payroll & HR
| Capabilities | |
Paycor1 |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | ||
| Global compliance expertise | 140+ countries | 1 country |
| Years as a Leader NelsonHall NEAT Payroll Leader2 | 10 | 0 |
| Managed Services & HR outsourcing (payroll, HR and benefits) | |
Not Offered |
| HR & Business | ||
| Single applications that scale internationally | |
Not Offered |
| Industry-leading marketplace for third-party integrations | |
Not Offered |
| e-Commerce options for HR marketplace connections | |
Not Offered |
| AI Breakthrough Award – ADP Assist 20253 | |
Not Offered |
| Customized reporting in a single application | |
Not Offered |
| Executive and manager insights for overtime, turnover risk and more | |
Not Offered |
| Top-rated business mobile app4 | 4.7/5 based on 3.8M Reviews |
4.6/5 based on 27K Reviews |
| In-house strategic support and application optimization at no extra cost | |
|
| Number of clients | 1,100,000 | ~30,000 |
The main takeaway? For growing businesses that want to streamline payroll, HR and expenses, Paycor's strength lies in user-friendly automation, AI-driven workforce analytics, and an all-in-one payroll and HR platform. With real-time payroll calculations, mobile access and customizable workflows, Paycor helps modernize people management. But when it comes to payroll software for mid- to large-sized companies requiring global reach and readiness and more sophisticated features and integrations, ADP Workforce Now and ADP Lyric HCM come out ahead. With payroll support and compliance in 140 countries, ADP is best for fast-growing businesses or those that already have a global presence.
Explore Learn more about our large business payroll and HR solutions
Paylocity Review
Paylocity serves small- to mid-sized businesses with a unified, cloud-based platform that incorporates payroll, HR, benefits administration, talent management, and time and attendance. By providing a single source of truth across HR functions, Paylocity delivers on what administrators have come to expect, such as payroll automation and self-service tools for employees. Through an integrated experience, they're able to streamline the entire employee lifecycle.
Key features
- Integrated HR suite
- Automated payroll
- Compliance support
- Employee self-service
- Modern interface
- Data-driven reporting
- Scalable solution
Why ADP is better than Paylocity for large business payroll & HR
| Capabilities |  |
Paylocity1 |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | ||
| Global payroll countries supported | 140 countries | 100+ countries |
| Leader in multi-country payroll solutions (Everest Group)5 | |
Not Offered |
| 401(k) and retirement services | |
Not Offered |
| Work opportunity tax credit support | |
Not Offered |
| HR & Business | ||
| Flexibility | ||
| Full HR suite (HR, talent, time, benefits admin, payroll, recruitment, learning) | |
|
| Online recruitment with ZipRecruiter® | |
Not Offered |
| In-house background screening | |
Not Offered |
| Create a report across multiple pages without leaving the current one | |
Not Offered |
| Insurance services (e.g., workers’ comp, business, health) | |
Not Offered |
| Executive and manager insights for overtime, turnover risk and more | |
Not Offered |
| Compensation benchmarks (1 trillion, updated monthly) | |
Not Offered |
| Comprehensive benchmarking & intelligence (42M employees, 1.1M clients) | |
Not Offered |
| Best-of-breed marketplace partners | 800+ | 369 |
| HR outsourcing (payroll, HR, benefits) | |
Not Offered |
| Professional employer organization (PEO) | |
Not Offered |
| Professional services (for project support) | |
Not Offered |
| Managed payroll services | |
Not Offered |
| Personalized lifestyle benefits (150+ services) | |
Not Offered |
| Available languages for mobile app | 26 | 3 |
| Talent activation (personalized coaching for team leaders) | |
Not Offered |
| Paycards plus financial wellness (native) | |
Not Offered |
| Freelance and contractor management | |
Not Offered |
The main takeaway? Paylocity touts a user-friendly platform and streamlined HR and payroll processes, making it a compelling solution for small- to mid-sized businesses. But as organizations scale and their needs become more complex–from global payroll to data analytics and managed services–enterprise payroll services like ADP Workforce Now and ADP Lyric HCM offer robustness that includes expertise in 140 countries and recognition as a leader in multi-country payroll solutions.
UKG Review
UKG serves business entities of all sizes with an integrated payroll and HCM offering designed to streamline processes and empower employees with self-service tools. With its strong emphasis on enterprise solutions, UKG leverages AI to help simplify payroll, scheduling and workforce operations. Their solutions integrate with existing systems to synchronize workforce data and streamline payroll operations while providing greater visibility into labor expenses. UKG's expert support includes access to industry-leading experts, a peer community and on-demand learning resources.
Key features
- Integrated HCM
- Global compliance
- Automation
- Employee self-service
- Real-time insights
- AI-powered recommendations
- Scalable solutions
Why ADP is better than UKG for large business payroll & HR
| Capabilities | |
UKG1 |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | ||
| Years positioned as leader in Multi-Country Payroll (MCP) Solutions PEAK by Everest Group5 | 10 | 0 |
| HR & Business | ||
| Annual R&D Investment6 | $1.27B | $0.6B |
| Best-of-breed marketplace partners | 800+ Partners | 369 Partners |
| Instant access to secure APIs, tools, and resources for IT teams and developers | |
Not Offered |
| Years positioned as Leader in Cloud-Based HR Transformation Services NEAT by Nelson Hall7 | 3 | 2 |
| Native and robust reporting and analytics included to create custom reports on the fly and build meaningful dashboards | |
Not Offered |
| Comprehensive and up-to-date benchmarking and intelligence informed by 42M employees & over 1,100,000 clients | |
Not Offered |
| No-fee, in-house strategic advisory services | |
Not Offered |
| Number of clients | 1M+ | 0.085M |
| U.S.-based account service team with subject matter expertise designated to your business | |
Not Offered |
| Managed services & HR outsourcing (payroll, HR and benefits) | |
|
| Employee solution center with phone support for employee questions | |
Not Offered |
| Personalized lifestyle benefits with 150+ services to fit employees’ lifestyle needs | |
Not Offered |
| Personalized benefits decision support help create a best-fit health and lifestyle recommendation | |
|
The main takeaway? UKG is a strong contender when it comes to enterprise payroll solutions for large organizations that require integrated and complex global payroll capabilities all on a single platform. But ADP Workforce Now and ADP Lyric HCM are hands-down the more robust solutions for international payroll and human capital management at the global level, being an innovation leader with significant investment in research and development, and a support team backed by over 75 years of experience.
Explore Download the ADP Payroll Implementation Guide
Dayforce Review
Dayforce serves small- to mid-size businesses with a unified, cloud-based HCM platform. With support and localized expertise in more than 200 countries and territories, Dayforce helps businesses navigate global compliance. One differentiator of Dayforce is its single data model. By integrating payroll with other HR functions like time and attendance, benefits, and talent management, they're able to streamline processes and provide real-time data. Dayforce also offers Dayforce Wallet, an on-demand pay feature that’s popular with employees.
Key features
- Unified HCM platform
- Single data model
- Global payroll
- Compliance risk support
- Real-time data
- On-demand pay
- Streamlined processes
Why ADP is better than Dayforce for large business payroll & HR
| Capabilities | |
Dayforce1 |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | ||
| Years positioned as leader in Multi-Country Payroll (MCP) Solutions PEAK by Everest Group5 | 10 | 0 |
| Years positioned as leader in Payroll Services NEAT by Nelson Hall2 | 10 | 2 |
| HR & Business | ||
| Best-of-breed marketplace partners | 800+ Partners | 170 Partners |
| Instant access to secure APIs, tools, and resources for IT teams and developers | |
Not Offered |
| Years positioned as leader in Multi-Process Human Resources Outsourcing PEAK by Everest Group8 | 13 | 0 |
| Native and robust reporting and analytics | |
Not Offered |
| Comprehensive and up-to-date benchmarking and intelligence informed by 42M employees & over 1,100,000 clients | |
Not Offered |
| Number of clients | 1M+ | 6,876 |
| Executive and manager insights for overtime, turnover risk and more | |
|
| No-fee, in-house strategic advisory services | |
|
| U.S.-based account service team with subject matter expertise designated to your business | |
Not Offered (Off-shore pod service model) |
| Managed services & HR outsourcing (payroll, HR and benefits) | |
Not Offered (No Managed HR) |
| Employee solution center with phone support for employee questions | |
Not Offered |
| In-house implementation team and process for 100% of clients | |
Not Offered (Mainly 3rd party implementers) |
| Personalized lifestyle benefits with 150+ services to fit employees’ lifestyle needs | |
Not Offered |
| Apple App Store business mobile app ranking4 | #7 | #57 |
The main takeaway? Dayforce stacks up nicely with its unified HCM platform, employee-centric solutions and innovative features like on-demand pay. However, for businesses seeking a leader in multi-country payroll solutions and a trusted partner for its long history of reliability and innovation, ADP is the clear choice.
Custom-tailored payroll solutions for your company
We have more payroll options than any other provider, so you can find the ideal payroll platform for your needs.
Frequently asked questions about payroll systems for large companies
What features does large business payroll need?
Large business payroll goes way beyond cutting paychecks. Unlike small business payroll, which focuses on basics like wage calculations, tax filing and direct deposit, large organizations need unified, integrated systems that can handle the complexity of multi-state or global operations. Key features should include deep automation to cut manual effort and costs, advanced reporting for strategic insights, and robust security infrastructure to help protect sensitive data.
What other features does large business payroll include?
In addition to core payroll functions, large business payroll systems often include HRIS features like benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, performance management, talent acquisition and employee self-service portals. Having a unified platform is critical as it streamlines workflows, eliminates data silos and gives HR teams full visibility across the workforce.
How many employees is large business payroll for?
Companies typically need a large business payroll system once they reach 500 to 1,000 employees — especially if they operate across multiple states or countries. There’s no hard cutoff, but beyond 1,000 employees, payroll complexity grows fast, and small business systems simply aren't designed for large-enterprise needs.
Ready to get started with ADP’s enterprise payroll software?
ADP gives you the confidence to get payroll right — across jurisdictions, states and even countries.
Want more exclusive business insights like this delivered to your inbox?Subscribe now
This guide is intended to be used as a starting point in in comparing payroll software providers and is not a comprehensive resource. It offers practical information concerning the subject matter and is provided with the understanding that ADP is not rendering legal or tax guidance or other professional services. Please consult with your legal counsel.
ZipRecruiter is a registered trademark of ZipRecruiter, Inc.
- Information based on ADP internal research and is accurate as of June 6, 2025 and is subject to change.
- NelsonHall identified ADP as a Leader in their Payroll Services Vendor Evaluation and Assessment Tool (NEAT) in all market segments
- ADP Assist Recognized in 2025 Artificial Intelligence Excellence Awards
- Based on rankings on the Apple App Store as of June 6, 2025
- Everest Named ADP a Leader for the Multi-Country Payroll Solutions PEAK Assessment 2024 for Global, EMEA and APAC Markets
- R&D spend in 2024
- NelsonHall Overall NEAT Leader 2023: Cloud Based HR Transformation Assessment
- Everest Named ADP a Leader for the Multi-Process Human Resources Outsourcing (MPHRO) Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2024
