Affiliate disclosure: PayrollGrade earns a commission when readers sign up through some links (via Commission Junction), at no extra cost to you. Compensation never buys placement or changes our A–F grades, which are based on published pricing, features, and expert reviews — not hands-on payroll runs.
The Pay Period
Expert reviews, honest comparisons, and the best deals on Payroll & HR Software — helping you make smarter buying decisions.
- Plans graded
- 26+
- Buying angles
- 5
- Grading basis
- Published pricing & reviews
- QuickBooks PayrollA
- ADP RUNA-
- Paychex FlexB+
- Workforce NowB
Illustrative marks. Grades reflect published pricing, features, and expert reviews — not hands-on payroll runs. See each review for the full rubric.
How the plans stack up
Every plan we cover, graded on pricing transparency, features, and fit. Grades are based on published information and expert reviews — not hands-on payroll runs.
| Plan | Grade | Where it earns the mark | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Payroll PremiumEditor’s pick | NR | The Premium tier of QuickBooks Payroll for running pay in step with your bookkeeping. | See pricing |
| QuickBooks Payroll CoreEditor’s pick | NR | QuickBooks' base payroll plan for handling employee pay within its accounting ecosystem. | See pricing |
| QuickBooks Payroll EliteEditor’s pick | NR | Elite rounds out the QuickBooks Payroll lineup as its fullest plan for small teams. | See pricing |
| ADP Workforce Now (HR + Payroll) | NR | A combined HR and payroll platform from ADP for managing people and pay in one system. | See pricing |
| RUN Powered by ADP - Complete (Payroll & HR Plus) | NR | Bundling small business payroll with added HR features, Complete is a fuller RUN plan from ADP. | See pricing |
| RUN Powered by ADP - Essential Payroll | NR | Entry tier of ADP's RUN payroll service, covering the basics of paying a small team. | See pricing |
| RUN Powered by ADP - HR Pro | NR | RUN's HR Pro plan pairs small business payroll from ADP with a fuller set of HR tools. | See pricing |
Grade scale: A = exceptional, B = solid, C = situational. Figures and grades are as of 2026 and subject to change; confirm current pricing on each provider’s site.
Per-employee cost estimator
Payroll software prices on a simple formula: base fee + (per-employee × headcount). Set your team and pay frequency to see an estimated monthly total per plan.
Estimated monthly cost
Bi-weekly · 26 runs/yr- QuickBooks Payroll CoreLowest est.Published pricing$110/mo~$1,320/yr
- ADP RUN EssentialQuote-only estimate$119/mo~$1,426/yr
- QuickBooks Payroll PremiumPublished pricing$175/mo~$2,100/yr
- ADP RUN CompleteQuote-only estimate$178/mo~$2,138/yr
Illustrative estimate, not a quote. Figures are reverse-engineered from published pricing and provider comparisons as of 2026 and change often — confirm current terms on each provider’s site. Quote-only vendors price your exact situation.
Browse by what you’re solving
Hands-on grades and head-to-head comparisons of small-business payroll software - base fees, per-employee costs, tax filing, and direct deposit speed, scored A-F for real teams.
ADP RUN vs Gusto for a 5-employee startup
ADP RUN vs Gusto for a 5-person startup: pricing model, tax filing, support, and onboarding compared, with a fit-based verdict.
8 min readPayroll SoftwareADP RUN vs Paychex Flex for a 12-employee business
ADP RUN vs Paychex Flex at 12 employees: pricing model, tax filing, HR depth, and support compared, with a fit-based verdict and tier guidance.
11 min readPayroll SoftwareADP RUN vs QuickBooks Payroll for a 10-person team in 2026
A research-based, total-cost-and-features comparison of ADP RUN Essential vs QuickBooks Payroll Core and Premium for a typical 10-employee small business.
8 min readLatest Articles
ADP RUN vs Gusto for a 5-employee startup
ADP RUN vs Gusto for a 5-person startup: pricing model, tax filing, support, and onboarding compared, with a fit-based verdict.
ADP RUN vs Paychex Flex for a 12-employee business
Payroll Software11 minADP RUN vs QuickBooks Payroll for a 10-person team in 2026
Payroll Software8 minADP vs QuickBooks Payroll pricing: which is cheaper for 15 employees?
Payroll Costs & Pricing9 minADP Workforce Now review: is it overkill for a 30-person company?
HR Platforms9 min
Stay in the Loop
Get the latest Payroll & HR Software reviews, deals, and expert tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Join readers who get the inside track first.
Grade your payroll before your next pay cycle
Compare graded payroll & HR plans, estimate your per-employee cost, and pick the one that fits your team — backed by published pricing and expert reviews.