Top ADP RUN Alternatives & Competitors For 2024

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Looking for alternatives to ADP RUN? Many users crave user-friendly and feature-rich solutions for tasks like Security and Compliance, Payroll and Tax Management, and Platform Capabilities. Leveraging crowdsourced data from over 1,000 real Payroll Software selection projects based on 400+ capabilities, we present a comparison of ADP RUN to leading industry alternatives like OnPay, SurePayroll, Square Payroll, and Papaya Global.

SurePayroll Software Tool
Papaya Global Software Tool

Product Basics

Like a classic rom-com montage, running a small business means trying on a lot of hats. Processing payroll alone is a complex, time-consuming task. That's where ADP RUN comes in—it's a cloud-based payroll service specifically for small businesses, keeping your payroll processing and HR management out of the horror genre.

When you need to complete multiple tasks without the manpower of larger corporations, ADP RUN (also known as RUN POWERED by ADP) helps you do the job(s).

Here's how:

  • Automating the entire payroll process (including recurring payroll with RUN & DONE).
  • Calculating deductions and withholdings.
  • Self-onboarding employees.
  • Detecting payroll errors.
  • Working on the go with the mobile app.

ADP RUN at a Glance

Price

Starting from $79 monthly (additional $4 per employee).

Deployment Method

Cloud-based.

Business Size

Most suitable for small businesses.

Popular Integrations

QuickBooks, Xero, Tsheets, When I Work, ZipRecruiter.

Customer Service Availability

Live chat agents are available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET. A.V.A. (virtual assistant) is available 24/7.


User Experience

Nearly 90% of users recommend it.

Training

Documentation, videos, live online, webinars and demos.

Mobile App

Yes, 4.9 review score according to Google Play.


Let’s be honest: not everyone is a fast learner. Whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, ADP RUN has step-by-step screens and quick tips for completing tasks.

There’s direct deposit for paying your employees and additional options like Wisely Direct (an ADP-exclusive debit card) and ADPCheck.

Manage everything from your personalized dashboard, including upcoming payrolls, to-dos, payroll history and quick access to all RUN features.

Run powered by ADP is under the ADP umbrella, which earns recognition on our top ten list of the best HR software. Additionally, ADP Workforce Now is in the top five for applicant tracking and recruiting, compensation management, employee self service, and learning management.

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OnPay is designed to address core payroll needs for small businesses and handles basic HR functions as well. It integrates with a variety of other HR systems to enhance HR processes that include time tracking, accounting, benefits and compliance software integrations.

It requires no more than a few minutes to set up and features an easy-to-use interface. It also offers assistance with data migration for new users, making the transition even easier.
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SurePayroll is a web-based solution suitable for small businesses with less than 100 employees. Users can choose from two versions of the software — one for smaller operations. The other serves the needs of individual households that employ a nanny or other caretakers. The full-service solution assists with managing benefits and workers’ compensation. It can also help with processing pay, employee screening and more. Overall, it’s run over 10 million payrolls and supports more than 6,000 different taxes.
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Based in the cloud, Square Payroll is suited for businesses of all sizes. Integrating with the well-known POS solution from the same company offers features that assist with processing pay, filing taxes, employee self-service and more. The support staff helps users with implementation, whether they need help with their first implementation or simply just assistance migrating data from an old interface. Its capabilities also provide time tracking, invoice creation, appointment scheduling, direct deposit and more.
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Papaya Global simplifies payroll complexities for businesses with globally distributed workforces. Its cloud-based platform streamlines tasks like calculating taxes, managing compliance, and delivering secure payments across 160+ countries. This makes it ideal for companies that hire remote workers, have subsidiaries abroad, or frequently onboard international contractors. Users rave about Papaya's automation tools, which significantly reduce manual work and eliminate human error. The platform's centralized dashboard offers real-time data visibility, providing valuable insights for financial planning and workforce management. Compared to traditional payroll solutions, Papaya offers increased agility, scalability, and cost savings through streamlined processes and reduced compliance risks. Pricing is based on a per-user, per-month model, making it scalable for businesses of all sizes.

Pros
  • Automated payroll
  • Global compliance
  • User-friendly interface
  • Centralized data
  • Scalable pricing
Cons
  • Limited customization
  • Potential integration issues
  • Occasional bugs
  • Limited reporting
  • Customer service response time
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Windows
Mac
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Android
Chromebook
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Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
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Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
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Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Ranking

#1

among all
Payroll Software

#20

among all
Payroll Software

#15

among all
Payroll Software

#21

among all
Payroll Software

#75

among all
Payroll Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

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Benefits Management
Dashboard and Reporting
Expense Management
Platform Capabilities
Security and Compliance
Security and Compliance
Benefits Management
Payroll and Tax Management
Benefits Management
Dashboard and Reporting
Expense Management
Platform Capabilities
Security and Compliance
Benefits Management
Dashboard and Reporting
Expense Management
Platform Capabilities
Security and Compliance
Benefits Management
Dashboard and Reporting
Expense Management
Platform Capabilities
Security and Compliance

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

ADP RUN
OnPay
SurePayroll
Square Payroll
Papaya Global
+ Add Product + Add Product
Benefits Management Dashboard and Reporting Expense Management Mobile Capabilities Payroll and Tax Management Platform Capabilities Security and Compliance Time and Attendance Management 89 60 40 69 88 83 100 52 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 2835 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 616 reviews
Great User Sentiment 611 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 1069 reviews
Great User Sentiment 24 reviews
90%
of users recommend this product

ADP RUN has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 2835 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

98%
of users recommend this product

OnPay has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 98% when considering 616 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

88%
of users recommend this product

SurePayroll has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 611 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

93%
of users recommend this product

Square Payroll has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 1069 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

85%
of users recommend this product

Papaya Global has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 24 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

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5.0 (16)
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4.9 (195)
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4.3 (606)
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4.7 (23)
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Awards

User Favorite Award
User Favorite Award
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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Easy to Use: A whopping 88% of users found the design intuitive and user-friendly, including the mobile app. Specifically, the payroll side is noted for its clear presentation.
Excellent Customer Service: 82% of ADP RUN users praise its customer service, particularly the prompt assistance and effective issue resolution through the 24/7 chat feature.
Efficient Reporting: Users enjoy ADP RUN's reporting for ensuring accurate P&L allocation and payroll tracking. The report generator helps tailor payroll reports for seamless integration with accounting files for a more comprehensive overview.
User-Friendly Payroll Processing: Most users find the payroll feature easy and efficient. They appreciate the quick data entry process and fail-safe questions to prevent errors.
24/7 Customer Service: RUN offers phone and online support to ensure the speedy resolution of issues. In reviews, users say customer service is polite, knowledgeable and effective.
Automated Tax Filing: Companies can leave all their taxes to RUN. They don’t have to worry about filing on time. Instead, they can trust experienced professionals to handle it.
Easy to Use: The platform is easy to navigate and use, with a relatively small learning curve.
Multiple Reports: Built-in reports are easy to generate; you can also “favorite” frequent reports to save time. They’re also convenient to view online and export as a PDF or Excel file.
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Customer Support: The service team is well-versed with the product and responds quickly, as noted by 93% of users referencing support.
Budget-Friendly: OnPay’s cost has good value against the features offered, according to 91% of users mentioning price.
User-Friendly: The application is easy to adapt to and use, suggested 82% of users who reviewed usage and interface.
Payroll Updates: Gantt Charts provide management with a rich visualization of project workflows and data depiction that helps solve scheduling problems, as observed by approximately 100% of users who talk about its visualizer tool.
Workflow Management: Of users mentioning workflow management, 85% suggested the platform simplifies and organizes workflows to make operations easy.
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Easy to Use: Over 80% of users who talked about usability found the system simple to adopt and navigate.
Excellent Functionality: Reviewers who discussed features were pleased in over 70% of comments.
Expedient Payroll Processing: Just under 70% of users who talked about the payroll functions felt they were quick and easy to use.
Printable Checks: Users liked the ability to print checks in just under 70% of reviews that discussed it.
Knowledgeable Customer Service: Over 60% of users who talked about the support felt they were knowledgeable, responsive and helpful.
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Simple UI: Over 90% of users who discussed the ease-of-use were impressed by the system.
Affordable: Reviewers felt the pricing was appropriate and affordable in more than 90% of comments that discussed it.
Efficient Payroll Processing: More than 90% of users who discussed payroll processing felt it worked well.
Highly Recommended: In reviews that discussed recommending the service, over 80% said they’d advise other businesses to use it.
Filing Taxes and Reports: More than 80% of comments that discussed filing taxes and year-end reporting were happy with its capabilities.
Adequate Functionality: Users liked the features and felt they worked well in over 80% of reviews that talked about it.
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Saves Time and Effort: Automates manual tasks like tax calculations, payments, and reporting, freeing up HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
Improves Accuracy and Compliance: Ensures adherence to local regulations and minimizes the risk of errors and penalties.
Streamlines Global Payroll: Manages payroll for a distributed workforce across 160+ countries with ease and consistency.
Provides Real-Time Insights: Offers a centralized dashboard with real-time data visibility for informed decision-making.
Scales with Your Business: Pay-per-employee pricing model adapts to businesses of all sizes and growth stages.
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Limited Timesheets: Some express a desire for a customizable timesheet.
PTO Woes: Users have mixed experiences with ADP RUN's PTO feature. They encounter challenges with managers not receiving timely alerts for PTO requests and being directed to incorrect pages when trying to approve requests. There's a desire for more customization options, particularly in setting PTO features tailored to individual employee needs.
Holiday Time Off: Some users also face difficulties updating company holidays for specific pay classes within the system.
Tax Questions: Some users request additional clarity when setting up earning and deductions tax status in payroll.
Add-Ons Get Expensive: Not all functionalities are available in the main application.
Costly Upgrades: It’s relatively expensive, and upgrading from one tier to the next isn’t always seamless. It’s not the most affordable for companies with many pay cycles per month. Other payroll options offer similar functions and cost less.
Difficult/Limited Functionality: Some issues include: Users can’t edit payroll after submission. No feature for escalating to supervisors. Hard to remove workers hired to cover during vacations. No unlimited payroll runs. No option to create multiple paychecks for one person during the pay cycle.
Implementation Miscommunication: Some reviewers have reported poor communication when working through implementation issues. However, some say that after setup, it’s easy to use, and potential hurdles are worth the trouble.
Slow Phone Customer Service: Customer service is ultimately helpful, but many users get frustrated by long wait times to speak with a rep. After all, any issue regarding money may be a serious one.
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Unstable Mobile App: The mobile app doesn’t offer optimum usage and lacks functionality compared to the web and desktop versions, according to 66% of reviews referring to this feature.
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Implementation Issues: Over 80% of reviewers who talked about the setup process said they ran into issues.
Too Pricey for Some: While 56% of commenters said the price was appropriate for small businesses, a significant minority of 44% found it too expensive.
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Limited Customization Options: Over 70% of reviews that talked about customization said the options were inadequate.
No Employee Discounts: Businesses had trouble giving employees discounts in over 70% of comments that discussed it.
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Limited Customization: May not fully accommodate unique business processes or reporting needs beyond its standard features.
Potential Integration Challenges: Integration with existing HR systems or third-party tools might require additional setup or workarounds.
Occasional Bugs and Reporting Delays: Users have reported infrequent software bugs and potential delays in accessing certain reports.
Customer Service Response Time: Some users have experienced longer-than-expected wait times for customer support during peak periods.
Higher Cost for Complex Needs: Additional features and services can increase costs for businesses with extensive payroll requirements.
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RUN powered by ADP is a popular payroll and HR solution for a range of small businesses, including startups and newer companies needing robust payroll and HR tools (without extensive expertise).Its efficient tools for managing employee records, benefits and compliance help these professionals minimize manual effort. Payroll specialists and accountants or bookkeepers also benefit from ADP RUN's automation and error detection.The main menu and search bar (with shortcuts for common tasks under it) made it easy to find what I was looking for without an annoying amount of redirects or feeling like a game of Where’s Waldo. It’s simple and uncomplicated to view your paystub and when payday is.For admins, the payroll feature seems straightforward. View your pay period, use “Calculate Paycheck” and check dates. Get an overview of payroll either for all employees or sort by things like last name. When you log in and get to the main page, there’s also a convenient reminder(s) section called “Top To-Dos.”For famous document misplacers, there’s a document vault that keeps important info secure and accessible.Onboard fully from your phone, including setting up direct deposit and tax withholdings without waiting for HR to show you how. For me, working remotely makes mobile access a must-have, and ADP RUN checks that box with mobile clocking in and out, viewing company policies, PTO, and pay info. Admins can also fully get payroll done on their phones.If anything seems off, payroll error detection activates a pop-up box asking, “Does this look right?” and gives a brief explanation of potential issues; from there, admins select “Ignore issues” or “Go back and fix.”Run a single report or select a popular report option. View payroll details, liabilities and summaries. Choose your date range and download the report from there (on the app or desktop).Recent reviews cite long wait times over the phone for customer service. When I called the general line, I shared my details and got a specific number to dial. I would prefer direct transfers over calling separate numbers, although this might change once you have a designated contact.Lastly, I've noticed that the cost is higher compared to competitors like Paychex or Workday. Purchasing add-on features “a la carte” affects the cost, which may be frustrating to some users who need more in-depth functionality on a smaller budget.The RUN Powered by ADP® Mobile Payroll app is a free download for mobile devices. With the app, you can complete payroll processing, view reports like payroll liability and access or update employee 1099 info. Additional mobile app features vary depending on Apple or Android devices, such as a chat feature for Androids and pay rate changes on Apple devices.Overall, RUN Powered by ADP is a comprehensive payroll solution for small businesses. Its intuitive design is great for users with little to no experience in most cases. It might be pricier than some alternatives, but most users find the added cost valid, considering its user-friendly interface, payroll automation and mobile app features.

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OnPay is a payroll and HR management software ideal for small businesses. It offers various robust features such as workflow management, automated payroll updates, taxations and billings. It’s also easy to use and good for small budgets. The one notable drawback users cited was the mobile app’s functionality and speed. Overall, small businesses looking for an economic payroll solution with plenty of functionality should consider OnPay.

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SurePayroll is an online payment management system. Many reviewers were pleased with its performance. They said it was easy to use and learn and were happy with its features, especially the tax calculation and filing abilities. Commenters who required physical checks were delighted that it was easy to print and customize them. Most learners liked the helpful customer service and said that the payroll processing was quick and painless. Setup issues were a recurring complaint, with a couple of commenters saying they had problems with integrations. Last, reviewers were extremely mixed on the price. Some felt it was too pricey for small businesses; some thought it was right in their budget. SurePayroll may be a good option for small and medium-sized organizations.

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Square Payroll is an online payment, time and attendance and POS system. Users like it best because it’s easy to use with an intuitive design that can be adopted quickly. They felt the pricing was fair and were especially pleased with its efficient processing of payment. Many users said they’d recommend it to other businesses similar to their own and were happy with its ability to create and file sales, quarterly and new hire reports. Lastly, they were pleased with its features, specifically its easy sign-in, reporting, time tracking and tax calculating. On the con side, customization options were minimal as it’s a reasonably straightforward system. Many companies that use the solution are restaurants that either want to give employees discounts on food or pay with money from their upcoming paycheck. They were displeased with its inability to allow this. Overall, this solution is excellent for small businesses, especially retail and food service. Larger companies should look elsewhere.

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User reviews for Papaya Global paint a vivid picture of a powerful and user-friendly platform aimed at simplifying global payroll. Many users laud its automation capabilities, praising it for saving time and reducing manual work. "Papaya automates everything from tax calculations to payments, freeing up our HR team to focus on strategic initiatives," says one reviewer. This is a major advantage over traditional payroll solutions, often described as cumbersome and prone to errors. However, some users point out Papaya's limitations in customization. While its standardized platform excels in broad strokes, it may not bend to every unique business need. "We love the ease of use," says one reviewer, "but wish there were more options for tailor-made reporting." In comparison, users report that competitors like Deel offer stronger customization options, but at the expense of Papaya's user-friendliness. Papaya's global reach is another key differentiator. With support for payroll in over 160 countries, it simplifies managing a distributed workforce with ease. "Our company has employees all over the world," says one reviewer, "and Papaya handles compliance and payments seamlessly across all locations." Users find this a significant advantage over regional payroll providers, who are often limited to specific countries. Ultimately, user reviews suggest Papaya Global shines for businesses seeking a user-friendly platform to manage global payroll efficiently. Its automation tools and extensive country coverage stand out, but those requiring deep customization may need to explore further. As one reviewer summarizes, "Papaya takes the headache out of global payroll, but be prepared to adapt your processes to its structure."

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Related Categories

Top Alternatives in Payroll Software


ADP Workforce Now

APS Payroll

Gusto

Namely

OnPay

Patriot Payroll

Paychex

Paycom

Paycor

Paylocity

Payroll4Free

QuickBooks Payroll

Rippling

TriNet

Workday HCM

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