Prices checked 2026-10-17
Gusto vs ADP RUN for a 5-person business
One publishes its prices and one sells by quote. Here is what Gusto costs for 5 people, what ADP RUN does and doesn’t tell you, and how to compare the two fairly.
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The short answer
Gusto publishes its prices: for 5 people they run from $79 to $290 a month at the regular price, depending on the plan. ADP RUN publishes none: its pricing page lists 4 packages and a quote form. We can't say which costs less until you have ADP's quote, so this page shows what to ask for.
What 5 people cost: published vs quote
Gusto: regular monthly list price, base fee + per-person fee × 5. ADP RUN: no price is published, so no number is shown.
| Plan | 5 people, per month | Per year | How it adds up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto Simple | $79/mo | $948 | $49/mo + $6 × 5 |
| Gusto Plus | $140/mo | $1,680 | $80/mo + $12 × 5 |
| Gusto Premium | $290/mo | $3,480 | $180/mo + $22 × 5 |
| ADP RUN Essential Payroll | Quote only | — | No price published |
| ADP RUN Enhanced Payroll | Quote only | — | No price published |
| ADP RUN Complete Payroll & HR+ | Quote only | — | No price published |
| ADP RUN HR Pro Payroll & HR | Quote only | — | No price published |
Line by line: what to get in writing from ADP
Each row is something Gusto prices publicly. Ask ADP for the same item so the two totals compare like for like.
| Cost item | Gusto (published) | ADP RUN |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee per month | $49 (Simple) / $80 (Plus) / $180 (Premium) | Ask in the quote |
| Fee per person per month | $6 (Simple) / $12 (Plus) / $22 (Premium) | Ask in the quote |
| Who is counted | Per active person per month on top of base; US contractors billed at the per-person rate only in months they are paid | Ask in the quote |
| Next-day direct deposit | $15/mo + $3/person/mo; Included in Plus and Premium | Ask in the quote |
| Same-day pay | $90 per payroll | Ask in the quote |
| Time tracking | $6/person/mo | Ask in the quote |
| Workers' comp | Starting at $14/mo via NEXT | Ask in the quote |
| Intro offer | Not stated on pricing page | Advertises 'Get 3 months FREE' when you sign up (we could not confirm the terms) |
If you take ADP's free-months offer, ask how long it lasts and what you pay when it ends.
Published alternatives
Want a number without a sales call? The payroll calculator ranks every payroll plan we track with a published price for your crew size. Paychex Flex and Rippling are quote-only too.
Gusto pricing · ADP RUN pricing · Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll
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