Overview

Payroll anchors every package, with real-time processing, tax filing and payment services, and payroll reporting. Employee records, onboarding, time-off management and performance management extend the platform into routine HR work. That combination can reduce the need to coordinate separate payroll and HR tools, but benefits and workforce management depend on the package selected.

Employee self-service lets staff find HR answers, check expected pay, request time off and complete tasks. Administrators can customize and share reports, comparing teams, departments and timelines. Secure cloud storage and role-based security help manage access to employee records, while integrations connect with business tools, payroll systems and carriers.

Key features

Payroll and employee workflows

Onboarding supports digital I-9 processing, electronic signatures, reminders and employee payment preferences. These functions give HR teams a structured way to collect new-hire information and move setup tasks forward. Purpose-built AI provides recommendations, helps resolve payroll issues and supports HR workflows; it is an adjunct to the broader system rather than a reason by itself to choose it.

Benefits, time and mobility

Benefits administration begins with Plus, while Premium adds Workforce Management, including scheduling, time collection and time-off tools. The wider time and attendance feature set includes automated time tracking, geofencing, kiosk mode, break and overtime tracking, and tip management. Those tools make Premium the relevant tier for employers coordinating hourly work, but organizations that need only payroll and core HR may not need its additional scope.

Mobile capabilities include benefits enrollment, career sites and C-suite insights. Mobile apps are available on iOS and Android. ADP also provides client service specialists and ongoing optimization services, which may suit organizations whose needs change as they grow.

Pricing

ADP uses custom pricing, with no free plan. No free trial or refund policy is stated. Select is the entry package: it combines payroll and HR, making it the natural fit for employers that do not need benefits administration or the higher-tier time tools. Plus adds benefits administration for organizations that want that function within the same platform. Premium includes Plus and adds automated time tracking and Workforce Management, making it the strongest fit for employers that need scheduling and time collection as well as payroll and HR.

Prices are not published for Select, Plus or Premium, so buyers cannot compare package costs from a set rate or assess the price of adding benefits and workforce management in advance. Each plan should be evaluated against the functions the organization will actually use.

Platforms

ADP Workforce Now runs on the web and has mobile apps for iOS and Android. The mobile feature set extends beyond employee access to benefits enrollment, career sites and C-suite insights.

Who it's for

The product is presented for organizations with 50–999 employees and those with 1,000 or more. It is a stronger fit for employers that want payroll, tax services and core HR workflows together, and for those willing to select a higher package for benefits or workforce management. Smaller employers seeking straightforward payroll, or any buyer that needs a published price before speaking with a provider, may prefer a narrower or more transparent option.

Pros and cons

Pros: Every package includes real-time payroll processing, tax filing and payment services, and reporting, so those core payroll functions do not require a higher tier.
Pros: Employee self-service, onboarding and HR functions sit alongside payroll, giving employers a shared system for common workforce tasks.
Pros: Premium's workforce management tools include scheduling and time collection, with geofencing, kiosk mode, break, overtime and tip tracking for more involved time workflows.
Cons: Benefits administration is limited to Plus and Premium, and Workforce Management is limited to Premium; employers must move up tiers for these functions.
Cons: All package prices are custom, and there is no free plan or stated trial, making upfront cost comparisons harder.

Alternatives

For smaller or more transparent payroll options, OnPay has a Payroll plan at 49.00 USD per month, billed as a $49 base fee per month plus $6 per worker per month, and offers a free trial. CheckMark Payroll is a desktop alternative for MacOS or Windows, with Payroll Pro at 599.00 USD per year, billed $599 for the first year and $419 from the second year; it includes unlimited employees and payrolls.

Workforce.com is another paid option with scheduling, HR and payroll in its All-in-One plan, alongside advanced implementation support. isolved HCM offers a modular platform with customized pricing for organizations across sizes and industries. Kit by KitchenSync has a free plan and a Kit Essentials plan at 1500.00 USD per month, billed per location, for a package spanning finance, payroll and HR.

RUN Powered by ADP is a related option with payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit and employee access in its Essential Payroll plan. Gusto starts with Simple at 49.00 USD per month, billed as $49 per month plus $6 per person per month, with basic payroll in one state, unlimited payrolls and tax filings and payments. Paycor is a paid alternative whose listed plans are aimed at employers with fewer than 50 employees.

Readers comparing specialized needs can also browse Restaurant Payroll Software, Employment Verification Software, Job Description Management Software, Church Payroll Software, EEO Reporting Software and Nonprofit Payroll Software.

Verdict

ADP Workforce Now is a strong candidate for mid-sized and large employers that want payroll, tax services and core HR workflows under one roof, with higher packages available for benefits and time management. Its main drawback is the opaque custom pricing and the need to step up packages for important capabilities. Choose it when broad workforce coverage matters more than a straightforward price; look elsewhere when cost transparency or a narrower payroll setup is the priority.

	ADP Workforce Now	PayrollEx
Free plan	No	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	—	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	api, self-hosted, Web
Free plan	No	—
Tax filing	—	No
Multi-currency payments	—	No
Payroll delivery	—	self-service
Worker types	—	employees

ADP Workforce Now vs PayrollEx

ADP Workforce Now

PayrollEx