ADP Workforce Now vs Gusto

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Our analysts compared ADP Workforce Now vs Gusto based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Payroll Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

ADP Workforce Now is a cloud and on-premise platform for businesses seeking a one-stop shop for everything HR, including remote, in-office or hybrid teams. It operates as a professional employer organization (PEO), offering tools to tackle complex and time-consuming HR tasks.

It includes payroll management, time and attendance, talent management and benefits administration. Tools like payroll automation, data syncing and error detection help HR managers overcome common challenges like payroll inaccuracies and time-consuming manual processing.

It's ideal for teams that want to boost efficiency and save time on core HR tasks while navigating compliance regulations. Its key features include applicant tracking and recruiting, compensation management, document management, employee onboarding, employee self-service and payroll management.

It’s embedded with protective layers such as physical security, intelligent detection, fraud defense and other mechanisms for enhanced security and data privacy.

According to recent user reviews, users generally find it intuitive and reasonably easy to navigate. In contrast, some users report long customer support wait times.

Monthly pricing starts at $110. Pricing also depends on features, modules or packages selected, such as bundling payroll and HR. A free trial is also available. 

Pros
  • Custom reporting
  • Easy clocking in and out
  • Detailed, accessible paystubs
Cons
  • Customer support variations
  • Learning curve during implementation
  • Occasional slowness
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Gusto is a web-based payroll system for medium-sized organizations. It handles benefits, compliance, direct deposit, employee self-service, employee management, payment processing and taxes. Using automation, calculators and other administrative and HR modules, users can streamline the entire process of paying employees. It integrates with other technologies to offer expanded services such as accounting, bookkeeping, POS, time tracking and other business operations. In addition to filing taxes, it scans the laws of over 50 states to ensure accurate state and federal payments, helping organizations avoid penalties.
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$110 Monthly
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$40 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
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Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

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
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FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Streamline Processes: Automate critical processes like onboarding, record-keeping and employee status changes. Track and report about certifications, licenses and compliance data.
  • Improve Employee Experience: Empower employees with access to their pay, benefits and time information. Employees can also request time off, view work schedules and download pay statements without HR/admin intervention.
  • View Real-Time Insights: View key metrics like labor costs, overtime, actual vs. scheduled hours, turnover rate and other KPIs using data analysis tools.
  • Integrate Seamlessly: Integrate with different systems like Workday, Litmos, ZipRecruiter, TSheets, QuickBooks, Slack, Microsoft Teams and more.
  • Manage Information Anywhere: Get 24/7 mobile access to time and attendance features, benefits data, and pay details with an app for iOS and Android platforms.
  • Enhance Data Security: ADP's security training and awareness program includes annual interactive training covering key topics and policies like phishing, malware and incident response. There are classroom sessions, webinars and visual aids.
  • Ensure Compliance: With built-in safeguards like error detection and data syncing, the platform aids compliance with labor laws and regulations.
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  • Flexible and Easier to Use: Guides admins through set-up and features a user-friendly interface. Let employees account for unexpected expenses, up to 40% of their paycheck, by automatically taking the amount out of their next check.
  • More Cost-Effective: Take advantage of a one-month free trial before full implementation. Subscribe on a monthly basis or based on a price quote, depending on the business’s needs.
  • Better Compliance: Check for updated tax law ensures that the proper documents are filed on time and follow the most recent legislation. Help users keep in compliance with ACA, ERISA and HIPAA standards. Record tests to comply with nondiscrimination policies from the IRS or benefits programs such as FSAs.
  • Timer Saver: Cut down on busy work and manual data entry to save valuable employee hours in payroll processing and tax filing. Manage and complete administrative work by accessing premade job templates, HR guides, live harassment prevention webinars, fitness tests, handbooks, best practices, manuals and more.
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  • Payroll: Access employee pay data on a dashboard. Automate deductions for benefits and other compensation.
    • Manage tax filings and access historical pay summaries.
    • Prorate pay during a cycle or apply it to previous runs.
    • Identify payroll errors via warning notifications.
  • Time & Attendance: Offers tracking and scheduling capabilities with digital time clocking, visual schedules and clocks with finger scan functionality.
    • Facilitate absence management with absence analysis, leave tracking and more.
    • Secured Time Tracking: Reduce time theft (like buddy punching) with finger scanning, facial recognition and geofencing.
    • Time Tracking Options: Employees can clock in and out using their mobile device, kiosk app, web timesheet, tablet or smart time clock. The time kiosk application enables pin codes or facial recognition for an added layer of security.
    • Scheduling: Assign shifts and let employees swap as needed, reducing productivity bottlenecks. Configure scheduling work rules like max hours/days.
    • Scheduling by Skill: Ensure efficiency by matching specific employees to jobs based on their skills, licenses and certifications. Use skills-based scheduling to assign employees with the required language and training provisions.
    • Dashboards: View absences, schedules, hours worked and overtime. See timecard statuses to help wrap up time details without delaying payroll.
    • Time and Attendance Compliance: ADP’s compliance on-demand option gives clients access to a team of consultants for guidance on key practices. Access a content library with info on federal, state and local laws, and regulations.
  • Talent Management:
    • Recruiting and Hiring: Automatically create job descriptions and job postings. Offers screening, compliance mandates by location, hiring-practice guidance, credential verification and background check tools.
    • Management and Growth: View employee performance, deliver learning programs and offer leadership skill improvement tools. Reduce talent gaps and plan ahead with succession management.
  • Benefits Administration:
    • With ADP AE Snapshot™, managers can access employee metrics on enrollment preferences and decisions.
    • Access ranks of different plans, compare options, calculate and evaluate various scenarios, and configure plan selections with PlanFit.
    • Enroll and manage benefits through the mobile app.
    • Use eligibility, enrollment activity and plan summary reports.
  • ADP® DataCloud: Reference reliable industry data and compare company trends and data to information from similar organizations. Predict turnover and discover contributing factors using big data through Turnover Probability Explorer.
  • ADP® StandOut: Personalize digital coaching content and use 15-minute strength assessments. Offers:
    • Real-time team engagement, custom and performance pulse surveys.
    • Light-touch check-ins with employees.
    • Coaching intelligence and insights.
  • Learning Management: Allow employees to self-enroll for courses. Custom build or upload training content. Provides:
    • 41 pre-packaged compliance and development courses.
    • Course tracking dashboards.
    • Publishing and tracking of instructor-led training.
    • Online demos
  • HR Assist: Features include:
    • Federal and state compliance reporting, along with regulatory expertise and guidance.
    • Job description templates and wizards.
    • Employee handbook assistance.
    • HR doc library and toolkits with guides, forms, documents and policies.
    • ADP TotalSource®: Offers support for benefits, payroll, hiring and compliance across all 50 states. Has features like full-time recruiters, applicant tracking, ZipRecruiter integration, mobile-friendly career sites, background checks and onboarding.
  • Workforce Management: Effectively plan projects and assign tasks, even on the go. Managers can remotely view time off, hours worked and timecards. There’s also overtime and absence analytics and reporting for helpful insights.
  • Digital Record Keeping: Store confidential company data securely in the cloud. Upload data in batches to save time. Search and audit information.
  • Onboarding: Facilitate a fully integrated onboarding experience for new hires. Capabilities include:
    • Digital onboarding
    • Digital I-9 processing.
    • Identification of employee payment preferences.
    • Onboarding completion reminders.
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  • Payroll Processing: Automatically calculate employee checks and file taxes while using online faxing, filing and signing technologies.
    • Payroll Reports: Send money out weekly, bi-weekly, twice a month or monthly. Calculate an employee’s gross pay before taxes by simply entering the amount they should receive. Figure out overtime pay for hourly workers whether they have one or multiple pay rates. Leverage other payroll capabilities such as calculating unlimited and off-cycle payrolls, employee reimbursements, bonuses and more.
    • Automated Taxes: Calculate, file and pay all payroll taxes per local and federal legislation through direct deposit. Generate and send 940, 941, 1099, 8974 and W-2 forms for full-time employees and independent contractors. Manage deductions, garnishments and send child support in all states except for South Carolina. Make adjustments, get support and enter claims for the Federal R&D Tax Credit, FLSA minimum wage requirements and the FICA Tip Credit tax.
    • E-Signatures: Sign and file important documents and forms such as W-2’s, 1099s, 940s, 941s and 8974s. Make it easier to get everyone’s ducks in a row, even when separated by thousands of miles.
    • Leave Tracking: Set up and monitor vacation time, time off and sick time. Choose federal holidays or create other holidays for organizations that accommodate different faiths, locations or cultures.
  • Benefits: Make the necessary deductions automatically for medical insurance, 401(K) contributions and more. Give employees dental, medical and vision insurance and help them find the appropriate plan. Provide other benefits such as 529 (college) savings, commuter perks, disability insurance, FSAs, HSAs, life insurance and workers’ compensation.
  • Wallet: Manage banking accounts, emergency funds, paychecks and savings. Create as many as five saving goals, which deduct funds automatically from the correlating spending accounts — transfer funds from savings to spending easily. Put paychecks in different accounts and let workers see checks and the specifics of deductions, hours and taxes. Give access to paystubs, the Wallet app and W-2s.
  • Worker Management: Give workers digital paystubs accessible by the payday email, account or Wallet app. Let employees send money to charities, organize workers into departments and set policies for PTO and sick leave. Customize and assign various permissions to ensure users can access the appropriate content but not sensitive data.
  • Self-Service: Let employees complete tasks like adding dependents, picking out plans and scheduling changes to plans based on personal details. Let them retain access to specific account information after termination to cut down on unnecessary content. Organize reports based on teams or departments and let workers sign essential documents like I-9s and W-4s.
  • New Employees: Report new hires to the government automatically. Send out onboarding papers before new staff members start so they can fill out bank details, contact information and W-4s. Use an onboarding to-do list for tasks like adding employees to the payroll, background checks, filling out an employee’s I-9, setting up benefits and signing forms.
  • Directory: Create an address book of employees with profile pictures and contact information. Give new workers org charts to see where they fit in the organization. Organize fun facts, t-shirt or merch orders, birthdays and communal coffee dates.
  • Calendar Sync: Track deadlines, birthdays and employee anniversaries and sync with other calendars in iCalendar, Google, and Outlook.
  • Integrations: Uses closed APIs. Integrate with platforms like Accelo, Asana, Box, Clover, Dropbox, Expensify, FreshBooks, Github, G Suite, Homebase, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks Online, Receipt Bank, Slack, SpotOn, TSheets, Veryfi, When I Work, Xero, Ximble, Zoom and more. Contact the vendor for custom connections.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Generate and download reports for benefits, payment history, bank transactions, PTO, contract work, tax payments and more
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Product Ranking

#13

among all
Payroll Software

#7

among all
Payroll Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

86
80
56
95
100
40
50
90
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Dashboard and Reporting
Security and Compliance
Payroll and Tax Management
Platform Capabilities
Native Integrations and Extensibility
Benefits Management
Expense Management
Payroll and Tax Management
Platform Capabilities

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

ADP Workforce Now
Gusto
+ 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 56 100 50 78 99 94 100 65 95 40 90 54 89 87 80 63 0 25 50 75 100
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92%
8%
92%
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8%
100%
0%
0%
40%
0%
60%
0%
0%
100%
80%
0%
20%
70%
0%
30%
60%
0%
40%
97%
3%
0%
89%
0%
11%
89%
0%
11%
89%
0%
11%
100%
0%
0%
80%
0%
20%
13%
88%
-1%
50%
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50%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

86%
0%
14%
71%
0%
29%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 10989 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 2802 reviews
85%
of users recommend this product

ADP Workforce Now has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 85% when considering 10989 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

93%
of users recommend this product

Gusto has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 93% when considering 2802 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

5.0 (19)
4.2 (23)
4.1 (3109)
4.3 (305)
4.4 (5734)
4.7 (2474)
4.4 (358)
n/a
4.0 (1769)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated ADP Workforce Now and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Payroll and Tax Management.

Payroll and Tax Management Award

Gusto stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Users generally have positive feedback about ADP's time tracking, highlighting its ease of use for clocking in and out, viewing time cards, and requesting time off.
Users highlight quick access to paystubs from current and past jobs. They appreciate having all paystub information in one place and find it easy to download. There are also detailed breakdowns of earnings and deductions.
60% of users appreciate reporting capabilities, particularly the custom reports feature, finding it helpful for generating tailored insights.
64% of users find the system intuitive and user-friendly, praising easy navigation and accessibility of features.
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Easy to Use: Just under 70% of all reviewers found this product easy to use with 10% specifically praising the design.
Great Conflict Resolution: The customer service was noted for being helpful, knowledgeable and excellent at resolving errors.
Helpful Features: Around 40% of reviewers said they appreciated the functionality, particularly praising the tax system, deductions, payroll processing and multiple payment options.
Appropriate Pricing: Over 30% of users felt that the price was well worth the system.
Good for Small Business: This was called a good choice for small businesses in over 10% of reviews.
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While some users appreciate backend support, such as assistance with 401k information, 73% of users express frustration with customer service, citing long wait times.
47% of users experienced a learning curve with features during implementation. Some users mention poor implementation support, leading to a confusing onboarding experience for employees.
40% of users express reports have room for improvement, noting the reporting functionality can be complex and not intuitive enough, with limitations in filter prompts.
36% of users note difficulties with integration between features and occasional slowness and feel that certain aspects are scattered.
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Issues with Certain Functionality: While around 40% felt the solution worked well, another 40% reported issues, especially with the time tracking and integration features.
Slow/Pushy Customer Support: Around 10% of users reported negative experiences with customer service. Of them around 50% felt the staff was pushy and trying to upsell them and 50% felt they had to wait too long for answers or couldn't get in touch with them online.
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ADP Workforce Now is a popular PEO and HR solution for businesses that need a comprehensive HCM for payroll, time and attendance, benefits administration, reporting, and compliance assistance. It’s ideal for small teams, mid-sized organizations and larger businesses looking to improve their time tracking, ensure payroll accuracy and go paperless with document management.Standout features include automated time tracking, collaborative scheduling, talent acquisition, configurable work rules, employee self service and data syncing.Time and attendance features support productivity by ensuring proper staffing, tracking time via desktop or app, and providing time clocks or ADP® Kiosk access. Additionally, it supports online schedule management, time-off requests and approvals.It also facilitates benefits administration, SmartCompliance, financial wellness support, and performance and compensation management, fostering a positive employee experience.Additionally, ADP Workforce Now has AI capabilities that can automate repetitive tasks, analyze workforce data for insights, find tax forms, access company policies, and submit PTO requests through mobile devices or myADP. AI-driven analytics aid decision-making across key HR functions like recruiting, compliance and time management.Users commend ADP's time tracking for its efficiency and user-friendly interface. However, some users report drawbacks, including customer service issues and a learning curve during implementation.As a PEO, ADP offers assistance with workers' compensation, claims management and tax support in all 50 states.Overall, ADP Workforce Now is an inclusive HR solution that provides essential features for payroll, time tracking, and HR management while also offering custom reports, automation and AI capabilities to all business sizes.

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Gusto is a well-reviewed payroll solution which many users enjoy for its good design and easy-to-use features. It’s UI and payroll processing abilities in particular make it a popular choice for automating payroll. Many also feel it handles benefits and PTO well. Some say it's an affordable choice given what it does while others note that it’s on the pricey side. The time tracking features aren’t universally loved. Users are split on the integration abilities with around 10% satisfied and around 10% dissatisfied. All in all, it appears to be a good solution for small and medium-sized businesses looking to streamline their payroll. Keep an eye on the price and, as always, demo extensively before buying.

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