If the choice between ADP vs. Quickbooks has left you at sixes and sevens, then we feel you!
Both the option seems great, and it feels like it is impossible to pick one for your business!
But in this guide, we have compared ADP and QuickBooks on the basis of features, integrations, price, and more.
So read till the end to find out the winner between the two!
ADP Overview
ADP is one of the most popular HR and payroll software in the market today. The company has been providing services for 70 years now and has catered to over 920,000 clients.
This software can be used by businesses of all sizes, be it small-sized or large-sized businesses. ADP’s payroll solution includes advanced features as well, which can be accessed with a higher plan.
Other than this, ADP comes with a number of tools, including employee benefits and recruiting, time and talent tools, etc.
And as per your business need, you can choose one of the four plans offered by ADP: ADP Essential, Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro.
Quickbooks Overview
Intuit QuickBooks is a cloud-based accounting solution that helps businesses of all sizes track and manage their finances.
This platform is one of the best and most highly rated book-keeping software, which lets users reconcile bank accounts, track expenses, generate critical financial reports, and do more.
For HR and payroll solutions, one can buy Quickbooks payroll as a standalone service or can even combine it with a Quickbooks accounting solution.
Let us compare Quickbooks payroll with ADP to find out which one of the two platforms is an ideal choice.
ADP vs Quickbooks Payroll: Comparison
Since ADP is an HR and payroll solution, we will be looking at Quickbooks’ payroll service with it in order to compare the two platforms on the basis of:
Features
Both ADP and Quickbooks payroll offers the following features:
- Auto-scheduled payroll
- HR resource libraries
- Mobile phone apps (Andriod and iOS)
- Direct deposit and check printing
- Benefits administration
- Customizable plans
- Employee self-service portals
- New-hire reporting
Only ADP offers:
- Local payroll tax support
- Built-in small business marketing resources
- Paycheck delivery
- ZipRecruiter integration
- Legal services add-on
- Background check services
- PEO solutions
- No user limits
Only Quickbooks Payroll Offers:
- Transparent pricing
- Project tracking
- Unlimited same-day payroll runs
- No-strings-attached free trial
- Complete QuickBooks Online integration
- No contracts
ADP offers more features and is more customizable as compared to QuickBooks.
However, Quickbooks Payroll offers faster payroll runs, unlimited payroll runs, and integration with the QuickBooks Online software suite.
So, the software you choose will largely depend on your business needs.
Ease Of Use
Finding a payroll software that is easy to use is also essential in order to save time.
Fortunately, both ADP and Quickbooks payroll are well-organized and easy to use for both employers and employees. However, the two platforms differ in terms of getting small businesses set up and on board.
ADP
ADP provides a company representative who will walk you through the payroll set-up process.
They also offer guides and tutorials to their clients to guide them on how to use the tools and features that they offer.
QuickBooks
Customers who have opted for Intuit’s core plan can speak to a representative to help you set up.
And customers who have a premium and elite plan can get designated advisors and experts who can help small businesses in getting up and running.
Quickbook offers better setup help as you buy a higher plan. However, ADP is simpler to use, and unlike Quickbooks, it offers guidance in setting up your account even with a less expensive plan.
Winner: ADP
Price & Plans
ADP Price & Plans
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Essential | $59 per month plus $4 per employee, per month |
| Enhanced | Custom pricing |
| Complete | Custom pricing |
| HR Pro | Custom pricing |
QuickBooks Price & Plans
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Simple Start | $30 per month |
| Essentials | $60 per month |
| Plus | $90 per month |
| Advanced | $200 per month |
ADP offers custom pricing based on the needs of the business, so it is difficult to compare the two platforms in terms of price.
We love how Quickbooks is transparent about its pricing and even offers 50% off on these prices for the first three months.
But ADP also has some happy customers, so we advise you to get a quote from them, too, and then choose the one that you like the most.
We also compared ADP Vs Paychex in terms of price and were impressed to see how less Paychex costs.
Pros and Cons
ADP
Pros
- 24/7 customer service.
- More recruiting tools.
- Can accommodate businesses with more than 50 employees.
- Full HR suite.
- Scalable plans for growing businesses.
Cons
- Lack of transparency in pricing.
- Add-ons can add up quickly.
- Confusing set up.
- Analytics tools are limited.
QuickBooks
Pros
- Unlimited payroll runs.
- Deep integration with QuickBooks Online.
- Robust reporting tools.
- Flexible set up.
- Offers 50% off for three months.
- Extensive accounting features.
- No invoice, client or bill payment limits.
Cons
- 24/7 customer support is available for only higher plans.
- No time tracking option.
- Much higher starting prices.
Payroll
| Features | ADP | QuickBooks Intuit |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll Processing | Yes | Yes |
| Tax Filing | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Deposit | Yes | Yes |
| Employee Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Time Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Benefits Administration | Complete & HR Plus plans | Yes |
| New Hire Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Reports | 50+ | 16 & option for customization |
| Employee Management | Yes | Yes |
ADP has a wide selection of add-ons and included features for its small clients.
After installing the software, the user can access the payroll features within just a few clicks.
Intuit Quickbooks, on the other hand, covers the basic function across its three plans.
The admin portal is intuitive; there are separate tabs for everything for smooth function.
So, in terms of payroll features, we like Quickbooks more.
Winner: QuickBooks
Integrations
When comparing ADP vs. Quickbooks, it is important to see how the two compare and integrate with other products.
ADP
ADP can integrate with many accounting software, including Quickbooks, Wave, etc.
It can also integrate with many attendance and enterprise resource applications such as Oracle, FinancialForce, Sage, etc.
Additionally, for time and attendance, it can integrate with tools like Deputy, 7Shifts, Clock Shark, etc.
QuickBooks
QuickBooks payroll service can integrate with over 750 business applications that include (POS) products like PayPal, Square, etc., and with products like TSheets for time tracking, to name a few.
In terms of integration, we like ADP more since it is known to accommodate integration requests from its customers.
We also compared ADP Vs Workday in terms of integration, and were quite impressed with Workday’s integration capabilities.
Winner: ADP
Customer Reviews
ADP
| Platform | Rating | Total Votes |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4/5 | 216 votes |
| TrustRadius | 8/10 | 2,026 votes |
| TustPilot | 1.4/5 | 2,263 votes |
QuickBooks
| Platform | Rating | Total Votes |
|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4/5 | 3,144 votes |
| TrustRadius | 7.9/10 | 1,647 votes |
| TustPilot | 1.1/5 | 547 votes |
ADP has much better reviews as compared to QuickBooks so it is the winner here.
Winner: ADP
ADP Vs QuickBooks: Winner?
Both ADP and Quickbooks can be used to manage and pay your employees on time.
However, between ADP Vs Quickbooks, ADP is the clear winner as it offers a wider range of features, is much easier to use, integrates with Quickbook itself, and has better ratings from users, among other things.
If you are a small business that is in its growth stage especially, then you should choose ADP over Quickbooks, as it is easy to set up and manage.
We also compared ADP with Gusto and ADP with Paycom and were shocked to see how the ADP performed compared to the two.
FAQ’s
Which is better: ADP or QuickBooks?
Both ADP and QuickBooks are great payroll services. However, Quickbooks payroll is ideal for existing QuickBooks Online users. In contrast, ADP is better for business owners who do not use QuickBooks Online.
Is ADP compatible with QuickBooks?
Yes, ADP is compatible with QuickBooks. So, if you already are using QuickBooks but prefer the features of ADP, then you can integrate QuickBooks online into your ADP account.
Does ADP support bookkeeping?
ADP is a payroll and HR tool and does not support bookkeeping. However, ADP does integrate with third-party bookkeeping software such as Quickbooks, Xero, Wave, etc.
Shefali Jain is a Content Writer & Editor at USWorkforce.org
After completing her graduation in hospitality, Shefali decided to follow her passion and started writing. Shefali has been writing for two years now and contributes to our website as a skilled editor and content writer with strong research skills. Writing product and service reviews, biographies, and book reviews are some of her key areas, among many others in which she specializes. In her time at the organization, she has written and edited content on a range of topics, including employment law, human resources, and business management.