RUN Powered by ADP vs Square Payroll

QuickBooks Enterprise

ADP Workforce Now

Gusto

Paychex Flex

Paylocity

QuickBooks Payroll

Compare RUN Powered by ADP and Square Payroll based on features, pricing, verified reviews, integrations & more on GetApp. Find out which software is best for your business in 2026.

Paychex Flex® simplifies payroll and HR with cloud-based technology, automated taxes, and powerful tools like recruiting, employee engagement, perks, and analytics. Access it from anywhere and empower your team, save time, and get 24/7 support for your growing business.

With Gusto, you get modern HR features like payroll, benefits, hiring, management resources, and more — all in one place. Gusto is proud to serve more than 400,000 businesses in the US with a single trusted system, competitive compensation tools, and expert guidance to help you empower your team.

One unified platform for HR, Finance, and IT. Connect people, processes, and data. Automate tasks and drive business growth. 

RUN Powered by ADP® helps small businesses automate payroll, file taxes and manage HR with ease. From AI-driven efficiency to expert support, businesses can take care of their teams anytime and anywhere. 

401(k) Tracking

Access Controls/Permissions

Accounting Integration

Applicant Tracking

Benefits Management

Check Printing

Compensation Management

Compensation Plan Modeling

Compliance Management

Customizable Reports

Direct Deposit

Employee Database

Employee Management

Employee Onboarding

Employee Portal

Employee Profiles

Employee Self Service

For Accountants

For Small Businesses

HR Management

Learning & Development

Leave Tracking

Market Data Analysis

Multi-Location

Multi-State

Onboarding

Overtime Calculation

Payroll Management

Payroll Reporting

Performance Management

Recruitment Management

Reminders

Reporting & Statistics

Reporting/Analytics

Role-Based Permissions

Self Service Portal

Sick Leave Tracking

Tax Compliance

Time Off Management

Time Off Requests

Time Tracking

Timesheet Management

Training Management

Vacation/Leave Tracking

W-2 Preparation

Wage Garnishment

Web-based Deployment

RUN Powered by ADP

Android

Web-based

Windows

iPad

iPhone

Manager

Overall I think it's great I love the ease of access of everything on the page and how it helps you with your budget.

Owner

Also, RUN provided all the needed records for the cares act(PPP), which was a huge help with the loan process. Lastly, I also frequently use the mobile app, a great feature I do enjoy.

The time clock integration is key. Also, we've had great luck with customer support and our sales rep is AMAZING.

Office Coordinator

Overall it has been a great tool and I am happy we used it. We are upgrading to Total Source).

Well I want most about it is that is so easy to look at your checks it shows you how to better spend your money and keeps track of all your earnings it's just all in all very easy to use.

Director of Finance & Operations

I like that it has an easy to use layout. I also like the chat feature for help.

manager

I would have to say I hate the customer service aspect of the company. They are not helpful at all and really are useless to my employees as well as me.

Office Manager

It is a reliable system with good customer service when needed. I can chat or call reps and reach someone fairly quickly.

RUN also has a document vault which is very nice. The fact that there are additional 3rd party integrations too makes this platform incredibly powerful.

I have been using RUN since 2009 and what I most like is how user-friendly and easy it is to use as well as providing detailed easy to manage and download reports.

Hospital Administrator

Horrible Customer Service and Clunky Software.

Bookkeeper

When I said I was going to leave I wasn’t offered anything to keep my account. Months later I got calls and a million emails offering me months for free and no W2 charges.

Project Manager

It is nice that I can enter payroll from my computer, or my phone as I am sometimes out in the field when payroll needs to be run.

Some of the instructions are not very clear when it comes to setting up the paid time off (vacation and sick pay).

Quality Validation Consultant

Great Support Team - Powerful Payroll Processing App.

It has proven to be easy to use the software. I have been able to call customer support and accomplish all the things quickly and efficiently over the phone.

The software is intuitive, easy-to-use and secure.

Liked it and ADP but the price went up. Interesting that when I requested no increase I got it once but not again.

RUN Powered by ADP screenshot: Stay on top of it all with a dashboard tailored to what you need — your next payroll date, priority to-dos, and important alerts.  

RUN Powered by ADP screenshot: Easily input your staff's hours. Confirm their salary amount and PTO.

RUN Powered by ADP screenshot: As soon as your payroll is confirmed, you'll have immediate access to your payroll information and reports.

RUN Powered by ADP screenshot: Take care of your people from day one to every day. User-friendly HR tools simplify hiring, tracking time, and managing your team.

RUN Powered by ADP screenshot: Safely and securely process your payroll on the go when you want, where you want with the RUN Powered by ADP mobile app.

RUN Powered by ADP screenshot: Modernize your employee experience with automated time tracking that eliminates timecards.  

Freelancers

Large Enterprises

Mid Size Business

Non Profit

Public Administrations

Small Business

QuickBooks Payroll is a cloud-based payroll solution for small businesses which offers automatic payroll tax calculations, integrated time tracking, same day direct deposit, real-time data updates, tax form preparation and filing, and an online employee portal to streamline the payroll process

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is an accounting software for small businesses which provides users with real-time access to customer, employee, and vendor information. The software includes tools for managing inventory, shipping, sales orders, pricing, tasks, invoicing, reporting, and more.

ADP Workforce Now is a cloud-based human capital management, talent management, and benefits software built for midsized and large businesses.

Square Payroll is a cloud-based U.S. solution that handles federal and state payroll taxes including withholdings, payments and filings

Accounting

Activity Dashboard

Alerts/Notifications

Benefits Dashboard

Dashboard

Data Import/Export

For Cloud

Mobile App

Online Benefits Enrollment

Real-Time Reporting

Tax Calculation

Tax Filing

Tax Forms

Third-Party Integrations

Square Payroll

I love how easy it is to use, the price, and that it integrates with my current square system. The built in time clock is amazing and so easy to use.

Owner/President

The ease of use and the cost is the best for a  small company like mine. With only 2 checks to write on a weekly basis, this program is easy and affordable.

I also appreciate the tax report automatic filing. The customer service is great and the representatives, with whom I have spoken, are knowledgeable, helpful and friendly.

I like Square overall for my POS and Payroll. In general we like Square and Square Payroll because it was easy to set up, easy to use, it has good UI, nice design, easy to run weekly payroll.

Compared to big payroll companies, Square Payroll is affordable and reliable. Customer service is amazing.

Owner 

Easy to set up, easy to use, and great instructions on paying contractors. It was easy to each my office manager to run payroll and allow staff to remotely acess the platform for virtual work days.

Owner/Operator

Super easy to use integrated seamlessly with POS and square stand. Setting up new employees is easy, direct deposit as well.

Other than that everything is great and I enjoy using it daily.

Managing Partner 

I love the ease of it and also the reports are ready whenever needed.

I'm a big fan of anything that saves me time and headaches, and there is NONE larger that sending out tax forms or other financial obligations.

Controlling payroll from on easy to use hub is a great value, and it only costs a small monthly fee per contractor.

The inability to schedule same day payments, but there isn't really a Payroll software that does this quite right.

Co-founder

I disliked that one time, when I had a major--and time sensitive--issue, that Square took 5 business days to get me a reply.

Great for Growing Small Business to pay contractors nd employees.

Square charges a fee per employee which can get pricey with a large team.

Initially,  I had issues when setting up my pay cycle because the software was not as flexible as I would have liked and I had missed a deadline, and I had to get a work-around from customer service.

Square Payroll makes it easy to start handling payroll quickly, easily and affordably ($5!) even if you have just one employee.

President

I was lured in by the price and the technology aspect of a tech company like Square.

RUN Powered by ADP vs Square Payroll Comparison (2026)

RUN Powered by ADP

Square Payroll

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives