ADP vs Paychex: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of ADP and Paychex. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: ADP starts at Custom pricing and Paychex starts at $20/mo. Compare all 7 pricing tiers side by side.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
ADP vs Paychex: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | ADP | Paychex |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $20/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
ADP and Paychex are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible HR & People tools. Together they offer 7 pricing plans with 20 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Paychex stands out with a free plan for getting started.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your HR & People needs.
| Pricing Plans |  ADP Try it free |  Paychex Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | ||
| Tier 2 | ADP Workforce NowPopular Custom pricing Includes
| Small Business Payroll $20/monthCheapest $240 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | ADP Vantage HCM Custom pricing Includes
| Midsize to Enterprise PayrollPopular $50/monthCheapest $600 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | One Employee Payroll Custom pricing Includes
|
Swipe to compare plans →
Paychex
Paychex offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Paychex
Try Paychex freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose ADP if:
- •You prioritize ADP's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •You need predictable billing — ADP's per-seat model avoids surprise overages
- •ADP keeps its feature set lean, which means faster onboarding and less complexity
Choose Paychex if:
- •You need a free plan with Basic Payroll, Employee Self-Service—Paychex offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You prioritize Paychex's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
Paychex offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while ADP requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Paychex a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Paychex's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $50/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against ADP's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Paychex's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while ADP's 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Paychex is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Frequently Asked Questions: ADP vs Paychex
How many pricing plans does ADP have vs Paychex?
Does ADP or Paychex offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for ADP or Paychex?
What is the most popular ADP plan?
What is the most popular Paychex plan?
Does ADP or Paychex offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do ADP and Paychex compare for HR & People?
Sources
- ADP Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Paychex Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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