ADP pricing in 2024: Is it worth the cost?

Who is ADP best for?

Roll by ADP is a chat-based payroll solution designed specifically for small business owners. It uses generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to provide text-command payroll processing and HR support through its mobile app. Payroll can be submitted and processed on a smartphone or tablet in under a minute. This makes it an especially good fit for tech-savvy, on-the-go small business owners managing payroll on their own.

In this overview, we will cover pricing, plan features, benefits, and disadvantages of Roll by ADP, as well as which businesses can benefit most from using this payroll solution.

Featured payroll software offers

OnPay

Learn More

Via OnPay’s website

Monthly fee

$40 per month plus $6 per employee

Direct deposit

Yes

SurePayroll

Learn More

Via SurePayroll’s website

Monthly fee

$29.99 per month plus $5 per employee

Direct deposit

Yes

Gusto

Learn More

Via Gusto’s website

Monthly fee

Starting at $40 plus $6 per month per employee

Direct deposit

Yes

Rippling

Learn More

Via Rippling’s website

Monthly fee

$35 per month + $8 per user

Direct deposit

Yes

ADP overview

PRICING	$29 PER MONTH PLUS $5 PER EMPLOYEE
Unlimited and off-cycle payroll	✓
Payment methods	Direct deposit or paper check
Pay frequency	Same-day or next-day deposits
Payroll tax administration	✓
Garnishment payments	✓
Software integration	QuickBooks Online
Employee self-service	✓
Pay W2 employees and 1099 contractors in all 50 states	✓

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Roll by ADP plan

Roll by ADP offers one inclusive plan for $29 per month, plus $5 per employee and does not require an annual contract. New customers can take advantage of Roll’s current promotional offer and get their first three months of full access for free.

With Roll’s monthly billing plan, users will not be charged the $5 fee for an employee who may not need to be paid during a given month. And there is no need to manually deactivate an employee either, as Roll manages this automatically.

Included in this plan are all the basic payroll processing capabilities you would expect from most cloud-based payroll providers. In addition to unlimited payroll runs and automatic calculation and filing of federal, state and local taxes, Roll by ADP also includes the following payroll features:

• The ability to pay W-2 and 1099 workers in all 50 states.
• The ability to pay by direct deposit or company check.
• Next-day direct deposit, *same-day deposit or instant *transfer available
  (*nominal per-transaction fees apply).
• Tipped wage support, including cash and charged tips.
• QuickBooks Online integration.
• Unlimited live chat support.

Additionally, Roll by ADP offers some administrative features, including: 

• Proactive task and deadline reminders.
• HR and business management assistance using GenAI chat functionality.
• Real-time, AI-driven error checks.
• Payroll reports sent to you and payroll registers sent directly to your accountant.
• Ability to update employee pay amounts and company information.
• New hire reporting.
• Automatic deductions for benefits and retirement plans.
• Wage garnishments.

Finally, once hired, employees are automatically invited to download the Roll by ADP app where they can access job, pay and benefit info, payday notifications, pay stubs and tax statements, as well as receive automated task and deadline reminders.

Roll by ADP benefits

Roll by ADP is a unique solution in the cloud-based payroll space as it’s integrated with GenAI technology and designed to be fully powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Users are able to manage all things payroll easily from a mobile device — as well as on a desktop or laptop computer if desired.

Here are some of the benefits of Roll by ADP:

Quick mobile setup and payroll processing

Set up is done through Roll’s chat feature, and getting started should take less than 15 minutes. Information required to get started includes:

• Your business’s employer identification number (EIN). 
• Business bank account and routing number.
• The employee’s name, address, phone, email and Social Security number. 
• The employee’s hire date.

To process payroll, business owners need to download the Roll app, send a “run payroll” message in the chat and await confirmation of payroll completion. This process should take less than a minute from the initial request to confirmation. 

If users run into any snags, customer support is available via live chat 24/7 in English and Spanish, or by phone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Security and support

GenAI keeps private data secure while providing user support and guidance on any payroll and HR questions. Using large language model (LLM) for common language, users can input questions such as:

• “When was [employee] hired?”
• “Can you help me with a job description for a truck driver that we’re hiring?”
• “Can you give me hints on how to conduct a hiring interview?”
• “Can you tell me two simple strategies I can use for social media marketing in my company?”

When it comes to security, users have one of the largest and longest-standing brands in the industry to rely on with ADP. Roll customers enjoy the same level of reliability that all ADP customers expect, including continuous human oversight to ensure data security, validity and bias protections. 

Roll by ADP referral program

Roll by ADP offers a business owner referral program. Current customers can earn a $100 Amazon gift card for every referred customer who completes their first payroll. There is no limit on how many people you can refer. 

Roll by ADP drawbacks

While Roll is a well-rounded, streamlined and efficient payroll software, there are some disadvantages to consider. 

Lack of HR tools and employee benefits management 

While Roll by ADP offers self-onboarding tools for new hires and new hire reporting, it lacks many advanced HR tools, such as job postings, job candidate tracking and workforce training tools. And, while Roll by ADP offers automatic deductions for benefits and retirement plans, it does not offer employee benefits. 

If access to HR tools and benefits is a priority, Gusto and Rippling are two good options for small business owners to consider. Keep in mind, however, that access to these tools and features are reflected in overall software cost differences. 

No time or PTO tracking

Roll by ADP does not offer built-in time tracking or PTO management. It limits software integrations to Quickbooks Online only. 

Solutions like Payroll4Free and Quickbooks Payroll include time tracking in addition to an extensive amount of software integrations to manage these types of capabilities. These features make it straightforward to track and integrate employee hours directly into payroll, sync with a variety of accounting software and benefits companies and access a rich database of third-party software options. 

ADP alternatives

Patriot

Patriot software is similar to Roll by ADP in that it’s a lower-cost, basic payroll option designed for small businesses, with pricing starting at $17 per month plus $4 per employee. 

One advantage that Patriot offers is the option to add on HR tools and time tracking for an additional monthly fee. For business owners needing access to these features, Patriot may be a better fit. However, it’s worth noting that users must also pay additional fees for 1099 e-filing (basic plan) and $12 a month per state for each additional state filing — features that are already included in Roll by ADP’s plan. 

Gusto 

For small business owners seeking a more comprehensive payroll software, Gusto is a reasonably priced option. Its lowest-tiered plan starts at $40 per month plus $6 per employee. It includes built-in automation features, 150+ third-party integrations, the ability to pay contractors in 120+ countries and access to a robust benefits administration. It’s an all-in-one payroll and HR solution that continues to scale with a business.

Our testers found Gusto’s interface to be intuitive and easy to use, which makes it a great competitor when considering Roll’s streamlined interface. 

One small consideration for less tech-savvy business owners is that Roll by ADP offers 24/7 user live-chat support, whereas Gusto’s customer service hours are limited. 

Rippling

For business owners who need HR tools, time tracking and employee benefits administration, Rippling would be a better fit than Roll by ADP. Rippling offers flexible customization, and users report that it’s intuitive to use. Onboarding new employees takes less than two minutes.

Per-employee pricing starts at $8 per month per employee, plus an undisclosed base monthly fee. The software acts as a workforce management solution coupled with payroll processing both domestically and internationally. It includes access to advanced HR, IT and finance integrations, and it integrates with over 500 third-party apps. 

Featured payroll software offers

OnPay

Learn More

Via OnPay’s website

Monthly fee

$40 per month plus $6 per employee

Direct deposit

Yes

SurePayroll

Learn More

Via SurePayroll’s website

Monthly fee

$29.99 per month plus $5 per employee

Direct deposit

Yes

Gusto

Learn More

Via Gusto’s website

Monthly fee

Starting at $40 plus $6 per month per employee

Direct deposit

Yes

Rippling

Learn More

Via Rippling’s website

Monthly fee

$35 per month + $8 per user

Direct deposit

Yes

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)