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QuickBooks Payroll is best understood as a payroll add-on to QuickBooks Online. ADP RUN is a standalone payroll provider with deeper compliance capabilities. If you are already on QuickBooks, this comparison is worth reading carefully before considering a switch.

All evaluations are based on publicly available information. We do not perform hands-on product testing.

Choose QuickBooks Payroll if

• You already use QuickBooks Online and want payroll and accounting in one place
• Your payroll setup is relatively straightforward and does not require heavy multi-state compliance support
• You want transparent pricing and self-service setup

Choose ADP RUN if

• You have multi-state complexity or compliance requirements beyond what QuickBooks Payroll covers
• You prefer a dedicated payroll specialist over self-service support
• You are comfortable with a quote-based pricing process

The bottom line

If you use QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Payroll is the simpler and likely more cost-effective choice. ADP RUN makes sense if you have compliance requirements that go beyond what QuickBooks Payroll covers at your plan tier.

Last reviewed: May 2026. Pricing and features subject to change. Verify details with each provider before purchasing.