RUN Powered by ADP

RUN Powered by ADP combines payroll with a broad set of HR capabilities, making it a fit for employers that want workforce administration alongside pay processing. Its multi-jurisdiction payroll and seven named plans offer room to match features to needs, but custom pricing and no free plan make it harder to assess cost before choosing.

Overview

RUN covers payroll, tax filing, employee records, onboarding, time-off and performance management, and time tracking. That breadth can keep routine payroll and HR work within one product rather than spread across separate tools. The trade-off is that its feature set is divided among plans, so employers should identify which functions they need before settling on a tier.

Employee self-service and mobile apps for iOS and Android extend access beyond a desktop. Employers that need payroll across multiple jurisdictions can start with Essential Payroll, while those seeking more HR support or administration will need to consider higher tiers.

Key features

Essential Payroll includes payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit, employee access, and multi-jurisdiction payroll. That makes it a practical starting point for employers whose priority is paying staff and handling payroll taxes across locations. Employee records, onboarding, time-off management, performance management, and time tracking broaden RUN’s reach into HR, though the plan descriptions do not assign every capability to a specific tier.

Enhanced Payroll adds State Unemployment Insurance management, job costing, and labor law poster compliance to Essential Payroll. These additions make it more relevant to employers that need those particular payroll and compliance functions, rather than simply a larger general-purpose bundle. Select is described as a payroll and HR suite; Plus adds benefits administration, and Premium adds time and attendance.

At the higher end, Complete Payroll & HR Plus includes Enhanced Payroll’s features alongside HR HelpDesk, employee handbook tools, HR forms, and training. HR Pro Payroll & HR adds enhanced HR support, applicant tracking, and learning management. This progression is useful for employers seeking more HR functions in the same product, but it also means the right choice depends on which additions justify a higher tier.

RUN also supports tip management and POS integrations, which can matter to businesses that handle tips or want payroll to connect with point-of-sale operations. These capabilities, combined with mobile apps and employee self-service, give the product a wider role than payroll processing alone.

Pricing

RUN is paid, has no free plan, and uses custom pricing across its named plans. Since prices are not available, prospective buyers cannot compare the cost of the tiers in advance; they will need to weigh the features they require against a quote.

• Essential Payroll: Payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit, employee access, and multi-jurisdiction payroll. A focused fit for employers prioritizing core payroll functions.
• Select: A payroll and HR suite. Its description does not specify individual inclusions beyond that scope.
• Enhanced Payroll: Essential Payroll features plus State Unemployment Insurance management, job costing, and labor law poster compliance.
• Plus: Select with benefits administration added.
• Premium: Plus with time and attendance added.
• Complete Payroll & HR Plus: Enhanced Payroll features plus HR HelpDesk, employee handbook tools, HR forms, and training.
• HR Pro Payroll & HR: Complete Payroll & HR Plus features plus enhanced HR support, applicant tracking, and learning management.

The lower tiers keep the scope narrower, while the higher plans add specific compliance, benefits, time, or HR tools. Without plan prices, it is not possible to judge whether those additions are worth the upgrade for a particular employer.

Platforms

RUN is available on the web and through iOS and Android apps.

Who it's for

RUN is best suited to employers that want payroll and HR capabilities together, especially those handling payroll across jurisdictions or needing additions such as benefits administration, time and attendance, or HR support. Tip management and POS integrations also make it relevant to businesses with those operational needs.

It is less suitable for buyers who need a free starting point or a clear price comparison before committing. Employers that only need core payroll may find the broader plan ladder unnecessary, while those needing a particular HR function should confirm which tier includes it before choosing.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Essential Payroll includes multi-jurisdiction payroll alongside processing, tax filing, direct deposit, and employee access, giving location-spanning employers a defined starting set.
• Pro: Higher plans add concrete capabilities such as benefits administration, time and attendance, applicant tracking, and learning management, allowing employers to select a broader HR scope.
• Pro: Web access, iOS and Android apps, and employee self-service offer access beyond an employer’s desktop workflow.
• Con: There is no free plan, so every buyer must consider a paid option.
• Con: All seven plan prices are custom, making the cost of moving from core payroll to additional HR functions difficult to compare upfront.
• Con: Feature allocation differs by tier, and the descriptions do not map every general capability to a specific plan, so buyers should verify coverage before committing.

Alternatives

For restaurant-focused payroll comparisons, see Restaurant Payroll Software. Other category lists include Employment Verification Software, EEO Reporting Software, Church Payroll Software, Global Payroll Software, and Nonprofit Payroll Software.

• ClockOn is worth comparing if a free plan is important: it offers a free Starter Package for eligible new businesses, capped at 12 months or 27 STP submissions.
• Kit by KitchenSync may suit a location-based operation seeking finance and payroll together, but its Kit Essentials plan is $1,500 a month billed per location.
• ADP Workforce Now is another ADP payroll option with a similarly described Essential Payroll base and a paid model without a free plan.
• isolved HCM is an alternative with customized pricing and a modular platform.
• Workforce.com offers paid plans including scheduling, HR, and payroll options.
• OnPay is a paid alternative with a free trial and a Payroll plan priced at $49 a month, plus $6 per worker per month.
• Paycom uses a customized quote based on workforce size and selected tools, with a one-time implementation fee.
• Paycor offers paid plans including Basic, Essential, and Complete for employers with under 50 employees.

Verdict

Choose RUN if you want payroll and HR functions under one product, particularly multi-jurisdiction payroll with the option to add benefits, time and attendance, or more extensive HR tools. Its breadth is the main reason to consider it; custom pricing across every plan and no free tier are the main reasons to look elsewhere if cost transparency or a no-cost starting point matters.