Head to head
Paychex Flex vs RUN Powered by ADP
Both platforms are scored with the same methodology and the same category rubric. Nothing on this page is influenced by advertising.
37/100 | 51/100Higher score | |
|---|---|---|
| Category rank | #9 | #5 |
| Confidence | High confidence | High confidence |
| External Reputation | 61 | 89 |
| AI Authority | 22 | 24 |
| Web Authority | 14 | 25 |
| Expert Assessment | 46 | 56 |
| TOP10 User Score | — | — |
| Pricing | Not published · free tier: None — no free trial and no free version; a limited-time promotional offer of 3 months free payroll processing is advertised on the vendor's Capterra listing | Not published — third-party outlets (tech.co Jan 2026, business.com May 2026) report Essential from $79/month + $4 per employee, unconfirmed by ADP · free tier: None published |
| Pricing model | Custom | Subscription (custom quote; base fee plus per-employee, per third-party reports) |
| Best for | Small-to-midsize US businesses — especially medical practices, construction firms and healthcare providers — that want payroll, tax filing, benefits, PTO and compliance records consolidated with one established vendor, are comfortable with a sales-led purchase, and value built-in regulatory monitoring and PEO options over the lowest headline price. | US small businesses of roughly 5–49 employees that prioritise reliable multi-state tax filing and 24/7 phone support over price transparency, and expect to add HR services later. |
| Avoid if | You need published self-serve pricing and a trial before committing, operate outside the US or need languages beyond English and Spanish, have no tolerance for platform glitches and login friction, or require consistently responsive named account support and a clean, predictable contract exit. | You need a published price to budget or compare, employ only 1–4 people, need a true HRIS with effective-dated records and deep HR reporting, or expect to outgrow the small-business tier soon given reported migration friction. |
| Markets | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise, PEO clients | SMB (1–49 employees) |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
A higher TOP SCORE means more of the evidence favours that platform on this methodology — it is not a recommendation, and it does not account for your specific requirements. Advertisers are never declared the winner of a comparison.