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ADP Payroll Services vs Heartland Payroll Comparison

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ADP Payroll Services

4.3(207 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

ADP Payroll Services offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help businesses of all sizes comply with payroll, taxes, and other HR regulations. The latest tools from ADP provide access to a live HR support team…

Heartland Payroll

4.6(118 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Medium Business
  • Small Business

Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, cost accounting and tracking of…

Heartland Payroll leads on user satisfaction with a 4.6-star rating across 118 reviews.

ADP Payroll Services vs Heartland Payroll — at a glance

FeatureADP Payroll ServicesHeartland Payroll
Rating4.3 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews207118
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessMedium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
Integrations8+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesOnline24/7 (Live rep)
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUS

Key differences between ADP Payroll Services and Heartland Payroll

  • Free trial: ADP Payroll Services offers a free trial; Heartland Payroll does not.
  • Target audience: ADP Payroll Services is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Heartland Payroll targets Medium Business and Small Business.
  • User satisfaction: Heartland Payroll scores higher with a 4.6-star average.
  • Deployment: ADP Payroll Services supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

ADP Payroll Services vs Heartland Payroll — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

ADP Payroll Services - Payroll Software
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Heartland Payroll - Payroll Software
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ADP Payroll Services vs Heartland Payroll: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

ADP Payroll Services

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business

Heartland Payroll

Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.

Choose if
  • You run a retail, hospitality, or healthcare business with 20-500 employees.
  • You want automated tax filings and integrated payment processing to reduce manual work.
  • You value responsive, knowledgeable payroll specialists for personalized customer support.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your company is a large enterprise with complex payroll needs requiring high customization.
  • You need a highly customizable payroll entry and reporting system beyond standard options.

ADP Payroll Services typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Heartland Payroll tends to fit Medium Business and Small Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

ADP Payroll Services offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to help businesses of all sizes comply with payroll, taxes, and other HR regulations. The latest tools from ADP provide ... Read More about ADP Payroll Services

Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, ... Read More about Heartland Payroll

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

7.6/10

8.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.61

(118)

Best Company Size

50–10,000+ employees
20-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

ADP Payroll Services

  • Global Reach and Enterprise Expertise: ADP supports payroll and HR operations across multiple countries, currencies, and regulatory environments. This makes it a strong option for organizations with international teams or future global expansion plans. Beyond software, ADP provides expertise through compliance guidance, reporting tools, and advisory services. Companies gain a platform with deep experience in workforce management at scale.
  • Strong Data Security and Risk Management: ADP invests heavily in data security, privacy controls, and system reliability. With sensitive payroll and employee data involved, organizations benefit from enterprise-grade security standards, role-based access controls, and continuous monitoring. ADP’s infrastructure is designed to protect against data breaches, unauthorized access, and downtime. This level of security is particularly important for businesses handling large workforces or operating in industries with strict data protection requirements.
  • Integrated Benefits and Retirement Administration: ADP connects payroll with health insurance, retirement plans, and other employee benefits. Deductions, employer contributions, and eligibility updates flow automatically between systems, reducing manual work and errors. This integration maintains accurate benefits administration while giving employees clear visibility into their compensation and benefits. For employers, it improves compliance and simplifies open enrollment, reporting, and ongoing benefits maintenance.

Heartland Payroll

  • Integrated Payments & Payroll: Combines payroll with Heartland's payment processing, simplifying employee compensation and business transactions.
  • Compliance & Tax Filing: Automates federal, state, and local tax filings, helping reduce compliance risks and administrative workload.
  • User-Friendly Platform: Designed to simplify payroll with easy-to-use dashboards, direct deposit options, and responsive customer support.
Best fit

Best fit

ADP Payroll Services

  • 50–10,000+ employees
  • Retail, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Financial Services, Education, Technology, Construction
  • HR Manager, Payroll Manager, HR Director, Finance Manager, Operations Manager, Compliance Manager, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)

Heartland Payroll

  • 20–500 employees
  • Retail, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, and small to mid-sized businesses
  • Payroll Managers, HR Directors, Finance Officers, Business Owners, and Operations Managers
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

ADP Payroll Services

  • Requires certified partners or middleware for many integrations — teams typically add separate tools for HR, accounting, and scheduling instead of using native connectors
  • Ecosystem lock-in limits flexibility — open API platforms and plug-and-play connectors appeal to teams needing faster customization and modern SaaS compatibility
  • Interface rated less intuitive than newer competitors — buyers report steeper learning curves for dashboards, workflows, and employee self-service features

Heartland Payroll

  • Businesses seeking deeper integration between payment processing and payroll may explore other all-in-one providers.
  • Companies requiring advanced HR management, benefits administration, or time tracking may consider broader HCM platforms.
  • Firms with multi-state or complex compliance needs might look for payroll solutions specializing in regulatory support.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do ADP Payroll Services and Heartland Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

7 Features

12 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare ADP Payroll Services and Heartland Payroll on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      ADP Payroll Services pricing

      Pricing information not available

      ADP Payroll Services vs Heartland Payroll: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      ADP Payroll Services vs Heartland Payroll Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🌐 Global
      🇺🇸 US

      ADP Payroll Services User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      136

      50

      10

      4

      26

      98

      11

      6

      2

      3

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is positive across 226 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

      What buyers like

      • User-friendly interface, making it accessible even for non-technical users.
      • Reliable payroll processing with accurate and timely payment delivery.
      • All-in-one platform consolidating payroll, tax filing, and HR-related services.

      Common complaints

      • Periodic customer service complaints regarding responsiveness and reliability.
      • Reported issues with glitches or inaccuracies in the system, especially during tax season.
      • The setup process can seem overwhelming without the help of the dedicated support team.

      Buyer sentiment

      Users appreciate the user-friendly platform and strong customer service but note onboarding challenges and portal access issues.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Customer support quality
      • Automation of tax filings

      Common complaints

      • Onboarding process
      • Portal accessibility problems

      Pros and Cons

      • User-friendly and intuitive interface, making it accessible even for non-technical users.

      • Reliable payroll processing with accurate and timely payment delivery.

      • Comprehensive all-in-one platform consolidating payroll, tax filing, and HR-related services.

      • Periodic customer service complaints regarding responsiveness and reliability.

      • Reported issues with glitches or inaccuracies in the system, especially during tax season.

      • Intuitive self-service portal with easy payroll entry and custom reporting

      • Responsive and knowledgeable dedicated payroll specialists

      • Automated tax filings and payroll calculations reducing manual work

      • Disorganized and manual onboarding process causing errors

      • High turnover of payroll representatives affecting service continuity

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Negative Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used ADP Payroll Services or Heartland Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Integrations

      Integration with other apps

      No Integration information available.

      ADP Payroll Services and Heartland Payroll Customers

      Customers

      Walmart

      Walmart

      Toyota

      Toyota

      McDonald's

      McDonald's

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      ADP Homepage

      1 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to ADP Payroll Services and Heartland Payroll in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, ADP Payroll Services or Heartland Payroll?
      Heartland Payroll edges out the other on user ratings (4.6 vs 4.3). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do ADP Payroll Services and Heartland Payroll offer a free trial?
      ADP Payroll Services offers a free trial. Heartland Payroll does not.
      What is the starting price of ADP Payroll Services vs Heartland Payroll?
      ADP Payroll Services starts at Contact for pricing. Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to ADP Payroll Services?
      Top alternatives to ADP Payroll Services include WavePayroll, OnPay, CheckWriters, EPAY HCM, PrimePay.
      What are the top alternatives to Heartland Payroll?
      Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.