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RUN Powered by ADP vs Collective Comparison

Last updated:

RUN Powered by ADP

4.9(703 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Small Business

RUN Powered by ADP is a payroll and HR platform for small businesses that need reliable multi-state payroll processing, automatic tax filings, and compliance support backed by ADP's regulatory infrastructure. It syncs wi…

View PricingRead Reviews

Collective

4.4(340 reviews)

Starting at $299 paid

  • Small Business

Collective is an all-in-one back-office platform for self-employed professionals and solopreneurs, combining S-corp formation, bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and financial planning into a single annual subscripti…

View PricingRead Reviews

RUN Powered by ADP leads on user satisfaction with a 4.9-star rating across 703 reviews.

RUN Powered by ADP vs Collective — at a glance

FeatureRUN Powered by ADPCollective
Rating4.9 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews703340
Starting priceContact for pricing$299 paid
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forSmall BusinessSmall Business
CategoryPayroll Software—
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSCloud, Mobile - iOS, Mobile - Android
API—Available
Support modesOnline, Business HoursEmail Support, Phone Support, Dedicated Accountant, Help Center
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR—
Data residencyUS—

Key differences between RUN Powered by ADP and Collective

  • Pricing: Collective starts at $299 paid. RUN Powered by ADP pricing is not publicly listed.
  • User satisfaction: RUN Powered by ADP scores higher with a 4.9-star average.
  • Deployment: RUN Powered by ADP supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Collective supports Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Mobile - Android.

RUN Powered by ADP vs Collective — 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.

Biggest differences

Features

Pricing

Buying details

Security

Buyer feedback

Integrations

Product tour

Other options

RUN Powered by ADP - Payroll Software

RUN Powered by ADP

(757)
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Collective logo

Collective

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RUN Powered by ADP vs Collective: Biggest differences

Affiliate Disclosure

Start here before you go deeper into features.

RUN Powered by ADP

Best for small businesses needing simple, reliable payroll with strong support.

Choose if
  • You run a small business or franchise with up to 50 employees.
  • You want an easy-to-use payroll system without complex HR features.
  • You value responsive customer support and reliable multi-jurisdiction tax automation.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business requires advanced HR functionalities beyond payroll.
  • You have a tight budget and need the lowest-cost payroll solution.

Collective

Best for

Small Business

RUN Powered by ADP typically suits Small Business. Collective tends to fit Small Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

RUN Powered by ADP is a payroll and HR platform for small businesses that need reliable multi-state payroll processing, automatic tax filings, and compliance support backed by ADP's ... Read More about RUN Powered by ADP

Collective is an all-in-one back-office platform for self-employed professionals and solopreneurs, combining S-corp formation, bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and financial planning ... Read More about Collective

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Starts from $299 , /month (billed annually)

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.6/10

8.8/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.9

(703)

4.4

(340)

Best Company Size

1-50 employeesSmall franchises
—
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

RUN Powered by ADP

  • Trusted Payroll & Tax Automation: Provides reliable payroll processing with automatic tax calculations, filings, and compliance alerts across jurisdictions.
  • Scalable HR Features: Offers add-on HR services, benefits administration, and background checks designed for changing business needs.
  • Expert Support & Resources: Backed by ADP's industry expertise and compliance support, helping small businesses manage regulations confidently.

Collective

  • S-Corp Tax Savings Automated: Collective handles the S-corp formation, payroll, and compliance that let self-employed professionals save $5,000-$20,000+ annually in self-employment taxes.
  • Zero Back-Office Overhead: Bookkeeping, payroll runs, quarterly estimates, and annual filings happen automatically — self-employed professionals spend zero time on financial administration.
  • One Trusted Financial Partner: Instead of separate accountants, bookkeepers, payroll providers, and tax preparers, Collective is one relationship covering the entire financial lifecycle.
Best fit

Best fit

RUN Powered by ADP

  • 1–50 employees
  • Retail, healthcare, professional services, construction, hospitality, and small franchises
  • Small Business Owners, HR Generalists, Payroll Managers, Office Administrators, and Accountants

Collective

  • Freelancers earning $100k+ who want to capture S-corp tax savings without managing the compliance themselves
  • Independent consultants and contractors replacing separate bookkeeper, payroll, and tax preparer with one all-in-one subscription
  • Solopreneurs who want to spend zero time on financial administration and focus entirely on client work
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

RUN Powered by ADP

  • Small businesses looking for simpler, more budget-friendly payroll solutions may consider lightweight alternatives.
  • Companies needing deeper integration with non-ADP accounting platforms might seek more flexible options.
  • Organizations wanting broader talent tools such as applicant tracking and LMS may explore full-scale HCM systems.

Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

We tailor recommendations to companies your size.

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How do RUN Powered by ADP and Collective Compare on Features?

Total Features

23 Features

7 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare RUN Powered by ADP and Collective 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

      Starting From

      • Not Available
      • $299 , /month (billed annually)

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available

      • Annual

        $299

        paid

        Get Started

        • S-Corp setup

        • Bookkeeping

        • Payroll

        Show more +

      • Premium

        Custom

        paid

        Get Started

        • Financial planning

        • Multi-state filing

        • Priority support

        Show more +

      Pricing Page

      RUN Powered by ADP pricing

      Pricing information not available

      View detailed pricing
      View detailed pricing

      RUN Powered by ADP vs Collective: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

          Platforms Supported

              Modes of support

                  API Support

                  • Not Available
                  • Available
                  Get help choosing
                  Get help choosing

                  RUN Powered by ADP vs Collective Security & Compliance

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

                  SOC 2

                  ✓ Yes
                  —

                  HIPAA

                  ✗ No
                  —

                  GDPR

                  ✓ Yes
                  —

                  Single Sign-On (SSO)

                  ✓ Yes
                  —

                  Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

                  ✓ Yes
                  —

                  Data Encryption

                  ✓ Yes
                  —

                  Audit Logs

                  ✓ Yes
                  —

                  Data Residency

                  🇺🇸 US
                  —

                  RUN Powered by ADP User Reviews & Rating Comparison

                  User Ratings

                  4.9

                  (based on 703 reviews)

                  4.4

                  (based on 340 reviews)

                  Rating Distribution

                  718

                  32

                  2

                  2

                  3

                  0

                  0

                  0

                  0

                  0

                  Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

                  Buyer sentiment

                  Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use, strong customer support, and reliable payroll automation, with some concerns about advanced features and occasional technical issues.

                  What buyers like

                  • Ease of use
                  • Customer support
                  • Payroll and tax automation

                  Common complaints

                  • Limited HR features
                  • Mobile app reliability

                  Buyer sentiment

                  Buyer sentiment is positive across 340 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

                  What buyers like

                  • Single subscription covers every back-office function a solopreneur needs — formation, bookkeeping, payroll, quarterly taxes, and annual filing — with no a-la-carte surprises.
                  • S-corp formation and payroll compliance are handled automatically, enabling self-employed professionals to capture the S-corp tax savings without managing the compliance complexity.
                  • Dedicated accountant relationship provides personalized tax strategy and planning advice, not just transactional tax preparation.

                  Common complaints

                  • Designed exclusively for solo businesses — freelancers who grow to hire employees or contractors will outgrow the platform quickly.
                  • At $299/month ($3,588/year), the price is higher than DIY alternatives; self-employed professionals with simple finances may not see enough ROI to justify it.

                  Pros and Cons

                  • Exceptional and responsive customer support

                  • User-friendly interface suitable for non-accounting users

                  • Reliable payroll and tax automation across multiple jurisdictions

                  • Limited advanced HR functionalities

                  • Occasional mobile app glitches affecting payroll processing

                  • Single subscription covers every back-office function a solopreneur needs — formation, bookkeeping, payroll, quarterly taxes, and annual filing — with no a-la-carte surprises.

                  • S-corp formation and payroll compliance are handled automatically, enabling self-employed professionals to capture the S-corp tax savings without managing the compliance complexity.

                  • Dedicated accountant relationship provides personalized tax strategy and planning advice, not just transactional tax preparation.

                  • Designed exclusively for solo businesses — freelancers who grow to hire employees or contractors will outgrow the platform quickly.

                  • At $299/month ($3,588/year), the price is higher than DIY alternatives; self-employed professionals with simple finances may not see enough ROI to justify it.

                  Positive Reviews

                  No reviews available for the product

                  No reviews available for the product

                  Read reviews
                  Read reviews

                  Used RUN Powered by ADP or Collective? Tell buyers what actually differs.

                  Review RUN Powered by ADPReview Collective

                  RUN Powered by ADP and Collective Customers

                  Customers

                  D

                  D

                  TrueBlue

                  TrueBlue

                  Lehigh White Cement

                  Lehigh White Cement

                  No Customers information available.

                  Media and Screenshots

                  Screenshots

                  Run FAST

                  3 Screenshots

                  No screenshots available.

                  Videos

                  video-0

                  1 Videos

                  No videos available.

                  Top Alternatives to RUN Powered by ADP and Collective in 2026

                  Alternatives

                  OnPay - Payroll Software
                  OnPay

                  4.96

                  Heartland Payroll - Payroll Software
                  Heartland Payroll

                  4.61

                  QuickBooks Payroll - Payroll Software
                  QuickBooks Payroll

                  4.4

                  Fondo logo
                  Fondo

                  4.6

                  Digits logo
                  Digits

                  4.5

                  Ontop - New SaaS Software
                  Ontop

                  3.86

                  Expand your comparison

                  Add another option to compare side by side

                  Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.

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                  Ontop - New SaaS Software
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                  Excelforce - Payroll Software
                  Excelforce
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                  Wagepoint

                  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, RUN Powered by ADP or Collective?
                  RUN Powered by ADP edges out the other on user ratings (4.9 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
                  Do RUN Powered by ADP and Collective offer a free trial?
                  Neither RUN Powered by ADP nor Collective currently lists a free trial.
                  What is the starting price of RUN Powered by ADP vs Collective?
                  RUN Powered by ADP starts at Contact for pricing. Collective starts at $299 paid.
                  What are the top alternatives to RUN Powered by ADP?
                  Top alternatives to RUN Powered by ADP include OnPay, Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, APS Payroll, SurePayroll.
                  What are the top alternatives to Collective?
                  Top alternatives to Collective include Fondo, Digits, Ontop, Excelforce, Wagepoint.