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RUN Powered by ADP vs Heartland Payroll 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…

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…

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

RUN Powered by ADP vs Heartland Payroll — at a glance

FeatureRUN Powered by ADPHeartland Payroll
Rating4.9 / 54.6 / 5
Reviews703118
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forSmall BusinessMedium Business, Small Business
CategoryPayroll SoftwarePayroll Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud
API
Support modesOnline, Business Hours24/7 (Live rep)
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUS

Key differences between RUN Powered by ADP and Heartland Payroll

  • Target audience: RUN Powered by ADP is built for Small Business, while Heartland Payroll targets Medium Business and Small Business.
  • 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; Heartland Payroll supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

RUN Powered by ADP 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.

RUN Powered by ADP - Payroll Software
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Heartland Payroll - Payroll Software
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RUN Powered by ADP vs Heartland Payroll: Biggest differences

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.

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.

RUN Powered by ADP: Best for small businesses needing simple, reliable payroll with strong support. Heartland Payroll: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing streamlined payroll with strong support.

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

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
  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

8.6/10

8.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.61

(118)

Best Company Size

1-50 employeesSmall franchises
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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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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Step 1 of 4

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How do RUN Powered by ADP and Heartland Payroll Compare on Features?

Total Features

23 Features

12 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare RUN Powered by ADP 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

      RUN Powered by ADP pricing

      Pricing information not available

      RUN Powered by ADP 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

      RUN Powered by ADP vs Heartland Payroll Security & Compliance

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

      SOC 2

      ✓ Yes

      HIPAA

      ✗ No
      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✓ Yes

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✓ Yes

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✓ Yes

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🇺🇸 US

      RUN Powered by ADP User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      718

      32

      2

      2

      3

      98

      11

      6

      2

      3

      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

      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

      • 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

      • 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 RUN Powered by ADP or Heartland Payroll? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      RUN Powered by ADP and Heartland Payroll 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

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to RUN Powered by ADP 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, RUN Powered by ADP or Heartland Payroll?
      RUN Powered by ADP edges out the other on user ratings (4.9 vs 4.6). 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 Heartland Payroll offer a free trial?
      Neither RUN Powered by ADP nor Heartland Payroll currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of RUN Powered by ADP vs Heartland Payroll?
      RUN Powered by ADP starts at Contact for pricing. Heartland Payroll starts at Contact for pricing.
      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 Heartland Payroll?
      Top alternatives to Heartland Payroll include QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll, SurePayroll.