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Accounting · head to head

ADP vs Freshteam

ADP logo

ADP

Accounting

Always Designing for People

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Freshteam logo

Freshteam

HR

Smart HR software for growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Freshteam has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ADP no pricing is published; every quote is custom and driven by employee count and which services are taken; Freshteam no pricing information published on the website
  • They diverge on capability: ADP covers Payroll, Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ADP and Freshteam actually diverge.

Attributes where ADP and Freshteam differ
AttributeADPFreshteam
Starting price$29/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
CategoryAccountingHR
Founded19492010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ADP

  • Payroll
  • Tax services
  • HR management
  • Time & attendance
  • Benefits administration
  • QuickBooks
  • Sage
  • Oracle

Only in Freshteam

  • Applicant Tracking
  • Onboarding
  • Time Off
  • Employee Directory
  • Time Tracking
  • Documents
  • Org Chart
  • Freshdesk

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ADP

  • Payroll processing and tax filingnot Freshteam
  • HR administration and employee recordsnot Freshteam
  • Time and attendance trackingnot Freshteam
  • Benefits administrationnot Freshteam
  • Talent management on the mid-market and enterprise productsnot Freshteam

Freshteam

  • Onboarding new hires through automated employee lifecycle workflowsnot ADP
  • Processing expense and procurement approvals without manual email routingnot ADP
  • Managing maintenance requests with centralized tracking and approval trailsnot ADP
  • Automating contract reviews and document request handlingnot ADP
  • Routing HR, Finance, Facilities, Legal requests through structured catalogsnot ADP

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ADP

  • No pricing is published; every quote is custom and driven by employee count and which services are taken
  • Split into three separate products by company size, RUN for 1 to 49 employees, Workforce Now for 50 and above, and Lyric HCM for enterprise, so growing across a threshold means changing product rather than plan

Freshteam

  • No pricing information published on the website
  • Requires contacting sales or requesting a demo for pricing details

Pricing, plan by plan

ADP

$29/month
  • Essential$79/month
    • Payroll
    • Tax filing
    • Direct deposit
  • Enhanced$139/month
    • HR tools
    • Background checks
    • Job posting

Freshteam

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 Employees
    • Basic ATS
    • Time Off
  • Growth$1.2/month
    • All Free features
    • Onboarding
    • Time Tracking
  • Pro$2.4/month
    • All Growth features
    • Custom Reports
    • Advanced Workflows

Which should you pick?

Choose ADP if

  • You need payroll.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want tax services.

Choose Freshteam if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want onboarding.

Questions people ask

Is ADP or Freshteam better?
Neither clearly leads. ADP starts at $29/month and Freshteam at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ADP or Freshteam?
Freshteam has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for ADP and Free for Freshteam.
Does ADP or Freshteam run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Freshteam for free?
Yes. Freshteam has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ADP starts at $29/month.
What is ADP best used for?
ADP is most often used for payroll processing and tax filing, hr administration and employee records, time and attendance tracking, benefits administration. Of those, payroll processing and tax filing and hr administration and employee records are not what Freshteam is typically brought in for.
What can ADP do that Freshteam cannot?
ADP covers Payroll, Tax services, HR management, Time & attendance. Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking, Onboarding, Time Off, Employee Directory. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ADP: How is ADP pricing organized?

ADP organizes pricing by business size: Small Business (1-49 employees), Midsized (50-999 employees), and Enterprise (1,000+ employees). Each segment receives customized pricing tailored to specific business needs.

Source
Freshteam: How much does Freshteam cost?

Freshteam (formerly Freshservice HRMS) does not publish specific pricing information. The vendor focuses on describing product features and benefits across HR, Finance, Facilities, and Legal departments on their public website.

Source
ADP: Is there a current promotional offer for ADP payroll?

ADP currently offers 3 months free when signing up for small business payroll (promotion ends 9/24). Contact sales at 800-225-5237 for details and to request pricing based on your employee count.

Source
Freshteam: Does Freshteam offer a free version?

Freshteam includes a 'Start for free' call-to-action on their website, suggesting a freemium model or free trial option. However, specific details about free tier capabilities or duration are not published.

Source
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