Softwr

Accounting · head to head

ADP vs TurboTax

ADP logo

ADP

Accounting

Always Designing for People

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TurboTax logo

TurboTax

Accounting

File yourself with clear, step-by-step tools, or hand it to an expert

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TurboTax 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; TurboTax pricing varies significantly based on tax complexity and filing date
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ADP and TurboTax actually diverge.

Attributes where ADP and TurboTax differ
AttributeADPTurboTax
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded1949Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Accounting).

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 TurboTax

Nothing recorded that ADP does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

ADP

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

TurboTax

  • Individual tax filing for US residentsnot ADP
  • Complex tax scenarios requiring multiple schedules and formsnot ADP
  • Expert assistance or full tax preparation servicesnot 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

TurboTax

  • Pricing varies significantly based on tax complexity and filing date
  • Final price determined at filing time, subject to change without notice
  • Additional state return fees apply beyond federal pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

ADP

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

TurboTax

Free
  • Free EditionFree
    • Simple Form 1040 returns only (~37% of taxpayers eligible)
  • Deluxe$59/one-time
    • Anticipated price, for more complex tax situations
  • Premium$79/one-time
    • Anticipated price, for complex tax scenarios with additional schedules
  • Expert Full Service$null/one-time
    • Custom pricing based on tax situation, forms required, and filing date

Which should you pick?

Choose ADP if

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

Choose TurboTax if

  • You want to start without paying.
TurboTax review

Questions people ask

Is ADP or TurboTax better?
Neither clearly leads. ADP starts at $29/month and TurboTax at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ADP or TurboTax?
TurboTax has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for ADP and Free for TurboTax.
Does ADP or TurboTax run on more platforms?
ADP runs on Web, Ios, Android. TurboTax runs on Web.
Can I use TurboTax for free?
Yes. TurboTax 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 TurboTax is typically brought in for.
What can ADP do that TurboTax cannot?
ADP covers Payroll, Tax services, HR management, Time & attendance.

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
TurboTax: How much does TurboTax cost?

TurboTax offers a free option for simple returns (~37% of filers), Deluxe at $59, Premium at $79, and Expert Full Service with custom pricing determined at filing time. Actual prices are subject to change and vary based on tax situation complexity.

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
TurboTax: Is there a free version of TurboTax?

Yes, TurboTax Free Edition is available at no cost for simple Form 1040 returns. Eligibility is limited to approximately 37% of taxpayers with straightforward tax situations.

Source
TurboTax: What extra fees apply when using TurboTax?

State return preparation requires additional fees beyond federal pricing. Price adjustments also apply based on the version selected and the date you file or e-file, as stated in TurboTax terms.

Source
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