Overview

Payroll is included across all three packages, together with real-time processing, tax filing and payment services, and payroll reporting. Employee records, time-off management, onboarding and performance management extend the platform into routine HR work. That combination gives growing organizations a shared system for payroll and employee processes, though the value depends on choosing a package that covers the functions they need.

Employee self-service lets staff find HR answers, view expected pay, request time off and complete tasks. Administrators can customize and share reports, comparing teams, departments and timelines. Secure cloud storage and role-based security support controlled access to employee records, while integrations connect with business tools, payroll systems and carriers.

Key features

Payroll and onboarding

Onboarding includes digital I-9 processing, electronic signatures, reminders and collection of employee payment preferences. Those steps give HR teams a more structured way to gather new-hire information. Purpose-built AI offers recommendations, helps resolve payroll issues and supports HR workflows; these capabilities may be useful to teams managing recurring processes, but they do not remove the need to select the right package.

Workforce management and mobile access

Premium adds Workforce Management, including scheduling, time collection and time-off tools; its package also includes automated time tracking. This makes it the tier to consider when coordinating attendance and schedules matters alongside payroll. The platform also supports mobile benefits enrollment, mobile career sites and mobile C-Suite insights. Geofencing, kiosk mode, break tracking, overtime tracking and tip management add workforce-related capabilities, while payroll and ATS integrations, POS integrations and multi-state payroll support broader operating needs.

Reporting and support

Customizable reports can be shared and used to compare results across teams, departments and timelines. ADP also provides client service specialists and ongoing optimization services, a useful complement for organizations whose processes change as they grow. ADP says more than 1,000,000 clients rely on it and that it operates in more than 140 countries.

Pricing

ADP Workforce Now uses custom pricing, with no free plan. Select is the all-in-one payroll and HR suite and is the package to consider when payroll and core HR are the priority. Plus includes Select and adds benefits administration, making it the step up for employers that want benefits within the platform. Premium includes Plus and adds automated time tracking and Workforce Management, including scheduling, time collection and time-off tools; it is the most relevant choice when those functions are needed together.

The trade-off is that buyers must request pricing rather than compare published plan costs. Benefits administration is absent from Select, while workforce management and automated time tracking require Premium. No free trial or refund policy is stated, so organizations should clarify commercial terms before committing.

Platforms

The platform is available on the web, iOS and Android, with mobile apps included. Mobile capabilities cover benefits enrollment, career sites and C-Suite insights, giving employees and managers access to specific workflows away from a desktop.

Who it's for

ADP presents Workforce Now for organizations with 50–999 employees and those with 1,000 or more. It is a strong candidate for employers consolidating payroll and HR, especially when benefits or workforce management belong in the same system. Smaller employers seeking a free or transparently priced option, or teams that need only one narrow function, may find its package-based, quote-led approach harder to justify.

Pros and cons

Pros: All packages include payroll processing, tax filing and payment services, and reporting, so core payroll is not reserved for the top tier.
Pros: Employee self-service and structured digital onboarding cover practical staff and HR workflows, including expected-pay access and I-9 processing.
Pros: Plus and Premium add benefits, while Premium adds workforce management and automated time tracking, providing a clear upgrade path for employers that need more than core HR.
Cons: Pricing is custom, making cost comparisons difficult before speaking with ADP.
Cons: Benefits and workforce management are tier-dependent, so employers may need a higher package to cover their full needs.
Cons: There is no free plan, and no free trial or refund policy is stated.

Alternatives

Zoho People is worth considering for teams that want a free entry point: its Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free for 5 users, and it runs on web, iOS and Android. NEOGOV Insight is another paid option, with customized pricing based on selected products and agency size.

Netchex HR offers a Core plan with unlimited payroll runs and pay cards, while its All-In plan adds hiring, time and scheduling, benefits and performance management. RUN Powered by ADP is a paid alternative with web, iOS and Android access; its Essential Payroll package includes payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit, employee access and multi-jurisdiction payroll.

Workable may suit buyers prioritizing recruiting: it has a free plan and monthly Standard and Premier plans priced at 299.00 USD and 599.00 USD, respectively, each for 1–20 employees and unlimited active jobs. Dayforce Scheduling is a paid scheduling alternative priced by sales quote.

Oracle Fusion HCM Analytics is an option for organizations seeking hosted employee analytics: its Hosted Employee plan costs 5.00 USD per month, requires at least 1,000 hosted employees and carries a standard three-year subscription term. Paycom offers a customized quote based on workforce size and selected tools, with a one-time implementation fee.

For narrower needs, the EEO Reporting Software, Employment Verification Software, Job Description Management Software, Church Payroll Software, Restaurant Payroll Software and Payroll Tax Software lists are relevant starting points.

Verdict

ADP Workforce Now is a sensible choice for midsize and larger employers that want payroll and HR under one roof, with an upgrade path to benefits and workforce management. Its strongest reason to choose it is the combination of payroll services, employee workflows and tiered capabilities; its main drawback is quote-led pricing and the need to move up packages for key functions. Look elsewhere if a free plan, published pricing or a focused single-purpose tool is central to your decision.

	ADP Workforce Now	Ciphr Benefits
Free plan	No	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	—	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web
Employee records	Yes	—
Time-off management	Yes	—
Employee onboarding	Yes	—
Performance management	Yes	—
Time tracking	Yes	—
Mobile apps	Yes	—
Free plan	—	No

ADP Workforce Now vs Ciphr Benefits

ADP Workforce Now

Ciphr Benefits