Which one is cheaper?

One or both use custom pricing, so it depends on your specific needs.

Can I use either one for free?

Neither has a free plan. But CharlieHR offers a free trial.

Different approach here. ADP uses custom pricing, while CharlieHR goes with flat-rate. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.

Which one is a better deal?

Depends on what you need. ADP: ADP plays premium-by-reputation in a market full of transparent, self-serve competitors like Gusto and OnPay — they're betting that brand trust and enterprise-grade compliance muscle justify making you call a sales rep instead of seeing a price. This positioning wins risk-averse buyers and larger SMBs who want a name they can defend to their board, not price-sensitive startups comparison-shopping online. CharlieHR: At £20/month for up to 4 people (post-promo), Charlie is positioning as an affordable HR foundation for UK SMBs — cheaper than Rippling or BambooHR at small scale, but the promo is doing a lot of heavy lifting to make that first impression land. They're clearly going after the 'first proper HR tool' buyer, not teams already running sophisticated people ops.

ADP vs CharlieHR Pricing (2026)

How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.

	ADP	CharlieHR
Starts at	Custom	$5/mo
Number of plans	4	1
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	—
Pricing model	custom	flat-rate

ADP

Official page

Essential Payroll

Custom

Payroll: Computer, Mobile App, Phone Call
Direct Deposit
24/7 Customer Support
Robust Reporting
General Ledger Interface
New-Hire Reporting
W-2 & 1099 Forms
Tax Filing
Payroll Delivery
Multi-company Management
Multi-jurisdiction Payroll
Wisely® Direct Debit Card
Bill Pay and Client Invoicing
ADP® Employee Access
New Hire Onboarding
Employee Discounts
Background Checks
HR Tracking

Enhanced Payroll

Popular

Custom

Payroll: Computer, Mobile App, Phone Call
Direct Deposit
24/7 Customer Support
Robust Reporting
General Ledger Interface
New-Hire Reporting
W-2 & 1099 Forms
Tax Filing
Payroll Delivery
Multi-company Management
Multi-jurisdiction Payroll
Wisely® Direct Debit Card
Bill Pay and Client Invoicing
Check Signing: Security
State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) Management
Garnishment Payment Service
Job Costing
Labor Law Poster Compliance
ADP® Employee Access
New Hire Onboarding
Employee Discounts
Background Checks
HR Tracking
ZipRecruiter®
Electronic Form I-9

Complete Payroll & HR Plus

Custom

Payroll: Computer, Mobile App, Phone Call
Direct Deposit
24/7 Customer Support
Robust Reporting
General Ledger Interface
New-Hire Reporting
W-2 & 1099 Forms
Tax Filing
Payroll Delivery
Multi-company Management
Multi-jurisdiction Payroll
Wisely® Direct Debit Card
Bill Pay and Client Invoicing
Check Signing: Security
State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) Management
Garnishment Payment Service
Job Costing
Labor Law Poster Compliance
ADP® Employee Access
New Hire Onboarding
Employee Discounts
Background Checks
HR Tracking
ZipRecruiter®
Electronic Form I-9
HR HelpDesk
Employee Handbook Wizard
Salary Benchmarks
HR Forms and Documents
HR Training and Toolkits

HR Pro Payroll & HR

Custom

Payroll: Computer, Mobile App, Phone Call
Direct Deposit
24/7 Customer Support
Robust Reporting
General Ledger Interface
New-Hire Reporting
W-2 & 1099 Forms
Tax Filing
Payroll Delivery
Multi-company Management
Multi-jurisdiction Payroll
Wisely® Direct Debit Card
Bill Pay and Client Invoicing
Check Signing: Security
State Unemployment Insurance (SUI) Management
Garnishment Payment Service
Job Costing
Labor Law Poster Compliance
ADP® Employee Access
New Hire Onboarding
Employee Discounts
Background Checks
HR Tracking
ZipRecruiter®
Electronic Form I-9
HR HelpDesk
Employee Handbook Wizard
Salary Benchmarks
HR Forms and Documents
HR Training and Toolkits
Applicant Tracking System, powered by CareerPlug
Learning Management System
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Legal Assistance from Upnetic Legal Services, powered by Legal Club®

CharlieHR

Official page

Charlie

$5/mo

Onboarding
Time off
Performance reviews
Employee engagement
Perks & benefits
Docs & employee data

ADP vs CharlieHR FAQ

Which one is cheaper?: One or both use custom pricing, so it depends on your specific needs.
Can I use either one for free?: Neither has a free plan. But CharlieHR offers a free trial.
How do they charge?: Different approach here. ADP uses custom pricing, while CharlieHR goes with flat-rate. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.
Which one is a better deal?: Depends on what you need. ADP: ADP plays premium-by-reputation in a market full of transparent, self-serve competitors like Gusto and OnPay — they're betting that brand trust and enterprise-grade compliance muscle justify making you call a sales rep instead of seeing a price. This positioning wins risk-averse buyers and larger SMBs who want a name they can defend to their board, not price-sensitive startups comparison-shopping online. CharlieHR: At £20/month for up to 4 people (post-promo), Charlie is positioning as an affordable HR foundation for UK SMBs — cheaper than Rippling or BambooHR at small scale, but the promo is doing a lot of heavy lifting to make that first impression land. They're clearly going after the 'first proper HR tool' buyer, not teams already running sophisticated people ops.

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