The Roll by ADP Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Roll by ADP in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Roll by ADP
The Insider’s Guide
Chat-based payroll app for very small US businesses
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among payroll services, read from Roll by ADP’s own pages.
Made by ADP, Inc. · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Roll by ADP’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Roll by ADP’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 18 of the 18 other payroll services we grade
Roll by ADP is a payroll app for small US businesses that is run by typing requests into a chat, such as "Run payroll" or "Hire someone". It pays employees and 1099 contractors, files and pays payroll taxes, and includes an AI assistant for payroll and HR questions. It is sold at one price, with no tiers.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Roll by ADP, taken from its own pages and our grades.
There's no HR or benefits side, and the desktop view needs the phone app first.
- 1
Best for owners who want to run payroll from a phone chat
Roll is ADP's payroll for people who'd rather text than fill in forms: type "Run payroll" or "Hire someone" and it gets on with it.
- 2
Paid plans start at $39 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $39 per month, plus $5 per worker paid.
- 3
You can try it first
3 months free for new US clients, starting once company setup is complete
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
iOS, Android and Web.
- 5
Payroll by chat
Owners run payroll, hire workers and change pay by typing requests in a chat, with off-cycle payments for bonuses and final pay.
- 6
Taxes calculated and paid
Roll calculates, deducts and pays payroll taxes, files 1099-NEC forms, and delivers W-2s and 1099s to workers in the app each January.
- 7
Next-day and same-day deposit
Direct deposits arrive about 24 hours after payroll is submitted, and same-day deposit is available for a per-transaction fee.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 18 of 18
That is against the other payroll services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Roll by ADP you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Roll by ADP at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $39 per month, plus $5 per worker paid
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 3 months free for new US clients, starting once company setup is complete
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- ADP, Inc.
- Category
- Payroll
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 2,910 ratings
The report card
Best for owners who want to run payroll from a phone chat
Roll is ADP's payroll for people who'd rather text than fill in forms: type "Run payroll" or "Hire someone" and it gets on with it. It's $64 a month for five, with the first 3 months free. There's no HR or benefits side, and the desktop view needs the phone app first.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | One plan at $39 a month plus $5 a worker, $64 for five, inside the cheapest quarter of this category. Time tracking, the AI assistant and QuickBooks Online sync are all in that price; only same-day deposit costs extra. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 3 months free for new US clients, counted from when company setup is done. That's the longest trial in this category, but it's a trial, not a free plan. |
| Features | C | Payroll by typing requests in a chat, W-2 and 1099 workers, taxes paid, timekeeping and AI error checks. It does payroll fully, but it's a smaller job: the pricing page lists no HR, benefits administration or higher tiers. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.7 from about 2,900 App Store ratings. You type what you want done, and workers on fixed hours or pay can be paid automatically. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | iPhone, Android and web, plus QuickBooks Online. It's built for phones, though: the desktop view opens by scanning a code from the app. No desktop app. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Roll by ADP is for
- Great if you'd rather type "Run payroll" than learn payroll software
- Handy when you pay W-2 staff and 1099 contractors who live in different states
- Good for a few employees, at $64 a month for five with 3 months free
Who it is not for
- Too light for teams that want HR tools or benefits run alongside payroll
- Skip it if you do your admin at a desk, as the web view needs the phone app to open
- Tight if you often need same-day pay, as each one carries a fee
Good to know
Good for
- Owners with a few employees who want to run payroll from a phone
- Businesses paying both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors
- Teams spread across several US states
Worth knowing
- Runs payroll in the US only, though workers may live and work in different states.
- Built for phones: the desktop view is opened by scanning a code from the mobile app.
- Same-day direct deposit costs a per-transaction fee on top of the monthly price.
- One plan only: the pricing page lists no HR, benefits administration or higher tiers.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$39
A month to start
Roll by ADP is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39 per month, plus $5 per worker paid.
Time tracking, the AI assistant and QuickBooks Online sync are all in that price; only same-day deposit costs extra.
Roll
$39
per month, plus $5 per worker paid
Unlimited payroll for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, tax filing and payment, time tracking, the AI assistant and QuickBooks Online sync.
Trying it first
3 months free for new US clients, starting once company setup is complete
Read from rollbyadp.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Chat-based payroll app for very small US businesses. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, time tracking, payroll.
It does payroll fully, but it's a smaller job: the pricing page lists no HR, benefits administration or higher tiers.
- Payroll by chat
- Owners run payroll, hire workers and change pay by typing requests in a chat, with off-cycle payments for bonuses and final pay.
- Taxes calculated and paid
- Roll calculates, deducts and pays payroll taxes, files 1099-NEC forms, and delivers W-2s and 1099s to workers in the app each January.
- Next-day and same-day deposit
- Direct deposits arrive about 24 hours after payroll is submitted, and same-day deposit is available for a per-transaction fee.
- AI assistant and error checks
- A generative AI assistant answers payroll and HR questions and suggests savings, and AI-driven checks look for errors before payroll runs.
- Automatic payroll and time tracking
- Workers with fixed hours or pay can be paid automatically, and timekeeping is included for W-2 and 1099 workers.
- Employee app
- Employees are invited to their own version of the app to see pay summaries, download paystubs and tax forms, and update bank details.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- QuickBooks Online
Roll by ADP is made by ADP, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
18/18
Other payroll services it is graded above
Roll by ADP's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 18 of the 18 other payroll services we grade.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 9 of 18) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $39 a month, against a middle price of $29 for the category: 8 of the 13 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 19 payroll services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Roll by ADP’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 13 of 18
- CFree plan and trialAbove 15 of 18
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 18
- AEase of useAbove 9 of 18
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 18
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 14 payroll services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Roll by ADP is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Roll by ADP you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 18 of the 18 other payroll services we grade. It costs $468 a year.
What you could make
- Time tracking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. Roll by ADP’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
RUN Powered by ADP, Gusto, Square Payroll, OnPay and SurePayroll
The 5 tools Roll by ADP is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
RUN Powered by ADP
Paid
ADP's payroll and HR service for US businesses of 1 to 49 people.
- 2.4GPA
Gusto
From $49/mo
Payroll and HR for small businesses, with apps for owners and staff.
- Gusto also covers expense tracking.
- 2.4GPA
Square Payroll
From $6/mo
Payroll for Square sellers, with timecards from Square POS.
- Square Payroll also covers reports.
- 2.6GPA
OnPay
Free trial · from $49/mo
US payroll with published prices, plus HR and time add-ons.
- OnPay also covers reports.
- 2.4GPA
SurePayroll
From $20/mo
Online payroll for small US businesses and household employers.
- Roll by ADP also covers time tracking.
- SurePayroll also covers reports.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Roll by ADP free?
No, Roll by ADP is a paid product, but you can try it first. 3 months free for new US clients, starting once company setup is complete.
How much does Roll by ADP cost?
Roll by ADP lists one plan. Roll: $39 per month, plus $5 per worker paid.
What platforms does Roll by ADP work on?
Roll by ADP is available on iOS, Android and Web.
How is Roll by ADP rated?
Roll by ADP's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2,910 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
Does Roll by ADP have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Roll by ADP is listed for iOS, Android and Web.
Does Roll by ADP have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. Roll by ADP is listed for iOS, Android and Web.
Is Roll by ADP open source?
Roll by ADP is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
What does Roll by ADP integrate with?
Roll by ADP's listing names QuickBooks Online. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Roll by ADP?
Roll by ADP is made by ADP, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Roll by ADP?
The closest alternatives to Roll by ADP in our directory are RUN Powered by ADP, Gusto, Square Payroll, OnPay and SurePayroll.
How does Roll by ADP compare with other payroll services?
Roll by ADP's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 18 of the 18 other payroll services we grade.
Is Roll by ADP good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Roll by ADP B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $39 a month, against a middle price of $29 for the category: 8 of the 13 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Roll by ADP?
To replace Roll by ADP you would be making payroll taxes worked out and filed with the government for you.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Roll by ADP’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ADP's own pages on 17 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ADP, Inc. Prices change, so check rollbyadp.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Roll by ADP, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/roll-by-adp
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Roll by ADP: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/roll-by-adp
Know someone choosing between payroll services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/roll-by-adp/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded payroll services after Roll by ADP, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Payroll Insider's GuideEvery one of the 19 payroll services we grade, compared
- OnPay Insider's GuideUS payroll with published prices, plus HR and time add-ons2.6 GPA
- Patriot Payroll Insider's GuideLow-cost online payroll for small US businesses2.6 GPA
- Deel Insider's GuideGlobal payroll, contractor payments and employer of record2.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Roll by ADP’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. Roll by ADP is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ADP, Inc. Prices and plans change: check rollbyadp.com before you buy.