UKG vs ADP Comparison 2024

UKG vs ADP: Which is better?

UKG Pro and ADP Workforce Now are two major human resources (HR) software solutions with comparable payroll, benefits administration, recruiting, onboarding, and performance management features. Both products target mid-to-large-size employers needing a range of customizable HR features in an all-in-one platform. However, where UKG Pro is tailored to businesses valuing a feature-rich and intuitive experience for their employees, ADP is mainly aimed at scaling businesses needing advisory support and the flexibility to add features as they grow.

Whether you’re looking to switch from UKG Pro to ADP Workforce Now or have narrowed down your list to these two, consider how they compare based on price and other top features. If neither meets your needs, check out our HR Software Guide for other solutions.

Rather watch a video overview of UKG and ADP? Check it out below.

UKG Pro: Better for mid-to-large-sized businesses focused on employee experience

With the merging of Ultimate Software Incorporated and Kronos Incorporated in 2020, the resulting Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG) is one of the largest human capital management (HCM) platforms on the market today. With software solutions suitable to businesses of varying sizes and needs, UKG Pro is geared toward mid-to-large-sized companies wanting to optimize the employee experience.

In every UKG Pro feature, UKG illustrates how it benefits the company and the employee. With employee-focused features like dynamic dashboards, mobile applications, career learning modules, financial wellness, and simplified benefits administration, UKG reduces the administrative burden on HR teams while ensuring the employee remains top-of-mind in every feature.

Also read: HRIS vs. HRMS vs. HCM

ADP Workforce Now: Better for scaling businesses needing flexibility

ADP is one of the world’s largest HR software companies, with over 70 years of experience. Similar to UKG, ADP offers a range of products, from standalone solutions for specific HR needs — like time and attendance or talent acquisition — to full-service, all-in-one human resources information systems (HRIS). ADP Workforce Now is one such HRIS, with tiered pricing, advisory services, and other add-on features to accommodate fast-growing businesses as they scale.

ADP offers some of the most comprehensive HRIS products on the market, but it is not always the right solution for everyone. Check out our Top 6 ADP Vendor Competitors & Alternatives for comparable ADP products.

UKG vs ADP: A detailed comparison

Pricing

UKG and ADP do not disclose prices on their websites; interested buyers must contact their sales team for a quote. UKG Pro follows similar HR software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies, with employers paying a monthly fee based on the number of employees in their organization and the modules they need. In contrast, ADP Workforce Now has clearly defined subscription tiers and add-on modules, granting buyers some idea of their options before contacting ADP for a quote. 

Nevertheless, UKG and ADP’s hidden fees make it difficult to conclude which one offers the most value for the money. Businesses should, therefore, take note of their employee headcount and compare both platforms’ available features below to determine which one best satisfies their needs.

Payroll

UKG Pro and ADP Workforce Now offer comparable payroll software features, including expert tax support, on-demand pay capabilities, and an employee self-service mobile application. However, they differ primarily in their approaches to supporting payroll processes as companies move into international markets.

UKG Pro

UKG Pro offers out-of-the-box payroll features, like employee mobile time-tracking that syncs with payroll processes, and compliance features, such as continuous software updates to support U.S. and Canadian payroll tax laws. Likewise, UKG keeps users apprised of compliance and regulatory changes through their online library, HR360.

Despite this, UKG Pro is limited in the scope of features offered for multinational corporations. Users must either work with a UKG-trusted third-party vendor in another country or purchase UKG Global Payroll, optimized for employees in 100+ countries. However, in either situation, companies must work directly or indirectly with a third-party vendor that runs payroll in that country, which could result in payroll delays.

Thus, considering UKG Pro’s price tag, multinational corporations may be disappointed in UKG Pro’s international payroll capabilities. For mid-to-large-sized companies growing rapidly, waiting for information on their international payrolls from third-party providers is inconvenient and could slow down the company’s accounting and HR processes.

ADP Workforce Now

Much of ADP Workforce Now’s payroll functionality is on par with UKG Pro’s: both offer tax compliance assistance, on-demand pay, pay card options for employees, and mobile device time-tracking capabilities that sync with payroll (if users select ADP’s Premium tier). However, where ADP differs the most from UKG is in its ability to support employers with a global workforce.

ADP Workforce Now, in combination with its ADP Celergo or ADP GlobalView Payroll, can provide payroll, benefits, and other workforce management support for employees in over 140 countries. Because of ADP’s long-established presence in HR software, many of these countries already have a local ADP presence. As a result, companies do not have to rely on indirect vendors to complete payroll on their behalf.

Likewise, ADP provides human resources outsourcing (HRO) services or professional employer organization (PEO) options to companies to simplify payroll processes and ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, or global regulations. ADP’s software automates many rote payroll tasks while their HR services place a majority of employment law compliance on their shoulders. As a result, even lean HR teams can address massive payroll needs with little effort.

Which to choose for payroll?

ADP Workforce Now. Here’s why. ADP Workforce Now has more flexible ways to support employers with international payroll needs. Because both UKG Pro and ADP Workforce Now provide nearly equivalent payroll features in their platforms, ADP’s international payroll capabilities and HRO and PEO services may be the deciding factor for organizations just starting their global presence and needing extra guidance and support.

Benefits administration

UKG Pro and ADP Workforce Now are designed to accommodate employers with already established benefit plans. Both products integrate with major insurance carriers so employers can manage employee benefits plans, including employee enrollments, changes, terminations, or qualifying life events, directly in the software. These changes are then automatically communicated to carriers. 

However, UKG Pro’s approach to benefits administration is more employee-centric, concerned ultimately with aiding employees in making the right decisions for their particular situations. While ADP Workforce Now offers similar capabilities, it primarily focuses on providing features to help employers remain compliant.

UKG Pro

With the acquisition of Everything Benefits by UKG in 2021, UKG Pro is optimized to support employer benefit plans through integrations with insurance carriers like Anthem, United Healthcare, and MetLife. UKG also supports self-service benefits for employees during all qualifying life events. Employees can compare benefit options side-by-side, receive personalized benefit plan recommendations based on their particular life circumstances, and even leverage videos and documents to educate themselves on the different plans.

Additionally, employees can take advantage of financial wellness tools through UKG Wallet. Employees can track and pay upcoming bills, set savings goals, use in-app discounts, and even talk to financial coaches. Not only does this give employees knowledge about their finances when needed, but it also makes them feel supported by their employers in their financial health journeys. 

Finally, the UKG Pro Giving feature allows employees to donate to charitable organizations through one-time or recurring paycheck deductions. This is an excellent way to increase employee retention: employers give employees a chance to make a difference through their paychecks with minimal effort while simultaneously improving their company brand and reputation.

ADP Workforce Now

Similar to UKG Pro, ADP Workforce integrates with several insurance carriers, so it is easy for employers to set up their own benefits plans through the platform. Likewise, ADP Workforce now also offers an interview-based tool to assist employees in determining what benefits are right for them during specific trigger events, like new hire onboarding or open enrollment. ADP Workforce Now also provides similar financial wellness tools through ADP’s myWisely mobile application.

While compliance remains an essential factor in UKG Pro and ADP Workforce Now platforms, ADP contains extra safeguards to ensure companies follow all regulatory requirements. For example, sending COBRA notifications to employees for necessary trigger events like terminations are included in both ADP’s enhanced and premium tiers. UKG Pro users, on the other hand, must pay an additional cost for COBRA administration.

In conjunction with additional professional services, ADP Workforce Now may be more beneficial to companies with complicated workforce structures. Employers working out of multiple states and countries may need ADP’s extra hand-holding to understand and comply with competing tax and other benefit regulations.

Which to choose for benefits administration?

It’s a tie. Here’s why: UKG Pro and ADP Workforce Now contain similar benefits administration features, so choosing one over the other is a matter of preference. For a richer, more supportive benefits experience for employees, companies should select Pro UKG for their financial counseling and charity giving options that ADP lacks.

On the other hand, employers with complex workforces may enjoy ADP Workforce Now’s additional benefits support options to help companies navigate compliance issues without needing to pay extra.

Recruiting

UKG Pro includes recruiting features as a standard module in its HRIS platform. In contrast, ADP Workforce Now users must pay extra for their talent acquisition add-on. Despite this, ADP Workforce Now’s talent acquisition management contains more enhanced functionality through their partnership with ZipRecruiter, such as a customized career site and access to over 25,000 job boards.

UKG Pro

UKG Pro contains many staple recruitment software features, such as:

• Distribution to over 3000 job boards with UKG’s partners.
• Generation of offer letters based on pre-made templates.
• Screening questions to narrow down the candidate field.
• Pre-employment background checks.
• Data transfer for smooth onboarding.

Compared to ADP Workforce now, UKG Pro’s recruiting is more focused on facilitating an easy application experience for potential candidates. For example, UKG Pro accommodates job descriptions in multiple languages so candidates of varying backgrounds can easily view and apply for positions, broadening a company’s job posting reach.

Additional features, like integrations with LinkedIn for résumé parsing and Google, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Outlook for interview calendar syncing, allow candidates to apply and track their job statuses easily. By simplifying the application process, UKG Pro ensures employers retain a healthy supply of candidates to satisfy their various recruitment goals.

ADP Workforce Now

Unlike UKG Pro, ADP Workforce Now users must pay an extra fee to add talent acquisition to a core subscription tier. However, through its partnership with ZipRecruiter, ADP Workforce Now users can access automations and larger talent pools compared to UKG Pro users.

For example, ADP Workforce Now automatically distributes job posts to over 25,000 job boards. In addition, ADP users take advantage of ZipRecruiter’s artificial intelligence (AI), which searches for qualified candidates for company job posts and invites them to apply.

Employers can also increase candidate engagement through custom career sites and text messages and video communication with candidates. For employers with high-volume hiring needs and small HR teams, ADP may be the perfect choice to find qualified candidates fast.

Which to choose for recruiting?

ADP Workforce Now. Here’s why. Despite being an add-on, ADP Workforce Now’s Talent Acquisition has significantly more functionality than UKG due to its partnership with ZipRecruiter. With AI capabilities and an extensive job post distribution network, ADP can easily support HR teams with consistent or critical hiring needs.

Performance management

Similar to recruiting, UKG Pro already includes a performance management module as part of its overall suite. ADP Workforce Now customers, on the other hand, must purchase performance, compensation, and learning management modules as additional features to any of their subscription tiers.

Despite this, both platforms offer similar talent management features, from continuous feedback to performance cycle management, learning and development courses, and goal setting and tracking.

UKG Pro

Included in UKG Pro’s suite are several essential performance management features, such as:

• Goal tracking.
• Continuous feedback.
• 360-degree reviews.
• Performance and compensation review cycles.
• Training courses.

What sets UKG Pro’s talent management apart from ADP Workforce Now, however, is its emphasis on coaching and upskilling current employees. For instance, UKG Pro users can create a branded training academy with training courses featuring customized, third-party, or pre-built lessons for employees to access on their schedule. In addition, employers can utilize the academy to issue required, organization-wide training or support individual employees’ career goals.

Similarly, UKG Pro’s platform encourages managers and employees to develop meaningful one-on-one meetings through centralized meeting notes and the ability to request feedback anytime. This keeps employees apprised of their performance and fosters trust in the organization, as employees are free to engage in performance follow-ups on an ongoing basis.

ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now offers similar features to UKG Pro for talent management, including the following: 

• 70,000 pre-built development courses.
• Employee self-enrollment in training courses. 
• Goal assignment and tracking.
• Sentiment analysis surveys. 
• Performance and compensation review cycles.

However, what differentiates ADP from UKG is that ADP’s performance management approach focuses on providing employers with the tools to make strategic workforce decisions.

For example, HR managers can take advantage of market insights through data from over 30 million employees during performance and compensation review cycles. With this information, managers can make sure that employees’ pay, bonuses, merit increases, and stock awards remain equitable and competitive within their industry. For employers concerned with increasing turnover rates, this employee data could be the first step in improving retention efforts.

Which to choose for performance management?

UKG Pro. Here’s why. UKG Pro already includes performance, compensation, and learning management modules in their all-in-one suite — in contrast, ADP Workforce Now users must purchase these add-on features separately. Moreover, UKG Pro’s coaching, feedback, and upskilling features are great ways for organizations to motivate underperforming employees and foster cultures of continuous improvement.

UKG vs ADP: Ready to choose?

UKG Pro and ADP Workforce Now are two of the biggest names for midsize businesses looking to consolidate their HR tech stack for a more streamlined experience. However, choosing the right one depends on what HR software aspects are most important to you.

For a more intuitive, employee-focused experience, choose UKG Pro for its benefit packages and focus on employee career development. For fast-growing businesses needing flexible solutions to accommodate them as they scale, choose ADP Workforce Now for its advisory services and breadth of product add-ons.

However, if none of these solutions fit, check out our HR Software Guide to browse other software on the market.

About the author

Jessica Dennis, a lead writer at TechnologyAdvice.com, specializes in HR software solutions for midsize businesses. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Michigan and over six years of HR compliance experience, she’s dedicated to researching and writing about software that balances employee satisfaction and engagement with the bottom line. In her free time, you can find her obsessing over her labrador retriever or jumping into the nearest body of water.