SeroPayroll vs ADP

Full service vs do it yourself

ADP is one of the largest payroll and HR providers in the world, as of 2026. It offers full-service payroll where it moves funds, files with government agencies and handles a wide range of HR, benefits and compliance needs for employers of every size. Pricing is generally quote-based and depends on the services you choose.

SeroPayroll is software you run yourself. It calculates pay to the cent, generates the bank, CRA and Service Canada files you need, and leaves the final upload and payment steps with you. That keeps the cost low and the price published, and it suits owners and bookkeepers who are comfortable taking those last steps.

Canadian rules, by statute

SeroPayroll covers CPP and CPP2, EI including Québec’s reduced rate, T4127 federal and provincial tax, QPP, QPP2 and QPIP, and taxable benefits. Fourteen jurisdictions including federal are reconciled to the CRA payroll calculator, and rates are stored as data so they can be updated when governments change them. Taxable benefits flow through every deduction correctly.

Vacation pay, statutory holidays and overtime follow each province’s statute: Ontario’s 44-hour week, Alberta’s 8/44 greater-of rule, BC’s daily two-tier and weekly 40. Employer levies such as WCB, WSIB and CNESST, Ontario EHT, Manitoba’s HAPSE levy and Québec HSF are calculated with each run. Newfoundland and Labrador’s HAPSET is included as well.

Honest limits

SeroPayroll doesn’t move money. Direct deposit produces a CPA 005 file for RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC or Desjardins that you upload to your business banking. RL-1 is slips only, with no electronic transmission. An employee app is in development, so for now employees receive pay stubs by PDF or email.

If you want a provider to take those steps for you, including funding payroll, remitting source deductions and filing year-end slips, a full-service option like ADP may suit you better. It’s worth being clear about which model you want before comparing prices, because they’re different services. Honest comparisons start there.

• Direct deposit by CPA 005 file upload
• T4 XML and ROE .BLK uploaded by you
• RL-1 slips only
• Employee app in development

When ADP may be the better fit

Larger employers, companies with staff in several countries, and businesses that want payroll, benefits, HR and compliance fully handled by a provider often choose ADP. Its scale, service depth and range of HR products are hard for any small software company to match, and it serves employers far larger than SeroPayroll is built for.

If you have more than 500 employees, operate outside Canada and the US, or simply would rather not upload bank and government files yourself, ADP is worth a quote. The extra cost of full service can be well worth it for employers without in-house payroll expertise. Choose the model that fits how you want to work.

Pricing at a glance

SeroPayroll plans are published in USD: Starter up to 10 employees $25/mo, Team 11 to 50 $50/mo, Business 51 to 100 $100/mo and Scale 101 to 500 $249/mo. Annual billing costs the equivalent of 10 months. Accountants get unlimited companies and employees for $1,200/yr. Over 500 employees, talk to us.

Employees who are only paid don’t need a login, so you aren’t charged for staff who simply receive pay stubs. SeroPayroll runs as a Windows desktop app and a web edition, in English and Canadian French. Try it free for 14 days with your own pay data. No contract is required.