If you are comparing ADP Workforce Now vs TotalSource, you should know that both products share ADP’s trusted name and even cover similar HR functionalities like payroll, benefits, and compliance. But the difference lies in how they provide their services.
ADP Workforce Now functions as a software that gives you complete control over your day-to-day operations, with ADP features to facilitate your HR functions. TotalSource, however, is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) service where ADP becomes your co-employer and manages HR, payroll, and compliance on your behalf.
Some companies prefer self-service tools, while others need full-service support.
Therefore, we have examined both platforms to help you determine which model fits your business needs. This guide compares features, pricing, and real-world user feedback without being biased. Here is what we found:
ADP Workforce Now Vs TotalSource: At A Glance
Feature
ADP Workforce Now
ADP TotalSource
Payroll Management
Paycheck calculations, deductions, and tax filings (federal, state, local), In-house payroll execution and setup controls, GL entry export for accounting integration
ADP-managed payroll execution as co-employer, Operations, audits, reconciliations, and garnishments, Ongoing federal and state compliance support and updates
Time And Attendance
Core module with automation, security controls, and integrated reporting
Basic time tracking is offered as an add-on with dedicated support
Onboarding And Recruiting
Digital onboarding included; recruiting add-on connects to 25,000+ job boards
Basic onboarding; advanced options require separate add-ons
Benefits Administration
Integrates with 900+ carriers; you manage and negotiate your own plans
Offers pre-negotiated enterprise-level benefits across all 50 states
Pricing
Tiered by plan (Select, Plus, Premium)
Custom pricing
What Is ADP Workforce Now?
ADP Workforce Now is ADP’s flagship cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) platform designed for businesses that want to maintain direct control over their HR operations. It’s a self-service solution—meaning your company remains the sole employer of record and retains full responsibility for all HR functions. It provides tools and technology to manage those functions efficiently.
Its payroll solution is trusted by more than 90,000 companies like Eileen Fisher, Margaritaville, Jelly Belly, and Polar . Another important factor we have observed is that it offers a wide range of functionalities across its Select, Plus, and Premium plans; therefore, the product is reliable for businesses with 50 to more than 1,000 employees.
Standout Capabilities Of ADP Workforce Now
ADP Onboarding: The ADP Onboarding module includes automated workflows with valuable features such as new hire welcome videos and the ability to share company videos, news, and mission statements.
Pre-Packaged Courses: It includes 41 pre-packaged courses in areas like compliance, leadership, health, and safety. This is offered as a separate app/add-on listed in the ADP Marketplace, adding significant value.
ADP Assist™: An AI-powered, chat-based HR assistant that acts as an intelligent virtual assistant. It helps HR teams and managers get instant answers to HR-related questions, available 24/7.
Pros And Cons Of ADP Workforce Now
Pros
Reports and analytics are detailed, helping HR and finance teams track workforce data effectively.
Secure login and authentication features help protect sensitive employee information.
The news and announcement tools keep employees informed through desktop and mobile devices.
Cons
Navigation can be confusing, with too many menus and multiple steps to complete simple actions.
Onboarding tools exist, but some users struggle to make them fit their process.
What Is TotalSource?
ADP TotalSource is ADP’s Professional Employer Organization (PEO) solution. In a PEO model, ADP (via TotalSource) becomes your co-employer—meaning they legally share employer responsibilities with your company.
What it does is handle all the complex HR tasks (payroll processing, benefits administration, compliance management, tax filings) while giving you full control over hiring decisions and daily operations that support company culture. We have found this model particularly valuable for organizations with 10 to 500 employees that don’t have dedicated HR staff. In fact, Forbes Advisor named it the #1 PEO for Small Business Owners in 2025. That shows its credibility for small businesses in the market.
The product is trusted by companies such as 360 Wraps and Gold Star Services to streamline HR compliance and payroll audits.
Standout Capabilities Of TotalSource
Tax Protection: ADP TotalSource is one of the few PEOs certified by the IRS as a Certified Professional Employer Organization (CPEO). This certification means ADP—not your company—becomes legally responsible for federal employment tax payments. It also confirms that ADP TotalSource meets the IRS’s strict financial, tax compliance, and background standards.
Complete HR Specialist Network: The product gives you access to actual human specialists across every HR function. You can get a Strategic HR Expert assigned to your company, along with a Payroll Business Partner, Benefits Team, and Investigation Team for handling harassment or discrimination concerns. Along with that, employees also get premium phone support through ADP MyLife Advisors for urgent help.
PEO Buying Power Advantage: It partners with top global companies (like AIG and Kaiser Permanente) to give its clients access to premium employee benefits. Because ADP TotalSource manages HR for over 722,000 worksite employees, it has the buying power to negotiate better insurance rates, healthcare plans, and benefit options with major providers. This is something small or mid-sized businesses usually can’t get on their own.
Pros And Cons Of TotalSource
Pros
Dedicated support model (HRBP + specialists) provides organized, role-based help
Government-related documentation (e.g., PPP reports) is processed smoothly through the system
Payroll and benefits enrollment run smoothly with minimal manual work
Cons
Doesn’t allow adding contractors or non-payroll workers
Initial setup can feel complex due to the platform’s wide range of tools
ADP Workforce Now Vs TotalSource: Key Feature Comparison
Payroll Management
Both platforms handle paycheck calculations, deductions, and tax filings (federal, state, local). The main difference we have observed lies in who executes payroll and who claims the risk:
With Workforce Now, your business executes payroll using ADP’s software. This means you remain responsible for setup, oversight, and accuracy. If a tax error occurs or the IRS audits you, your business carries the liability. ADP provides tools and support to ease that, but you have to hire HR staff or external specialists for precise execution.
Another thing we found is that Workforce Now natively covers the U.S. and Canada, with global payroll available through integration. It can generate or export payroll journal entries (GL entries) for importing into accounting software.
With TotalSource, ADP executes payroll as your co-employer. Their dedicated teams handle operations, audits, reconciliations, garnishments, and compliance filings. Because ADP is the co-employer, it carries the legal and compliance liability—not your business. That protects you from payroll-related risks and reduces direct liability. Additionally, TotalSource provides continuous compliance updates and notifications.
Winner: TotalSource wins this round because it legally assumes payroll compliance liability, significantly reducing audit-related risks for small firms.
Time And Attendance
ADP Workforce Now offers automated time-tracking in its Premium plan through the ‘Next Generation Time and Attendance’ module. It includes multiple clock-in options (web, mobile, POS, kiosks, and physical clocks), advanced security (geo-fencing, IP restrictions, biometrics), and full payroll integration. Managers can view attendance patterns via an intuitive dashboard.
TotalSource, on the other hand, provides basic time tracking and PTO/time-off features, but time and attendance are not its primary focus. It offers these capabilities as optional add-ons rather than core features, although it compensates with a dedicated support team to assist with time-tracking queries—something Workforce Now doesn’t include.
Winner: ADP Workforce Now wins this category thanks to its comprehensive, built-in time and attendance module that offers better automation and visibility.
Onboarding And Recruiting
ADP Workforce Now includes new hire onboarding with features like digital I-9 processing, payment preference setup, and office navigation maps. Recruiting is available as an add-on, but when enabled, users can post across 25,000+ job boards (LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor) and access integrated background screening. This makes it more valuable for companies needing advanced talent acquisition.
TotalSource provides basic onboarding—electronic I-9, employment verification, and standard workflows. For advanced functionality, it relies on an add-on (‘Onboard by HR Cloud’) that offers AI-assisted job post writing and branded new hire portals. However, the recruiting add-on lacks transparency, which can limit usability.
Winner: ADP Workforce Now takes this round with clearer functionality and stronger recruiting capabilities integrated directly into its system.
Benefits Administration
ADP Workforce Now (Plus and Premium plans) acts as a benefits management platform integrating with 900+ insurance carriers and 100+ HR, payroll, and finance systems. It offers flexible plan configuration, benefit reports, and personalized employee decision support. However, users must negotiate their own insurance rates and select their own carriers—Workforce Now manages benefits, but doesn’t offer rate advantages.
TotalSource delivers stronger value by leveraging its PEO network of over 722,000 worksite employees to negotiate superior insurance rates and premium benefits packages from top providers. It offers coverage across all 50 states—medical, vision, dental, 401(k), EAP, pet wellness, commuter benefits, and employee perks.
Winner: ADP TotalSource clearly wins this round with its enterprise-level benefits at negotiated rates that small and mid-sized businesses can’t typically access independently.
How Much Does ADP Workforce Now And TotalSource Cost?
ADP Workforce Now offers tiered pricing based on plan type and business requirements.
Select Plan
Plus Plan
Premium Plan
Meanwhile, TotalSource pricing is also customized, which depends on the company’s needs and size.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Our Expert Opinion
Based on our key feature comparison alone, the score is 2:2—a tie. Ask yourself: Is it control or protection you want?
If you want full control over processes and need advanced recruiting tools, then ADP Workforce Now wins for you. But if you’re a smaller business without dedicated HR staff and want protection from compliance risks with better benefits access, then TotalSource wins for you.
Suppose you’re currently using Workforce Now but considering a switch. In that case, you can migrate to TotalSource without data loss since both platforms are built on ADP’s centralized HR data architecture—though you’ll need to realign your contract during migration.
However, if we have to choose one, we recommend TotalSource over ADP Workforce Now because most businesses overestimate their HR capabilities and underestimate compliance risk. We think ‘control’ that Workforce Now offers sounds appealing until you realize it’s also a responsibility. One mistake can cost thousands in penalties, which is a significant concern.
