ADP vs Sterling Check: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for ADP and Sterling Check side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
ADP
Enterprise payroll and HR management
Best for you if:
- • You want industry leader and most established
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Best for you if:
- • You want deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance
| At a Glance | ADP | Sterling Check |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $59/employee/mo, billed monthly RUN (Small Business) plan | Not published |
Category | HR & Recruiting Payroll | HR & Recruiting Compliance |
Rating | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 · SourceForge 4.3 12,314 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | Add-on modules for specific features | n/a |
Choose ADP or Sterling Check?
Choose ADP if
- You want industry leader and most established
- You want global payroll expertise
Choose Sterling Check if
- You want deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance
- You want global reach with operational scale for international background checks
In-Depth Analysis
ADP
Enterprise payroll and HR management
ADP's RUN pricing starts at a reasonable $59/month + $4/employee, which is fairly standard for basic payroll services for small businesses.
Watch out
Add-on modules for specific features
Strengths
- Pro: Industry leader and most established
- Pro: Global payroll expertise
- Pro: Strong compliance
- Pro: Comprehensive feature set
- Pro: Reliable and proven
Weaknesses
- Con: Can be expensive
- Con: Complex implementation
- Con: Less modern UX
- Con: Add-on costs add up
Key features
Sterling Check
Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
Strengths
- Pro: Deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance.
- Pro: Global reach with operational scale for international background checks.
- Pro: Fast turnaround times, with a significant percentage of US criminal searches closing in one day.
- Pro: Robust integrations for simplified customer and candidate experiences.
- Pro: Automated adverse action process to save time and reduce risk.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing details are not publicly available and require direct inquiry.
- Con: The transition from Sterling to First Advantage might require existing users to adapt to new branding or processes.
Key features
Plans and prices: ADP vs Sterling Check
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ADP |
| adp.com read Oct 7, 2026 |
| Sterling Check | No plan prices on file | sterlingcheck.com/pricing |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on ADP pricing and Sterling Check pricing.
Key Takeaways
ADP
- Choose if you want enterprise payroll and HR management
Sterling Check
- Choose if you want comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- Only ADP has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 12,314 reviews); Sterling Check has none we can show.
- ADP starts at $59/employee/mo, billed monthly; Sterling Check has no public paid plan price on file.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do ADP and Sterling Check compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. Only ADP has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 12,314 reviews); Sterling Check has none we can show. ADP starts at $59/employee/mo, billed monthly; Sterling Check has no public paid plan price on file.
What are ADP and Sterling Check used for?
ADP: Enterprise payroll and HR management. Sterling Check: Comprehensive background checks and identity services for smarter hiring and faster onboarding.
What does ADP cost vs Sterling Check?
ADP's cheapest paid plan is RUN (Small Business) at $59/employee/mo, billed monthly. Sterling Check has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 7, 2026.
What's the main difference between ADP and Sterling Check?
ADP's main strength: industry leader and most established. Sterling Check's main strength: deep market expertise with industry-specific solutions and compliance guidance.