All-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform.
Grade: A — Score: 85/100
Gusto leverages modern technology to provide a seamless experience for managing HR tasks, payroll processing, and employee benefits. Its user-friendly interface and robust features make it easy for businesses to handle their HR needs without the burden of complicated software.
The platform streamlines workflows by automating payroll calculations, tax filings, and employee onboarding, allowing businesses to focus on growth rather than administrative tasks. Gusto's integration capabilities with various applications enhance its functionality, making it a versatile tool for small to medium-sized enterprises.
However, businesses must be aware of potential risks, such as data security concerns and compliance with labor laws. Gusto takes measures to mitigate these risks, but users should remain vigilant and informed about their responsibilities when using the platform.
Contractor Only: $0/mo base (limited time, normally $35/mo) + $6/mo per person
Simple: $49/mo + $6/mo per person
Plus: $80/mo + $12/mo per person
Premium: $180/mo + $22/mo per person
Consider switching to QuickBooks Payroll: QuickBooks Payroll offers similar payroll features with strong accounting integration.
Gusto publishes transparent pricing starting at $49/mo + $6/mo per person for the Simple plan, while ADP requires custom quotes and pricing often increases after an introductory period. Gusto includes unlimited payroll runs, automatic tax filing, and benefits administration on all plans. ADP offers broader enterprise-grade compliance tools, 24/7 support, and deeper international payroll coverage, making it better suited for companies with 100+ employees or complex regulatory needs. For businesses under 50 employees, Gusto typically provides more features per dollar with a simpler setup process.
Yes, but multi-state payroll requires the Plus plan ($80/mo + $12/mo per person) or higher. The Simple plan only covers single-state payroll. On Plus and Premium, Gusto automatically calculates, files, and pays federal, state, and local payroll taxes across all states where you have employees. Gusto also offers state tax registration as an add-on service (pricing varies by state) to handle the paperwork of registering with new state tax agencies when you hire in a new location.
Payroll on AutoPilot runs payroll automatically on your set schedule without requiring manual approval each pay period. Once configured, Gusto calculates wages, applies tax withholdings, processes deductions for benefits like health insurance and 401(k), and initiates direct deposits on payday. You can still review and adjust each run before it processes if needed. AutoPilot is available on all plans. Salaried employees run fully automatically, while hourly employees require time entry to be submitted before the payroll cutoff (4 PM PST each business day).
Gusto supports payments to contractors in over 120 countries as an add-on available with any plan. There is no monthly per-contractor fee for international contractors. Each payment to a US-based bank account costs $5, and foreign exchange rates vary by transaction. For businesses that need to hire full-time international employees (not contractors), Gusto Global offers Employer of Record services at $599/employee/month (promotional rate through March 15, 2026, increasing to $699 after) through a partnership with Remote.
Gusto's licensed brokers help employers compare over 9,000 health insurance plans from 30+ carriers based on company size, budget, and location. Medical, dental, and vision plans are available. Gusto charges no administration fee for health insurance brokered through the platform. If you want to keep your existing broker, you can integrate their plans into Gusto for $6/mo per eligible employee (this fee is waived on the Premium plan). Gusto also supports HSAs ($2.50/mo per participant), FSAs and dependent care FSAs ($4/mo per participant each), and commuter benefits, all covered under a single $200 annual service charge.
Gusto focuses on payroll, benefits, and HR for US-based small businesses, starting at $49/mo + $6/mo per person with transparent published pricing. Rippling is a broader platform that combines HR, payroll, IT (device management, app provisioning), and finance into modular products, with custom pricing that requires a sales conversation. Rippling supports native global payroll in 160+ countries, while Gusto relies on a third-party partnership with Remote for its EOR service. For businesses that need IT management alongside HR, or have significant international headcount, Rippling offers more built-in scope. For US-only teams under 50 people that prioritize simplicity and transparent costs, Gusto is more straightforward.
Gusto syncs payroll journal entries with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, FreshBooks, and Sage. The integration automatically maps payroll categories (wages, taxes, deductions, employer contributions) to your chart of accounts and supports class and location tracking. QuickBooks Online and Xero sync bidirectionally in real time. QuickBooks Desktop uses an IIF file export that you upload manually. Beyond accounting, Gusto integrates with Slack, Expensify, When I Work, Homebase, and other time tracking, POS, and expense tools at no additional cost.
Gusto automatically files Form W-2 (employee wages), Form 1099-NEC (contractor payments), Form 940 (federal unemployment tax), Form 941 (quarterly federal tax return), and Form 8974 (R&D tax credit) on your behalf. State and local payroll tax forms are also filed automatically based on where your employees work. At year-end, Gusto generates and distributes W-2s and 1099s electronically through the employee portal, and employers can e-file, e-sign, and store all documents within their Gusto account. The Contractor Only plan includes 1099 creation and e-filing.