Unclaimed: Are you working at Gusto?
Gusto Reviews: 4.6/5 — Highly Rated
One of the most preferred payroll platforms on the web today, Gusto is a great tool for all-around HR management that can handle everything from automatic year-end tax form filing to new-hire form filing, and managing employee benefits. It easily integrates with numerous accounting and business tools, as well as collaboration platforms such as Asana and Autobooks. The platform is well known for its exceptional customer support and delivers great insights and reporting.
| Capabilities |
API
|
|---|---|
| Segment |
Small Business
Mid Market
Enterprise
|
| Deployment | Cloud / SaaS / Web-Based, Mobile Android, Mobile iPhone |
| Training | Documentation |
| Languages | English |
Gusto charges a monthly base fee plus a per-person rate, and for small teams the base fee is most of the bill. Simple is a reported $49 a month plus $6 per person, so a three-person company pays $67 — around $22 per employee. The same plan at fifty people works out near $7 each. Nothing about the product changes; the arithmetic does, and it decides whether Gusto is cheap or expensive for you.
- What it is: A payroll and benefits platform for US small businesses, covering tax filing, onboarding, and HR basics.
- Best for: US small businesses of roughly 10 to 50 employees who want payroll handled properly without an accountant on retainer.
- Pricing: Simple $49 + $6/person, Plus $80 + $12, Premium $180 + $22. Contractor Only $35 + $6. Reported July 2026.
- The honest catch: Gusto raised the Simple base fee from $40 to $49 in March 2026, a 22.5% increase on the entry plan.
What Is Gusto?
Gusto is payroll built for people who are not payroll specialists. It runs the pay cycle, calculates and files federal, state, and local taxes automatically, handles W-2s and 1099s, manages benefits enrolment, and covers the onboarding paperwork that surrounds hiring someone in the United States.
Its reputation rests on doing an unglamorous job without drama. Payroll is a category where the product’s main virtue is that nothing goes wrong — taxes filed on time, employees paid on the right day, compliance handled — and Gusto is consistently well regarded on exactly that. The interface is unusually approachable for a compliance-heavy product, which matters when the person running payroll is also the founder.
It is firmly a US product. Payroll is jurisdiction-specific, and Gusto’s tax filing and compliance coverage is built for US federal and state requirements. Businesses hiring internationally need Deel, Remote, or Oyster instead.
How Gusto Works
- Base fee plus per-person pricing. Two components, and the ratio between them is what decides your effective rate.
- Automatic tax filing. Federal, state, and local, which is the core value and the reason people stop doing this manually.
- Full-service payroll. Direct deposit, W-2s, 1099s, and unlimited pay runs.
- Benefits administration. Health insurance, 401(k), and workers’ compensation, available in supported states.
- Contractor-only option. A reported $35 a month plus $6 per contractor for businesses with no W-2 employees.
- Tiered HR depth. Plus adds time tracking and PTO management; Premium adds HR support and compliance advice.
Gusto Pricing
Gusto blocks automated access from our infrastructure, so figures below are third-party reported for July 2026.
| Plan | Base/month | Per person | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor Only | $35 | $6/contractor | 1099 filing, contractor payments |
| Simple | $49 | $6 | Full-service payroll, tax filing, employee self-service |
| Plus | $80 | $12 | Time tracking, PTO management, multi-state payroll, deeper HR |
| Premium | $180 | $22 | HR support, compliance guidance, dedicated service |
The arithmetic that decides your tier:
- Below about ten people, you are mostly paying the base fee. Three employees on Simple costs $67 a month — $22.33 each — because $49 of that is fixed. At twenty-five employees the same plan is $7.96 each. Gusto gets substantially better value as you grow, which is the opposite of per-seat software.
- Plus roughly doubles the marginal rate. $12 per person against $6, on top of a higher base. Five employees on Plus is $140 a month, or $28 each. Only move up if time tracking, PTO management, or multi-state payroll are things you genuinely need.
- Premium is a different category of spend. $180 plus $22 per person means twenty-five employees costs $730 a month. That buys HR support and compliance guidance, which is worth it for companies without an HR function and wasteful for those with one.
- The Simple base fee rose 22.5% in March 2026, from $40 to $49. Worth knowing when comparing against older reviews and price guides, most of which still quote $40.
- Contractor Only is genuinely cheaper for the right business. $35 plus $6 per contractor suits agencies and companies with no W-2 employees, and it is easy to miss because most comparisons only cover the employee plans.
- Very small teams should do the maths against alternatives. At $22 per head for three employees, Gusto is not obviously cheap, and that is the size at which the comparison is closest.
Who Should Use Gusto
- US small businesses with 10 to 50 employees. The clearest case, where the base fee has amortised and the product is well matched to the need.
- Founders running payroll themselves. The interface is genuinely approachable for a compliance product, which is its main practical advantage.
- Companies offering benefits. Health insurance, 401(k), and workers’ comp administration in one place removes real friction.
- Contractor-heavy businesses. The Contractor Only plan is well priced and under-publicised.
It fits poorly for very small teams of two or three, where the base fee dominates and the per-head cost is high; for international hiring, since Gusto is US-only; and for companies wanting HR and IT unified, where Rippling covers considerably more ground.
Honest Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Reliable automatic tax filing. The core job, done without drama, which is what you are buying.
- Genuinely easy to use. Unusual for a compliance-heavy product.
- Benefits administration included. Health, 401(k), and workers’ comp in supported states.
- Unlimited pay runs. No penalty for off-cycle payments or corrections.
- A well-priced contractor plan. $35 plus $6 each for businesses without employees.
- Improving value with scale. Effective per-employee cost falls steadily as you grow.
Limitations
- The base fee punishes small teams. $22 per head at three employees.
- A 22.5% increase on Simple in March 2026. From $40 to $49.
- US only. No international payroll capability.
- Plus doubles the per-person rate. $12 against $6, plus a higher base.
- Premium is expensive. $180 plus $22 per person for HR support.
- Benefits availability varies by state, so coverage is not universal.
Gusto Alternatives and How It Compares
- Rippling unifies HR, payroll, and IT on one employee record, which is more capable and considerably more expensive, with no published pricing.
- Deel, Remote, and Oyster handle international hiring and EOR, which Gusto does not attempt.
- QuickBooks Online offers payroll as an add-on, which is convenient if your accounting already lives there.
- Employment Hero covers similar ground outside the US.
- Paychex and ADP are the established incumbents, generally more expensive and more sales-led, with deeper enterprise capability.
For a broader survey, browse our payroll directory.
The Verdict
Gusto is a good product doing a job most founders should not be doing themselves. Payroll tax filing is unforgiving, mistakes are expensive, and Gusto handles federal, state, and local obligations automatically with an interface that does not require a payroll background. For a US small business that has outgrown spreadsheets and does not want an accountant on retainer, it is a straightforwardly sensible purchase, and the fact that its main virtue is “nothing goes wrong” is the right virtue for this category.
Price it by working out your own per-head number, because the base fee changes the answer completely depending on size. Three employees on Simple is $67 a month, or $22.33 each — not obviously cheap. Twenty-five employees on the same plan is $199, or $7.96 each — very good value. Gusto improves as you grow, which is unusual, and it means the businesses most likely to feel it is expensive are precisely the smallest ones. If you are a two- or three-person company, run the comparison carefully rather than assuming the entry plan is the budget option.
Two specifics worth carrying into the decision. Gusto raised the Simple base fee from $40 to $49 in March 2026, so most published comparisons are now out of date by 22.5% on the entry plan — check the current figure rather than trusting a guide. And if your business pays contractors rather than employees, the Contractor Only plan at a reported $35 plus $6 each is meaningfully cheaper and rarely mentioned in comparisons; it is the most commonly missed saving in Gusto’s lineup.
FAQ
How much does Gusto cost?
Reported 2026 pricing is a base fee plus a per-person charge: Simple at $49 per month plus $6 per person, Plus at $80 plus $12, and Premium at $180 plus $22. A Contractor Only plan is reported at $35 per month plus $6 per contractor. Gusto blocks automated access from our infrastructure, so these are third-party figures and should be confirmed directly.
Why does Gusto seem expensive for a small team?
Because the base fee is fixed regardless of headcount. On Simple, three employees costs $67 a month — $22.33 each — since $49 of that is the base. The same plan at twenty-five employees is $199, or $7.96 each. The effective rate therefore improves substantially with size, and very small teams pay the highest per-person cost.
Did Gusto raise its prices?
Yes. Gusto increased the Simple plan’s base fee from $40 to $49 per month in March 2026, a 22.5% rise on the entry tier. Many published pricing guides and comparisons still quote the older figure, so verify the current rate rather than relying on secondary sources when budgeting.
Does Gusto work outside the United States?
No. Gusto is a US payroll product, and its tax filing and compliance capabilities are built around US federal, state, and local requirements. Businesses hiring internationally need a global employment platform such as Deel, Remote, or Oyster, which handle employer-of-record arrangements and local payroll in other countries.
What is Gusto best for?
US small businesses of roughly ten to fifty employees that want payroll, tax filing, and benefits handled reliably without specialist knowledge. It suits founders running payroll themselves, and companies offering health insurance or 401(k). It is a weaker fit for very small teams, where the base fee dominates, for international hiring, and for companies wanting HR and IT unified in one platform.
Compare Gusto with other popular tools in the same category.
Gusto is so easy to setup, reasonably priced and takes care of all the backend stuff you don't want to do yourself as a small business owner.
The only negative I have for Gusto is that you can only email the tax filing department. Sometimes email isn't the best way to explain an issue.
They file the forms, so I don't have to.
I love how easy it is to find everything I am looking for on Gusto. I can easily access Time Off, Benefits, Pay Stubs, and more. I have yet to see another platform offer such a great service!
I honestly don't have anything bad to say about Gusto. I have had a really great experience overall, and I think it's one of the best tools out there. Happy that my employer chose it!
I am mainly just a user when it comes to Gusto. I don't manage anything for our company on it, but I do find that all of the tools it offers are everything an employee is looking for to get the best experience.
Gusto is one of the most intuitive and easy-to-use software platforms on the block. As a small consulting business, they take all the hard work off the administrator, and provide products and features that distill complex or tedious business issues into easily doable tasks. The customer service is top notch, and service is always prompt, helpful, and clear. Meeting with a sales representative who helped us select our team's healthcare insurance benefits was one of the best customer service experiences I've ever had. Running payroll as an administrator for the first time, and paying contractors for various services has also been a breeze. I highly recommend anyone considering Gusto over its competitors. It's taken the hard work off our team, so that we can focus on other business priorities.
None so far. Everything has been extremely positive.
Running payroll for a small team, selecting and managing benefits, and paying contractors easily.
I love how easy it is to use Gusto. I also appreciate not having to worry about payroll taxes.
The price has increased since we first signed up, but that's to be expected.
Gusto is removing the thought of payroll from my mind. As a small business owner, I have enough things to think about and it's nice knowing that payroll and taxes are taken care of.
Convenience of product functionality, comprehensive reporting, great user benefits, integration with QuickBooks
There are no topics I can think of at this time.
Payroll service provider with affordable package options and system reporting and financial software integration
Admin setup has been a breeze. Gusto Help Center has answered all of my questions. Desktop and app formatting are easy to navigate for employees. Favorite features: Onboarding, Documents, Expenses, Time Tracking, Time Off, Reports, Performance Reviews, and of course Payroll processing. I have previously utilized Intuit, ADP, and Paycom; Gusto is by far my favorite for its ease of access, affordability, and Payroll and HR features.
I've been working with Gusto for a little over a year now, and I do not have any complaints!
Gusto has improved our onboarding processes!
It's very easy to use. The customer service is fast, efficient, and friendly. It's user friendly.
I don't have any downside. I've used it for two businesses now and it's been easy to use.
It makes payroll simple, transparent, and a great employee-facing dashboard so your staff can self-serve.
The best part of Gusto is the range of services it providers - State Payroll Registration, Payroll processing, State tax filings, 401k providers, healthcare which is really 99% of what a small business operating in the US would want.
Gusto takes up the responsibility of doing the state filings with the respective authorities where the company has a presence but sometimes these filings are missed and requires follow up from the customer's side to take it to closure.
GUsto helps us provide payroll processing and benefits adminstration to employees based in the US. They support all US states and also help with health insurance provision for the employees which is very beneficial in providing a comprehensive benefits package to attract the best talent.
Very easy to use and user friendly, I actually use Gusto for the 3 of the companies that I work for!
Nothing comes to mind for dislikes. Love it!
Pays me on time and with no hiccups.
Put succinctly, Gusto is very easy to use.
It's 401k offerings do not work for employers who also have a defined benefit plan.
All aspects of payroll.
I love having gusto. Everything is easy to access. Nothing complicated! The website is always quick and simple so everything you need can be instantly at your fingertips.
I don't dislike a thing! I really like gusto.
No problem
I can track my time on the app and clock in/out quickly.
At this time, I don't dislike anything. It has been working well for me.
Tracking employee time.
We have been using this for last 4 months and we loved it. Recommend it to others.
There's not a prompt response sometimes. The hold time of customer service is too long.
Gusto is paying all the necessary taxes which eliminates the paperwork on our side.
Gusto is easy to use. The interface is intuitive. And it integrates seamlessly into Quickbooks Online. Support staff are very responsive, too.
I have not noticed any sticking points yet.
Gusto takes care of all the regulatory reporting associated with payroll.
my experience with Gusto has been Efficient, user friendly and time saving!
the only downside I would say is the 2 business day waiting period for direct deposits, but you can pay an extra fee to send them sooner.
payroll processing with ease
Gusto is user-friendly and convenient with a quality app.
I have no complaints about Gusto. The app has been great and I always get paid on time.
It saves time with their budgeting features that allow you to split paychecks into different accounts.
Gusto is a complete platform offering all aspects of the HR function.
I have no complaints. The product and service work very well.
It provides a well-organized and reasonably priced platform of services. We are pleased with the product and service.
makes it easy to find many documents and information in one account
There is nothing that I don't like. I really found it very helpful to get what I need in one place
Getting details on my payroll and benefits
We loove Gusto! Easy to use low cost always there to help over phone
There's Nothing I dont like about Gusto. I love it
It allows me to pay my team and stores their info, sends forms on their behalf.
Easy to run payroll. I like the FAQ section. Gusto Customer Service has always been responsive.
Gusto is charging for employees that we do not run payroll for.
Runs payroll with automatic deductions so that no manual calculations are required.
Super easy to get all your relevant employee information (paystubs, etc.) and manage withholdings. Deposits are very timely.
I haven't found anything that I dislike about Gusto.
Easy employee management of payroll services.
Stellar customer Service and Support team.
I dislike this question. Nothing to dislike about Gusto.
Great UI. Help section is the best and very much informative. Support Team is well informed and very reliable.
I love that Gusto runs all of the reports for us, payroll gets sent, and extra circumstances like PTO and bonuses are easy to include.
Sometimes I can't get the report I specifically need, but they are helpful on the phone about getting me to a close version.
Streamlining payroll, so we don't have to calculate anything, or worry about our employees getting paid correctly and on time.
Gusto has the resources and the experts that urgently respond to any questions or concerns we have had. They have supplied direction and follow-up to provide immediate peace of mind!
We use another app for our timesheets, which sometimes can be confusing; however, Gusto simplifies it.
We are able to run payroll knowing our team is paid correctly, on time and we are compliant with all taxes etc.
The automation and reports are most helpful.
Sometimes it is hard for me to find the right report I need.
It is solving all of our tax filings and compliance.
Gusto feels very straight-forward and support has always been available and helpful. I've used it to process payroll and be paid myself. Gusto is the first thing I offer to clients before anything else.
I have no comments on any current downsides or dislikes about Gusto.
Gusto helps us streamline and manage our payroll and HR needs
user-friendly, simple and intuitive navigation
emails about my paychecks, birthday card
time off requests
Our employees love the app feature, as well as the ability to split checks within accounts.
The ability to create separate timecards is difficult
Great for employees to input expenses and days off requests
Easy to understand and use. Easy to make adjustments when needed.
There is nothing that I dislike about Gusto!
Gusto makes it easy for employees to access their previous paystubs, review paid time off accrua, and make changes to their withholdings.
The software is easy to use and the support team is very helpful.
There are no downsides. The product and people are great.
Gusto is solving the issue of paying employees and filing payroll tax returns.
