QuickBooks Payroll vs Gusto

Entry prices are close: Gusto lists $49 plus $6 per person, and QuickBooks Payroll is listed at $50 plus $7, though we could not confirm that on a payroll pricing page.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated 38 verified data points13 sources

QuickBooks Payroll

Best for
Small businesses wanting payroll synced with accounting data

Choose QuickBooks Payroll if

  • You want tax penalty protection up to $25,000 on the Elite plan (conditions apply).
  • You want same-day direct deposit; Intuit does not state which plans include it, so confirm before signing.
  • You want time tracking, scheduling, hiring, and onboarding included on Premium ($88 plus $13 per employee).
  • You want expert-completed setup and access to a personal HR advisor on Elite.
  • You want Payroll AI to collect time and attendance data and text updates to admins.

Gusto

Best for
US small businesses wanting automated payroll tax filing

Choose Gusto if

  • You want clearly published pricing: $49 plus $6 per person, no contracts, and free account setup.
  • You need integrations: 152 directory apps, including QuickBooks, Xero, and Slack, plus a REST API.
  • You want health, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), HSA, and FSA benefits through one vendor.
  • You want multi-state payroll and next-day pay included on Plus ($80 plus $12 per person).
  • You weigh third-party reviews; Gusto is rated 4.6 out of 5 across 4,228 Capterra reviews.

Key differences

Where QuickBooks Payroll and Gusto differ (4)
AttributeQuickBooks PayrollGusto
Support channelsPhone, onlineEmail, chat, phone, live online training
Founded19842012
HeadquartersMountain View, California, USSan Francisco, California, US
OwnershipPublishedPrivate
Show 7 attributes where they are the same
Where they are the same (7)
AttributeQuickBooks PayrollGusto
Pricing modelBase fee + per employeeBase fee + per employee
Price transparencyPublishedPublished
Contract termMonthlyMonthly
Best forSmall businessesSmall businesses
Mobile appsGusto employee app, Employer mobile app
Automatic tax filing
Contractor payments

Price by headcount

Estimated list price per month by scenario
EmployeesQuickBooks Payroll Workforce PayrollGusto Simple
10$120/mo$109/mo (lowest)
50$400/mo$349/mo (lowest)
200$1,450/mo$1,249/mo (lowest)

Monthly list price of each product’s entry plan with published per-employee pricing.

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Gusto's entry plan is $49 plus $6 per person versus $50 plus $7 for QuickBooks Workforce Payroll, about $109 versus $120 per month at 10 employees. We could not confirm the QuickBooks figures on a payroll pricing page.

Capabilities. Both document tax filing, direct deposit, contractor payments, and employee self-service. Gusto also documents HRIS and benefits administration; QuickBooks documents time tracking and a tax penalty guarantee. Each documents strengths the other does not.

Integrations. Gusto documents 152 apps, a REST API, and webhooks. QuickBooks Payroll documents general-ledger export and four benefits or HR partners, but publishes no integration count, and we could not confirm a payroll API.

Fit and support. Both target small business. Gusto lists email, chat, phone, and training, and is rated 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra across 4,228 reviews; QuickBooks lists phone and online support, and we did not find third-party ratings for it.

Neither one?

Patriot Payroll

Patriot Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (6.3/10).

From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo

Frequently asked questions

Is QuickBooks Payroll cheaper than Gusto?

At entry level, Gusto lists $49 per month plus $6 per person, and QuickBooks Payroll lists $50 plus $7 for Workforce Payroll, billed monthly. For 10 employees that is about $109 versus $120 per month. We could not confirm the QuickBooks figures on a payroll pricing page, so check them with Intuit. Both exclude add-ons.

Which is better for a small business, QuickBooks Payroll or Gusto?

Both target small businesses. Gusto offers free account setup, no contracts, and unlimited payroll runs, and is rated 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra across 4,228 reviews. QuickBooks Payroll adds time tracking and hiring on Premium and a tax penalty guarantee up to $25,000 on Elite. Neither wins by default; compare headcount and the modules you need.

Can you switch from QuickBooks Payroll to Gusto?

Both are cloud payroll products with automated tax filing, direct deposit, and contractor payments, and both bill monthly. QuickBooks states you can cancel anytime and Gusto states no contracts, so neither states a lock-in. Neither publishes migration tools or timelines; ask how prior-period payroll and tax history are transferred.

What is the key difference between QuickBooks Payroll and Gusto?

Entry prices are close ($49 plus $6 versus $50 plus $7). Gusto is a payroll, benefits, and HR platform with 152 directory apps and a REST API. QuickBooks Payroll, from Intuit, bundles time tracking, hiring, and HR workflows by plan, and offers a $25,000 tax penalty guarantee on Elite.

Does Gusto integrate with QuickBooks?

Yes. Gusto lists QuickBooks, Xero, Slack, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Expensify, Microsoft 365, and Clover as native integrations among 152 apps. QuickBooks Payroll supports general-ledger export and lists Allstate, Vestwell, NEXT, and Mineral for benefits and HR. QuickBooks Payroll publishes no integration count, and we could not confirm a payroll API.

Get quotes from QuickBooks Payroll and Gusto

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Changelog

  1. First published.

Data sources

Every value on this page links to its source below. Primary sources are the vendor's or authority's own pages.

  1. Intuit pricing page: Bundle · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  2. Gusto, Inc. pricing page · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  3. Intuit website: Payroll · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  4. capterra.com/p/131882/Gusto · secondary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  5. sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/896878/000089687826000037/intu-20260731.htm · primary source, checked Oct 6, 2026
  6. Gusto, Inc. website: About · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  7. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gusto_(company) · secondary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  8. Intuit website: One employee · secondary source, checked Oct 5, 2026
  9. Patriot Software pricing page · primary source, checked Oct 5, 2026