The short answer
Square Payroll costs $35 a month plus $6 per person paid and imports time cards and tips from Square POS and the Square Team App. Gusto’s Simple costs $49 a month plus $6 per person and adds benefits administration, hiring and onboarding and HR tools.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
Square Payroll wins 2Gusto wins 21 tie
| Dimension | Square Payroll | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| PricingSquare Payroll costs $35 a month plus $6 per person, with multi-state payroll included. Gusto’s Simple costs $49 plus $6 and covers payroll in one state; multi-state payroll starts on Plus at $80 plus $12. | $35/mo + $6/employee/mo | $49/mo + $6/employee/mo |
| CapabilitiesBoth run unlimited payrolls with tax filing and pay contractors. Gusto adds benefits administration, hiring and onboarding, HR and money management; Square adds tip import, scheduling and labor-cost reports, with benefits through partners. Unlimited payroll runs, Automatic tax filing, Direct deposits or printable checks, Payroll on AutoPilot, Employee self-onboarding, PTO policies, Time tracking synced to payroll | 3 of 12 core capabilities | 11 of 12 core capabilities |
| IntegrationsGusto lists 153 integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack and Clover. Square Payroll connects to Square POS, the Square Team App and QuickBooks Online. 153 | 1 documented | 153 native |
| Fit and supportBoth are built for small businesses. Square’s payroll specialists answer Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT; Gusto answers Monday to Friday, 6am to 6pm MST. Small businesses | Small businesses | Small businesses |
| SecuritySquare Payroll states SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. Gusto states HIPAA compliance and supports single sign-on. Yes | SOC 2, ISO 27001 | None verified |
| Attribute | Square Payroll | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile apps | Square Team App | iOS (Gusto Mobile), Android (Gusto Mobile) |
| Support channels | Phone, chat | Phone, email, chat, online help center, dedicated account partner (Premium) |
| Founded | 2009 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California, US | San Francisco, California, US |
| Ownership | Publicly traded | Private |
| Attribute | Square Payroll | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Base fee + per employee | Base fee + per employee |
| Price transparency | Published | Published |
| Contract term | Monthly | Monthly |
| Best for | Small businesses | Small businesses |
| Automatic tax filing | ||
| Contractor payments |
Pricing. Square Payroll costs $35 a month plus $6 per person, with multi-state payroll included. Gusto’s Simple costs $49 plus $6 and covers payroll in one state; multi-state payroll starts on Plus at $80 plus $12.
Capabilities. Both run unlimited payrolls with tax filing and pay contractors. Gusto adds benefits administration, hiring and onboarding, HR and money management; Square adds tip import, scheduling and labor-cost reports, with benefits through partners.
Integrations. Gusto lists 153 integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack and Clover. Square Payroll connects to Square POS, the Square Team App and QuickBooks Online.
Fit and support. Both are built for small businesses. Square’s payroll specialists answer Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT; Gusto answers Monday to Friday, 6am to 6pm MST.
Security. Square Payroll states SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. Gusto states HIPAA compliance and supports single sign-on.
Patriot Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (9.3/10).
From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo
Square Payroll costs $35 a month plus $6 per person paid, so 10 employees cost $95 a month; contractor-only payroll costs $6 per contractor with no base fee. Gusto Simple costs $49 plus $6, or $109 for 10 employees.
Square Payroll suits businesses that already sell with Square: it imports time cards and tips from Square POS, offers free time cards and scheduling through Square Shifts and lets employees take pay in Cash App. It is less suited to companies that want benefits administration from the payroll vendor: health insurance and 401(k) come through partners.
Next to Square Payroll, Gusto’s base fee is $14 a month higher and Simple covers one state; a team in two states needs Plus, at $80 a month plus $12 per person. Gusto also charges a $100 processing fee if funds are short at the payroll debit deadline.
Square pays the penalties and fines in a tax notice when a Square Payroll error caused them. Gusto’s payroll terms cover penalties that arise from its own late filing or remittance, but not those caused by inaccurate or incomplete payroll data.
Square pays the next business day with Instant Payments from a Square balance, in two days for approved accounts and in four business days as standard. With Gusto, new accounts pay in four days, then in two once 15 days pass with a successful debit; Plus and Premium include next-day pay.
Square offers health insurance through SimplyInsured, with the employer paying at least 50% of premiums, and 401(k) through Vestwell from $125 a month plus $8 per participant. Gusto offers health, dental, vision, life and disability plans, 401(k), HSA, FSA and commuter benefits in its own account.
Yes, at list price: for 25 employees Square Payroll comes to $185 a month and Gusto to $199 on their lowest published plans, before add-ons. Square Payroll pricing lists every plan.
Only Square Payroll states SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001. Only Gusto states HIPAA (BAA).
Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices. Then, if you like, ask to hear from both.
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