The short answer
Both publish their prices. SurePayroll's Full Service plan costs $29 a month plus $7 per employee, and a No Tax Filing plan costs $20 plus $4 for owners who file taxes themselves. Gusto Simple costs $49 a month plus $6 per person and includes benefits administration and HR tools.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
SurePayroll wins 1Gusto wins 11 tie
| Dimension | SurePayroll | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| PricingSurePayroll Full Service lists $29 a month plus $7 per employee against Gusto Simple's $49 plus $6: $99 against $109 at 10 employees, equal at 20. SurePayroll bills year-end forms, multi-state payroll and accounting integration as add-ons. Multi-state payroll: $9.99 a month (first state included), Year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms: $50 base plus $5 per form, billed annually, Accounting software integration: $4.99 a month, Time clock integration: from $5 a month plus $3 per employee, Employment law support: from $30 a month, 401(k): quoted by plan | $20/mo + $4/employee/mo | $49/mo + $6/employee/mo |
| IntegrationsGusto's App Directory lists 153 apps and it documents a REST API with webhooks. SurePayroll prices an accounting software integration at $4.99 a month and a time clock integration separately. 153 | 1 documented | 153 native |
| Fit and supportBoth list small businesses as their segment and offer weekday phone support. SurePayroll includes onboarding at no extra charge; Gusto charges no setup fee either. Small businesses | Small businesses | Small businesses |
| Attribute | SurePayroll | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Support channels | Phone, chat | Phone, email, chat, online help center, dedicated account partner (Premium) |
| Founded | 2000 | 2012 |
| Ownership | Subsidiary | Private |
| Attribute | SurePayroll | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Base fee + per employee | Base fee + per employee |
| Price transparency | Published | Published |
| Free trial | ||
| Contract term | Monthly | Monthly |
| Best for | Small businesses | Small businesses |
| Mobile apps | iOS (Gusto Mobile), Android (Gusto Mobile) | |
| Automatic tax filing | ||
| Contractor payments |
Gusto Simple$49/mo base + $6/employee/mo| Employees | SurePayroll No Tax Filing | Gusto Simple |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $60/mo (lowest) | $109/mo |
| 50 | $220/mo (lowest) | $349/mo |
| 200 | $820/mo (lowest) | $1,249/mo |
Monthly list price of each product’s entry plan with published per-employee pricing.
Pricing. SurePayroll Full Service lists $29 a month plus $7 per employee against Gusto Simple's $49 plus $6: $99 against $109 at 10 employees, equal at 20. SurePayroll bills year-end forms, multi-state payroll and accounting integration as add-ons.
Capabilities. Both file payroll taxes and allow unlimited pay runs. Gusto adds benefits administration, hiring, time and HR modules; SurePayroll focuses on payroll, with insurance and 401(k) sold alongside.
Integrations. Gusto's App Directory lists 153 apps and it documents a REST API with webhooks. SurePayroll prices an accounting software integration at $4.99 a month and a time clock integration separately.
Fit and support. Both list small businesses as their segment and offer weekday phone support. SurePayroll includes onboarding at no extra charge; Gusto charges no setup fee either.
Patriot Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (9.3/10).
From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo
SurePayroll's Full Service costs $29 a month plus $7 per employee and No Tax Filing $20 plus $4, against $49 a month plus $6 per person on Gusto's Simple plan. SurePayroll adds charges for year-end W-2 and 1099 forms ($50 plus $5 per form) and for multi-state payroll ($9.99 a month).
Below 20 employees, yes, on full-service list prices: $99 against $109 a month at 10 employees. From 21 people Gusto Simple costs less, and SurePayroll's add-ons for year-end forms and multi-state payroll change the total.
It suits small employers that want full-service payroll at a low list price, free two-day direct deposit and household payroll. It is less suited to buyers who want benefits administration and HR tools in the same subscription.
Paychex. It completed the acquisition of SurePayroll in February 2011.
Neither lists a free trial; both sell through a demo or a quote.
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.
LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.We may earn a fee.
How we make money
LeadChange may earn a fee when you request pricing through our site or follow a sponsored link. Rankings never depend on whether a vendor pays us.
What the LeadChange Score means
A 0–10 editorial assessment built only from verified facts, across six weighted dimensions: capabilities, pricing, integrations, security, fit and support, and data confidence.
Payments, commissions and lead fees are never inputs.
