The short answer
TriNet is an IRS-certified PEO: a flat per-employee monthly fee, by quote, covers payroll and payroll tax administration, HR expertise, benefits administration, workers' comp administration and EPLI. Gusto is payroll, benefits and HR software from $49 a month plus $6 per person, month to month.
LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.
TriNet wins 2Gusto wins 21 tie
| Dimension | TriNet | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| PricingGusto lists Simple at $49 a month plus $6 per person, Plus at $80 plus $12 and Premium at $180 plus $22. TriNet quotes a flat per-employee monthly fee and bills benefit premiums and payroll taxes separately. | Quote only | Published |
| CapabilitiesBoth run payroll with tax filing and offer medical, dental and vision benefits. TriNet adds workers' comp and claims support, ACA and COBRA administration and access to HR experts; Gusto adds time tracking, hiring and onboarding and contractor payments. Payroll processing and payroll tax administration (calculation, withholding, remittance, filing), W-2 and year-end document preparation, Benefits administration including medical, dental, vision and life insurance, Workers' compensation and claims management support, ACA and COBRA administration support, Access to HR experts, Online HR platform for time, pay and benefits information | 7 of 10 core capabilities | 9 of 10 core capabilities |
| IntegrationsGusto lists 153 integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack and Salesforce. TriNet lists 12, including QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Greenhouse and BambooHR, and offers an API. 153 | 12 native | 153 native |
| Fit and supportTriNet serves small and mid-size companies and includes HR expertise in the PEO fee, with advisory or dedicated support on HR Plus. Gusto is built for small businesses, with weekday support from 6am to 6pm MST and a dedicated account partner on Premium. Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses |
| SecurityTriNet states SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA and supports sign-on through Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Okta and OneLogin. Gusto states HIPAA compliance and supports single sign-on. Yes | SOC 2 | None verified |
| Attribute | TriNet | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per employee | Base fee + per employee |
| Price transparency | Quote only | Published |
| Best for | Small businesses, mid-market companies | Small businesses |
| Mobile apps | TriNet mobile app (pay stubs, time off) | iOS (Gusto Mobile), Android (Gusto Mobile) |
| Native integrations | 12 | 153 |
| Support channels | Phone, Online, Advisory support (HR Plus), Dedicated support (HR Plus) | Phone, email, chat, online help center, dedicated account partner (Premium) |
| Founded | 1988 | 2012 |
| Headquarters | Dublin, California | San Francisco, California, US |
| Ownership | Publicly traded | Private |
| Attribute | TriNet | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Open API | ||
| Single sign-on | Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Okta, OneLogin | |
| Automatic tax filing |
Pricing. Gusto lists Simple at $49 a month plus $6 per person, Plus at $80 plus $12 and Premium at $180 plus $22. TriNet quotes a flat per-employee monthly fee and bills benefit premiums and payroll taxes separately.
Capabilities. Both run payroll with tax filing and offer medical, dental and vision benefits. TriNet adds workers' comp and claims support, ACA and COBRA administration and access to HR experts; Gusto adds time tracking, hiring and onboarding and contractor payments.
Integrations. Gusto lists 153 integrations, including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack and Salesforce. TriNet lists 12, including QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Greenhouse and BambooHR, and offers an API.
Fit and support. TriNet serves small and mid-size companies and includes HR expertise in the PEO fee, with advisory or dedicated support on HR Plus. Gusto is built for small businesses, with weekday support from 6am to 6pm MST and a dedicated account partner on Premium.
Security. TriNet states SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA and supports sign-on through Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Okta and OneLogin. Gusto states HIPAA compliance and supports single sign-on.
TriNet does not publish a price: its PEO is a flat per-employee monthly fee by quote, with benefit premiums and payroll taxes billed on top. Gusto publishes its plans: Simple costs $49 a month plus $6 per person, or $109 a month for 10 employees. Compare a TriNet quote with Gusto plus the workers' comp you would buy separately, which Gusto sells from $14 a month.
Yes. HR Plus is TriNet’s administrative services organization (ASO): payroll, benefits administration, HR and compliance tools with advisory or dedicated support, priced per employee per month by quote. Gusto offers HR guidance and tools on its Premium plan, at $180 a month plus $22 per person.
Yes. TriNet HR III-B, Inc. has been on the IRS list of certified professional employer organizations since July 1, 2018. Its PEO fee covers payroll tax administration, workers' compensation administration and EPLI coverage and claims management.
TriNet includes workers' compensation administration and claims management support in its PEO. Gusto does not include it; it offers workers' compensation as an extra, starting at $14 a month.
TriNet offers medical, dental, vision and life insurance, with ACA and COBRA administration support. Gusto offers health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance plus 401(k), HSA, FSA, dependent care FSA and commuter benefits.
TriNet connects to QuickBooks Online, NetSuite, Xero and Sage Intacct, as well as Carta, Greenhouse, BambooHR and Lattice. Gusto connects to QuickBooks and Xero among its 153 integrations, along with Google Workspace, Slack, Salesforce and Expensify.
TriNet lists 12 integrations and Gusto lists 153. Both connect to Xero.
Both TriNet and Gusto state HIPAA (BAA). Only TriNet states SOC 2 Type II.
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