by Gusto, Inc.
Gusto is a payroll, benefits and HR platform for US small businesses, launched in 2012 as ZenPayroll.
This review rests on 32 facts checked against Gusto’s official pricing pages and documentation, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score and the pros and cons use only those verified facts, as our methodology explains, and third-party ratings are quoted, never scored.
Gusto fits US small businesses that want payroll, benefits and basic HR in one account, with public prices and month-to-month terms. Every plan files payroll taxes and runs unlimited payrolls. Plus adds multi-state payroll and next-day pay, and Premium adds same-day pay and a dedicated account partner. It is less suited to employers with employees outside the US, or to teams that rely on custom reports, which reviewers cite as limited.
Public pricing, no contracts
Simple and Solo cost $49 per month plus $6 per person, Plus $80 plus $12, and Premium $180 plus $22. Plans are month to month, and account setup is free.
Evidence: Contract term: Monthly
Tax filing on every plan
Gusto files federal, state and local payroll tax forms, such as Form W-2, 1099, 940 and 941, with unlimited payroll runs. Its Payroll Terms say it pays penalties caused by its own filing errors, with no dollar cap stated.
Evidence: Automatic tax filing: Yes
Benefits and HR in one account
Gusto offers health, dental, vision, life, disability, 401(k), HSA, FSA and commuter benefits. It handles open enrollment and life event changes, and deductions sync to payroll.
Evidence: Benefits offered: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, 401(k), HSA, FSA, Dependent care FSA, Commuter benefits
Large app directory and an API
The App Directory lists 153 apps, including QuickBooks, Xero, Slack and Google Workspace. Gusto Embedded offers a REST API with webhooks.
Evidence: Native integrations: 153
Faster pay costs extra on lower plans
Same-day pay is $90 and instant pay is $100 per payroll on Simple and Plus; both are included in Premium. Business Compliance is $85 per month per state on an annual contract unless you are on Premium.
Evidence: Extra costs: Next-Day pay add-on on Simple: $15/mo + $3/mo per person (included in Plus and Premium), Same-day pay: $90 per payroll on Simple and Plus (included in Premium), Instant pay: $100 per payroll on Simple and Plus (included in Premium), State tax registration: pricing varies by state, Global contractor payments: $5 per payment to US-based bank accounts; foreign exchange rates may vary, R&D tax credits: 15% of identified tax credits, Time & Attendance Plus on Simple: $6/mo per person after free trial, Gusto Business Compliance: $85/mo per state, annual contract (included in Premium), Remote I-9: $20 per submission (included in Premium), E-Verify: $5 per submission on top of Remote I-9 (included in Premium), Priority Support on Simple and Plus: $30/mo + $3/mo per person, Health insurance broker integration: $6/mo per eligible employee, Workers' compensation: starting at $14/mo, Gusto Money Plus: $19/mo, Tax-advantaged benefits: $200 annual service charge; HSA $2.50/mo per participant; FSA, dependent care FSA and commuter benefits $4/mo per participant each with a $20/mo minimum, 401(k): pricing varies by 401(k) integration, Cannabis-related businesses: some plans require a CRB compliance add-on (price not published), Insufficient funds at the payroll debit deadline: $100 processing fee
New accounts start on slower deposits
Most new employers start on 4-day pay. 2-day pay opens after a 15-day wait and one successful payroll debit.
Evidence: Direct deposit speed: 4-day pay by default for new employers; 2-day pay after a 15-day wait and one successful debit; next-day pay for eligible accounts (included in Plus and Premium, $15/mo + $3/mo per person add-on on Simple); same-day and instant pay on qualified payrolls (included in Premium, $90 and $100 per payroll on Simple and Plus)
Payroll is US-only
Gusto runs payroll for US employees only. Contractors abroad are paid through a separate add-on in more than 120 countries.
Evidence: Countries supported: US
Fees grow with headcount
Per-person fees run from $6 to $22 a month by plan, so cost rises with each employee, a point reviewers raise.
Reporting and mobile limits
Less suited to teams that need custom reports or full administration on mobile, according to reviewers.
Starting base fee
$49/mo
Starting price per employee
$6/employee/mo
Pricing model
Base fee + per employee
Price transparency
Published
Free trial
No
Free plan
No
| Employees | Simple | Plus | Premium | Solo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $109/mo | $200/mo | $400/mo | $109/mo |
| 25 | $199/mo | $380/mo | $730/mo | $199/mo |
| 50 | $349/mo | $680/mo | $1,280/mo | $349/mo |
| 100 | $649/mo | $1,280/mo | $2,380/mo | $649/mo |
Monthly list price before discounts, add-ons and taxes, from the published price model of each plan.
Each core capability we evaluate in Payroll Software, checked against Gusto’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.
11 verified of 12 core capabilities
8 integrations we documented, by how they connect. Gusto reports 153 native integrations in total.
The 10 apps that payroll software products document most often, and whether Gusto documents each.
3 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by Gusto; median of the 19 products compared: 3
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier or API), 19 live payroll software products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Common praise
Common complaints
Third-party ratings are shown as cited text; they are not part of the LeadChange Score.
Gusto is sold by Gusto, Inc., which was founded in 2012, is headquartered in San Francisco, California, US, and is privately held. Before you sign, review the contract terms and ask for the security documentation that applies to your plan.
Yes. Gusto states it offers payroll in all 50 states and files federal, state and local payroll taxes. The Simple plan covers payroll in one state; multi-state payroll is a Plus feature.
Yes, through the global contractor payments add-on, which covers more than 120 countries. It costs $5 per payment to US-based bank accounts, and exchange rates may vary. Payroll for employees is US-only.
New employers start on 4-day pay, with 2-day pay after a 15-day wait. Next-day pay is included in Plus and Premium; Gusto's help center and pricing page differ on whether Simple includes it. Same-day and instant pay are included in Premium.
Yes. QuickBooks is one of 153 apps in the Gusto App Directory, alongside Xero, Slack and Google Workspace.
Gusto is a payroll software product built for small businesses. Its modules include Payroll, Benefits, Time and attendance, Hiring and onboarding, and 4 more.
In our payroll software ranking, the highest-scored products other than Gusto are Patriot Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, and Paychex Flex. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Gusto alternatives.
It depends on the team. Choose Gusto if: you want a published price: $49 a month plus $6 per person on Simple. Choose ADP TotalSource if: you want a PEO to carry workers' compensation and HR compliance. The full comparison: Gusto vs ADP TotalSource.
Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: public pricing, no contracts, tax filing on every plan, and benefits and HR in one account. It is less suited to employers that need payroll for employees outside the US and teams that need highly customized reporting.
Yes. Gusto offers an open API (REST) to customers, with webhooks for event updates.
Gusto states HIPAA support with a BAA. It supports single sign-on.
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PricingGusto no longer lists a free trial.
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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.
