Gusto
Best Gusto Alternatives
10 products that do the same job as Gusto, matched to the reason you might switch, with similarity scores and published prices.
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Alternatives by reason for switching
Lower published price
More native integrations
Built for larger companies
Serves enterprise companies; Gusto does not list enterprise among the sizes it serves.
Small businesses, mid-market companies, enterprises
Free trial
Free plan
Gusto alternatives, closest first
Products built for the same job come first, then products that also cover it, each group by similarity: the share of categories (50%), company sizes served (30%) and pricing model (20%) a product shares with Gusto.
Built for the same job

Patriot Payroll
vs Gusto: $117 vs $199 a month at 25 employees. Payroll Software score 9.3 vs 8.1.

Paychex Flex
vs Gusto: $164 vs $199 a month at 25 employees. Same Payroll Software score (8.1).

Square Payroll
vs Gusto: $185 vs $199 a month at 25 employees.

SurePayroll
vs Gusto: $120 vs $199 a month at 25 employees. Payroll Software score 5.0 vs 8.1.

ADP RUN Powered by ADP
vs Gusto: Quote-only pricing; Gusto publishes its prices. Payroll Software score 3.8 vs 8.1.
Gusto vs ADP RUN Powered by ADP
Similarity68 of 100
OnPay
vs Gusto: Same list price as Gusto: $199 a month at 25 employees. Payroll Software score 7.6 vs 8.1.

QuickBooks Payroll
vs Gusto: $225 vs $199 a month at 25 employees. Payroll Software score 8.8 vs 8.1.

Paycor
vs Gusto: Quote-only pricing; Gusto publishes its prices. Payroll Software score 6.3 vs 8.1.
Similarity39 of 100
Netchex
vs Gusto: Quote-only pricing; Gusto publishes its prices. Payroll Software score 4.8 vs 8.1.
Similarity35 of 100
Also cover what Gusto does

Justworks
vs Gusto: $250 vs $199 a month at 25 employees.
Why buyers look beyond Gusto
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gusto vs its closest alternatives
| Product | Score | Starting price per employee | Starting base fee | Pricing model | Free trial | Open API | SOC 2 Type II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | $6/employee/mo | $49/mo | Base fee + per employee | Not verified | |||
![]() | 9.3 | $4/employee/mo | $17/mo | Base fee + per employee | Not verified | ||
![]() | 8.1 | $5/employee/mo | $39/mo | Base fee + per employee | Not verified | Not verified | |
![]() | Not scored | $6/employee/mo | $35/mo | Base fee + per employee | Not verified | Not verified | |
![]() | 5.0 | $4/employee/mo | $20/mo | Base fee + per employee | Not verified | Not verified | |
![]() | 3.8 | Not verified | Not verified | Quote only | Not verified | ||
![]() | 7.6 | $6/employee/mo | $49/mo | Base fee + per employee | Not verified | ||
![]() | 8.8 | $7/employee/mo | $50/mo | Base fee + per employee |
Gusto comparisons
Alternatives to similar products
Frequently asked questions
What are the best alternatives to Gusto?
The closest alternatives to Gusto in Payroll Software are Patriot Payroll (75% similar), Paychex Flex (73% similar), and Square Payroll (70% similar), by the categories, company sizes and pricing model they share. Patriot Payroll vs Gusto: $117 vs $199 a month at 25 employees. Payroll Software score 9.3 vs 8.1.
What is a cheaper alternative to Gusto?
Patriot Payroll: $117 a month at 25 employees vs $199 for Gusto.
Which Gusto alternatives publish their prices?
Of the alternatives to Gusto, Patriot Payroll, Paychex Flex, Square Payroll, SurePayroll, OnPay, and QuickBooks Payroll publish list prices for at least one plan. Gusto publishes its prices too.
Which Gusto alternative scores highest?
Patriot Payroll (75% similar to Gusto), with a LeadChange Score of 9.3/10 in Payroll Software against 8.1 for Gusto, among the 3 closest alternatives. For small businesses, Paychex Flex (8.1/10) is the top-scored alternative that lists them as a target.
Why do teams look for Gusto alternatives?
The fit limits documented for Gusto: faster pay costs extra on lower plans, new accounts start on slower deposits, and payroll is US-only. The “Why buyers look beyond Gusto” section explains each one from its source.
Which Gusto alternatives integrate with Xero?
Paychex Flex, ADP RUN Powered by ADP, OnPay, and Justworks list Xero among their notable integrations, like Gusto.
Which Gusto alternatives offer a free trial?
Of the alternatives to Gusto, Patriot Payroll, OnPay, and QuickBooks Payroll list a free trial; Gusto does not.
Is Patriot Payroll better than Gusto?
Patriot Payroll scores 9.3/10 in Payroll Software against 8.1 for Gusto; which fits better depends on your headcount, budget and the modules you need. Feature by feature: Gusto vs Patriot Payroll.
Switching from Gusto?
Tell us why you’re leaving and when your contract ends, and see the alternatives that fit, with verified evidence for what you need, ranked without regard to who pays us.
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