Gusto
Gusto · HR & People
US payroll + benefits platform positioned as the alternative to ADP and Paychex for SMBs (1-500 employees). Distinctive for its modern UX (unlike ADP's 1990s-era interface) and built-in benefits marketplace. Valued $9.6B private (2022). Priced $40/mo base + $6/employee (Simple) up to $80+$12 (Premium). Popular with US-based startups and SMBs — no international payroll (unlike Deel/Rippling). Direct competitor to Rippling in the US mid-market.
In other words, Gusto is worth it for US-based SMBs (1-100 employees) that need payroll + benefits + basic HR in one tool without hiring a bookkeeper — particularly if you're incorporating and running payroll for the first time. Simple covers basic payroll; Plus adds hiring and next-day direct deposit; Premium adds compliance alerts and dedicated support. Very easy setup and monthly payroll runs. Native integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Rippling, and 100+ tools. Downside: US-only (no international payroll), and $6/employee scales fast for teams > 30 people.
Pricing summary
Monthly Only
Main metered limit
Simple plan is $49/mo base + $6 per employee/month. Plus is $80/mo base + $12/employee. Premium is $180/mo base + $22/employee (some enterprise accounts still get a custom quote). No annual billing discount. Re-confirmed 2026-09-11 (rivermate.com, whichpayroll.com, payrollservicecost.com) — all three tiers unchanged. HISTORY NOTE: the Simple base fee rose from $40 to $49/mo effective March 2026; that increase is already reflected in the stored figures and is not a new movement.
Not applicable
Global team or need EOR? Pick Deel or Remote. Larger US employer wanting HRIS + IT? Rippling. Just accounting-only? QuickBooks Online Payroll.
All plans
See a plain-English answer to “How much does Gusto cost?” →
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key limit |
|---|---|---|---|
SimpleEntry tier | $49 | $49 | base fee + $6/employee/mo |
Plus | $80 | $80 | base + $12/employee/mo + multi-state + time tracking |
Premium | $180 | $180 | base + $22/employee/mo + dedicated HR support |
All tier prices verified September 11, 2026 · View source →
Price history
Price tracking is just getting started for Gusto. Full history will build as we log changes. See what we have so far →
Common questions about Gusto
- How much does Gusto cost in 2026?
- Does Gusto have a free plan?
- How often does Gusto change prices?
- What are the best Gusto alternatives in 2026?
- Is Gusto worth it?
- Gusto is worth it for US-based SMBs (1-100 employees) that need payroll + benefits + basic HR in one tool without hiring a bookkeeper — particularly if you're incorporating and running payroll for the first time. Simple covers basic payroll; Plus adds hiring and next-day direct deposit; Premium adds compliance alerts and dedicated support.
- What are the pricing tiers of Gusto?
- Gusto has 3 plans: Simple ($49/mo), Plus ($80/mo), Premium ($180/mo).
- Is Gusto priced per user?
- No. Gusto is priced hybrid, so your bill is not driven purely by seat count.
Frequently asked questions
About Gusto pricing.
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At a glance
- Key limit metric
- Base fee + per employee
- Pricing transparency
- Public
Integrates and connects
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