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 and Premium add more HR features; Premium is custom-priced. No annual billing discount.
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
| 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 August 24, 2026 · View source →
Price history
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At a glance
- Key limit metric
- Base fee + per employee
- Pricing transparency
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