Deel US PEO vs Gusto — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Deel US PEO starts at $125/mo. Gusto starts at $49/mo. Gusto is $76/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Deel US PEO.
See price history: Deel US PEO · Gusto
How pricing works
These two tools don't price the same way, so the headline numbers below aren't directly comparable until you plug in your own volume.
- Deel US PEO (Per Seat) — Deel US PEO bills on a fixed plan from $125/mo, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
- Gusto (Hybrid) — Gusto is hybrid: a fixed subscription from $49/mo plus metered usage on top (Base fee + per employee). Your real bill moves with volume, not seat count.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
Deel's US Professional Employer Organization service — co-employment across all 50 states with healthcare, dental, vision, mental health, fertility and 401(k) benefits included, plus managed payroll and tax filings. $125 per PEO employee per month, roughly a fifth of Deel's international EOR rate because no foreign entity is involved. Sibling products: Deel EOR (outside the US), Deel Contractor Management, Deel Payroll, Deel HR and Deel IT.
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.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Deel US PEO monthly | Deel US PEO annual | Gusto monthly | Gusto annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | US PEO / Simple | $125 | $125 | $49 | $49 |
| Mid tier | — / Plus | — | — | $80 | $80 |
| Pro / power | — / Premium | — | — | $180 | $180 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Deel US PEO is worth it if… Deel US PEO suits US companies that want someone else to own payroll, tax filing, compliance and — critically — benefits sourcing, without going international. The PEO model pools your headcount into Deel's benefits plans, which is usually how small US teams get insurance rates they couldn't negotiate alone.
Gusto is worth it if… 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.
Bottom line: Choose based on how you want to pay — Deel US PEO is per seat, Gusto is hybrid.
Choose Deel US PEO over Gusto if…
Choose Deel US PEO if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $125/mo).
- You match the profile Deel US PEO is built for: Deel US PEO suits US companies that want someone else to own payroll, tax filing, compliance and — critically — benefits sourcing, without going international.
- You're building for insurance, healthcare and dental.
Choose Gusto if…
- You're fine with a base subscription plus metered usage on top (from $49/mo).
- You match the profile Gusto is built 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.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Deel US PEO | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $125/mo | $49/mo |
| Enterprise available | No | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Hybrid |
| Verification | Verified September 23, 2026 | Checked September 24, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 24, 2026. Tracked daily.