Gusto vs Paylocity — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Gusto starts at $49/mo. Paylocity uses custom pricing — request a quote to compare.
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.
- 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.
- Paylocity (Unknown model) — Paylocity bills on a fixed plan, so the listed price is what you pay regardless of volume.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
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.
Mid-market cloud HCM (Human Capital Management) platform focused on 50-1,000 employee businesses, founded 1997. Positioned as the modern, culture-first alternative to ADP Workforce Now for mid-market companies that want a single system for payroll + HR + talent + engagement. Distinctive for its Community feature (internal social network) + video employee training + mobile-first workforce experience. Priced quote-based (~$4-$15/employee/mo reference) across Payroll / HCM Bundle / Premium HCM tiers. Publicly traded NASDAQ: PCTY, $12B market cap. Serves 40K+ customers primarily in US.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Gusto monthly | Gusto annual | Paylocity monthly | Paylocity annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Simple / Payroll & Tax | $49 | $49 | $4 | $4 |
| Mid tier | Plus / HCM Bundle | $80 | $80 | $8 | $8 |
| Pro / power | Premium / Premium HCM | $180 | $180 | $15 | $15 |
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
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.
Paylocity is worth it if… US-based mid-market companies (50-1,000 employees) that need payroll + HR + benefits + basic talent in one platform — particularly if you value modern mobile UX and employee-engagement features that ADP lacks. Payroll & Tax covers core payroll processing; HCM Bundle adds HR + benefits + time; Premium HCM adds recruiting + onboarding + engagement + analytics.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Gusto over Paylocity if…
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.
Choose Paylocity if…
- You're comfortable with Paylocity's a free entry tier entry point.
- You match the profile Paylocity is built for: US-based mid-market companies (50-1,000 employees) that need payroll + HR + benefits + basic talent in one platform — particularly if you value modern mobile UX and employee-engagement features that ADP lacks.
- You're building for recruiting.
At a glance
| Gusto | Paylocity | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $49/mo | Custom pricing |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Hybrid | — |
| Verification | Checked September 24, 2026 | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 25, 2026. Tracked daily.