Gusto vs Remote — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Gusto starts at $49/mo. Remote starts at $29/mo. Remote is $20/mo cheaper on the entry tier than 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.
- 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.
- Remote (Per Seat) — Remote bills on a fixed plan from $29/mo, 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.
Global EOR and payroll platform positioned as the transparency-first alternative to Deel. Distinctive for CEO Job van der Voort's public commitment to open pricing (all EOR fees published) and slower, compliance-first growth model. Multi-product lineup: Contractor Management from $29/contractor/mo, Global Payroll $29/employee/mo, EOR $699/employee/mo, PEO (US-only) from $99/employee/mo, Equity from $39/mo. Popular with European companies hiring globally who value regulatory rigor over speed.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Gusto monthly | Gusto annual | Remote monthly | Remote annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Simple / Contractor Management | $49 | $49 | $29 | $29 |
| Mid tier 1 | Plus / Payroll (Global) | $80 | $80 | $29 | $29 |
| Mid tier 2 | — / Equity | — | — | $39 | $39 |
| Mid tier 3 | — / Contractor Management Plus | — | — | $99 | $99 |
| Mid tier 4 | — / Contractor of Record | — | — | $325 | $325 |
| Pro / power | Premium / Employer of Record | $180 | $180 | $699 | $599 |
| Teams | — / Professional Employer Organization | — | — | $99 | $99 |
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.
Remote is worth it if… companies (5-500 employees) hiring globally who want an Employer of Record covering 90+ countries — particularly if you're building a distributed team or hiring in emerging markets. Contractor Management covers freelance/consultant management ($29/contractor); Global Payroll for teams with existing entities; EOR for full-time hires without local entity ($699/employee); PEO for US-only expansion.
Bottom line: Choose based on how you want to pay — Gusto is hybrid, Remote is per seat.
Choose Gusto over Remote 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 Remote if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $29/mo).
- You match the profile Remote is built for: companies (5-500 employees) hiring globally who want an Employer of Record covering 90+ countries — particularly if you're building a distributed team or hiring in emerging markets.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Gusto | Remote | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $49/mo | $29/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Hybrid | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 11, 2026 | September 17, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 17, 2026. Tracked daily.