Gusto vs UKG — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Gusto starts at $49/mo. UKG 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.
- UKG (Unknown model) — UKG 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.
The Workforce Operating Platform formed from the 2020 merger of Kronos and Ultimate Software ($22B combined). Positioned as the workforce-management-first alternative to Workday for shift-heavy industries (retail, healthcare, manufacturing) where time tracking + labor forecasting matter as much as HRIS. Distinctive for combining Kronos's deep time-and-labor engine with Ultimate's people-first HRIS. Priced quote-based (~$8-$15/employee/mo reference) across UKG Ready (SMB-mid), UKG Pro (mid-large), and UKG Pro Enterprise. Private-equity owned by Hellman & Friedman + Blackstone. Serves 80K+ organizations globally.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Gusto monthly | Gusto annual | UKG monthly | UKG annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Simple / UKG Ready | $49 | $49 | $21 | $21 |
| Mid tier | Plus / — | $80 | $80 | — | — |
| Pro / power | Premium / UKG Pro | $180 | $180 | $27 | $27 |
| Enterprise | — / UKG Pro Enterprise | — | — | Custom | Custom |
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.
UKG is worth it if… mid-market to enterprise companies (500-50,000+ employees) with shift-based workforces — particularly retail, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality where time-tracking accuracy and labor-forecasting matter as much as HR. UKG Ready covers SMB-mid (50-500 employees); UKG Pro for mid-large (500-5K); UKG Pro Enterprise for 5K+.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Gusto over UKG 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 UKG if…
- You're comfortable with UKG's a free entry tier entry point.
- You match the profile UKG is built for: mid-market to enterprise companies (500-50,000+ employees) with shift-based workforces — particularly retail, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality where time-tracking accuracy and labor-forecasting matter as much as HR.
- You're building for healthcare and hospitality.
At a glance
| Gusto | UKG | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $49/mo | Custom pricing |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Hybrid | — |
| Verification | Checked October 3, 2026 | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified October 3, 2026. Tracked daily.