Gusto Review: Features, Pricing & Integrations 2026

Unlike competitors that support global teams, Gusto focuses strictly on US payroll with unlimited runs and full benefits. Rated 4.6/5 from $49/mo.


Expert Analysis of Gusto

Expert Take

Start on Contractor Only and Gusto is free for six months, then it flips to a base fee plus a per-person charge. The real limit is the map, not the meter: clean US payroll from its $49 Simple plan up, employees abroad are out, and foreign contractors cost $5 a payment through an add-on.

·Oleh KemOleh KemFounder & Lead Analyst

Federal and State Tax Filing Automated on Every Payroll Run

Gusto calculates, withholds, and files federal and all 50 state payroll taxes automatically on each pay run, eliminating the quarterly filing cycle that causes penalties for payroll tax mistakes.

New Hire Onboarding Paperwork Collected Before Day One

Gusto's onboarding checklist sends I-9, W-4, direct deposit, and benefits enrollment forms to new hires before their start date, so day one is spent working rather than filling out paperwork.

Benefits Administration With Side-by-Side Plan Comparison

Gusto's benefits advisor surfaces side-by-side health plan comparisons for employees during open enrollment, reducing HR time spent answering benefits questions by giving employees self-serve plan selection tools.


Simple

$49/mo

Best for: Small businesses needing single-state payroll + basic support

  • Full-service payroll
  • Direct deposit
  • Federal & state tax filing
  • W-2s & 1099s
  • New hire reporting
View on vendor site
MOST POPULAR

Plus

$80/mo

Best for: Businesses needing advanced payroll, benefits, HR + time & attendance

  • Everything in Simple
  • Multi-state payroll
  • Next-day direct deposit
  • Time tracking
  • PTO management
View on vendor site

Premium

$180/mo

Best for: Scaling businesses needing full-service payroll, benefits, HR + dedicated support

  • Everything in Plus
  • Dedicated Customer Success Manager
  • Certified HR expert access
  • Compliance alerts
  • Full-service payroll migration
View on vendor site

Showing 3 of 5 plans. See all plans & API pricing →

Prices last verified July 16, 2026


Monitored Plans & Rates

Currently Tracking
Contractor Only$35/moSimple$49/moSolo$49/moPlus$80/moPremium$180/mo

ComparEdge is tracking Gusto pricing. No price changes recorded. Plan structure changes detected: 2 plans added, 1 plan removed.

Plan Structure Changes

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Plan added:Contractor Only
Jul 16, 2026
+
Plan added:Select
Jun 5, 2026
Plan removed:Solo
Jun 5, 2026

The Final Verdict: Is Gusto Right for You?

Quick Verdict

A top-rated hr tools tool with 15 features - excellent for US-based SMBs (2-100 employees).

4.7Editorial rating
Best for: US-based SMBs (2-100 employees) From $35/mo

Top Pros

  • Automated payroll with unlimited runs and off-cycle payments
  • Full-service benefits admin including health, 401(k), and commuter
  • Employee self-onboarding and lifetime portal access

Watch Out For

  • Payroll processing is limited to the United States only
  • No dedicated account manager on lower-tier plans (Simple, Plus)

Expert analysis by Oleh KemOleh KemFounder & Lead AnalystExpert verified·Updated July 16, 2026·Our methodology
Price & Data Intelligence SyncLast verified: July 31, 2026 · CE-HRTO-2026W31-0BD40C · ✓ Pricing updated
Up to date

Frequently Asked Questions About Gusto


Sources & verification

Verified by ComparEdgeMethod: Vendor docs, official pages, and selected independent sources
SourceWhat was checkedLast checked
Official WebsiteOfficial vendor website
Official Pricing PageSource of verified tiersJuly 16, 2026
G2G2 verified user reviews · 4.6/5 · 10,331 reviews
CapterraCapterra verified user reviews · 4.6/5
TrustRadiusTrustRadius verified reviews

Every fact on this Gusto pricing page is tied to a named source and a verification date. Freshness-sensitive figures trace to the sources above; verify against the vendor before relying on them.

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