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What is Gusto?
Gusto combines payroll, benefits and HR administration for US small businesses. The San Francisco-based company serves more than 500,000 businesses and their teams.
Gusto combines payroll, tax administration, benefits, and HR in one web platform. Administrators enter worker, compensation, and tax details, then run payroll manually or use AutoPilot. The service calculates and files federal, state, and local payroll taxes, supports employees and U.S. contractors, generates W-2 and 1099 forms, and provides employee self-service for paystubs, onboarding, banking details, and withholding information. Payroll runs are unlimited, and the platform can handle teams operating across multiple states.
Beyond payroll, Gusto includes health-benefit administration, 401(k) connections, workers’ compensation, hiring and onboarding, offer letters, digital I-9 and W-4 workflows, time tracking, PTO, scheduling, expenses, performance tools, compliance guidance, and tax-credit services. Feature depth depends heavily on plan and add-ons: multi-state payroll, next-day or same-day pay, advanced HR, dedicated support, and expanded reporting are not included at the entry level. International support centers on contractor payments rather than full global employee payroll.
Gusto is designed primarily for U.S. small businesses, startups, professional firms, and growing teams that want payroll and employee administration in one system. Public pricing is month to month: Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person, Plus at $80 plus $12, and Premium at $180 plus $22. Gusto bills U.S. contractors only in months they are paid; global contractor payments have per-payment and foreign-exchange charges. The former contractor-only plan closed to new customers October 1, 2026.
Key features
Full-service payroll
Runs unlimited payroll, calculates wages and deductions, supports multiple pay rates and schedules, and automatically files and pays federal, state, and local payroll taxes.
Tax forms and filings
Generates W-2s and 1099-NECs while handling payroll tax filings, payments, new-hire reporting, and year-end administration.
Benefits administration
Supports health, dental, vision, workers’ compensation, and retirement-benefit enrollment with payroll deductions and compliance workflows.
Hiring and onboarding
Provides job-posting, offer-letter, e-signature, employee self-onboarding, digital I-9 and W-4, and customizable onboarding checklist tools.
Time and attendance
Tracks hours, PTO requests, schedules, and time-clock activity, then synchronizes approved time with payroll on eligible plans.
Contractor payments
Pays U.S. contractors and supports international contractor payments in more than 120 countries, with automated 1099 workflows.
Compliance management
Offers compliance updates, alerts, required training and policy tools, and payroll support intended to reduce regulatory administration.
Gusto pricing
Gusto is month to month with no long-term contract. Simple costs $49/mo plus $6 per person; Plus $80/mo plus $12; Premium $180/mo plus $22. The legacy contractor-only plan was $35/mo plus $6 per contractor, but closed to new customers on October 1, 2026.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $49/mo + $6/person/mo | Unlimited payroll, single-state payroll, tax filings and payments, basic PTO, holiday pay, employee portal, and W-2/1099 support. |
| Plus | $80/mo + $12/person/mo | Simple plus multi-state payroll, next-day pay, time tracking, scheduling, contractor invoice management, hiring, onboarding, and benefits administration. |
| Premium | $180/mo + $22/person/mo | Plus plus premium support, HR guidance, Gusto Business Compliance, same-day and instant pay, project costing, and included invoice payments and bank transfers. |
| Contractor Only (legacy) | $35/mo + $6/contractor/mo | Unlimited U.S. contractor payments, four-day direct deposit, self-onboarding, and 1099-NECs; unavailable to new customers. |
Free trial: No conventional free plan; Gusto’s published guide says customers pay nothing until their first payroll.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Automated federal, state, and local tax filings are included in every main payroll plan.
- Onboarding, paystubs, tax forms, benefits, and time off share one employee login.
- Pricing is transparent, month to month, and scales with active people.
- The integration directory covers accounting, recruiting, time, expense, benefits, and compliance tools.
Cons
- The lowest plan is limited to single-state payroll and fewer HR features.
- Advanced pay timing, time tools, and HR guidance require higher plans or add-ons.
- International coverage is contractor-focused rather than global employee payroll.
- Per-person charges can become expensive for larger or frequently changing workforces.
Who is Gusto best for?
- U.S. small businesses replacing spreadsheets or basic payroll.
- Startups wanting payroll, benefits, onboarding, and self-service together.
- Professional firms paying a mix of employees and contractors.
- Growing teams needing multi-state payroll without enterprise HR software.
Coverage
Integrations
Notable customers
Frequently asked questions
How much does Gusto cost?
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Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person. Plus is $80 plus $12, and Premium is $180 plus $22; all are month to month.
How does Gusto payroll work?
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Admins enter worker and tax information, approve payroll, and Gusto calculates wages, deductions, and taxes. It files taxes and generates W-2s and 1099-NECs.
How does Gusto compare with QuickBooks Payroll?
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Gusto is broader for benefits, onboarding, HR workflows, and contractor payments. QuickBooks Payroll suits businesses centered on QuickBooks accounting.
What integrations does Gusto support?
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The directory includes QuickBooks, Xero, Expensify, Checkr, Slack, Google Workspace, Homebase, recruiting platforms, time tools, retirement providers, and compliance products.
Who should use Gusto?
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It suits U.S. small businesses, startups, professional firms, and growing teams needing payroll, tax filing, benefits, and basic HR together.
Is Gusto secure and accurate?
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Gusto encrypts data in transit with TLS 1.2 and at rest with AES-256, uses AWS infrastructure, and maintains SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports. Accuracy depends on correct setup and review.
Sources
Facts and pricing verified on October 19, 2026. Vendors change pricing often, so confirm with Gusto before buying. How we research
