Gusto HR Software Review and Pricing

Why We Chose Gusto as Best for Payroll

Gusto provides comprehensive HR features with its HR software, but the company’s payroll offering makes this solution shine brighter than the competition. When testing the system, we found the platform intuitive and easy to navigate, with simple yet valuable payroll processing automation. The software provides helpful tools to streamline payroll responsibilities, such as sending payroll alerts and reminders, syncing employee hours and calculating and filing payroll taxes automatically. The product also excels at multistate payroll, garnishments, time tracking integrations, new-hire reporting, next-day direct deposit and payroll calendars.

When we tried the Gusto platform, we liked that it allows you to make changes to payroll even after it’s submitted, which isn’t something all vendors offer. If you want to automate payroll, Gusto facilitates that too. Because Gusto is a benefits broker, the program can sync employee benefits data easily, such as workers’ compensation information, with your payroll. These payroll features make Gusto stand out above and beyond traditional HR software.

Gusto’s Ease of Use

Part of Gusto’s appeal is how straightforward it is to use. The cloud-hosted service doesn’t require you to install or maintain any special software and you can access the system from any web browser, smartphone or tablet. It also offers a mobile app for employees and administrators to manage HR functions.

When testing the Gusto software, we liked that the platform’s homepage features important to-do items, such as payroll run dates, upcoming compliance obligations and time-off requests. You can see or edit employee details easily and receive reminders about which contractors need to be paid.

Gusto also incorporates artificial intelligence into the platform through Gus, its AI assistant. You can chat with Gus to ask HR questions, find support articles and get company-specific information. Gusto has also introduced Cofounder, a more advanced AI assistant that can take action on a user’s behalf, such as running payroll, paying contractors, pulling reports and automating recurring tasks. 

Gusto’s dashboard gives you a clear view of important to-do items and reminders. Source: Gusto

Gusto gives employees and contractors their own login credentials to view their pay stubs, time-off accruals and year-end forms. Gusto offers lifetime access to these accounts so workers can log in to the portal even after they’ve left your company. This is useful for former team members who need to dig into past W-2s, benefits information and more.

Gusto Features

Gusto has multiple service plans, so the exact tools available to you will depend on your package. Here are some of the functions Gusto facilitates, beginning with the area where we think this solution stands out the most.

Payroll

Gusto has a ton of features that help businesses run payroll quickly and accurately. You can use the system to pay full-time and part-time W-2 employees as well as freelancers, consultants and other 1099 contractors — a capability not all HR systems offer. Furthermore, Gusto allows for multistate payroll, as well as multiple pay rates and schedules. Below, we break down the additional reasons Gusto sets itself apart in the HR software space when it comes to payroll:

• Payroll processing: When testing Gusto, we liked how simple it was to process payroll. Once you enter all the pertinent employee information, such as the pay rate, hours worked and deductions, into the system, the software calculates the appropriate payment automatically. Each pay period, the only new information you need to input are how many hours your hourly employees worked and any bonuses or commissions earned. After clicking the “Submit Payroll” link, you receive a confirmation that the money will be sent via direct deposit or distributed via checks that can be printed at your office.
  If your payroll is fairly consistent from pay period to pay period, you can set the process to run on autopilot. With this setting, payroll runs automatically each pay period without any manual work from you. Additionally, you can run payroll as many times as necessary each month for no additional cost. This flexibility is particularly valuable if you have a combination of full-time, part-time and freelance workers on staff.
• Payment options: However, one unique payment feature we especially like is Gusto’s support for international workers. Businesses can pay international contractors in more than 120 countries. For full-time employees outside the U.S., Gusto partners with Remote for employer of record (EOR) services. New EOR customers are referred directly to Remote, which handles onboarding, payroll, benefits, taxes and local compliance. This isn’t something many rivals can do and is especially helpful in an increasingly global work environment. [Learn about the benefits and challenges of geodiversity.]
• Payroll taxes: Similar to other HR software providers we reviewed, Gusto can handle payroll tax responsibilities for you. The platform automatically calculates payroll taxes and files the required federal and state forms on your behalf. Gusto also submits payroll tax payments based on the filing schedules in your account. If you hire employees in a new state, Gusto works with Middesk to help register your business for state income tax withholding and unemployment insurance accounts. We found this especially valuable for employers expanding into new states, since it can simplify an otherwise complicated registration process.
• Bill Pay: Although this isn’t necessarily a payroll feature, Bill Pay allows employers to manage their vendors, bills, approvals and payments from one streamlined location. As a default setting, only Gusto admins can access Bill Pay, but there are approval workflows built in so they can set custom permissions for their team. Gusto admins can upload files like PDFs, JPEGs and PNGs, to the platform to track and submit their payments to outside vendors. It can sync with QuickBooks and Xero for importing as well. This wasn’t a feature we saw many HR software competitors offer but could add value to employers looking to streamline their finances.

Recruiting and Onboarding

When we tested Gusto, we appreciated that it has an in-app applicant tracking system (ATS) so businesses don’t have to pay for a separate ATS as they would with other vendors. The Gusto ATS features might not be as extensive as many third-party ATS options, but the system is comprehensive enough to handle standard recruiting and onboarding processes. 

Onboarding tools include offer letters and e-signature documents, employee directories, organizational charts, custom onboarding checklists, software provisioning and document management. We like how Gusto can also streamline onboarding by allowing new employees to fill out their own information within the platform.

Employee onboarding is straightforward with Gusto’s task breakdown. Source: Gusto

Time and Attendance

Depending on the plan you select, Gusto can manage some or all of your tasks related to tracking employee hours and PTO. For example, employers on the Plus and Premium plans can access Gusto’s time-kiosk web-based app. This allows you to turn any tablet or computer into a time clock so employees can clock in and out from specific job sites or locations. We found this location-based time tracking especially beneficial for those working in regulated fields. 

You can also set up policies for vacation and sick time and then monitor employees’ time-off accruals and balances. Plus and Premium users can have employees submit time-off requests through Gusto for managers to approve or deny, while Simple users can access this feature with the Time & Attendance Plus add-on. Approved time off can sync directly with payroll, and Gusto can also display time off on shared calendars. [Check out our list of PTO policy best practices.]

Employees can track and manage their time on a variety of devices. Source: Gusto

Benefits Administration

Unlike some competitors, we like that Gusto doesn’t charge an administration fee for health insurance when you use Gusto as your broker. It offers online benefits enrollment for employees as well as licensed benefits advising and employee support, which is competitive with the industry standard. Benefit options include 401(k) retirement savings plans, health insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, commuter benefits, health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs). Some benefits, including HSAs, FSAs and commuter benefits, have additional fees. We like that these features directly integrate with your Gusto payroll module to make benefit deductions easier to manage. 

Gusto makes it easy for you and your employees to manage benefits. Source: Gusto

Legal Compliance

Gusto helps businesses maintain legal compliance on multiple fronts. For example, Gusto completes and files all of the required state paperwork for each new employee your company hires. The software also generates all year-end W-2 and 1099 tax forms for your team automatically and then sends digital copies of the forms to each employee and contractor.

If you’re administering employee benefits, Gusto also helps you comply with federal regulations like the Affordable Care Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. These essential features are competitive for HR software.

Gusto also offers a Compliance Hub that centralizes important compliance tasks and deadlines. The hub shows requirements specific to your business and gives you access to compliance tasks, tools, tax filings and upcoming payments. Gusto can also alert you to changes in state labor laws and offers compliance training through Gusto Learning, including harassment prevention, diversity and inclusion, HIPAA and security courses.

Integrations

We love that Gusto’s HR software integrates with 150 popular programs for accounting, time and attendance, point of sale, business operations, tax preparation, learning and development, business insights, hiring and onboarding, performance management, expense management and more. This wide variety of possible integrations is useful for companies that want to sync all of their business applications to create a customized, interconnected solution.

Global Employer of Record (EOR)

If you want to hire full-time employees outside the U.S. without establishing a local business entity, Gusto partners with Remote for employer of record (EOR) services. For new EOR customers, Gusto refers you directly to Remote, which serves as the legal employer and handles onboarding, payroll, benefits, taxes, local compliance and employee support. This allows businesses to hire full-time, salaried employees in countries where Remote operates while continuing to use Gusto for their U.S.-based workforce.

Existing customers who began using Gusto’s integrated EOR service before May 1, 2026 can continue with that experience.

Gusto HR Software’s Pricing and Terms

Unlike some HR software vendors and payroll providers that sell only one or two plans, Gusto offers three full-service payroll plans for businesses with employees, along with a Contractor Only plan for businesses that haven’t hired W-2 employees. The packages differ in the number of HR features and tools they include:

• Contractor: This plan costs $35 per month, plus $6 per contractor, per month. It’s designed for workforces comprised solely of contractors and includes features like unlimited contractor payments, four-day direct deposit, 1099-NECs and new-hire reporting. You can add on international contractor payments if needed.
• Simple: This plan costs $49 per month, plus $6 per employee, per month. It includes full-service, single-state payroll, employee profiles and self-service, hiring and onboarding tools, health insurance administration, employee financial benefits, payroll and time-off reports, custom admin permissions, integration capabilities and basic customer support. 
• Plus: This plan costs $80 per month, plus $12 per employee, per month. It includes everything in the Simple package as well as multistate payroll, next-day direct deposit, advanced hiring and onboarding tools, PTO management, time and project tracking, a time kiosk, workforce costing and reporting, team management, performance reviews and employee surveys and insights.
• Premium: This plan costs $180 per month, plus $22 per employee, per month. It includes everything in the Plus level, along with a Dedicated Service Advisor, an HR resource center, compliance alerts, certified HR expert assistance, payroll migration and account setup, health insurance broker integration, a research and development tax credit discount and dedicated customer support. 

Having access to multiple plan options can be beneficial for businesses that don’t have a full-time HR team. Gusto allows you to switch tiers at any time as the size and needs of your organization evolve.

We were impressed with Gusto’s wide range of add-on services, which include the following:

• Workers’ compensation insurance: Gusto offers pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation plans that integrate with your payroll. Pricing starts at $14 per month.
• Health insurance: Again, you won’t pay administration fees ― just the premiums.
• Broker integration: If you want to keep your current benefits broker, Gusto can integrate it into the system (in most cases) for an additional $6 per eligible employee, per month.
• Life and disability: You can offer disability insurance to your employees without any administration fees. You only pay for the premiums.
• 401(k) retirement savings plans: Pricing for this add-on varies.
• HSA: Gusto doesn’t have a minimum fee if you want to offer an HSA with your other insurance benefits. The cost is $2.50 per participant, per month.
• FSA: Adding an FSA costs $4 per participant, per month. There is a $20 monthly minimum.
• Dependent Care FSA:  If you want to offer a pretax FSA for qualified dependent care expenses, you can add it to your plan for $4 per participant, per month. Like with the regular FSA, there is a $20 monthly minimum.
• Commuter benefits: Commuter benefits are pretax dollars workers can use to pay for transportation to and from the workplace. Gusto charges $4 per participant, per month, and there is a $20 monthly minimum. One $200 annual service charge covers Gusto’s HSA, FSA, Dependent Care FSA and commuter benefit accounts.
• Next-day direct deposit: While included in the Plus and Premium plans automatically, it’s an optional add-on for the Simple plan. It costs $15 per month plus $3 per person, per month.
• Time & Attendance Plus: Allows you to sync time tracking to payroll, project tracking, scheduling and time off. While it’s included in the Plus and Premium plans automatically, it’s an optional add-on for the Simple plan. It costs $6 per person, per month.
• Priority Support: Premium includes Priority Support and a Dedicated Service Advisor. Simple users can add Priority Support for $30 per month plus $3 per person, per month. Plus users can add a combined Priority Support and HR Resources package for $8 per person, per month.
• HR resources: While faster access to certified HR experts, an HR resource center and compliance alerts are included in the Premium plan, this is an optional add-on for the Simple and Plus plans. It costs $50 per month plus $5 per person, per month.
• Performance: Performance features like reviews, feedback loops, goal tracking and surveys are included in the Plus and Premium plans automatically, but they’re an optional add-on for the Simple plan. It costs $3 per person, per month.

Uniquely, Gusto can also handle international contractor payments in more than 120 countries, state tax registration and research and development tax credits for various fees. However, it’s critical to keep in mind that the expense of using Gusto can quickly add up depending on the extra services you choose to incorporate and how many employees you have.

Implementation and Onboarding

When we tried the Gusto platform, we were impressed by how quick the implementation process was. The software puts onboarding in employees’ hands, so each team member can fill out their own contact information and details directly within the platform. This not only speeds up implementation but can also help reduce data-entry errors. 

A Gusto representative estimated a company could set up the platform in as little as one weekend if all of the necessary information is on hand and employees onboard themselves. This is notable, seeing as some competitors’ HR systems can take weeks or months to fully implement. 

Customer Support

We like that Gusto offers several ways to get customer support. After signing in, users can start with Gus, Gusto’s AI assistant, which can answer questions or help connect them with a support representative. Live chat is available from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday and from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT on weekends. Customers can also request a callback from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, although availability can vary by plan and issue. Email support is available outside standard support hours, and Gusto offers Voice AI for basic support needs after hours. When we reached out to Gusto’s support team, we received patient, knowledgeable assistance without long wait times or upsell pressure.

Premium customers receive Priority Support and a Dedicated Service Advisor for more personalized assistance. Premium also includes access to certified HR experts and an HR resource center with tools such as employee handbook templates, job description templates, HR guides and policy templates. Simple and Plus customers can add Priority Support and HR resources for an additional fee. If you’re looking for an HR provider that offers personalized HR support and guidance with every plan, read our Bambee review — and be sure to check out our comparison of Bambee and Gusto to evaluate the two solutions’ customer service offerings.

Gusto also provides 24/7 access to its online Help Center, which includes articles and answers to frequently asked questions. You can also explore Gusto through its interactive demo before signing up. We like that the demo lets you browse the platform, add employees and try important functions that pertain to your business. Few competitors in this sector offer comprehensive demos like this.

Limitations

While there is a lot to like about Gusto, its performance management tools aren’t as extensive as those offered by some dedicated performance management platforms. However, Gusto does include built-in performance reviews, goal tracking, employee feedback and surveys, which should cover the needs of many small businesses. If you’re seeking an HR software that specializes in employee performance management, check out our review of Paycor as a worthy alternative.

Another slight limitation we noticed in our investigation relates to cost. We appreciate that Gusto is transparent about pricing and has several optional add-on features. However, opting for all of Gusto’s add-on features can increase your monthly per-employee cost quickly. It’s important to factor all of the features you will need into the total cost before signing up.

Methodology

To find the best HR software around, we investigated dozens of HR systems. Our examinations considered pricing, contracts, recruiting and onboarding capabilities, employee benefits administration, time-tracking tools, payroll processing abilities, performance management features, reporting, integrations, legal compliance assistance, ease of use and customer support availability. 

We watched product videos and participated in demos when possible, in addition to conducting extensive independent research and testing. When looking for the best HR software for businesses prioritizing payroll functionality, we paid particular attention to each solution’s payroll processing tools, payroll tax administration, time and attendance features, legal compliance and integrations. You can read more about our editorial process here.

Bottom Line

We recommend Gusto for …

• Organizations that want robust payroll tools integrated with HR features.
• Businesses that need a comprehensive payroll provider.
• Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees or contractors.
• Companies that don’t want to be locked into a long-term contract.

We don’t recommend Gusto for …

• Businesses that need 24/7 access to live human customer support.
• Large organizations or enterprises.
• Companies operating in the agriculture industry.