Gusto Review
Payroll, benefits and HR for US small businesses.
At a glance
Gusto is best for US small business payroll. There is no free tier, so budget approval comes before testing.
- Pricing
- Custom
- Model
- Base + per-employee
- Best for
- US small business payroll
- Rating
- 4.5 / 5
Gusto handles payroll, benefits and basic HR for US small businesses, and is a common recommendation from accounting firms because the accountant-side tooling is good.
What it actually does
Payroll runs, tax filings across states, onboarding and benefits administration, with automation handling most compliance filing. The partner dashboard lets a firm manage many client payrolls.
Who it suits
US small businesses and the accountants who support them.
Where it falls short
US only. Per-employee pricing means costs scale directly with headcount, and complex multi-state situations still need attention.
What we like
- Strong accountant partner programme
- Handles multi-state filing well
- Clear pricing and good support
What to watch
- US only
- Cost scales with headcount
- Advanced HR features need higher tiers
Gusto alternatives
If Gusto is not the right fit, these are the closest comparable tools we have reviewed.
| Tool | Best for | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rippling | Companies consolidating HR and IT | Custom | Compare → |
| Deel | Companies hiring internationally | Custom | Compare → |
| OnPay | US small businesses | Custom | Compare → |
| Justworks | Small US companies wanting benefits access | Custom | Compare → |
| ADP | Companies wanting an established provider | Custom | Compare → |
| Ramp | US companies wanting to kill expense reports | Free plan | Compare → |
Frequently asked
What is Gusto?
Gusto handles payroll, benefits and basic HR for US small businesses, and is a common recommendation from accounting firms because the accountant-side tooling is good. ## What it actually does Payroll runs, tax filings across states, onboarding and benefits administration, with automation handling …
How much does Gusto cost?
Gusto does not publish a fixed public price; pricing is quoted per customer.
What are the best alternatives to Gusto?
The closest alternatives are Rippling, Deel, OnPay, Justworks.