What is Gusto?

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll, benefits, and HR platform built for small and mid-sized businesses in the United States. It handles full-service payroll including automatic federal, state, and local tax filing and payment, unlimited monthly payroll runs, direct deposit, W-2 and 1099 filing, and support for both employees and contractors. Beyond payroll, Gusto offers employee benefits administration such as health insurance through licensed brokers, 401(k) retirement plans, HSA/FSA and commuter benefits, and workers compensation.

The platform also includes HR tools like hiring and onboarding workflows, time tracking and PTO management, performance reviews, and an employee self-service app. Plans scale from a single-state payroll tier up to a premium tier with dedicated support and certified HR experts, plus a contractor-only option for businesses without W-2 employees. Gusto integrates with over 650 accounting and business apps and serves more than 500,000 businesses.

Key Features of Gusto

Here are the powerful features that make Gusto stand out from the competition. Packed with innovative tools and advanced functionalities, this software offers a range of benefits.

  • Full-service payroll with unlimited monthly payroll runs
  • Automatic federal, state, and local payroll tax filing and payment
  • W-2 and 1099 creation and e-filing
  • Employee and contractor payments, including domestic and global contractors
  • Time tracking, timesheets, scheduling, and PTO management
  • Health insurance, 401(k), HSA/FSA, and commuter benefits administration
  • Hiring and onboarding tools, including applicant tracking on higher tiers
  • Employee self-service mobile app for pay stubs, benefits, and tax forms
  • Performance reviews and goal tracking
  • 650+ integrations with accounting and business software

Gusto Pricing

Here are the pricing plans for Gusto. Choose the plan that best fits your requirements and budget.

Simple

$49/month + $6/month per person

Single-state payroll

Unlimited payrolls per month, tax filings and payments, basic PTO policies and holiday pay

Plus

$80/month + $12/month per person

Multi-state payroll

Best value tier; adds next-day pay, time tracking, expenses and reimbursements, workforce cost reports

Premium

$180/month + $22/month per person

Dedicated Service Advisor, access to certified HR experts, performance and compensation management, custom reports, priority support, payroll migration and account setup

Contractor Only

$35/month + $6/month per person (limited-time offer: $0/month base for first 6 months)

For businesses with contractors only, no W-2 employees

Domestic contractor payments, 4-day pay, Form 1099 creation and filing; does not include back-up withholding or most add-ons

Gusto Specifications

Get a closer look at the technical specifications and system requirements for Gusto. Find out if it's compatible with your operating system and other software.

Software Tagline :
All-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small and mid-sized US businesses
Deployment :
  • cloud based
Subscription Plan :
monthly
Desktop Platforms :
  • web app
Mobile Platforms :
  • ios
  • android
Language Support :
english
Target Audience :
  • freelancers
  • startups
  • smes
Available Support :
  • email
  • phone
  • live support
Integrations :
Gusto integrates with 650+ third-party apps including accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero), time tracking, expense management, and business tools; it also offers a public API and Gusto Embedded Payroll for developers.
Product Url :
API Available :
Yes
Free Trial Available :
No
Run On Mobile Browser :
Yes
Free Plan Available :
No
Customization Available :
Yes

Gusto Videos

Gusto Screenshots

Alternatives

Explore alternative software options that can fulfill similar requirements as Gusto. Evaluate their features, pricing, and user feedback to find the perfect fit for your needs.

Gusto Comparisons

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Overall Gusto Reviews

Here's our unbiased review of Gusto. Discover how our team of experts rates its features, ease of use, customer support, and other aspects that contribute to its overall appeal.

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Gusto Pros and Cons

Gusto FAQs

Gusto has three main plans for paying a team: Simple ($49/month + $6/month per person), Plus ($80/month + $12/month per person), and Premium ($180/month + $22/month per person). There is also a Contractor Only plan at $35/month + $6/month per person for businesses without W-2 employees.

Gusto's pricing page does not advertise a free trial for its core payroll plans; pricing starts immediately on sign-up, though some add-ons like Time & Attendance Plus can be tried free before the per-person fee applies.

Yes. The Simple plan supports single-state payroll only, while the Plus and Premium plans support multi-state payroll.

Yes, all plans include automatic calculation, filing, and payment of federal, state, and local payroll taxes, as well as W-2 and 1099 creation and filing.

Yes. All plans support domestic contractor payments, and global contractor payments in 120+ countries are available as an add-on. A dedicated Contractor Only plan exists for businesses with no W-2 employees.

All plans include hiring and onboarding tools. Plus and Premium add features like time tracking and workforce cost reports, while Premium includes a dedicated Service Advisor, certified HR expert access, and performance and compensation management.