The default small business payroll recommendation for five years. Full analysis: Gusto review.
Current pricing
- Simple: $40/month + $6/employee — payroll, W-2s, direct deposit
- Plus: $80/month + $12/employee — time tracking, PTO, HR tools, next-day direct deposit
- Premium: $180/month + $22/employee — dedicated support, HR advisory
Where Gusto wins
Setup under two hours. Automated federal and state tax filing. W-2s filed electronically. Benefits (health, dental, 401k) without a separate broker in most states. Best employee-facing app in the category — pay stubs, tax documents, benefits enrollment in one place.
Where Gusto falls short
Support quality has declined since 2024. G2 and Capterra reviews cite 30–45 minute chat waits during payroll periods. Multi-state remote employees require state tax registrations that the Simple plan does not flag proactively. Contractor-heavy businesses should compare OnPay directly.
The main alternatives
- OnPay ($40 + $6/emp): same price, stronger tipped wage and garnishment handling
- ADP Run: better for 50+ employees or fast growth; named rep on upper plans
- Rippling (~$25–35/user/month): payroll + HR + IT for distributed remote teams
Full comparison: best payroll software for small business.
Verdict
Best starting point under 50 employees with standard payroll. Complex pay rules: OnPay. Multi-state remote teams: Rippling.
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