Overview

Gusto combines payroll, benefits, time tracking, hiring, and HR tools. Employers can run unlimited payrolls for employees and contractors, with payroll taxes filed automatically. Health benefits and 401(k) plans integrate with payroll, while the app directory connects Gusto to tools for accounting, collaboration, hiring, time tracking, and expenses.

The combination is useful for small businesses trying to reduce the number of separate systems involved in paying and managing staff. Its scope is less compelling if a business only needs payroll: the value of the platform depends on whether it will also use the benefits, time, hiring, or integration capabilities.

Key features

Payroll and benefits

Unlimited payroll runs are included, and Gusto handles payroll tax filings and payments. That removes a per-run constraint for teams with changing pay schedules, though the base plan is limited to payroll in one state. Health benefits and 401(k) plans can be managed in connection with payroll.

Time, hiring, and integrations

Scheduling, timesheets, PTO requests, and mobile time tracking connect time management to the broader HR workflow. Hiring tools cover job postings, offer letters, e-signing, applicant tracking, and new-hire onboarding. The app directory includes examples such as QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Expensify, Hubstaff, Clover, and Homebase, giving teams options to connect existing accounting, expense, and workforce tools.

Security and support

Gusto says data in transit uses TLS v1.2 and data at rest is encrypted with AES-256 in AWS. Annual SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports are available to customers through the Trust Center after signing an NDA. All plans include 24/7 access to the online Help Center and phone or chat support during business hours; Premium adds a dedicated account partner.

Pricing

Gusto is paid, with no free plan. Prices combine a monthly base charge and a per-person fee, so the total rises with team size. There are no long-term contracts, and customers can cancel anytime.

Simple: 49.00 USD per month, billed $49/mo + $6/mo per person. It includes basic payroll in one state, unlimited payrolls, tax filings and payments, and basic PTO and holiday pay. This is the fit for a small, single-state team that does not need the higher-tier time tools; multi-state payroll and scheduling are reasons to step up.
Plus: 80.00 USD per month, billed $80/mo + $12/mo per person. It adds multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling, unlimited next day pay, and contractor invoice management. The higher per-person charge is easier to justify when a business has distributed staff or needs to coordinate hours and contractor invoices within the same system.
Premium: 180.00 USD per month, billed $180/mo + $22/mo per person. It adds premium account support, HR guidance and tools, Gusto Business Compliance, same-day and instant pay, and project costing. This tier is aimed at teams that need more HR assistance and richer pay or costing options, rather than a basic payroll setup.

All plans retain unlimited payrolls and tax filings and payments, but the entry tier’s one-state scope and basic PTO are meaningful limits. Support is available across tiers, while dedicated account partnership is reserved for Premium.

Platforms

Gusto supports web, Android, iOS, and an API. Its mobile app works on iPhone and Android phones, supporting mobile time tracking as well as access to the platform beyond a desktop browser.

Who it's for

Gusto is best suited to small businesses that want payroll, benefits, time management, and hiring tools tied together, particularly when they can use its integrations to preserve connections to existing accounting or workforce software. A single-state employer focused on payroll can start with Simple. Businesses with multiple states or a need for scheduling and contractor invoice management have clearer reasons to choose Plus; those seeking HR guidance and dedicated support should consider Premium.

It is a weaker fit for buyers who need a free plan or want a flat monthly cost that does not scale with each person. Teams should compare the per-person charge against the features they will actually use.

Pros and cons

Pro: Unlimited payroll runs and automatic tax filings and payments reduce routine payroll administration without imposing a run quota.
Pro: Benefits, time tracking, hiring, and onboarding sit alongside payroll, which can simplify a small business’s people-operations stack.
Pro: The app directory includes accounting, expense, and time-management integrations, giving teams a path to connect existing tools.
Con: Per-person pricing compounds as headcount grows, on top of each plan’s monthly base fee.
Con: Simple supports payroll in only one state and has basic PTO, so teams needing multi-state payroll or scheduling must pay for a higher tier.
Con: Premium’s dedicated account partner and HR guidance come at the highest listed base and per-person rates.

Alternatives

For churches comparing payroll options, CDM+ is a paid alternative with a free trial and a CDM+ Essentials plan at 25.00 USD per month, billed monthly via auto-draw ACH for one program and one user. isolved HCM is worth considering for organizations seeking a modular platform with flexible options; it uses custom pricing. ADP Workforce Now is another paid option, with an Essential Payroll plan that includes payroll processing, tax filing, direct deposit, employee access, and multi-jurisdiction payroll, at custom pricing.

For church accounting needs, Amplify Accounting offers a free trial and custom pricing that varies by church size and selected solutions. Elexio Church Accounting is a paid, web-based option with custom pricing. Shelby Financials Payroll is a paid web and Windows option; its payroll module has a monthly fee and requires an active Shelby Financials account.

ACS Facility Scheduler is a paid web and Windows alternative. FellowshipOne is a paid option available on Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows.

Readers comparing solutions by industry or payment workflow can also browse Church Payroll Software, Restaurant Payroll Software, Nonprofit Payroll Software, Salon Payroll Software, Contractor Payment Software, and Payout Software.

Verdict

Choose Gusto if you are a small business that wants payroll at the center of a broader benefits, time, hiring, and HR platform, and can justify the per-person cost with those combined workflows. Look elsewhere if you need a free option, payroll in multiple states at the lowest tier, or a lower-cost alternative focused on a narrower use case.

	Gusto	Hyperwallet Marketplace Payouts
Free plan	No	No
Free trial	No	No
Paid from	$49/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Android, api, iOS, Web	api, Web
Free plan	No	—

Gusto vs Hyperwallet Marketplace Payouts

Gusto

Hyperwallet Marketplace Payouts