❦ Review · Last updated May 3, 2026
G
Gusto
When you make your first hire, this is the answer. Easier than running payroll through a CPA, cheaper than Rippling at small scale.
PayrollHRUS-only
❦ Score breakdown
9.2 / 10
First-employee onboarding takes 15–20 minutes.
9.0 / 10
Designed for non-HR people. The dashboard makes payroll obvious.
8.5 / 10
Per-employee math is clear; benefits add complexity.
8.0 / 10
QuickBooks, Xero, time-tracking — the essentials work.
7.5 / 10
Not useful until you have one hire. Then essential.
Strengths and tradeoffs
Strengths
- ●Auto-files state and federal payroll tax in all 50 states
- ●Benefits (health, 401k) integrated, not bolted on
- ●Customer support genuinely helpful and US-based
- ●Contractor payments + W-2 payroll in the same dashboard
Tradeoffs
- ●US-only — international hires need a separate tool (Deel)
- ●Pricier per employee than Square Payroll for smallest businesses
- ●Reporting is basic; export to spreadsheet for anything custom
What it does
- ●Auto-tax filing in all 50 states, including state-specific quirks
- ●Benefits administration (health, 401k) when you're ready
- ●Contractor payments included on the cheapest plan
Features at a glance
| Feature | Gusto |
|---|---|
| US payroll tax filing | ● Included |
| International payroll | — Not available |
| Contractor payments | ● Included |
| Benefits administration | ● Included |
| 401k administration | ● Included |
| Time tracking | Plus tier |
| PTO management | Plus tier |
| QuickBooks sync | ● Included |
| Xero sync | ● Included |
| Mobile app | ● Included |
| Self-service onboarding | ● Included |
| Dedicated CSM | Premium tier |
Pricing
| Tier | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $40/mo + $6/ee | Full-service payroll, basic HR |
| Plus | $80/mo + $12/ee | Time tracking, PTO, surveys |
| Premium | Custom | Dedicated CSM, compliance support |
Who it's for
| Founder type | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Founder | Not the right fit | Not useful until you have at least one employee. |
| Small Team | Strong fit | Built for this exact size band (2–50 employees). |
| Agency | Workable | Fine for US team; pair with Deel for international contractors. |
Known limitations
- — US-only; no international employees or contractors
- — Reporting and analytics are intentionally basic
What founders say
“First hire took me 20 minutes to onboard. Felt illegal how easy it was.”
“Customer support is the unsung win. Picked up on the second ring at 9pm.”
“Outgrew it at 35 people, but it took us there cleanly.”