Gusto
Payroll softwareRatings across public platforms
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What is Gusto?
Gusto is payroll and HR software for small businesses that need to pay employees, file payroll taxes, onboard new hires, and manage basic benefits without building a full HR department.
Run payroll
Pay employees through a guided payroll flow.
File payroll taxes
Reduce manual federal, state, and local tax tasks.
Onboard employees
Let new hires complete forms without back-and-forth paperwork.
Running a payroll cycle in Gusto
Quick verdict
Gusto is strongest for small teams that want payroll to feel simple and predictable. Costs can rise with add-ons, but it remains one of the easiest payroll platforms for first-time employers.
Best for
- Straightforward small-team payroll
- Fewer manual payroll tax tasks
- Regular employee onboarding
- Clean workflows over customization
Not best for
- ✕Global or multi-currency payroll
- ✕Highly complex HR needs
- ✕Tight budgets with add-ons
Pricing
See full pricing details →All plans include payroll, tax filing, and employee self-service.
Simple
$49/mo
+ $6 per employee / mo
Core payroll and tax filing for W-2 employees.
- Full-service payroll
- Automated tax filing
- Employee self-onboarding
Plus
Most popular$80/mo
+ $12 per employee / mo
Includes benefits admin and time tracking.
- Everything in Simple
- Time tracking
- Project tracking
- Custom reports
Premium
$180/mo
+ $22 per employee / mo
Priority support, HR tools, and custom onboarding.
- Everything in Plus
- Advanced HR tools
- Priority support
- Dedicated support team
Pricing as of May 2025. Gusto may change pricing at any time. Always confirm current pricing and your state's availability during signup.
Key features
Payroll
Run payroll, auto-calculate taxes and deductions, direct deposit
Tax filing & compliance
Automatic federal, state, and local tax filing and payments
Benefits administration
Health insurance, 401(k), and other benefit management
Employee onboarding
Offer letters, e-signatures, and new hire setup
Time tracking
Track hours, manage PTO, and integrate with payroll
HR tools
Employee profiles, document storage, and reporting
Ratings across public platforms
Sourced from each platform's public listing. We summarise themes — we don't republish individual reviews.
G2CapterraTrustRadiusWhat business owners commonly say
Themes from public reviews, summarized in our own words.
FieldOwner read
Gusto gets the strongest praise for easy setup, payroll tax help, and small-team simplicity. The main concerns show up around add-ons, advanced HR needs, and cost creep.
Setup experience
Strong positive
Payroll tax help
Positive
Add-on cost
Mixed
Simple team fit
Strong positive
Praised most often
Easier setup
First payroll and onboarding feel less intimidating.
Payroll tax help
Automated filings reduce manual admin work.
Clean onboarding
Employee setup feels straightforward.
Best for simple teams
Strongest for straightforward small-business payroll.
Common watch-outs
Add-ons raise cost
Benefits, HR tools, and upgrades can raise the monthly cost.
Advanced HR costs more
Some deeper HR features sit behind higher plans.
Not ideal for global payroll
Limited fit for international payroll complexity.
Less customizable
Not as flexible as enterprise payroll systems.
What this means
Gusto's strongest owner feedback is about getting payroll running without a heavy setup. The concerns are less about core payroll and more about what happens as a business needs deeper HR, benefits, or multi-location complexity.
Alternatives to Gusto
Other payroll software worth considering.
ADP Run
QuickBooks Payroll
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gusto good for small businesses?
Yes. Gusto is purpose-built for small teams running their first payroll. The setup is straightforward and the recurring payroll workflow is reliable once configured.
Does Gusto handle weekly payroll?
Yes. Weekly payroll is one of the strongest practical use cases once setup is complete and your recurring process is dialled in.
Is Gusto expensive for small teams?
It can cost more than bare-bones tools, but many teams recover the difference through reduced admin time and lower compliance risk.
What happens if you miss payroll?
Missed payroll creates employee trust and operational issues. Gusto helps with consistency but you still need internal discipline around deadlines.
Can I switch to Gusto from my current provider?
Yes. Gusto has a migration process and handles importing prior payroll history. Most small teams complete the switch within a pay cycle.
How FieldOwner recommends software
Ratings are sourced from public platform pages. Recommendations combine hands-on operator experience, public pricing research, and business owner feedback. We summarise themes — we don't republish third-party review text. Gusto is a tool I use directly in my own business.
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