Gusto

Payroll, benefits and HR for SMBs.

4.54,100 reviewsG24.4/5Capterra4.6/5
Visit Gusto → Updated July 2026
HR
Starting price
$40/mo
Free plan
No
Free trial
Yes
G2 score
4.4/5
Capterra score
4.6/5

Overview

Gusto made small-business payroll almost pleasant: automated filings, employee self-service onboarding, and benefits administration in one clean flow. Contractor payments and multi-state support cover most young companies' needs, and the wallet features give employees real utility. It is US-centric — international hiring needs a different tool — and the base-plus-per-person pricing adds up, but for domestic SMB payroll it sets the usability bar.

Who it’s best for

Small TeamsStartups

Key features

  • Full-service payroll
  • Benefits
  • Time tracking
  • Onboarding

Gusto pricing

Gusto paid plans start at $40/month, with a free trial.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Simple payroll
  • Good benefits
  • Clean UI

Cons

  • US only
  • Base + per-person fee

Top Gusto alternatives

See all Gusto alternatives →

Frequently asked questions

How much does Gusto cost?

Gusto paid plans start at $40/month, with a free trial.

Is Gusto any good?

Gusto holds a 4.5/5 rating across 4,100 reviews. Users highlight its simple payroll.

What are the best Gusto alternatives?

Top alternatives include Rippling, Deel, BambooHR. Rippling is the highest rated at 4.8/5.