Gusto is full service payroll for small businesses, with tax filing on every plan plus benefits, time tracking and HR tools as you move up. It is a strong all round choice for teams that want payroll and benefits in one place. It costs more per person than budget payroll services, and reviewers often mention support issues.
What Gusto is
Gusto is online payroll, benefits and HR software for small businesses. Every plan includes unlimited payroll runs, with federal, state and local payroll taxes calculated and filed for you Gusto pricing ↗ Gusto payroll ↗. It runs payroll in all 50 states and files W-2s and 1099s, sending electronic copies to employees and contractors Gusto payroll ↗.
Beyond payroll, Gusto offers health insurance, 401(k), workers' compensation and other benefits, plus time tracking and HR tools on higher plans Gusto pricing ↗ Gusto payroll ↗. Employees get lifetime access to paystubs, W-2s, hours and time off requests, with iOS and Android apps Gusto payroll ↗.
We did not find AI features described on Gusto's payroll page Gusto payroll ↗. Hands on testing is in progress, and we will update this review with our results.
What it does well
Tax filing is included everywhere. Even the cheapest plan files payroll taxes for you, which is not true of every budget service Gusto pricing ↗ Patriot pricing ↗.
Faster pay is easy to get. Plus includes unlimited next day pay, and Premium adds same day and instant pay Gusto pricing ↗. Simple can add next day pay for $15 a month plus $3 per person Gusto pricing ↗.
Benefits are well integrated. Health insurance administration has no fee beyond premiums, and workers' comp starts at $14 a month Gusto pricing ↗. Multi state payroll comes with Plus Gusto pricing ↗.
It connects to the tools you use. Gusto names QuickBooks, Xero, Expensify, Clover and Trainual among its integrations Gusto payroll ↗. On G2 it has a 4.6 out of 5 rating from about 13,400 reviews G2 comparison ↗. Plans are month to month Gusto pricing ↗.
Where it falls short
It costs more per person. Gusto Simple is $49 a month plus $6 per person, while Patriot Full Service, which also files taxes, is $37 plus $5 per worker Gusto pricing ↗ Patriot pricing ↗. At 10 employees that is $109 against $87 a month Gusto pricing ↗ Patriot pricing ↗.
Support gets mixed reviews. G2 lists poor customer support among Gusto's most mentioned cons, and G2 reviewers score Patriot's support 9.7 against 9.0 for Gusto G2 comparison ↗. Human support is available on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain time Gusto payroll ↗.
There is no free trial for payroll plans; Gusto advertises free account setup instead Gusto pricing ↗. Add ons such as same day pay, compliance and priority support carry their own fees Gusto pricing ↗.
Pricing and plans
Simple: $49 a month plus $6 per person, for payroll in one state with tax filing and basic time off policies Gusto pricing ↗. Plus: $80 a month plus $12 per person, adding time tracking and scheduling, unlimited next day pay, multi state payroll and contractor invoice management Gusto pricing ↗. Premium: $180 a month plus $22 per person, adding premium support, HR guidance, business compliance and same day and instant pay Gusto pricing ↗.
Common add ons include next day pay on Simple at $15 a month plus $3 per person, same day pay at $90 per payroll, instant pay at $100 per payroll, Gusto Business Compliance at $85 a month per state, and Priority Support at $30 a month plus $3 per person Gusto pricing ↗. Global contractor payments cost $5 each Gusto pricing ↗.
You pay only for active employees, and US contractors are billed at the per person rate only in months you pay them Gusto pricing ↗. Plans are month to month; upgrades apply immediately and downgrades from the next period Gusto pricing ↗.
Who should (and shouldn't) use it
- Good fit: small businesses that want payroll, benefits and time tracking in one place.
- Good fit: teams with staff in more than one state, on the Plus plan.
- Skip it if: you want the lowest price for basic payroll.
- Skip it if: fast, consistent phone support is your top priority.
Alternatives worth a look
- Patriot Payroll: Full Service with tax filing from $37 a month plus $5 per worker, with a 30 day free trial and US based support Patriot pricing ↗ Patriot payroll ↗.
- QuickBooks Payroll: worth comparing if you already keep your books in QuickBooks QuickBooks Payroll ↗.
- Gusto Plus: if you do choose Gusto, most growing teams will compare Simple against Plus for next day pay and multi state payroll Gusto pricing ↗.
What’s good
- Tax filing included on every plan
- Next day pay and time tracking on Plus
- Wide set of benefits and integrations
What to know
- Costs more than Patriot per person
- G2 reviewers often cite support issues
Key features
- Unlimited payrolls with federal, state and local tax filing on every plan
- Multi state payroll, time tracking and next day pay on Plus
- Same day and instant pay plus HR tools on Premium
- Health insurance administration with no extra fee beyond premiums
- Employee self service with iOS and Android apps
Works with
Questions people ask
How much does Gusto cost?
Simple is $49 a month plus $6 per person, Plus is $80 plus $12, and Premium is $180 plus $22 Gusto pricing ↗.
Does Gusto have a free trial?
Gusto advertises free account setup but does not list a free trial for payroll plans Gusto pricing ↗.
Is Patriot cheaper than Gusto?
Yes. Patriot Full Service is $37 a month plus $5 per worker, against $49 plus $6 for Gusto Simple Patriot pricing ↗ Gusto pricing ↗.
Does Gusto file payroll taxes?
Yes. Every Gusto plan calculates and files federal, state and local payroll taxes Gusto pricing ↗ Gusto payroll ↗.
Where this comes from
Checked Oct 9, 2026. Vendor pages describe their own products; independent sources add outside views. Hands on testing is in progress.
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