Gusto review

Gusto is the payroll tool that small business owners actually enjoy using, and its HR features grow around that core. Every plan includes unlimited payroll runs, tax filings, direct deposit, approvals, an employee app and domestic contractor payments. Plus adds time tracking, scheduling, multi-state payroll and next-day pay, and Premium adds a named advisor, HR guidance and same-day pay. Health insurance, 401(k) and business insurance are offered through Gusto, and the pricing page lists add-on fees openly. As an HR system it is lighter than BambooHR or Rippling: records and onboarding are fine, but performance and compensation tools are thin. The Simple plan also caps you at one state. For a US company under about 50 people where payroll accuracy matters most, Gusto is the easiest choice and often the cheapest total bill, since you avoid a separate payroll vendor.

Who it is for

US small businesses whose main need is reliable payroll and tax filing, with basic HR on the side.

Price

Simple from $49 per month plus $6 per person; Plus $80 plus $12 per person; Premium $180 plus $22 per person.

Simple Run basic payroll in one state. $49/mo + $6/mo per person
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 4, 2026.

Key features

• Unlimited payrolls with federal and state tax filings on every plan
• Payroll on AutoPilot, direct deposit and employee self-service app
• Time tracking, scheduling and multi-state payroll on Plus
• Health, 401(k) and workers' comp options through Gusto
• HR guidance and named advisor on Premium

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Clear published prices with no contract and free setup
• Strength: Very easy payroll runs for owners without HR training
• Strength: Benefits administration with no Gusto admin fee for health plans
• Weakness: Simple plan is limited to payroll in one state
• Weakness: HR features such as performance tools sit on Plus and above
• Weakness: Add-ons like next-day pay and state registration add up

Key facts

• Plans: Simple, Plus, Premium
• Contract: No contracts; cancel anytime
• Global contractors: Payments in 120+ countries as an add-on

Where it ranks

Gusto is No. 4 in our Best HR Software verdict.