Gusto Review
Gusto is the leading US payroll and HR platform serving 400,000+ small businesses with simple, transparent pricing starting at $40/month. Built by founders for founders, Gusto automates federal and state tax filing across all 50 states, offers ACA-compliant group health insurance for teams as small as 2 employees, and provides the cleanest, most intuitive HR interface in the US SMB market.
Countries
Businesses Served
Per Employee/Month
Setup Time
Provider Highlights
Advantages
- Transparent pricing from $40/month — no hidden fees
- Automated tax filing across all 50 US states
- Group health insurance access for teams of 2+ employees
- 400,000+ US businesses trust Gusto for payroll
- Clean, modern interface loved by non-HR founders and operators
Limitations
- US-focused — limited international EOR capability
- Not suitable for enterprise or complex global workforce needs
- Contractor management less robust than Deel or Remote
- Customer support response times can be slow at peak periods
- No dedicated account manager at base tiers
Platform Features & Capabilities
US Payroll
Gusto's core product is US payroll processing for small businesses, serving 400,000+ companies. The platform automates federal and state tax filing across all 50 states, handles W-2 and 1099 generation, and manages direct deposits. Pricing starts at $40/month base plus $6/employee — making it one of the most affordable payroll solutions for US SMBs. Gusto also files state new hire reports and handles year-end tax forms automatically.
Health Insurance & Benefits
Gusto provides ACA-compliant group health insurance access for teams as small as 2 employees — a significant advantage since most group plans require 5+ employees. The platform offers medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans from major carriers. Benefits administration is integrated directly with payroll so premium deductions are calculated automatically.
HR Management
Built-in HR tools cover employee onboarding, document management, time-off tracking, and org charts. Gusto's interface is designed for non-HR founders and operators — the UX is clean, modern, and requires minimal training. The platform also includes hiring and onboarding workflows with offer letter templates and e-signatures.
International Contractor Payments
Gusto supports contractor payments in 120+ countries, handling tax form collection and compliant payment processing. This is not a full EOR service — Gusto does not act as the legal employer internationally. For companies needing to hire international employees (not just pay contractors), a dedicated EOR provider is required.
Integrations
Gusto integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, and a range of time-tracking and expense management tools. The integration ecosystem is focused on the US SMB market and does not include enterprise tools like Workday or SAP.
What Users say
Ease of Use
Gusto's interface is consistently the most praised aspect across all review platforms. Users describe it as clean, intuitive, and requiring minimal training. Non-HR founders and small business operators particularly appreciate being able to run payroll in under 10 minutes without prior payroll experience.
Payroll & Tax Filing
Automated federal and state tax filing across all 50 US states earns strong marks. Users praise the reliability of payroll runs, W-2 and 1099 generation, and year-end tax form handling. Occasional processing delays and rare tax filing errors are reported but are not common themes.
Benefits & Insurance
Access to group health insurance for teams as small as 2 employees is frequently cited as a key Gusto advantage. Users appreciate the breadth of medical, dental, and vision plans available. Some reviews note that plan options are less competitive than PEO-provided rates from providers like JustWorks.
Customer Support
Support reviews are mixed. Many users praise the helpfulness of Gusto's team when they connect, but Trustpilot reviews frequently mention long wait times and difficulty reaching live agents during busy periods. The absence of phone support at lower tiers is a recurring complaint.
Value for Money
At $40+ per month, Gusto is seen as excellent value for US payroll and HR. Users consistently rate it as the best price-to-feature ratio in the US SMB market. The main limitation flagged is the lack of meaningful international EOR capability — users who outgrow domestic-only hiring need to switch platforms.
OUR TAKE
Is Gusto the Right EOR for You?
Gusto is a strong choice for companies that prioritize simple, affordable US payroll with access to group health insurance for small teams. While it excels at automated tax filing across all 50 states with transparent pricing from $40/month, it may not be the best fit if your priority is international EOR coverage or enterprise HR capabilities. Use our free comparison tool to see how it stacks up against alternatives for your specific needs.
Best For
US Payroll and PEO
US-based businesses needing payroll, benefits, and HR management for domestic teams.
SMBs & Enterprises
Businesses of all sizes benefit from a single platform to hire, pay, and manage global teams.
Rapid Startups
Startups needing quick hires and international scaling.
Cost-Conscious Teams
Budget-focused companies seeking transparent, affordable EOR without hidden fees.
ALTERNATIVES
How it compares
Gusto vs JustWorks
Both serve US SMBs but through different models. Gusto is payroll software starting at $40+/month — you run payroll yourself. JustWorks is a PEO starting at $59/employee/month — they become your co-employer and manage payroll, compliance, and benefits. JustWorks provides access to Fortune 500-level health insurance; Gusto offers more affordable payroll with 100+ integrations. Choose JustWorks for premium benefits access; choose Gusto for cost-effective self-service payroll.
Gusto vs Rippling
Rippling unifies HR, IT, and Finance with 500+ integrations and the deepest automation engine in the market. Gusto focuses on simple US payroll and HR for small teams. Rippling is significantly more powerful but more complex and expensive. Choose Gusto for a clean, affordable payroll experience for teams under 50; choose Rippling for scaling companies that need unified HR, IT, and Finance automation.
Gusto vs Employment Hero
Gusto dominates US SMB payroll at $40+/month. Employment Hero dominates ANZ/UK at $399/month with broader HRMS, AI recruitment, and the Swag benefits app. They serve different geographies with minimal overlap. Choose Gusto for US-only operations; choose Employment Hero for Australia, New Zealand, or UK hiring.
Compare Gusto vs Employment Hero →
Gusto vs Deel
Deel is a global EOR platform across 150+ countries at $599/month. Gusto is a US payroll platform at $40+/month. They serve fundamentally different needs. Choose Gusto for domestic US payroll and HR; choose Deel when you need to hire employees internationally through an EOR.
Clear, Published EOR Pricing for US Small Business Payroll
Gusto's pricing is structured around a per-employee monthly fee starting at $40 plus a base subscription, with costs varying by plan tier and add-on services. Setup fees are $0 and no termination fees apply. Volume discounts are not standard but may be available for larger accounts. Always confirm the final quote directly, as state-specific taxes and benefit costs may be added.
Pricing Breakdown
Base Monthly Fee (Per employee, per month)
Setup Fee (One-time, varies by country)
Termination Fee (Covers statutory costs)
Volume Discounts (Available for 10+ employees)
Countries where it operates
Latest news & updates
November 2025 — Guideline Acquisition
Gusto acquired Guideline, a 401(k) and retirement plan provider, expanding its benefits offering for US small businesses. The acquisition strengthens Gusto's position as a one-stop payroll and benefits platform by adding retirement plan administration to its existing health insurance and payroll capabilities.
2025 — International Contractor Expansion
Gusto expanded its international contractor payment capabilities to 120+ countries, allowing US businesses to pay global freelancers and contractors through the Gusto platform. The company maintained its position as the leading US SMB payroll provider serving 400,000+ businesses.
June 2025 — Benefits Partnership
Gusto partnered with Elevate to enhance its consumer benefit account offerings, adding new flexible spending and health savings account options for its small business clients.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the EOR Provider.
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How much does Gusto cost?
Gusto's payroll plans start at $40/month base plus $6/employee. The Simple plan is $40/month + $6/person, the Plus plan is $80/month + $12/person, and the Premium plan is $180/month + $22/person. Contractor-only plans start at $35/month + $6/contractor.
Does Gusto offer international EOR services?
No. Gusto is primarily a US payroll and HR platform. It supports international contractor payments in 120+ countries but does not act as a legal Employer of Record internationally. Companies needing international EOR should use a dedicated provider like Deel or Remote.
Can Gusto provide health insurance for small teams?
Yes. Gusto offers ACA-compliant group health insurance for teams as small as 2 employees, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. This is a significant advantage since most group plans require 5+ employees.
Does Gusto handle multi-state payroll?
Yes. Gusto automates federal and state tax filing across all 50 US states, handles W-2 and 1099 generation, and manages new hire reporting. This makes it one of the most capable US payroll platforms for multi-state employers.
What integrations does Gusto support?
Gusto integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, and a range of time-tracking and expense management tools focused on the US SMB market. Enterprise tools like Workday and SAP are not supported.
How does Gusto compare to JustWorks?
Gusto is self-service payroll software; JustWorks is a PEO (co-employment). Gusto costs 3–5x less per employee but you manage payroll yourself. JustWorks provides access to Fortune 500-level health insurance through pooled purchasing power. Choose Gusto for affordable payroll; choose JustWorks for premium benefits access.
Still have questions?
Ask our team and get clear, unbiased guidance tailored to your situation.
Switching to or from Gusto?
Switching to Gusto
Gusto supports migration for US businesses moving from another payroll provider. The process includes importing employee data, tax filing history, and benefits enrolment. Gusto's onboarding team guides the transition with checklists and timeline coordination. The migration typically takes 1–2 payroll cycles to complete cleanly.
Switching away from Gusto
When outgrowing Gusto — typically because you need international EOR or more advanced HR tools — export all employee records, W-2/1099 history, and benefits data before transitioning. Gusto is US-only, so switching to a global EOR like Deel or Remote is the most common migration path for companies expanding internationally.
Questions to ask before switching any EOR
Before switching to or from any EOR provider, confirm: Will there be a gap in employment or benefits coverage? Who handles employee communication during transition? Are there overlapping billing periods? Will payroll history transfer in a usable format? Are there country-specific restrictions on contract novation?
Find a better EOR — without risk
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