Gusto review (2026): features, pros and cons, and what to check before you buy
Small-business payroll platform that bundles tax filing, benefits and basic HR tools, priced as a base fee plus a per-person fee.
Our take for buyers
Gusto is a payroll and basic HR platform for small US businesses, from one person to a few dozen, that want simple setup. It handles automatic federal, state and local tax filing on all plans and supports both W-2 employees and 1099 contractors, with a separate Contractor Only plan. It is not meant for large enterprises or buyers who need global payroll.
G2 shows a 4.6 rating across about 9,000 reviews, with ease of use scored 9.5 out of 10 and quick onboarding praised. Support rates slightly behind some competitors. Shortlist Gusto for small teams with US-only needs. Skip it if you need global payroll or deep identity controls such as SCIM, which are not its focus.
Pros
- Ease of use (9.5 of 10 on G2)
- Quick setup and onboarding.
Cons
- Support rated slightly behind some competitors.
- Best for
- Small US businesses of 1 to a few dozen people wanting simple setup.
- Starting price
- $49/month plus $6 per person (Simple)
- G2 rating
- 4.6 (9,000 reviews)
What is Gusto?
Small-business payroll platform that bundles tax filing, benefits and basic HR tools, priced as a base fee plus a per-person fee. Owners of small US businesses who want payroll running quickly will find a simple setup, with W-2 staff and 1099 contractors both supported. Cost is $49 monthly plus $6 per person on Simple. G2 rates ease of use at 9.5 of 10. Larger firms needing SCIM or global payroll should look elsewhere. Gusto was founded in 2011 and is based in San Francisco, US (formerly ZenPayroll).
Category: HR Software (HRIS), Payroll Software
Gusto key features
| Criterion | What we found |
|---|---|
| Core HR and employee records | Employee records and self-onboarding on all plans (basic) |
| Payroll integration or built-in payroll | Built-in payroll is the core product. |
| Onboarding and offboarding workflows | Employee self-onboarding on Simple; hiring and onboarding tools on Plus. |
| Time off and attendance | Basic PTO on Simple; time and PTO tracking on Plus. |
| Pricing model and transparency | Base fee plus per-person fee per plan. |
| Target company size | Small businesses (about 84% of G2 reviews) |
| Tax filing and compliance | Automatic federal, state and local filing on all plans. |
| Multi-state payroll | Plus and Premium; Simple is single-state. |
| Time tracking and PTO | Plus adds time tracking and PTO. |
| Contractor and 1099 payments | Contractor Only plan $35 + $6 per contractor. |
Gusto plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | $49 + $6 | per month + per person per month | Single-state payroll, auto tax filing |
| Plus | $80 + $12 | per month + per person per month | Multi-state payroll, time tracking, hiring tools |
| Premium | $180 + $22 | per month + per person per month | HR guidance, same-day and instant pay |
| Contractor Only | $35 + $6 | per month + per contractor | 1099-only businesses |
Prices as listed on gusto.com/product/pricing. Some Gusto guides list Premium as custom. Active employees only are billed.
Who should shortlist Gusto
A strong fit for
- Small US businesses of 1 to a few dozen people wanting simple setup.
- Companies that pay a mix of W-2 employees and 1099 contractors.
A weak fit for
- Large enterprises needing SCIM or deep identity controls.
- Companies that need global payroll.
Gusto alternatives
RipplingCompanies already running payroll and HR on Rippling that want app access tied to employee records.
PaycorUS employers with roughly 10 to 1,000 staff that want payroll and HR from one vendor.
JustworksSmall US companies that want a PEO with benefits and compliance handled for them.
OnPaySmall businesses and accounting-firm partners.
BambooHRSmall and mid-size US companies that want HRIS first and light recruiting in the same system.
QuickBooks PayrollBusinesses already on QuickBooks Online.
Security, admin and compliance
Gusto does not publish a security certification list on its public pages, so request its current attestations directly. SAML SSO is reportedly available only by contacting support, and SCIM is reportedly not offered, both from third-party sources and not confirmed on gusto.com. Audit logs, data residency and DPA terms are not published. Pricing is monthly, but cancellation terms are not published, so confirm them in writing.
- SAML SSO
- Reportedly available by contacting support (third-party source); not confirmed by the vendor.
- SCIM provisioning
- Reportedly not offered (third-party)
Contract and buying terms
- Contract
- Monthly pricing; cancellation terms not confirmed by the vendor.
- Starting price
- $49/month plus $6 per person (Simple)
- Pricing model
- Base fee plus per person.
- Free plan or trial
- No.
What to test in a Gusto demo or trial
Run a trial payroll scenario with your real setup: employees in one state versus several, plus any contractors. Confirm that Simple's single-state limit fits you, or that you need Plus for multi-state payroll, time tracking and hiring tools. Walk through employee self-onboarding and PTO tracking, noting that PTO is basic on Simple. Ask what benefits administration costs, since rates are not published. Since support is the one weaker score on G2, test response times on a real question before signing.
Questions to ask Gusto before you sign
These are the points Gusto's public pages leave open. Get the answers in writing before procurement signs off.
- Which plan includes audit logs, and how long are they kept?
- Where is our data stored, and can we choose the region?
- Can we sign your standard DPA without changes?
- What will the price be at renewal, and is the increase capped?
Things to know before a demo
- Multi-state payroll only starts on Plus ($80 + $12)
- Simple's price excludes benefits costs and add-ons.
- SAML SSO is not self-service: reportedly enabled via Gusto support, and SCIM is reportedly unavailable (third-party Stitchflow)
- Billing counts only active employees.
- Contractor-only businesses have their own $35 + $6 plan.
Head-to-head comparisons
Gusto FAQ
What is Gusto used for?
Owners of small US businesses who want payroll running quickly will find a simple setup, with W-2 staff and 1099 contractors both supported. Cost is $49 monthly plus $6 per person on Simple. G2 rates ease of use at 9.5 of 10. Larger firms needing SCIM or global payroll should look elsewhere. It suits small US businesses of 1 to a few dozen people wanting simple setup.
Does Gusto support SAML SSO or SCIM?
SAML SSO is reportedly enabled by contacting support rather than self-service, and SCIM is reportedly unavailable. Both points come from third-party sources and are not confirmed on gusto.com, so ask the vendor.
Who is Gusto best for?
Small US businesses of one to a few dozen people that want simple setup, and companies that pay a mix of W-2 employees and 1099 contractors. It is not for large enterprises needing SCIM or global payroll.
Does Gusto handle multi-state payroll?
Yes, but only on Plus and Premium. The Simple plan is limited to single-state payroll, so multi-state employers should evaluate Plus first.
Vendor profile
- Founded
- 2011.
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, US (formerly ZenPayroll)
- Employees
- 2,400 to 3,000 (estimates)
- Funding or owner
- Series E, $9.5B valuation in 2021/2022 rounds.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Gusto's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.