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Gusto ranks #1 of 7 in our payroll tools ranking (88/100). Best for small businesses that want payroll, benefits and core people tools in one place. Paid plans start at $49/mo + $6/person (Simple, single-state; Plus $80 + $12/person; Premium $180 + $22/person).
Gusto is full-service payroll with built-in HR and benefits administration. Simple ($49 a month plus $6 per person) covers single-state payroll, tax filing and core HR; Plus ($80 plus $12 per person) adds multi-state payroll, next-day direct deposit and time tracking; Premium ($180 plus $22 per person) adds access to HR experts. A Contractor plan costs $35 a month plus $6 per contractor.
Small businesses that want payroll, health benefits administration and core HR handled by one tool.
It covers the most ground for a small team, from payroll and tax filing to benefits and HR support, and you can set it up for free before the first pay run.
Skip it if: You have employees in several states and want that on the cheapest plan; OnPay includes all 50 states for $49 + $6.
Paid plans start at $49/mo + $6/person (Simple, single-state; Plus $80 + $12/person; Premium $180 + $22/person). Free plan or trial: Free to set up; you pay once you run payroll.
From Gusto's pricing page, checked on the date at the top of this review. See how it compares on price in our payroll tools pricing overview.
Each criterion is rated 0 to 5 and weighted for the category. See our methodology.
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gusto | Small businesses that want payroll, benefits and core people tools in one place | $49/mo + $6/person | 88/100 |
| 2 | OnPay | Best value for multi-state payroll | $49/mo + $6/person | 87/100 |
| 3 | Rippling | Growing companies that want payroll, benefits and employee records in one system | From $8/employee/mo | 82/100 |
| 4 | RUN Powered by ADP | Small businesses that want a large provider's compliance and help desk services | Pricing on request | 80/100 |
| 5 | Square Payroll | Hourly, shift-based teams | $35/mo + $6/person | 79/100 |
| 6 | Patriot Payroll | Very small businesses on a tight budget | $37/mo + $5/worker | 78/100 |
Paid plans start at $49/mo + $6/person (Simple, single-state; Plus $80 + $12/person; Premium $180 + $22/person). Free plan or trial: Free to set up; you pay once you run payroll.
Gusto scores 88/100 in our payroll tools ranking, where it is best for small businesses that want payroll, benefits and core people tools in one place. It's a weaker fit if: you have employees in several states and want that on the cheapest plan; OnPay includes all 50 states for $49 + $6.
Free to set up; you pay once you run payroll.
In our payroll tools ranking, the closest alternatives are OnPay, Rippling and RUN Powered by ADP.