Gusto Pricing
Gusto costs from $40/mo up to $80/mo — about $480/year at the entry tier. There are 3 plans, and no free tier. That is above the $29/mo average for HR tools we track.
Gusto plans & prices
Every Gusto plan, what it includes, and who each one suits.
What Gusto costs over time
List price per plan, projected across a year. Annual prepayment is often discounted, so treat these as the ceiling rather than the final bill.
| Plan | Per month | 3 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | $40 | $120 | $480 |
| PlusPopular | $80 | $240 | $960 |
What each plan includes
Each tier builds on the one before it, so higher plans also include everything below them.
| Feature | Simple $40 | Plus $80 | Premium Custom |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6/employee | |||
| Single-state payroll | |||
| $12/employee | |||
| Multi-state | |||
| Dedicated support | |||
| HR resource center |
Which Gusto plan should you choose?
On a budget → Simple ($40/mo)
The cheapest paid way in — $480 a year.
Most teams → Plus ($80/mo)
The plan Gusto positions as its best-value tier for US small businesses.
Scaling up → Plus ($80/mo)
The full feature set — worth it once you need everything below the top row.
Is Gusto good value?
Across the 2 other HR tools we track, entry pricing averages $29/mo (from $8 to $49). Gusto starts at $40/mo — above average.
| Cheaper alternative | Starts at | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| RipplingUnify HR, IT & finance in one system | $8/mo | 4.8/5 |
Hidden costs to budget for
- • Per-seat plans multiply with team size — check whether the price above is per user.
- • Headline prices usually assume annual billing; paying monthly costs more.
- • Premium support, extra storage, and higher API limits are common paid add-ons.
- • Watch for renewal pricing: introductory rates often rise at the second term.
Ready to try Gusto?
Check current pricing and any live offers on their site.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Gusto cost?+
Gusto starts at $40 per month, running up to $80 per month on its top tier. There are 3 plans in total.
Does Gusto have a free plan?+
No — Gusto does not offer a permanently free plan. The cheapest way in is the Simple plan at $40/mo. Free trials may still be available.
How much is Gusto per year?+
At the Simple price of $40/mo, Gusto costs about $480 per year. Many vendors discount annual billing, so the real figure is often lower if you prepay.
Is Gusto expensive compared with other HR tools?+
The 2 other HR tools we track average $29/mo to start. Gusto's cheapest paid plan is $40/mo, which is above that average.
Are there hidden costs with Gusto?+
Headline prices often assume annual prepayment, and per-seat plans multiply with team size. Premium support, extra storage, and higher API limits are commonly paid add-ons — check these before you commit.