Gusto Review
Verdict: Gusto earns 4.6/5 from 9,100 reviews, ranking #2 of 5 HR tools we track. It suits US small businesses best. Very easy payroll is its standout strength, while us-only payroll is the main trade-off to weigh.
Our take on Gusto
Gusto makes payroll, benefits, and HR delightfully easy for small US businesses, with automated tax filing and a friendly interface. A top pick for SMB payroll.
Key features
- Full-service payroll
- Automated tax filing
- Benefits administration
- Onboarding
- Time tracking
Pros & cons
Pros
- Very easy payroll
- Automated taxes
- Great for SMBs
Cons
- US-only payroll
- Per-employee fees add up
Who Gusto is for
A good fit if…
- • You are US small businesses.
- • Your use case is SMB payroll.
- • Your use case is benefits + HR.
- • Your use case is first-time payroll.
- • Very easy payroll matters to you.
Look elsewhere if…
- • US-only payroll would be a dealbreaker.
- • Per-employee fees add up would be a dealbreaker.
- • Budget is tight — Gusto costs more than the $29/mo category average.
Gusto pricing
Full pricing breakdown →| Plan | Price | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $40/mo | $480 |
| PlusPopular | $80/mo | $960 |
| Premium | Custom | — |
How Gusto compares
| Measure | Gusto | Category average |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Starting price | $40/mo | $29/mo |
| Rank by rating | #2 of 5 | — |
| Public API | Yes | 4 of 4 offer one |
Integrations
Alternatives to consider
All Gusto alternatives →Bottom line on Gusto
4.6/5 · Paid · best for US small businesses
Frequently asked questions
Is Gusto worth it?+
Gusto is rated 4.6/5 across 9,100 reviews and is best suited to US small businesses. Very easy payroll is the standout strength; the main trade-off is us-only payroll.
What do users like most about Gusto?+
Very easy payroll, Automated taxes, Great for SMBs.
What are the downsides of Gusto?+
US-only payroll, Per-employee fees add up. Whether these matter depends on your use case — see who it is and isn't for above.
How much does Gusto cost?+
Gusto starts at $40/mo. See the full plan breakdown on our Gusto pricing page.
How does Gusto compare with other HR tools?+
Among the 5 HR tools we track, Gusto ranks #2 by rating (4.6/5 vs a 4.5/5 category average).
What is Gusto best used for?+
SMB payroll, Benefits + HR, First-time payroll.