Gusto
The Astronaut's Review
Expert analysis by The Software Astronaut
Astronaut's Score
The Verdict
The modern payroll and HR platform that makes paying people easy.
Our Take
Gusto modernized small business payroll with a beautiful interface and comprehensive HR features. Running payroll takes minutes. Benefits administration and HR tools round out the offering.
Where It Fits
- US small businesses needing payroll
- Startups wanting modern HR tools
- Companies offering employee benefits
- Teams valuing user experience
Where It Falls Short
- International payroll (limited)
- Enterprise HR needs
- Very small solo businesses
Rating Breakdown
In-Depth Analysis
Overview
Gusto provides payroll, benefits, and HR tools for small and medium US businesses. The platform is known for its modern interface and making payroll surprisingly pleasant.
Ease of Use
Gusto is remarkably easy to use. Running payroll takes a few clicks. The interface is modern and guides users through processes. New admins are comfortable within the first payroll cycle.
Key Strengths
- Intuitive payroll processing
- Automatic tax filing and compliance
- Benefits administration (health, 401k)
- Employee onboarding
- Time tracking integration
- Great customer support
Limitations to Consider
- US-only
- Gets expensive with add-ons
- HR features less robust than dedicated tools
- Benefits available varies by state
Pricing Analysis
Simple at $40/month + $6/person. Plus at $80/month + $12/person. Premium at $180/month + $16.50/person.
Final Thoughts
Gusto is the best choice for US small businesses wanting modern, easy payroll. For international or enterprise needs, look at Rippling or ADP.
Top-Rated Alternatives
Explore other highly-rated HR & Recruiting options to find the best fit for your needs.
Popular Integrations
Gusto works seamlessly with these popular tools to enhance your workflow.
Note: Integration availability may vary based on your subscription plan. Visit the official Gusto website or check our individual product pages for the most up-to-date integration information.
About Gusto
Payroll, benefits, and HR for modern businesses
Key Features
Feature Availability
| Feature | Gusto |
|---|---|
Cloud-Based Accessible from any device with internet | |
Mobile App Native mobile applications available | Partial |
API Access Programmatic access for integrations | Partial |
Free Trial Try before you buy | |
Free Tier Permanently free plan available | |
24/7 Support Round-the-clock customer assistance | Partial |
SSO/SAML Enterprise single sign-on | Partial |
Data Export Export your data anytime | |
Integrations Connect with other tools | |
Custom Branding White-label capabilities | Partial |
Pricing Overview
Starting at $40/month + $6/person
Integration & API
- API Supported
- Yes
- API Auth Methods
- OAuth2
- API Protocols
- REST
- Native Integrations
- QuickBooksXeroSlack
- Marketplace
- Yes
- Zapier
- Yes
Security & Compliance
- Certifications
- SOC 2ISO 27001
- Encryption
- AES-256TLS 1.2
- Compliance
- GDPR
- Uptime SLA
- 99.9%
Customization
- Custom Objects
- No
- Custom Fields
- Yes
- Custom Workflows
- Yes
- Custom Reports
- Yes
- Custom Branding
- No
- Coding Capability
- No
Mobile
- Mobile App
- Yes
- Platforms
- iOSAndroid
- Mobile Pricing
- Included
Delivery & Infrastructure
- Deployment Type
- Public Cloud
- Browsers
- ChromeFirefoxSafariEdge
- Data Centers
- USA
- Languages
- English
Pricing & Licensing
- Contract Duration
- Monthly
- License Mix
- No
- Trial Days
- Not specified
- Currency
- USD
Support
- Channels
- EmailPhoneChatHelp Center
- Hours
- Business Hours
- Dedicated Manager
- No
- Training
- Yes