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Gusto Logo

Gusto is the all-in-one HR platform for growing businesses.

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Gusto - 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives

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All user reviews are verified by in-house moderators and provider data by our software research team.  Learn more

Last updated: April 2026

Gusto overview

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Based on 4197 verified user reviews

What is Gusto?

Gusto is a payroll tool offering key features such as direct deposit, payroll management, payroll reporting, tax compliance, W-2 preparation, and a self-service portal, among others.

Who uses Gusto?

Reviews for Gusto come from a wide variety of industries, including computer software (9% of reviewers), marketing and advertising (7%), and accounting (6%). The most frequent use case for Gusto cited by reviewers is payroll (57% of reviewers).

What do users say about Gusto pricing?

Reviewers indicate Gusto’s pricing is transparent and affordable, and they appreciate the flexible tiered plans. Some users report costs rise with added features or scaling, and they wish lower-tier plans included more functionalities.

What are the most popular integrations for Gusto?

The Gusto integration most frequently cited by reviewers is QuickBooks Online, an accounting product rated 4.6 out of 5 for its integration with Gusto.

Starting price

35 /
per month

Alternatives

with better value for money


Pros & Cons

Payroll

Employee Management

Tax Management

Cost Savings

Pay and Paystubs

Mobile Access

Gusto’s user interface

Ease of use rating:

Gusto pros, cons and reviews insights

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To determine these pros and cons insights, we analyzed responses from 

Overall rating

Reviews sentiment

 
 
 
1-2(114)
3-4(1,033)
5(3,050)

What do users say about Gusto?

Gusto is a payroll tool offering key features such as direct deposit, payroll management, payroll reporting, tax compliance, W-2 preparation, and a self-service portal, among others.

Select to learn more


Who uses Gusto?

Based on 4,197 verified user reviews.

Company size

Small Businesses

Midsize Businesses

Enterprises

Top industries

Accounting
Consumer Services
Non-Profit Organization Management
Health, Wellness and Fitness
Others

Use cases

Payroll
Direct Deposit Payroll
Onboarding
Human Resources
Time Tracking

Gusto's key features

GetApp's analysis of 279 verified user reviews collected between July 2021 and October 2024 identifies Gusto's most critical features and summarizes user sentiment about those features.

Direct deposit

Reviewers appreciate Gusto's Direct Deposit feature for its reliability and efficiency. They highlight the ability to split payments across multiple bank accounts and make changes easily. Users report receiving timely notifications and seamless payroll processing. They find it convenient for both employees and employers, reducing the need for paper checks and manual adjustments. Some users mention occasional issues with late payments, but overall, they value the automated and secure nature of Gusto's Direct Deposit feature. Of the 111 Gusto users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Direct Deposit, 97% rated this feature as important or highly important.

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“It will show you that it's on its way with a deposit date, but no paystub until it has been deposited.”
HM

Heather M.

Online Platform Coordinator

“Most payroll companies, the banks will release funds to employee's accounts once it clears the employer's account. But with Gusto the funds don't clear the account until it the day employees are to be paid.”
GL

Gabrielle L.

Director

“It also offers features like PTO tracking and direct deposit, which makes handling work-life balance more straightforward.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Chelsea B.

Graphic Designer


Payroll reporting

Users report that Gusto's Payroll Reporting is detailed and easy to generate. They appreciate the ability to download reports in various formats like PDF and CSV. Reviewers find the integration with QuickBooks helpful for accurate financial record-keeping. They mention the convenience of custom reports and the system's ability to handle tax reporting efficiently. Some users note occasional issues with report accuracy and syncing with state agencies, but overall, they value the comprehensive reporting capabilities. Of the 71 Gusto users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Payroll Reporting, 93% rated this feature as important or highly important.


Payroll management

Reviewers indicate that Gusto simplifies Payroll Management with automated processes and integration with timekeeping systems. They appreciate capabilities like auto-run payroll for salaried employees and the ability to handle various pay types. Users find it easy to make changes and manage employee compensation. They report that Gusto's reminders and notifications help ensure timely payroll processing. Some users mention occasional delays and issues with bank updates, but generally, they find the system efficient and user-friendly. Of the 117 Gusto users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Payroll Management, 92% rated this feature as important or highly important.


Tax compliance

Users highlight Gusto's Tax Compliance capabilities as a major benefit, noting that it helps avoid penalties by ensuring accurate payroll tax calculations and timely filings. They appreciate the automatic generation of W-2 and 1099 forms and the system's ability to handle multi-state tax regulations. Some reviewers report issues with customer support and occasional errors in tax payments, but overall, they value the peace of mind Gusto provides in managing tax compliance. Of the 86 Gusto users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Tax Compliance, 91% rated this feature as important or highly important.


W-2 preparation

Reviewers find Gusto's W-2 Preparation feature efficient and time-saving. They appreciate that employees can easily access and download their W-2 forms from their accounts. Users report that Gusto handles the preparation and distribution of W-2s accurately and promptly, reducing the administrative burden during tax season. They also value the option for electronic or mailed copies. Some users mention occasional delays, but overall, they find this aspect of Gusto very helpful. Of the 78 Gusto users who gave detailed accounts of their use of W-2 Preparation, 88% rated this feature as important or highly important.


Self service portal

Users report that Gusto's Self Service Portal is user-friendly and intuitive. They appreciate the ability for employees to access pay stubs, tax forms, and benefits information independently. Reviewers highlight the convenience of managing onboarding, updating personal information, and tracking hours without needing HR assistance. They find the portal reduces administrative tasks and improves efficiency. Some users note limited use of the capability, but generally, they find it valuable and easy to navigate. Of the 50 Gusto users who gave detailed accounts of their use of Self Service Portal, 84% rated this feature as important or highly important.


All Gusto features

Features rating:

1099 preparation
401(k) tracking
ACA reporting
Access controls/permissions
Accounting
Accounting integration
Activity dashboard
Alerts/Notifications
API
Applicant tracking
Attendance management
Attendance tracking
Audit trail
Benefits administration outsourcing
Benefits dashboard
Benefits management
Billable & non-billable hours
Budget management
Calendar management
Career development
Check printing
COBRA administration
Collaboration tools
Compensation management
Compensation plan modeling
Compliance management
Customizable reports
Dashboard
Data import/export
Deduction management
Disability insurance administration
Document management
Document storage
Electronic forms
Email reminders
Employee benefits administration
Employee database
Employee handbook
Employee management
Employee onboarding
Employee portal
Employee profiles
Employee self service
Employee time tracking
Feedback management
For accountants
For cloud
For small businesses
Goal setting/tracking
Health insurance administration
HIPAA compliant
HR management
HSA/FSA administration
Learning & development
Leave tracking
Life insurance administration
Market data analysis
Mobile access
Mobile app
Multi-Country
Multi-State
Offboarding
Onboarding
Online benefits enrollment
Online time tracking
Orientation workflow management
Performance management
Performance review management
QuickBooks integration
Recruitment management
Reimbursement management
Reminders
Reporting/Analytics
Reporting & statistics
Retirement plan management
Role-Based permissions
Sick leave tracking
Talent management
Task management
Tax calculation
Tax filing
Tax forms
Tax management
Third-Party integrations
Time & attendance
Time off management
Time off requests
Timesheet management
Time tracking
Training management
Vacation/Leave tracking
Wage garnishment
Web-based deployment
Workflow management

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Gusto pricing

Value for money rating:

Pricing plans

Pricing details:

Free plan
Free trial
Subscription

Solo

49

Per month

Contact vendor for more details

Simple

49

Per month

Features included:

  • Payroll
  • Unlimited payrolls per month
  • Tax Filings & Payments
  • Health Benefits Administration
  • Online Benefits Enrollment
  • 2-day and 4-day direct deposit
  • Third-Party Integrations
  • Employee Mobile App
  • Multiple Pay Rates & Schedules
  • PTO Policy Tracking
  • State & Federal Unemployment Insurance
  • Worker's Compensation Administration
  • Calendar Reminders
  • Paystubs
  • Payday Emails
  • ACA Compliant
  • HIPPA Compliant
  • ERISA Compliant
  • Garnishments
  • Employee Profiles & Self-Service
  • Holiday Pay
  • Lifetime Access
  • Tip Credits
  • Document Storage
  • W-2s and 1099s
  • Digital pay stubs with lifetime access
  • Onboarding checklist
  • Background checks

Plus

80

Per month

Features included:

  • Everything in Simple Plan
  • Full-Service Multi-State Payroll Including W-2s and 1099s
  • Next-day Direct Deposit
  • Advanced Hiring & Onboarding Tools
  • PTO Management & Policies
  • Time Tracking & Project Tracking
  • Time Kiosk
  • Expenses & Reimbursements
  • Workforce Costing & Custom Reports
  • Time off requests and approvals
  • Scheduling
  • Custom onboarding checklist
  • Custom document e-signing
  • Software provisioning and deprovisioning
  • Job postings
  • Applicant tracking system

Premium

180

Per month

Features included:

  • Everything in Simple and Plus plans
  • Priority Support
  • Dedicated Customer Success Manager
  • Full-service Payroll Migration
  • Federal and state compliance alerts
  • Health Insurance Broker Integration
  • HR Resource Center
  • Access To Certified HR Experts
  • R&D Tax Credit Discount

Contractor

35

Per month

Features included:

  • Unlimited contractor payments across all 50 states
  • 4-day direct deposit
  • 1099-NECs at the end of the year
  • Global contractor payments
  • Reporting
  • New hire reporting (if required in your state)

User opinions about Gusto price and value

Value for money rating:

To see what individual users think of Gusto's price and value, check out the review snippets below.

“Gusto excels at automated payroll, tax filing, employee self-service, benefits administration, and smooth onboarding, ideal for small businesses.”
Verified reviewer profile picture

Hallye N.

Operation Management

“I am moving my business to Paychex, a company that understands authorization, accountability, and basic respect for its customers’ money. If you value control over your finances and don’t want to fight the same battle year after year, look elsewhere.”
GS

Garrett S.

Federal WildFire Contracts

Gusto integrations (119)

Integrations rated by users

We looked at 4,197 user reviews to identify which products are mentioned as Gusto integrations and how users feel about them.

Integration rating: 4.5 (57)

All of our invoicing is shared between the two programs.

I haven't at the moment.

JH

Jay H.

Chief Strategy Officer

1/2

Integration rating: 4.5 (11)

It's super easy to manage retirement benefits with this integration.

MH

Michael H.

Sales and Support

Xero logo
Xero

Integration rating: 4.3 (11)

Connecteam logo
Connecteam

Integration rating: 4.6 (10)

Integration rating: 4.8 (8)

Integration rating: 4.7 (6)

Gusto customer support

What do users say about Gusto customer support?

Customer support rating:

We analyzed verified user reviews to identify positive and negative aspects of Gusto customer support.

Widespread user sentiment highlights Gusto's support team as knowledgeable, friendly, and quick to resolve issues.

Frequently reported by users, customer service is easy to contact and provides clear, helpful instructions for complex tasks.

A significant portion of users appreciate prompt responses, especially for payroll and HR compliance questions and urgent needs.

A minority of users report slow response times, long hold periods, and inconsistent support quality, especially for complex or urgent issues.

Support options

Chat
Email/help desk
Knowledge base
Phone support
Faqs/forum

Training options

Webinars
Documentation
Live online
Videos

To see what individual users say about Gusto's customer support, check out the review snippets below.

“Easy to navigate as well, the best payroll solution out there for small businesses since it simplifies everything .The customer support was immediate, smart people will chat with you right away, very responsive, very intelligent customer support.”

EL

Eddie L.

CEO

“They have EXCELLENT customer service who has been able to not only solve several problems but goes the extra mile in teaching about features and recommending how to set things up so they work more automatically.”

JT

Jennifer T.

President

“Well I think maybe the system itself can handle it but I get the sense that Gusto support is so understaffed and overwhelmed that we're continually having to stop business as usual to wait for their sluggish and many times unhelpful responses.”

DP

Dustin P.

CTO

Gusto FAQs

Q. What is Gusto used for?

Whether you’re just getting started or scaling your fast-growing business, Gusto is the partner you need to grow and nurture your team. With Gusto, you get modern HR features like payroll, benefits, hiring, management resources, and more — all in one place. Gusto is proud to serve more than 500,000 businesses across the US with a single trusted system, competitive compensation tools, and expert guidance to help you empower your team. Because when your people thrive, your business thrives too. Gusto features: Tools for hiring in a competitive talent market. - Job posts and offers - Hiring integrations - Onboarding checklists - Document storage - Team building - Software provisioning Remote-friendly payroll and compliance capabilities. - Tax registration in all 50 states - Contractor payments in 80+ countries - Mobile time tracking and geolocation Features for building a rewarding and engaging work culture. - Performance reviews - Team insights - Performance integrations - Celebration reminders Data and insights so you don’t miss critical opportunities. - NEW! Ardius R&D tax credits - NEW! Support for tax credit applications - Custom report builder - Project workforce costing Effortless software syncing and workflow management. - Integrations - Admin permissions - Calendar sync Automated payroll features and benefits that fit your team’s needs. - Broker integration - Unlimited payroll - Built-in calculations - Automatic tax filings - Health and financial benefits - Benefits administration Thoughtful, opinionated guidance through every twist and turn. - Dedicated support contact - COVID-19 resources - Employee benefits support - Expert support from certified HR professionals - Unlimited support access

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