Gusto vs Microkeeper Comparison
Gusto
Starting at $49 /user/month
- Free Trial
- Freelancers / Consultants
- Medium Business
Gusto is a comprehensive HR platform designed to help businesses of all sizes thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling rapidly, Gusto provides the tools and guidance you need to grow and nurture your team. Tru…
Microkeeper
Starting at $2.25 /User/Month
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Microkeeper is a user-friendly payroll software that connects you with the world of business payroll processing: delivering quick online setup, automated time keeping and more. Payroll processing has never been easier or…
Microkeeper leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 90 reviews.
Gusto vs Microkeeper — at a glance
| Feature | Gusto | Microkeeper |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Reviews | 873 | 90 |
| Starting price | $49 /user/month | $2.25 /User/Month |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Payroll Software | Payroll Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | GDPR |
| Data residency | US | AU |
Key differences between Gusto and Microkeeper
- Pricing: Gusto starts at $49 /user/month, while Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month.
- Target audience: Gusto is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business, while Microkeeper targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: Microkeeper scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
- Deployment: Gusto supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Microkeeper supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS.
Gusto vs Microkeeper — find the better fit before you commit.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
Where each product wins, per real buyers
Most Payroll Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
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Gusto vs Microkeeper: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and HR.
- You want an all-in-one platform combining payroll, benefits, hiring, and compliance.
- Your team values a user-friendly interface with straightforward setup and workflows.
- You need strong integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks Online.
- Your business requires highly complex or heavily customized payroll processing.
- You are a large enterprise with extensive, process-heavy HR workflows.
Best for Australian shift-based businesses needing compliant, all-in-one payroll and HR.
- You operate a 10-500 employee business in Australia requiring automated Fair Work award compliance.
- You want a simple, user-friendly platform combining payroll, rostering, timesheets, and HR tasks.
- You need integrated real-time attendance tracking with GPS clock-ins and digital timesheets.
- Your company is outside Australia and needs localized payroll compliance for other regions.
- You require a highly modern or customizable user interface with advanced design aesthetics.
Gusto: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and HR. Microkeeper: Best for Australian shift-based businesses needing compliant, all-in-one payroll and HR.
Description | Gusto is a comprehensive HR platform designed to help businesses of all sizes thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling rapidly, Gusto provides the tools and guidance you need to ... Read More about Gusto | Microkeeper is a user-friendly payroll software that connects you with the world of business payroll processing: delivering quick online setup, automated time keeping and more. Payroll ... Read More about Microkeeper |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability | ||
SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.7/10 | 8.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-50 employees51-100 employees | 10-50 employees51-500 employees |
Get pricing help | Get pricing help |
Where each option fits best
See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.
Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.
Key strengths
- Streamlined Payroll Processing: Gusto simplifies payroll management, letting administrators run payroll in just a few clicks. Managers can save time and reduce errors, confirming employees get paid accurately and on time.
- Benefits Management: With Gusto, offering employee benefits is straightforward. From health insurance to retirement plans, you can manage and customize benefits packages that improve employee satisfaction and retention.
- User-Friendly Interface: Both managers and employees appreciate Gusto's intuitive design. This user-friendly platform means less training time for staff and more focus on what really matters – growing your business.
- All-in-One Australian Payroll & HR: Combines payroll, time tracking, rostering, onboarding, and superannuation management in one localised platform.
- Automated Award Interpretation: Automatically applies Australian Fair Work awards to confirm accurate employee pay and compliance.
- Streamlined Workforce Management: Offers real-time attendance, GPS clock-ins, and digital timesheets for efficient labour tracking and scheduling.
Best fit
- 1-100 employees
- Human Resources, Retail, Restaurants, Nonprofits, Professional Services
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Business Owners, Office Managers
- 10–500 employees
- Trades, construction, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and other shift-based sectors in Australia
- Payroll Officers, Operations Managers, HR Administrators, Business Owners, and Compliance Managers
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Users may seek alternatives to Gusto if they require specific features not offered by the platform, such as advanced payroll reporting or industry-specific compliance tools that better meet their unique business needs.
- Companies with larger workforces might explore alternatives for scalability, as they may find that other solutions provide more robust support for managing high employee volumes efficiently.
- Budget-conscious businesses might look for more cost-effective payroll and HR solutions, especially if they find Gusto's pricing structure doesn't align with their financial goals or operational requirements.
- Businesses outside Australia may seek payroll platforms with compliance support tailored to their local tax systems.
- Companies requiring more advanced HR modules like learning management or succession planning might prefer larger HCM platforms
- Organizations with highly complex workforce structures could benefit from industry-specific payroll systems.
Software Demo
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How do Gusto and Microkeeper Compare on Features?
Total Features | 54 Features | 9 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Gusto and Microkeeper on pricing
Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.
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Gusto vs Microkeeper: Other Details
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Gusto vs Microkeeper Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | — |
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HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | ✗ No | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇦🇺 AU |
Gusto User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
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Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of use and comprehensive features, tempered by some concerns over support consistency and limited advanced customization. What buyers like
Common complaints
| Buyer sentiment Overall, users appreciate Microkeeper’s ease of use, time-saving automation, and comprehensive payroll and HR features, though some note occasional downtime and UI design limitations. What buyers like
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
Gusto and Microkeeper Customers
Customers |  Handlebar Cyclery  Dwg  American Canning |  Red Rooster  Quality Hotel  TELSTRA |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  4 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
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Videos |  1 Videos |  3 Videos |
Top Alternatives to Gusto and Microkeeper in 2026
Alternatives |
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
- Which is better, Gusto or Microkeeper?
- Microkeeper edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Gusto and Microkeeper offer a free trial?
- Yes, both Gusto and Microkeeper offer a free trial.
- What is the starting price of Gusto vs Microkeeper?
- Gusto starts at $49 /user/month. Microkeeper starts at $2.25 /User/Month.
- What are the top alternatives to Gusto?
- Top alternatives to Gusto include Paylocity Web Pay, Greenshades, Paychex Flex, Zenefits, SumoPayroll.
- What are the top alternatives to Microkeeper?
- Top alternatives to Microkeeper include Paybooks, Heartland Payroll, Hive Payroll, Papaya Global, APS Payroll.