Gusto vs ThePayStubs 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…
ThePayStubs
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
ThePayStubs is the best way to quickly generate online pay stubs. Instantly print or access pay stubs to help keep track of salary, taxes, and overtime pay. Get all the info you need about your earnings and deductions wi…
Gusto leads on user satisfaction with a 4.4-star rating across 873 reviews.
Gusto vs ThePayStubs — at a glance
| Feature | Gusto | ThePayStubs |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | — |
| Reviews | 873 | — |
| Starting price | $49 /user/month | Contact for pricing |
| Free trial | Yes | No |
| 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 |
| API | Available | — |
| Support modes | Business Hours, Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Online |
| Certifications | SOC 2, GDPR | — |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between Gusto and ThePayStubs
- Pricing: Gusto starts at $49 /user/month. ThePayStubs pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Gusto offers a free trial; ThePayStubs does not.
- Target audience: Gusto is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business, while ThePayStubs targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
- Deployment: Gusto supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; ThePayStubs supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Gusto vs ThePayStubs — 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 ThePayStubs: 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 quick, secure pay stub creation for small businesses and freelancers.
- You need instant generation of professional pay stubs without payroll complexity
- You are a freelancer, sole proprietor, or small business owner with up to 20 employees
- You want a simple, user-friendly tool requiring no accounting background
- You require full payroll management including tax filings and direct deposit services
- You need integrations with accounting or HR software for growing business needs
Gusto: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and HR. ThePayStubs: Best for quick, secure pay stub creation for small businesses and freelancers.
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 | ThePayStubs is the best way to quickly generate online pay stubs. Instantly print or access pay stubs to help keep track of salary, taxes, and overtime pay. Get all the info you need about ... Read More about ThePayStubs |
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Entry Level Pricing |
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Free Trial Availability |
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SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.7/10 | 8.9/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 1-50 employees51-100 employees | 1-20 employeesSole proprietors |
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.
- Instant Pay Stub Generation: Users can generate accurate, professional-looking pay stubs in minutes with customizable fields.
- No Software Installation Required: The cloud-based platform works directly from any browser—no setup, downloads, or long-term contracts.
- Cost-Efficient and Flexible: Ideal for small businesses or freelancers who need occasional pay stubs without committing to a full payroll system.
Best fit
- 1-100 employees
- Human Resources, Retail, Restaurants, Nonprofits, Professional Services
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Business Owners, Office Managers
- 1–20 employees
- Freelancing, gig economy, real estate, consulting, small retail, and home-based businesses
- Sole Proprietors, Independent Contractors, Freelancers, Accountants, and Small Business Owners
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 needing a fast, no-frills tool for creating professional pay stubs on demand without full payroll software.
- Freelancers and small business owners seeking a quick way to document income for loans, leases, or employee records.
- Companies that don’t require end-to-end payroll processing but need accurate, printable payroll documents.
Software Demo
Demo |
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How do Gusto and ThePayStubs Compare on Features?
Total Features | 54 Features | 12 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Gusto and ThePayStubs 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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Pricing Page |  | Pricing information not available |
Gusto vs ThePayStubs: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
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Platforms Supported |
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API Support |
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Gusto vs ThePayStubs Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | ✓ Yes | — |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | — |
ISO 27001 | ✗ No | — |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✓ Yes | — |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | — |
Audit Logs | ✓ Yes | — |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
Gusto User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | No reviews available for the product | |
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Rating Distribution | No reviews available for this product | |
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 Users appreciate the platform’s speed, ease of use, and security for quick pay stub generation but note its limited payroll features and lack of integrations. 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 ThePayStubs Customers
Customers |  Handlebar Cyclery  Dwg  American Canning | No Customers information available. |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  4 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
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Videos |  1 Videos |  2 Videos |
Top Alternatives to Gusto and ThePayStubs 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 ThePayStubs?
- Gusto edges out the other on user ratings (4.4 vs -1.0). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Gusto and ThePayStubs offer a free trial?
- Gusto offers a free trial. ThePayStubs does not.
- What is the starting price of Gusto vs ThePayStubs?
- Gusto starts at $49 /user/month. ThePayStubs starts at Contact for pricing.
- 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 ThePayStubs?
- Top alternatives to ThePayStubs include Heartland Payroll, QuickBooks Payroll, OnPay, Square Payroll, Patriot Payroll.