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Motivosity vs Gusto Comparison

Last updated:

Motivosity

4.7(1,038 reviews)

Starting at $1 /User/Month

  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Motivosity is an agile tool designed to help foster social connections within your business and outside of the office. It enables employees to recognize and celebrate the successes of any team member through awards and b…

Gusto

4.4(873 reviews)

Starting at $49 /Month + $6/Employee

  • 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…

Motivosity leads on user satisfaction with a 4.7-star rating across 1,038 reviews.

Motivosity vs Gusto — at a glance

FeatureMotivosityGusto
Rating4.7 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews1,038873
Starting price$1 /User/Month$49 /Month + $6/Employee
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium BusinessFreelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryEmployee Recognition SoftwarePayroll Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnlineBusiness Hours, Online
Certifications—SOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUS

Key differences between Motivosity and Gusto

  • Pricing: Motivosity starts at $1 /User/Month, while Gusto starts at $49 /Month + $6/Employee.
  • Free trial: Gusto offers a free trial; Motivosity does not.
  • Target audience: Motivosity is built for Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants, while Gusto targets Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Motivosity scores higher with a 4.7-star average.
  • Deployment: Motivosity supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Gusto supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Motivosity vs Gusto — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Employee Recognition 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.

Motivosity - Employee Recognition Software
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Gusto - Payroll Software
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Motivosity vs Gusto: Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Motivosity

Best for

Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business

Gusto

Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and HR.

Choose if
  • 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.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business requires highly complex or heavily customized payroll processing.
  • You are a large enterprise with extensive, process-heavy HR workflows.

Motivosity typically suits Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants. Gusto tends to fit Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Motivosity is an agile tool designed to help foster social connections within your business and outside of the office. It enables employees to recognize and celebrate the successes of any ... Read More about Motivosity

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

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $1
  • Starts from $49 , monthly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial

SpotScore

What's this? ↗

Not Available

9.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.71

(1038)

4.38

(873)

Best Company Size

—
1-50 employees51-100 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.

Strengths

Key strengths

Gusto

  • 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.
Best fit

Best fit

Gusto

  • 1-100 employees
  • Human Resources, Retail, Restaurants, Nonprofits, Professional Services
  • HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Business Owners, Office Managers
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Gusto

  • 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.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Motivosity and Gusto Compare on Features?

Total Features

13 Features

54 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare Motivosity and Gusto 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.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $1
      • $49 , monthly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Simple

        $49

        /Month + $6/Employee

        • Full-service, single-state payroll

        • Unlimited runs & automated tax filings

        • Employee portal for paystubs & self-service

      • Plus

        $80

        /Month + $12/Employee

        • Everything in the Simple plan, plus

        • Multi-state payroll w/ Next-Day Direct Deposit

        • Time tracking & PTO management

        Show more +

      • Premium

        $180

        /Month + $22/Employee

        • All Plus features, plus:

        • Dedicated service advisor

        • Access to certified HR experts

        Show more +

      Pricing Page

      Motivosity pricing
      Gusto pricing

      Motivosity vs Gusto: Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Available
      • Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Motivosity vs Gusto 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

      🌐 Global
      🇺🇸 US

      Motivosity User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      User Ratings

      Rating Distribution

      1024

      184

      7

      3

      1

      677

      36

      12

      15

      117

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Buyer sentiment is very strong across 1219 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

      What buyers like

      • Fosters social connections
      • Award and badge system
      • Management tools available

      Common complaints

      • May require user training
      • Limited reporting features
      • Can be complex for small teams

      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

      • Ease of use
      • Customer support
      • Integration with accounting tools

      Common complaints

      • Support communication issues
      • Limited advanced customization

      Pros and Cons

      • Encourages peer-to-peer recognition effectively.

      • Engaging features like badges enhance participation.

      • Management tools help leaders track team dynamics.

      • May not suit organizations with a strict hierarchy.

      • Requires active participation to be effective.

      • Simplifies payroll processing and tax compliance for non-experts

      • Robust integrations with accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online

      • Responsive and efficient customer support

      • Occasional errors or inconsistencies in support communication

      • Challenging transition process from other payroll providers without guidance

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Used Motivosity or Gusto? Tell buyers what actually differs.

      Motivosity and Gusto Customers

      Customers

      1800 Contacts

      1800 Contacts

      Health Catalyst

      Health Catalyst

      Cotopaxi

      Cotopaxi

      Handlebar Cyclery

      Handlebar Cyclery

      Dwg

      Dwg

      American Canning

      American Canning

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      WDYA

      6 Screenshots

      gusto

      4 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      3 Videos

      video-0

      1 Videos

      Top Alternatives to Motivosity and Gusto in 2026

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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, Motivosity or Gusto?
      Motivosity edges out the other on user ratings (4.7 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
      Do Motivosity and Gusto offer a free trial?
      Gusto offers a free trial. Motivosity does not.
      What is the starting price of Motivosity vs Gusto?
      Motivosity starts at $1 /User/Month. Gusto starts at $49 /Month + $6/Employee.
      What are the top alternatives to Motivosity?
      Top alternatives to Motivosity include Achievers, Appreiz, O.C. Tanner, Kudos, Workstars.
      What are the top alternatives to Gusto?
      Top alternatives to Gusto include Paylocity Web Pay, Greenshades, Paychex Flex, Zenefits, SumoPayroll.