O.C. Tanner vs Gusto Comparison
O.C. Tanner
Starting at Contact for pricing
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
O.C. Tanner is an employee recognition platform that lets organizations acknowledge individual and team achievements through service awards, peer recognition, and milestone celebrations including birthdays and work anniv…
Gusto
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…
O.C. Tanner leads on user satisfaction with a 4.8-star rating across 263 reviews.
O.C. Tanner vs Gusto — at a glance
| Feature | O.C. Tanner | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Reviews | 263 | 873 |
| Starting price | Contact for pricing | $49 /Month + $6/Employee |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Employee Recognition Software | Payroll Software |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | Available | Available |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep), Online | Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | US | US |
Key differences between O.C. Tanner and Gusto
- Pricing: Gusto starts at $49 /Month + $6/Employee. O.C. Tanner pricing is not publicly listed.
- Free trial: Gusto offers a free trial; O.C. Tanner does not.
- Target audience: O.C. Tanner is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Gusto targets Freelancers / Consultants and Medium Business.
- User satisfaction: O.C. Tanner scores higher with a 4.8-star average.
- Deployment: O.C. Tanner supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Gusto supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
O.C. Tanner vs Gusto — 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 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.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Free PDF comparison
Download this O.C. Tanner vs Gusto comparison
Get the full side-by-side as a PDF — these picks plus the top Employee Recognition Software tools, with verified ratings, pricing and features.
- Side-by-side on pricing, features & ratings
- Plus the category top 10, scored & ranked
- Emailed to you — no on-screen download
No file downloads on screen — we email it to you. One-click unsubscribe anytime.
O.C. Tanner vs Gusto: Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Best for customizable employee recognition with strong analytics and responsive support.
- You need tailored recognition programs aligned with company culture and values.
- Your organization values data-driven insights on employee engagement and recognition trends.
- You want quick, helpful customer service and easy navigation for reward selections.
- Your company is a small business with fewer than 100 employees.
- You require a wide variety or high-quality product redemption options beyond gift cards and vouchers.
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.
O.C. Tanner: Best for customizable employee recognition with strong analytics and responsive support. Gusto: Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and HR.
Description | O.C. Tanner is an employee recognition platform that lets organizations acknowledge individual and team achievements through service awards, peer recognition, and milestone celebrations ... Read More about O.C. Tanner | 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 |
|
|
Free Trial Availability |
| |
SpotScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 9.3/10 | 9.7/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | ||
Best Company Size | 100-10,000 employeesMedium to Large Enterprises | 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.
Key strengths
- Improve Employee Engagement: O.C. Tanner helps us build a culture of recognition, so our employees feel valued and appreciated for their contributions, which can lead to increased morale and productivity.
- Our analytics tools track employee recognition trends and engagement levels, giving you the information you need to make decisions that align with your organizational goals.
- Customizable Recognition Programs: O.C. Tanner offers solutions built for your unique company values and culture, letting you create meaningful recognition experiences that resonate with your diverse workforce.
- 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
- 100 to 10,000 employees
- HR and Talent Management, Corporate Training, Employee Recognition, and Consulting
- HR Managers, Employee Engagement Specialists, Organizational Development Professionals, and Corporate Trainers
- 1-100 employees
- Human Resources, Retail, Restaurants, Nonprofits, Professional Services
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, Business Owners, Office Managers
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Users may seek alternatives due to budget constraints, as some organizations find O.C. Tanner's solutions expensive and look for more cost-effective recognition programs that still provide value.
- Companies with unique cultural needs might explore alternatives that offer customizable recognition tools better aligned with their specific values, employee demographics, and organizational goals.
- Businesses experiencing rapid growth may require scalable solutions, prompting them to consider alternatives that can easily adapt to changing workforce sizes and evolving recognition needs.
- 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 |
|---|
Need a second opinion?
Get decision help from a software advisor
Share your priorities, budget, and team needs, and we’ll help you narrow the options and understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors.
- Independent advice — matched to your business
- Understand the tradeoffs before you talk to vendors
- Free 15-min call with a software advisor.
Step 1 of 4
How big is your team?
We tailor recommendations to companies your size.
How do O.C. Tanner and Gusto Compare on Features?
Total Features | 17 Features | 54 Features |
|---|---|---|
Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare O.C. Tanner 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 |
|
|
Pricing Plans |
|
|
Pricing Page |  |  |
O.C. Tanner vs Gusto: Other Details
Organization Types supported |
|
|
|---|---|---|
Platforms Supported |
|
|
Modes of support |
|
|
API Support |
|
|
Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
O.C. Tanner vs Gusto Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | ✓ Yes |
|---|---|---|
HIPAA | ✗ No | ✗ No |
GDPR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
ISO 27001 | — | ✗ No |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✓ Yes |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Encryption | — | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✓ Yes |
Data Residency | 🇺🇸 US | 🇺🇸 US |
O.C. Tanner User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | ||
|---|---|---|
Rating Distribution | ||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Overall, users express strong satisfaction with O.C. Tanner’s ease of use, customer service responsiveness, and diverse recognition options, despite some concerns about product variety and communication speed. What buyers like
Common complaints
| 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
|
Pros and Cons |
|
|
Positive Reviews | No reviews available for the product | No reviews available for the product |
O.C. Tanner and Gusto Customers
Customers |  Wells Fargo  Taco Bell  Bayer |  Handlebar Cyclery  Dwg  American Canning |
|---|
Media and Screenshots
Screenshots | No screenshots available. |  4 Screenshots |
|---|---|---|
Videos |  2 Videos |  1 Videos |
Top Alternatives to O.C. Tanner and Gusto in 2026
Alternatives |
|---|
Add another option to compare side by side
Search by product name to compare pricing, fit, and buyer feedback in one view.Compare similar software options
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, O.C. Tanner or Gusto?
- O.C. Tanner edges out the other on user ratings (4.8 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case, so use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do O.C. Tanner and Gusto offer a free trial?
- Gusto offers a free trial. O.C. Tanner does not.
- What is the starting price of O.C. Tanner vs Gusto?
- O.C. Tanner starts at Contact for pricing. Gusto starts at $49 /Month + $6/Employee.
- What are the top alternatives to O.C. Tanner?
- Top alternatives to O.C. Tanner include Levy Recognition, Achievers, Let's Buzzz, Guusto, PEERO.
- What are the top alternatives to Gusto?
- Top alternatives to Gusto include Paylocity Web Pay, Greenshades, Paychex Flex, Zenefits, SumoPayroll.