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Top 12 Gusto Alternatives for Mac, Compared (2026)

Explore 12 alternatives to Gusto — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

12 top-rated Gusto alternatives at a glance

Quick answer

Short on time? The best alternatives to Gusto are Zenefits, Rippling and Patriot Payroll. Zenefits leads with a SpotScore of 9.5 and a 4.1★ rating. All 12 are compared on score, rating, and pricing below.

Comparing Gusto alternatives doesn't have to be guesswork. These 12 payroll software options are ranked by SpotScore, which blends verified satisfaction with market presence, alongside ratings and pricing. Each tool clears editorial review. Use the table for a fast comparison, then read the full breakdown below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
ZenefitsStreamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.9.5★★★★ 4.1(545)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses
RipplingStreamline your workforce with Rippling's all-in-one solution.9.4★★★★★ 4.97(2052)from $8 customsmall & mid-size businesses
Patriot PayrollEfficiently streamline your payroll process.8.8★★★★★ 4.88(3151)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
Paychex FlexStreamline your payroll with ease.9.2★★★★ 4.42(772)Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
PaycorTransform your workforce with Paycor.9.6★★★★ 3.74(552)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
PaycomAutomate decisions so you can focus on the extraordinary9.8★★★★★ 4.51(1295)Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
BambooHRStreamline your HR processes for better business results.9.8★★★★★ 4.75(1093)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
HomebaseStreamline team collaboration with Homebase.9.7★★★★ 4.41(131)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
Remote.comEffortlessly manage your remote workforce.9.4★★★★★ 4.6(50)Subscriptionteams of all sizes
OnPayStreamline your payroll process and save time and money.9.4★★★★★ 4.95(447)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
factoHRStreamline HR management and focus on growth.9.3★★★★★ 4.5(10)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
QuickBooks PayrollStreamline your payroll process with ease.9.2★★★★ 4.32(56)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall businesses

9.5

SpotScore

Zenefits - Payroll Software

Zenefits

Streamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

Start Free Trial

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What is Zenefits?

Zenefits is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits administration platform for growing companies that want to consolidate onboarding, time-off tracking, payroll processing, and compliance management in a single system. It eliminates the common pattern of using separate tools for HR records, ...

Read more about Zenefits
Free TrialTry Free →·

Zenefits offers custom pricing plan

9.4

SpotScore

Rippling - HR Software

Rippling

Streamline your workforce with Rippling's all-in-one solution.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

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What is Rippling?

Rippling is an all-in-one global workforce management platform that seamlessly integrates HR, IT, and finance into a unified system. Designed to streamline business operations, Rippling offers comprehensive tools for managing the entire employee lifecycle—from recruitment and onboarding to ...

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Rippling offers custom pricing plan

8.8

SpotScore

Patriot Payroll - Payroll Software

Patriot Payroll

Editor’s Pick

Efficiently streamline your payroll process.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Patriot Payroll?

The Patriot's secure payroll solution is designed to lower the total cost of payroll administration, while helping you reduce your staffs' workload. With its fully integrated interface with Patriot's fund accounting and other core compliance solutions, Patriot Payroll Software automates the ...

Read more about Patriot Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $14/Month

9.2

SpotScore

Paychex Flex - Payroll Software

Paychex Flex

Recommended

Streamline your payroll with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Paychex Flex?

Paychex Flex is a cloud-based payroll software for mid- to large-sized employers, delivering the tools you need to run your business and support your people. This payroll system provides everything you need in just one simple package. It includes: W-2 and 1099 printing, Payroll processing, ...

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Paychex Flex offers custom pricing plan

9.6

SpotScore

Paycor - HR Software

Paycor

Recommended

Transform your workforce with Paycor.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Add to compare

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What is Paycor?

Paycor is a human capital management platform for mid-size businesses and nonprofits that need payroll processing, time tracking, benefits administration, and employee onboarding managed in a single system. It eliminates the need for separate payroll and HR tools by centralizing people ...

Read more about Paycor
Free TrialTry Free →·

Paycor offers custom pricing plan

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9.8

SpotScore

Paycom - Payroll Software

Paycom

Automate decisions so you can focus on the extraordinary

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

HIPAA
Get Pricing Details

Add to compare

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What is Paycom?

Paycom is a unified payroll, HR, and performance management platform for mid-market companies that want all employee data in a single system rather than integrated across multiple point solutions. The mobile app gives employees and managers direct access to timesheets, payroll records, and ...

Read more about Paycom

Paycom offers custom pricing plan

9.8

SpotScore

BambooHR - HR Software

BambooHR

Streamline your HR processes for better business results.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

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What is BambooHR?

BambooHR is an HR platform built for small and mid-sized businesses — typically 10 to 500 employees — covering employee records, onboarding, time-off tracking, and performance management in one system. It replaces fragmented spreadsheets and disconnected tools by centralizing all employee data ...

Read more about BambooHR
Free TrialTry Free →·

BambooHR offers custom pricing plan

9.7

SpotScore

Homebase - Employee Scheduling Software

Homebase

Streamline team collaboration with Homebase.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

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What is Homebase?

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, and payroll management, reducing administrative workload. The platform allows users to generate insightful ...

Read more about Homebase
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $0/ location / month when monthly, also offers free forever plan

9.4

SpotScore

Remote.com - Payroll Software

Remote.com

Effortlessly manage your remote workforce.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

See Plans & Pricing

Add to compare

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What is Remote.com?

Remote.com is a remote work management platform that simplifies global payroll, compliance, and workforce administration for businesses of all sizes. It seamlessly integrates with HR systems, centralizing payroll data for security and accuracy. The platform enables effortless onboarding with ...

Read more about Remote.com

Starts from $29/employee/month when monthly

9.4

SpotScore

OnPay - Payroll Software

OnPay

Streamline your payroll process and save time and money.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

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What is OnPay?

OnPay is an intuitive online payroll software designed to meet the needs of supervisors, managers, payroll specialists and people who manage pay for hourly or salaried staff. OnPay helps companies of all sizes reduce costs for processing payroll checks, making tax reports, tracking down pay ...

Read more about OnPay
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $40/Month

9.3

SpotScore

factoHR - HR Software

factoHR

Streamline HR management and focus on growth.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

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What is factoHR?

FactoHR is a mobile-first, fully integrated HCM platform designed to empower businesses in building a high-performing workforce while streamlining HR operations. The solution offers a feature-rich mobile app, enabling employees to access their data and perform HR tasks anytime, anywhere, ...

Read more about factoHR
Free TrialTry Free →·

factoHR offers custom pricing plan

9.2

SpotScore

QuickBooks Payroll - Payroll Software

QuickBooks Payroll

Streamline your payroll process with ease.

Best for: SMB teams

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is QuickBooks Payroll?

QuickBooks Payroll makes it easy to stay on top of your HR needs. It’s payroll software that gives you the power to handle all the payroll processing you need, from modeling an employee’s paycheck to tracking deductions and taxes. Whether you need a few employees or thousands, QuickBooks ...

Read more about QuickBooks Payroll
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $49/Month

Why each made the list

Zenefits9.5Best for small & mid-size businesses

Handles onboarding, offboarding, payroll, and benefits administration in one workflow, reducing paperwork.

Watch for: Customer support response times are slow, with limited availability during urgent situations.

Rippling9.4Best for small & mid-size businesses

Features a user-friendly interface with easy-to-navigate dashboards for efficient management.

Watch for: Some businesses may find restrictions in customizing specific workflows or reporting features.

Patriot Payroll8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Very user-friendly software, making tasks straightforward and efficient for startups and small businesses.

Watch for: Occasional learning curve during setup or for newcomers, though consistently offset by good support.

Paychex Flex9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Helps businesses meet federal and state tax regulations.

Watch for: Costs may vary, and pricing details are not readily available upfront.

Paycor9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Covers payroll, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and benefits administration in one platform.

Watch for: Customer service response times are consistently slow, with no assigned representatives and frequent case mismanagement.

Paycom9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Provides multiple payment methods in a single step.

Watch for: May not integrate seamlessly with all third-party HR software.

BambooHR9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Automates HR processes including document signing, onboarding, and payroll.

Watch for: Lacks advanced features found in more comprehensive HRIS platforms.

Homebase9.7Best for teams of all sizes

Streamlines scheduling processes, making it easy to set and manage employee schedules.

Watch for: Limited customization options in the free version, with some advanced functionalities restricted.

Remote.com9.4Best for teams of all sizes

Exceptional customer support that is quick, responsive, and patient, ensuring all user queries are resolved efficiently.

Watch for: Occasional delays in resolving issues on public or holiday schedules, leading to minor inconveniences.

OnPay9.4Best for teams of all sizes

OnPay stands out for its intuitive design, making it easy for supervisors, managers, and payroll specialists to navigate and execute payroll tasks efficiently

Watch for: While great for SMBs, larger companies might find customization options less robust for complex payroll needs.

factoHR9.3Best for teams of all sizes

Simplifies payroll and attendance management with features like punch in/out tracking and automated calculations.

Watch for: Limited mention of advanced or specialized features may reflect a lack of versatility for larger or complex organizations.

QuickBooks Payroll9.2Best for small businesses

Automates tax filing, paycheck generation, and sends real-time notifications to reduce manual effort.

Watch for: Steeper pricing compared to alternative payroll systems, especially for smaller businesses or limited payroll needs.

Why teams look for a Gusto alternative

Most Gusto alternative searches trace back to a short list of frustrations:

  • Occasional reports of errors in support communication or inconsistencies in handling complex account issues.
  • Some users find the transition from alternative payroll providers to Gusto challenging without adequate guidance.
  • Limited advanced customization for businesses with highly complex payroll needs.
  • Mobile app, while feature-rich, may lack certain functionalities compared to the desktop platform.

What to keep in mind choosing a Gusto alternative

What sets these 12 alternatives apart, in the numbers: 8 offer a free tier; paid plans run $8, with Rippling the cheapest entry point; and Rippling is the highest rated at 4.97 across 2052 reviews.

Our ranking method.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Gusto are Rippling (5.0★), OnPay (5.0★), Patriot Payroll (4.9★). Compare all 12 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Gusto, prioritize: Wage Garnishment, W-2 Preparation, Leave Tracking (Vacation), Self Service Portal, Multi-country, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Gusto starts from $49 /user/month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Gusto is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Picking the best Gusto alternative for your team

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Zenefits, Patriot Payroll and Paycor let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Rippling has the strongest star rating (4.97★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Zenefits has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.5) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

How to switch from Gusto

Switching from Gusto goes smoother with a plan. Start by exporting your data and making sure the new tool imports it cleanly. Confirm the workflows you rely on still work, run a small pilot first, and keep Gusto running until everything's moved. Most options above let you test free before you commit.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].