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12 Gusto Alternatives Ranked by Real Users — Free Picks Included (2026)

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

12 top-rated free Gusto alternatives at a glance

Quick answer

Short on time? The best free alternatives to Gusto are Zenefits, SurePayroll and Justworks. Zenefits leads with a SpotScore of 9.5 and a 4.5★ rating. All 12 are compared on score, rating, and pricing below.

Comparing Gusto free 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★★★★★ 4.5(545)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedsmall & mid-size businesses
SurePayrollEfficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.9.2★★★★★ 4.86(1436)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
JustworksEfficient payroll management on the go.9.2★★★★ 3.9(50)Freefrom $8 /user/monthteams of all sizes
BambooHRStreamline your HR processes for better business results.9.8★★★★★ 4.74(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
PaycorTransform your workforce with Paycor.9.6★★★★ 3.9(552)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
XeroStreamline your finances and grow your business.9.6★★★★★ 4.65(4699)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall & mid-size businesses
OnPayStreamline your payroll process and save time and money.9.4★★★★★ 4.96(447)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
MYOBStreamline your business with MYOB9.3★★★★ 4.35(121)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
factoHRStreamline HR management and focus on growth.9.3★★★★ 3.95(10)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
QuickBooks PayrollStreamline your payroll process with ease.9.2★★★★ 4.4(56)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall businesses
greytHRStreamline payroll management, anytime, anywhere.9.1★★★★★ 4.91(353)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes

9.5

SpotScore

Zenefits - Payroll Software

Zenefits

Streamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

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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, ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Zenefits offers custom pricing plan

9.2

SpotScore

SurePayroll - Payroll Software

SurePayroll

Efficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is SurePayroll?

SurePayroll is a cloud-based, Payroll Software with Time Tracking Service. The software can be accessed from any device and is hosted by SurePayroll in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) data center for fast processing and performance.It automates most employee related tasks including accurate and ...

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SurePayroll offers custom pricing plan

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9.2

SpotScore

Justworks - Payroll Software

Justworks

Efficient payroll management on the go.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Justworks?

Justworks is payroll software that offers international payroll, payroll tax filing and realtime benefits administration. The Justworks app is a simple way for teams to bill their hours directly from their iPhone or Android devices. This mobile solution provides employees with a transparent ...

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Free TrialTry Free →

9.8

SpotScore

BambooHR - HR Software

BambooHR

Streamline your HR processes for better business results.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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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 ...

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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

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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 ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

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

9.6

SpotScore

Paycor - HR Software

Paycor

Transform your workforce with Paycor.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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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 ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Paycor offers custom pricing plan

9.6

SpotScore

Xero

Xero

Streamline your finances and grow your business.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

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What is Xero?

Xero software is a cloud-based accounting system that helps businesses manage their finances, run payroll, and save time so they can focus on growing their business. This single platform connects all your finances and invoices. It's the resource you need to run your business, no matter where ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $3.75/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

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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 ...

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Starts from $40/Month

9.3

SpotScore

MYOB - Accounting Software

MYOB

Streamline your business with MYOB

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is MYOB?

MYOB is accounting software for Australian and New Zealand small businesses, built in compliance with ATO requirements. It handles invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, tax reporting, and supplier management, with direct integration for working with accountants and bookkeepers. Customers can ...

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Free Trial

9.3

SpotScore

factoHR - HR Software

factoHR

Streamline HR management and focus on growth.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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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, ...

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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

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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 ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $49/Month

9.1

SpotScore

greytHR - Payroll Software

greytHR

Streamline payroll management, anytime, anywhere.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is greytHR?

GreytHR is a cloud-based HR and payroll platform used primarily by small and mid-sized companies in India that need to manage statutory compliance, attendance, and salary processing without a large HR department. It handles PF, ESI, TDS, and other Indian regulatory requirements alongside leave ...

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Starts from $3495/month, also offers free forever plan

Gusto competitors, compared

There are 12 direct Gusto competitors in Payroll Software. The ones that come up most often are Zenefits, SurePayroll and Justworks. Each is compared against Gusto on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

What else works like Gusto?

Searches for "sites like Gusto" and "apps like Gusto" land on the same shortlist as "Gusto alternatives" — the 12 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

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.

SurePayroll9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Payroll setup is quick, easy to use, and simplifies previously cumbersome tasks like tax deductions and filings.

Watch for: Occasional issues with missing payments or discrepancies that require follow-up.

Justworks9.2Best for teams of all sizes

International payroll capabilities

Watch for: Higher cost for small businesses

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.

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.

Xero9.6Best for small & mid-size businesses

Excellent and highly responsive customer support, praised for quick problem resolution and knowledgeable staff.

Watch for: Difficulty connecting with support initially, though the quality of assistance once connected is rated highly.

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.

MYOB9.3Best for teams of all sizes

Excellent customer service with knowledgeable, patient, and helpful staff for resolving queries and providing step-by-step assistance.

Watch for: Subpar customer support experience with long wait times, call disconnections, and unresolved issues being frequently mentioned.

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.

greytHR9.1Best for teams of all sizes

User-friendly interface simplifies navigation and reduces the need for extensive training.

Watch for: Limited features for larger firms

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 free alternatives apart, in the numbers: 12 offer a free tier; paid plans run $8, with Justworks the cheapest entry point; and OnPay is the highest rated at 4.96 across 447 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 OnPay (5.0★), greytHR (4.9★), SurePayroll (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 narrowing to 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, SurePayroll and Justworks let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: OnPay has the strongest star rating (4.96★) 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].