9.7
Spot Score
Gusto Review: Is It The Right Payroll Software For Your Team?
Best for SMB teams · Mid-market
Free Trial Available
GDPR
SOC 2Starts from $49 / user / month when monthly
Handlebar Cyclery
Dwg
American Canning
Reach
finder.comTrusted by many companies including Handlebar Cyclery
Overview
Pricing
Features
Buyer feedback
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SpotSaaS Analysis for Gusto
Gusto is a payroll software solution primarily used by HR Managers, Payroll Administrators, and Business Owners in small to medium-sized businesses. With a rating of 3.7 out of 5 from 6,096 reviews, it indicates a broadly validated tool with a solid user base, though not without some mixed feedback.
Gusto simplifies payroll processing and tax compliance, making it accessible even for those without extensive expertise. Its strong integrations with platforms like QuickBooks Online enhance its utility for businesses relying on multiple systems. However, users occasionally report errors in support communication, particularly when dealing with complex account issues, which can be a concern for those needing reliable support.
Quick facts about Gusto
What is Gusto?
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. Trusted by over 300,000 businesses across the U.S., Gusto combines payroll, benefits, hiring, management, and compliance features into a single, easy-to-use system. With Gusto, businesses can streamline hiring with job postings, onboarding checklists, and team-building tools. Its remote-friendly payroll system handles tax registration in all 50 states and contractor payments in over 80 countries. Businesses also gain access to robust compliance tools, performance reviews, and insights to foster an engaging work culture. Award-winning payroll features include automated calculations, tax filings, and seamless integration with health and financial benefits. Gusto’s expert support ensures you navigate HR challenges with confidence. Businesses save time and money while building a strong, supported team because, at Gusto, when your people thrive, your business thrives.
Pricing
Starts from $49 / user / month when monthly
Free Trial available
Best For
Built for growing teams, from small businesses to mid-market
Security & Compliance
SOC 2GDPRSSO & MFA supported
Data residency:🇺🇸
Gusto Software Demo
Gusto was reviewed internally using user feedback, in-house testing, and market research to assess its performance, reliability, and user experience. Learn how we review products and our evaluation process.
Who should consider Gusto
- Use cases
- Human Resources, Retail, Restaurants
- Team types
- HR Managers, Payroll Administrators
- Company size
- 1-50 employees, 51-100 employees
- Workflow style
- Simple and streamlined
- Setup complexity
- Low
Why teams choose Gusto
Simplifies payroll processing and tax compliance for non-experts
Robust integrations with accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online
Responsive and efficient customer support
Is Gusto right for you?
Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, integrated payroll and HR.
Choose Gusto 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.
What buyers should know before shortlisting Gusto
Gusto has earned widespread praise as an intuitive, reliable, and user-friendly payroll and HR management platform. Its seamless setup process, affordability, and robust features, such as payroll automation, tax compliance, and employee benefits administration, make it an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses.
Customers frequently highlight its appealing interface and thoughtful touches, like detailed pay breakdowns and saving tools, which simplify money management for employees. The platform’s integration with accounting tools such as QuickBooks and its ability to handle multi-state operations further reflect its scalability and efficiency.
Additionally, the customer support team is often described as timely and helpful, addressing concerns with competence. While the majority of feedback is overwhelmingly positive, some users have faced inconsistencies with customer communication or issues in resolving specific account problems.
However, these critiques are exceptions to an otherwise stellar reputation. Gusto proves to be a comprehensive solution, streamlining complex processes while fostering convenience and trust for businesses and employees alike.
Gusto pros and cons
- Gusto pros
Simplifies payroll processing and tax compliance for non-experts
Robust integrations with accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online
Responsive and efficient customer support
- Gusto cons
Occasional errors or inconsistencies in support communication
Challenging transition process from other payroll providers without guidance
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What is the pricing of Gusto?
Gusto Pricing Plans
Simple
$49
/user/month
Full-service, single-state payroll
Unlimited runs & automated tax filings
Employee portal for paystubs & self-service
Plus
$80
/user/month
Everything in the Simple plan, plus
Multi-state payroll w/ Next-Day Direct Deposit
Time tracking & PTO management
Hiring & onboarding tools
Health insurance admin & broker integration
Premium
$180
/user/month
All Plus features, plus:
Dedicated service advisor
Access to certified HR experts
Performance management tools
Advanced analytics and custom reporting
Show more +
Gusto reviews and ratings
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
What users are saying
LL
Leigh Lommen
05/20/24
One of the worst run companies in the…
One of the worst run companies in the Valley. There were 2 fraudulent transactions that were from my account. I made 7 phone calls to them and have ...
Read more
AK
Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks
04/30/24
So easy to use and helps me save!
Date of experience: April 30, 2024
S
Stuart
03/10/24
Hiring via Gusto far superior to EoR providers
After a horrible experience with an Employer of Record, we concluded that it couldn't be any worse for us to manage the hiring of a US based employee ...
Read more
A
AYACO
03/04/24
Gusto Is The Best!
Gusto is my hero! I see so many bad reviews on the website about this software. Say whatever you want but Gusto is literally saved my life! I ...
Read more
BC
Brianna Cohen
02/27/24
I'm obsessed with Gusto
I'm obsessed with Gusto! I love how it makes checking my paychecks so easy & fun. It allows me to divide up where I put my paycheck & set saving goals ...
Read more
TA
Tiffany Arnold
02/21/24
Easy to use with everything you need.
Gusto wallet is a simple platform that makes money management easy. I can see everything I need about my check, create saving goals, and get a debit ...
Read more
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What are the features of Gusto?
Gusto’s 401(k) Tracking feature simplifies the management of employee retirement plans by accurately recording contributions, employer match…
The access control structure is a crucial characteristic that distinguishes a digital asset management system from other storage systems. Yo…
The term "integrated accounting system" refers to a single accounting system in which cost and financial accounts are kept in the same set o…
Accounting management is a crucial aspect for any business, regardless of its size or industry. It involves managing and organizing financia…
Analytics is a math-based field that aims to uncover patterns in marketing data to gain actionable knowledge that can be used in your market…
Gusto’s Attendance Tracking system efficiently monitors employee hours, clock-ins, and absences. It integrates seamlessly with payroll to en…
Benchmarking is the process of comparing a company's success to that of other firms in its industry to discover if there is a performance ga…
Gusto’s Benefits Management streamlines the administration of employee benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time of…
Benefits Record Management is a software feature that simplifies the process of managing benefits for employees in an organization. This fea…
The process of analyzing, organizing, and monitoring a company's or organization's costs and expenditures is known as Budget management. Man…
Few people have mastered the ability to organize their calendars. It is the practice of optimizing your calendar by combining priority manag…
Campaign management includes planning, execution, tracking, and analysis of direct marketing initiatives. These responsibilities include the…
The act of conversing, communicating, and/or exchanging messages through the internet is known as chatting. It entails two or more persons i…
Gusto’s Check Printing feature enables secure and customizable printing of payroll checks directly from the platform. It supports multiple c…
Collaboration has received a lot of attention in the marketing world recently. It's taking off in a big way but still has many questions sur…
People can collaborate more easily with the help of collaboration tools. The goal of a collaboration tool is to help a group of two or more…
Gusto’s Compensation Management offers a comprehensive system for managing employee salaries, bonuses, and incentives. It ensures that pay s…
Managers plan, coordinate, regulate, and lead operations that assure compliance with laws and standards through compliance management. It is…
Compliance. It’s a daunting task for most compliance administrators. It’s also one of the most important components as to why you are regula…
The Content Library feature is a powerful tool designed to help users manage, organize, and access a vast array of digital content in one ce…
Material management is the end-to-end acquiring, designing, processing, and distributing of content. It is a set of methods and technologies…
A real-time email marketing dashboard displays metrics. This allows individuals to track the effectiveness of an email marketing initiatives…
Gusto’s Deductions Management automates the calculation and tracking of mandatory and voluntary payroll deductions, including taxes, benefit…
Gusto’s Direct Deposit allows employees to receive their paychecks electronically, securely, and promptly into their bank accounts. This fea…
A system or process for capturing, tracking and storing electronic documents such as PDFs, word processing files, and digital photographs of…
A database of employees comprises vital information such as each employee's personal information and company-related information such as the…
Employee management is a crucial aspect of any organization, as it involves the effective and efficient management of all the employees with…
Keeping track of your expenses is a crucial component of building a budget for your small business. The financial health of your budget is i…
The practice of collecting input from team members or employees and implementing changes to your operational processes to improve OKR assess…
Gamification is the technique of introducing game aspects into non-game environments to boost engagement, such as a website, online communit…
HIPAA Compliant software is designed to meet the regulations set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in…
Gusto’s Leave Tracking feature monitors employee vacation, sick days, and other paid time off balances with precision. It integrates leave d…
Real-time data gathering and transfer between the jobsite and project managers at the office is possible with mobile access. Employees on th…
Gusto’s Multi-country feature supports payroll processing across multiple countries, handling different currencies, tax regulations, and com…
Overtime is defined as time performed in excess of a worker's regular contracted hours. For example, if an employee is scheduled to work 8 h…
Payment Processing is defined as providing a Person with the ability to charge or debit accounts using any payment mechanism, including but…
The process of paying salaries is referred to as payroll. It begins with preparing a payroll list and concludes with the recording of expens…
The payroll management process consists of a series of controlled processes completed in the same sequence each month to establish a payroll…
Performance Management is a comprehensive approach to managing the performance of individuals, teams, and organizations in order to achieve…
Reporting is the process of organizing data into informational summaries in order to track how various components of a business are performi…
A report is a type of writing that is organized around identifying and examining issues, events, or results that have occurred in the physic…
Scheduling is the job or activity of determining when specific tasks will be completed. Block scheduling, often known as blocking, is a meth…
Gusto’s Self Service Portal empowers employees to access their payroll information, tax documents, benefits, and personal details securely o…
A chat survey is a method of gathering customer feedback to access their overall experience across channels such as the website, mobile apps…
Tax Calculator is a versatile tool designed to assist individuals and businesses in accurately calculating their taxes. This software featur…
Tax Claim is a feature that allows users to claim tax deductions and credits on their income tax returns. This feature helps individuals and…
Gusto’s Tax Management automates the calculation, filing, and payment of federal, state, and local payroll taxes. It ensures compliance with…
Tax reports are a vital feature of any software that deals with financial transactions. It is a tool that helps businesses and individuals k…
Paid time off (PTO) is an employee leave program in which employees can draw from a leave bank (with a certain number of leaves) and be guar…
The time tracking feature is primarily used by businesses that bill customers based on the time it takes to resolve a problem. Staff can qui…
A timesheet is a physical or electronic tool that allows you to track and record your working hours. As an employer, this means you'll be ab…
User Management is a crucial feature in software which aims to efficiently manage the users accessing the system. This feature enables the a…
Gusto’s W-2 Preparation feature generates and distributes accurate W-2 forms to employees and government agencies at year-end. It simplifies…
Gusto’s Wage Garnishment manages court-ordered deductions from employee wages efficiently and accurately. It calculates the correct garnishm…
Gusto security and data handling
Key compliance certifications and security features for IT and security teams evaluating Gusto.
Certifications
Security features
Developer & data
Alternatives to Gusto
Editor’s Pick
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8.8
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Why buyers keep looking beyond 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.
Organizations that prioritize customer support may consider alternatives, particularly if they have experienced challenges with Gusto’s service responsiveness or require more personalized assistance during critical HR processes.
Businesses transitioning to more integrated software systems might seek alternatives that offer seamless integration with other tools they use, enhancing overall efficiency and data management across their operations.
Gusto Customers
Handlebar Cyclery
Dwg
American Canning
Reach
finder.com
Gusto Support Options
Frequently Asked Questions About Gusto
Common questions buyers ask before choosing Gusto.
Gusto is a Payroll Software. Gusto offers Wage Garnishment, W-2 Preparation, Leave Tracking (Vacation), Self Service Portal, Multi-country and many more functionalities.
Gusto is a strong fit 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.. Consider alternatives if: Your business requires highly complex or heavily customized payroll processing.; You are a large enterprise with extensive, process-heavy HR workflows..
Buyers commonly note the following limitations of Gusto: Occasional errors or inconsistencies in support communication; Challenging transition process from other payroll providers without guidance; Limited advanced customization for complex payroll needs.
Some top alternatives to Gusto includes Patriot Payroll, Paychex Flex, Paycor, Freshbooks and Elite HRMS.
Gusto offers Free Trial, Subscription, Quotation Based pricing models
The starting price of Gusto is $49/user/month when monthly
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Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].