9.7
SpotScore

Top 10 Gusto Alternatives 2026
Modern HR for Growing Businesses
Main Features
- 401(k) Tracking
- Access Control
- Accounting Integration
- Accounting Management
Pricing
Starts from $49/Month + $6/Employee when monthly
Free Trial available
Gusto is a Payroll Software platform with a user rating of 4.4★ based on 873 reviews. Teams looking for alternatives typically need better pricing flexibility, easier deployment, or a closer feature fit for their specific use case. Below you'll find 10 vetted Payroll Software alternatives ranked by user rating, with filters to narrow by pricing, platform, and features — so you can find the right fit for 2026.
Gusto vs Top Alternatives at a Glance
Side-by-side comparison of pricing, user rating, and free trial availability to help you decide faster.
| Tool | Best For | Pricing | Rating | Free Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll Software | $49 | 4.4 ★ | ✓ Yes | |
| Payroll Software | Custom pricing | 4.7 ★ | ✗ No | |
| Payroll Software | Custom pricing | 4.3 ★ | ✗ No | |
| Payroll Software | Custom pricing | 4.5 ★ | ✗ No | |
| Payroll Software | Free trial | 4.5 ★ | ✓ Yes | |
| Payroll Software | Free plan available | 3.8 ★ | ✓ Yes |
Showing 1-10 out of 10

List of the Top Gusto alternatives as of November 2026
Compare business software, products, and services to find the best solution for your business or organization. Use the filters on the left to drill down by category, pricing, features, market segment, user ratings, and more.
8.6
SpotScore

Paylocity Web Pay — 4.69★
Streamline payroll and boost efficiency with Paylocity Web Pay.
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What is Paylocity Web Pay?
Paylocity Web Pay is a cloud-based payroll software that helps businesses reduce time spent on managing payroll and effortlessly process employee information. The system offers features like time and attendance tracking, unlimited employee data, automated deduction data and a variety of direct ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about Paylocity Web Pay
- Scales with business growth, allowing for extensive record-keeping.
- Reduces manual errors and simplifies compliance.
- Integrated tracking helps automate payroll calculations.
Where Paylocity Web Pay falls short
- New users may require time to navigate all features efficiently.
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
+ 23 more
Unique Features
-
Customizable Branding
-
Vacation (Leave) Tracking
Pricing
Paylocity Web Pay offers custom pricing plan
8.3
SpotScore

Greenshades — 4.32★
Efficiently manage payroll and taxes with Greenshades.
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What is Greenshades?
Greenshades delivers purpose-built payroll, HR, and tax compliance software for organizations where workforce complexity is the norm — not the exception. Built for mid-market and enterprise businesses across staffing, healthcare, construction, and transportation, the Greenshades platform brings ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about Greenshades
- Automates payroll, tax filings, and HR processes, reducing manual errors.
- Navigation is accessible even for less technical users.
- Customer support resolves issues quickly and provides thorough assistance.
Where Greenshades falls short
- Performance slows during peak usage times, causing occasional delays.
- Mobile app has limited functionality, restricting some features for on-the-go users.
- Initial setup and training require time before the system is used at full capacity.
Common Features
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
-
Self Service Portal
+ 24 more
Unique Features
-
Time & Attendance Management
-
HR Compliance Management
-
Employee Lifecycle Management
+ 5 more
Pricing
Greenshades offers custom pricing plan
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9.2
SpotScore

Paychex Flex — 4.5★
Streamline your payroll with ease.
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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, ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about Paychex Flex
- Helps businesses meet federal and state tax regulations.
- Allows employees to access paystubs and tax forms independently.
- Tracks employee time off seamlessly within payroll processing.
Where Paychex Flex falls short
- Costs may vary, and pricing details are not readily available upfront.
- Some users may require training to fully utilize all features.
- Certain payroll processes may lack flexibility for unique business needs.
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
+ 18 more
Unique Features
-
Talent Management
-
Employment Screening
-
Onboarding
+ 5 more
Pricing
Paychex Flex offers custom pricing plan
9.5
SpotScore

Zenefits — 4.5★
Streamline payroll and stay compliant with ease.
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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 moreWhat reviewers like about Zenefits
- Handles onboarding, offboarding, payroll, and benefits administration in one workflow, reducing paperwork.
- Desktop and mobile interfaces are accessible with minimal training.
- Connects with productivity tools, scheduling systems, and ATS platforms for cross-platform workflows.
Where Zenefits falls short
- Customer support response times are slow, with limited availability during urgent situations.
- Some features have no customization options, restricting configuration for specific business needs.
- Occasional glitches and slow performance on certain browsers frustrate users.
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
+ 13 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Free Trial available, Try Now
Zenefits offers custom pricing plan
8.5
SpotScore

SumoPayroll — 3.83★
Simplify payroll, streamline HR.
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What is SumoPayroll?
SumoPayroll is payroll software built for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees who need salary calculations, deductions, and pay disbursements handled without a complex HR suite. It combines payroll accounting and payment processing in a single lightweight interface, keeping setup and ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about SumoPayroll
- SumoPayroll is specifically designed for very small businesses (under 50 employees), offering targeted functionality that avoids the complexity of enterprise-level tools.
- It integrates payroll accounting features, reducing the need for external bookkeeping tools and ensuring smoother financial reconciliation.
- The software provides processing capabilities that help HR teams manage pay cycles efficiently, including automated calculations and timely payouts.
Where SumoPayroll falls short
- The platform is best suited for very small businesses; as a company grows beyond 50 employees, the software may fall short in terms of scalability and feature depth.
- SumoPayroll focuses heavily on payroll and may lack comprehensive HR functionalities like performance management, recruitment, or employee engagement tools.
- Businesses using multiple platforms might face challenges integrating SumoPayroll with their existing HR or accounting systems if API or third-party support is limited.
Common Features
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
-
Self Service Portal
-
Multi-country
+ 15 more
Unique Features
-
Expense Report
-
Expense Approval
-
Payments
+ 7 more
Pricing
SumoPayroll offers custom pricing plan
9.4
SpotScore
Remote.com — from $29 · 4.6★
Effortlessly manage your remote workforce.
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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 moreWhat reviewers like about Remote.com
- Exceptional customer support that is quick, responsive, and patient, ensuring all user queries are resolved efficiently.
- Support team members frequently go above and beyond to resolve issues, offering personalized and friendly assistance.
- Easy-to-use platform with smooth navigation, enhancing the overall user experience.
Where Remote.com falls short
- Occasional delays in resolving issues on public or holiday schedules, leading to minor inconveniences.
- Some users mention limited flexibility or dependency on support for solving certain issues that may hinder self-service.
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
+ 11 more
Unique Features
-
HR Management
-
Contract Management
Pricing
Starts from $29/employee/month when monthly
8.7
SpotScore

Heartland Payroll — 4.61★
Efficient payroll management made easy.
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What is Heartland Payroll?
Heartland Payroll is a payroll management software for small and medium sized companies. It handles all your payroll processing requirements such as bi-weekly, monthly or yearly paychecks, cost accounting and tracking of leave balances. The system has complete comprehensive accounting module ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about Heartland Payroll
- The self-service portal is intuitive and easy to navigate, offering features for payroll entry, custom reporting, and data access.
- Dedicated payroll specialists are knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive, resolving issues efficiently.
- Payroll automation eliminates the need for manual calculations by handling taxes, deductions, and filings at local, state, and federal levels.
Where Heartland Payroll falls short
- Onboarding processes can be disorganized and manual, leading to errors and requiring additional oversight.
- Frequent turnover of payroll representatives affects continuity and consistency for some customers.
- Employees often face challenges accessing the portal, with issues like account lockouts or subpar mobile experience.
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
+ 9 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Heartland Payroll offers custom pricing plan
9.2
SpotScore

SurePayroll — 4.86★
Efficiency meets accuracy in one payroll solution.
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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 ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about SurePayroll
- Payroll setup is quick, easy to use, and simplifies previously cumbersome tasks like tax deductions and filings.
- Easy-to-use platform with a simple interface, making it accessible for non-technical users.
- Exceptional customer support with dedicated representatives offering hands-on assistance and problem resolution.
Where SurePayroll falls short
- Occasional issues with missing payments or discrepancies that require follow-up.
- While customer service is generally positive, isolated instances of less satisfactory support were mentioned.
- Limited flexibility for advanced users or features when compared to some competitors.
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
+ 7 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Free Trial available
SurePayroll offers custom pricing plan
9.2
SpotScore

Justworks — from $8 · 3.9★
Efficient payroll management on the go.
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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 ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about Justworks
- International payroll capabilities
- Real-time benefits administration
- Mobile app for convenience
Where Justworks falls short
- Higher cost for small businesses
- Limited customization options
- Complex setup process
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
W-2 Preparation
-
Leave Tracking (Vacation)
+ 10 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Free Trial available, Try Now
Starts from $8/user/month when monthly
7.8
SpotScore

Excelforce — 4.25★
Effortless HR management for growing companies.
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What is Excelforce?
Excelforce is an innovative, award-winning workforce solution designed to make managing payroll and tracking time & attendance easy. It is a mobile-friendly platform that adapts to the needs of growing companies, streamlining HR processes to make your job less demanding. Excelforce is your ...
Read moreWhat reviewers like about Excelforce
- Excelforce's mobile compatibility ensures that HR professionals and employees can access payroll and attendance features anytime, anywhere—boosting flexibility and productivity.
- The platform's recognition in the industry reflects its reliability, instilling confidence in users looking for a trustworthy workforce management solution.
- By combining payroll, time tracking, and attendance into one platform, Excelforce eliminates the need for juggling multiple systems, improving workflow efficiency
Where Excelforce falls short
- The ability to integrate with existing ERP, accounting, or other third-party systems isn't specified, which could hinder operational continuity.
Common Features
-
Wage Garnishment
-
Self Service Portal
-
Multi-country
+ 8 more
Unique Features
No unique features
Pricing
Excelforce offers custom pricing plan
Gusto competitors, compared
There are 10 direct Gusto competitors in Payroll Software. The ones that come up most often are Paylocity Web Pay, Greenshades and Paychex Flex. 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 set of options as "Gusto alternatives" — the 10 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.
Why each made the list
Scales with business growth, allowing for extensive record-keeping.
Watch for: New users may require time to navigate all features efficiently.
Automates payroll, tax filings, and HR processes, reducing manual errors.
Watch for: Performance slows during peak usage times, causing occasional delays.
Helps businesses meet federal and state tax regulations.
Watch for: Costs may vary, and pricing details are not readily available upfront.
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.
SumoPayroll is specifically designed for very small businesses (under 50 employees), offering targeted functionality that avoids the complexity of enterprise-level tools.
Watch for: The platform is best suited for very small businesses; as a company grows beyond 50 employees, the software may fall short in terms of scalability and feature depth.
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.
The self-service portal is intuitive and easy to navigate, offering features for payroll entry, custom reporting, and data access.
Watch for: Onboarding processes can be disorganized and manual, leading to errors and requiring additional oversight.
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.
International payroll capabilities
Watch for: Higher cost for small businesses
Excelforce's mobile compatibility ensures that HR professionals and employees can access payroll and attendance features anytime, anywhere—boosting flexibility and productivity.
Watch for: The ability to integrate with existing ERP, accounting, or other third-party systems isn't specified, which could hinder operational continuity.
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 10 alternatives apart, in the numbers: 4 offer a free tier; and SurePayroll is the highest rated at 4.86★ across 1436 reviews.
Our ranking method.
Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
