Gusto review

Gusto ranks first because it covers what a small business without HR staff needs every month at a price that is easy to predict. The Simple plan includes unlimited payroll runs, federal and state tax filings and payments, direct deposit or printed checks, payroll approvals and basic PTO and holiday pay policies. Employees get their own app for pay stubs and details, and owners can run payroll from a phone. Moving to Plus at $80 a month plus $12 per person adds time tracking, scheduling, multi-state payroll and unlimited next-day pay, which matters once you hire in a second state or manage hourly staff. Premium adds HR guidance tools and a named advisor. The limits are clear: Simple is single-state, and deeper HR work such as reviews and compliance help costs more. For a five to thirty person company that wants payroll done right first, it is the easiest place to start.

Who it is for

Small US businesses whose main HR task is running payroll correctly, with onboarding and PTO alongside.

Price

Simple $49 a month plus $6 per person; Plus $80 plus $12 per person; Premium $180 plus $22 per person.

$49/mo + $6/mo per person
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 6, 2026.

Key features

• Unlimited payrolls per month with tax filings and payments
• Payroll on AutoPilot and payroll approvals
• Basic PTO policies and holiday pay on the Simple plan
• Employee app and employer mobile app
• Time tracking, scheduling and multi-state payroll on Plus

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Published prices for every plan with no contracts
• Strength: Free account setup and the option to cancel anytime
• Strength: Domestic contractor payments included on all plans
• Weakness: Simple plan runs payroll in one state only
• Weakness: Time tracking and scheduling need the Plus plan or an add-on
• Weakness: HR guidance and a named advisor sit on the $180 Premium plan

Key facts

• Starting price: $49 a month plus $6 per person
• Contracts: None; switch or cancel anytime
• Payroll runs: Unlimited on every plan
• Contractor payments abroad: Add-on, more than 120 countries

Where it ranks

Gusto is No. 1 in our Best HR Software for Small Business verdict and No. 2 in Best HR Software and No. 1 in Best Payroll Software for Small Business.