Full-service payroll, benefits and HR for U.S. small businesses. Gusto calculates, files and pays your federal, state and local payroll taxes automatically — in all 50 states.
We tested Gusto against the payroll stacks small teams actually run away from. Here's what changes on day one.
Gusto calculates, files and pays your federal, state and local payroll taxes automatically, including year-end W-2s and 1099s. Nothing to remember, nothing to postmark.
New hires onboard themselves. They enter their own details, e-sign documents, and pick direct deposit — before their first day. You approve and move on.
Health insurance, 401(k), HSA/FSA and workers' comp plug into the same payroll run, so deductions are handled automatically instead of tracked by hand.
Automatic tax calculation, filing and payment at federal, state and local level — in all 50 states.
Run payroll as often as you like — off-cycle bonuses, corrections and reimbursements included, no per-run fee.
Pay both from the same dashboard. Contractor payments, filings and year-end forms handled together.
Health insurance, 401(k), HSA/FSA, commuter and workers' comp — synced to payroll deductions automatically.
Offer letters, I-9s and W-4s signed digitally. New hires fill in their own details before day one.
Hours, time-off policies and approvals flow straight into the payroll run on higher plans. No re-keying.
Create your account free, add your team, and Gusto walks you through the rest — including moving your data from your old provider.
Get started with Gusto →No setup fee, no charge per payroll run. Pick the plan that matches how much HR you want bundled in.
Gusto sets and updates its own pricing, and runs promotions from time to time. Check the current rates and any new-customer offer on Gusto's site before you sign up.
Our take after reviewing all four. Short version: Gusto wins on ease, Rippling wins on scale, Deel wins on international.
| Gusto | Rippling | Deel | QuickBooks Payroll | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of setup | Easiest — guided, plain English | Powerful but heavier | Straightforward | Moderate |
| Automatic tax filing | Yes — federal, state, local | Yes | Yes (U.S. payroll) | Yes (on higher tiers) |
| Benefits built in | Yes — health, 401(k), HSA | Yes | Varies by country | Add-on |
| Contractors (1099) | Yes, same dashboard | Yes | Best-in-class globally | Yes |
| Best for | U.S. small teams that want it simple | Growing companies wanting IT + HR in one | Hiring across borders | Businesses already deep in QuickBooks |
| Our review | 8.7 / 10 — read it | 8.6 / 10 — read it | 8.5 / 10 — read it | 8.7 / 10 — read it |
"We moved off a spreadsheet-and-accountant setup. First payroll took twenty minutes to set up, every one since has taken about five."
"The self-onboarding is the bit I didn't expect to care about. New hires arrive already in the system with everything signed."
"Per-employee pricing adds up as you grow, and it's U.S. only — but for a domestic team it's the least painful payroll I've used."
Composite feedback from owners we've spoken to while reviewing payroll software. Not paid endorsements.
We'd rather you skip it than sign up and regret it. Here's the honest cut.
Full-service payroll, automatic tax filing, benefits and onboarding — set up in an afternoon, then largely forgotten about. That's the whole pitch.
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