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Gusto

Review by RAECHEL CONOVER
Updated December 22, 2023

Companies working with Gusto payroll get a full-service payroll with options for single and multiple state payroll, unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit, HR tools, reporting, and customer service, among other features.

Pros

  • Benefits management options
  • Offers a plan designed for contract workers
  • Next-day direct deposit available
  • High-level customer service
  • Employee self-service app
Cons

  • Customer service isn’t equal on all tiers
  • Only has an employee app, not one for admin
  • Many integrations not available at lower tiers
Gusto logo
Best for small businesses
4.8
Features
5
Pricing
5
Support
5
Reputation
4

What is Gusto?

When it comes to employee payroll platforms, Gusto payroll is legit. The company offers a range of payroll services, including full-service payroll in single or multiple states, multiple levels of Gusto customer service, tax filing, employee self-service, hiring and onboarding, time tracking, different levels of reporting, and more.

gusto payroll configuration admin view screenshot

Admin view of Gusto payroll configuration which can be set to run automatically each period. Source: Gusto payroll login, administrator account.

Gusto payroll is one of the most comprehensive employee payroll service platforms, especially for companies that work exclusively with contract workers. The company waives a monthly fee for contract workers but offers the same payroll benefits.

gusto payroll options screenshot

Other payroll options within Gusto. Source: Gusto payroll login, administrator account.

A Gusto app is available to employees that provides them with self-service payroll and financial tracking to encourage them to spend their wages wisely. There are four levels of Gusto payroll pricing, including one level designed for contract workers in which the company waives the monthly fee and only charges per contract worker but allows the same basic perks as a paid plan.

gusto employee paystubs view screenshot

Employees can see all paystubs in a single view (some information redacted). Source: Gusto employee account.

Gusto payroll reviews indicate some hiccups with customer service and their response time. However, most find the Gusto payroll app so easy to use that customer service doesn’t come into play.

gusto employee account view screenshot

Employee view of job and pay details. Source: Gusto login, employee account.

How much does Gusto cost

Gusto plans start at $40/month. Get started by visiting Gusto’s website.

Starting price:
$40 per month
Free trial:
Not Available
Free version:
Available
Gusto Pricing & Plans
Contractor Only Simple Plus Premium
Starting at $0/month Starting at $40/month Starting at $80/month Exclusive Pricing
Plus $6 per person/month Plus $6 per person/month Plus $12 per person/month Contact for quote

Get Started Visit Gusto’s website.

What’s included in every Gusto plan? Gusto payroll includes in every plan full service, single state payroll. This consists of an employee app, hiring and onboarding tools, financial and health benefits administration, reports, integrations, and basic Gusto customer service. When you move up to Gusto’s Plus level, you get full service, multiple state payroll, next-day direct deposit, and more advanced Gusto customer service, reporting, and more. On the Premium level, you get dedicated customer support and higher levels of everything, including a full-service HR center.

gusto employee benefits info screenshot

View information about your benefits and see who and what’s covered under each plan. Source: Gusto employee account.

Which features does Gusto offer?

Payroll Software Features
Full-service single and multiple state payroll
Employee self-service app with financial tools
Two-day, four-day, and next-day direct deposit available
Unlimited payrolls per month
Accounting, time tracking, and other HR integrations available

Other notable Gusto features

  • Local, state, and federal payroll tax filing
  • Automatic tax calculations
  • State tax registration in all 50 states
  • International contractor payments in over 80 countries
  • Onboarding checklist
  • Integrations with ATS and other HR software
  • Brokered or non-brokered health care administration
  • Time tracking, PTO, and expense tracking

What types of support does Gusto offer?

Data Migration
1-on-1 Live training
Self-Guided Online Training
Knowledge Base
FAQs/Forum
Email Support
Live Chat
Phone Support

Gusto user review highlights

We analyzed 6,123 user reviews about Gusto from four third-party review websites to provide this summary.

Of the Gusto payroll reviews we read, there are quite a few regarding Gusto customer service, and they aren’t great. Users report that it takes days – some users even say it takes an entire month to get a response from customer service, and then it takes just as long, if not longer, to resolve their issue. In a recent survey we conducted, a CEO of a startup told us, “When things are not entered completely perfect, Gusto has major issues and is very slow to respond. They changed their subscriptions, so now we don’t have Live chat support. The email support is very slow.”

On the flip side of Gusto pros and cons, “When everything goes smoothly, I love that Gusto is there to work in the background without much input from the business (payroll, state registrations, taxes),” says the startup CEO we spoke to. In addition, many users love the Gusto payroll app, and countless users find Gusto so straightforward to use that they don’t need customer service. One user says Gusto payroll makes his whole HR department nimble by streamlining hiring, onboarding, offboarding, payroll, and culture management processes.

Others report that the platform is a very clean interface that leaves no questions about how to use it, and others say that the payroll reminders are key. The Gusto payroll app also garners applause for an easy-to-use mobile app that enables employees to see all their pay information.

  • Ease of Setup – Gusto payroll allows you to set up an account quickly, and the interface is so simple you can easily get started.
  • Ease of Use – Users report Gusto’s clean interface that is easy to navigate and use.
  • Features – Customers appreciate many features of the Gusto payroll app, including payroll, time tracking, benefits tracking, and onboarding.
  • Quality of Support – Gusto customer service is where the platform loses points. Users say it’s a struggle to get a live person; when they do, it can take up to a month for a response and even longer to get issues resolved.
  • Value for Money – Most users agree that Gusto payroll is a good value if you run basic payrolls without the risk of an issue.

Gusto Contact Information

Parent Company:
Gusto
Headquarters:
San Francisco, CA
Year Founded:
2012
Website:
gusto.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/GustoHQ
Twitter:
twitter.com/gustohq
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/gustohq/
Instagram:
instagram.com/gustohq/

Get Started Visit Gusto’s website.

Gusto alternatives

Software Starting Price B2B Reviews Score
Gusto $40/month + $6 per person/month 4.75
ADP Not Disclosed 4.25
Patriot $17/month + $4 per person/month 4.75

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