Gusto Review

automated US full-service payroll, automated 50-state tax filing, health insurance brokerage, and 401(k).

4.5 / 5.0 OUTSTANDING (Lab Score 9.0/10)

$46/mo at Gusto (30-Day Trial) ↗

✓ PROS

+ 100% transparent, published pricing with zero hidden fees for off-cycle bonus payroll runs or year-end W-2s
+ AutoPilot feature runs payroll automatically on schedule for salaried teams
+ native health, dental, vision, HSA/FSA, and 401(k) deductions synced directly into every paystub
+ Employees retain lifetime access to their Gusto wallet for past W-2s even after leaving the company

✕ CONS

− Multi-state payroll requires upgrading from Simple ($40+$6) to Plus ($80+$12)
− International EOR is powered via partner integration rather than wholly-owned entities like Deel
− No native IT laptop/MDM management like Rippling

THE BOTTOM LINE

Gusto is the gold standard for US small and mid-sized businesses up to 100 employees that want transparent pricing and automated 50-state payroll.

⚡ Interactive TCO & Contract Estimator

Gusto Pricing & Team Seat Calculator

Pricing Model: Base Fee + Per Person / Month • Free Trial: 30 Days

Simulate Team Size / Seat Count:

10 Seats / Units

1 Seat (Solo) 10 Seats (Startup) 25 Seats (Growth) 50 Seats (Mid-Market) 100 Seats

Simple

Single-state US payroll

$46 / mo

$40/mo base + $6/person

Est. Annual TCO (10 seats)

$552/yr

✓ Unlimited single-state payroll runs
✓ Automated W-2 & 1099 tax filings
✓ Health insurance administration & employee portal

Start 30-Day Trial →

Best Value Tier

Plus

All 50 US states

$92 / mo

$80/mo base + $12/person

Est. Annual TCO (10 seats)

$1,104/yr

✓ Full-service multi-state payroll
✓ Next-day direct deposit & PTO management
✓ Time tracking, project costing & performance reviews

Start 30-Day Trial →

Premium

Dedicated HR advisor

$202 / mo

$180/mo base + $22/person

Est. Annual TCO (10 seats)

$2,424/yr

✓ Certified HR experts & compliance alerts
✓ R&D tax credit discounts & priority support
✓ Free migration & account manager

Start 30-Day Trial →

⚠️

Analyst TCO & Contract Audit Note: Zero charge to switch health insurance broker of record to Gusto. Multi-state state tax registration assistance is available if hiring in a new state for the first time.

Lab Evaluation & Performance Analysis

Gusto is the gold standard for US small and mid-sized businesses up to 100 employees that want transparent pricing and automated 50-state payroll.

Pricing & Contract Lock-In

Zero charge to switch health insurance broker of record to Gusto. Multi-state state tax registration assistance is available if hiring in a new state for the first time.