Gusto is a comprehensive HR software designed to assist growing businesses in managing their HR tasks efficiently. It offers features like payroll processing, benefits administration, and time tracking. Gusto also provides tools for onboarding, employee engagement, and compliance management. Its user-friendly interface and automated processes simplify HR tasks, allowing businesses to focus on growth. Furthermore, Gusto supports integration with other business applications for seamless operations. Overall, Gusto is an all-in-one HR solution that streamlines HR management for scaling businesses.

  • 01Pros and cons from reviewers
  • 02Main features
  • 03What is Gusto?
  • 04How Gusto compare to similar software?
  • 05Who is Gusto best for according to our reviewers?
  • 06Gusto Reviews

What is Gusto?

Gusto is a payroll software platform designed for businesses and professionals. It centralizes payroll, human resources, and benefits management functionalities, making it an efficient tool for financial management. Gusto supports international payments, leave requests, and time calculations, making it ideal for managing payroll for employees worldwide. The platform automatically calculates taxes and social charges, ensuring a fast and transparent payroll process. Gusto is compliant in all 50 U.S. states, allowing businesses to grow with peace of mind while focusing on their strategies. The platform also offers a discounted offer from Secret for quick usage and a good deal.

Pros from reviewers

  • Customizable plans: Gusto allows users to create and customize plans that fit both their company and personal needs, making it a flexible solution for different businesses.

  • Direct deposit turnaround: Gusto offers a quick turnaround for direct deposits, which is a feature not offered by some competitors

  • Ease of use: Gusto's interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate and perform tasks

  • Self-onboarding: The software allows employees to self-onboard, which simplifies the process and saves time

  • Comprehensive features: Gusto provides a wide range of features including time tracking, handling benefit plans, open enrollment, workers compensation insurance payments, payroll, taxes, new employee reports, tax reporting, W-2's, 1099's, and payment of both domestic and international contractors

Cons from reviewers

  • Inability to correct individual payroll errors: If a mistake is made during payroll processing, the entire payroll has to be cancelled rather than being able to cancel or correct a single check. This can be time-consuming and inconvenient for businesses

  • Inflexible salary options: Gusto does not offer an option for a fixed salary that does not fluctuate when hours are adjusted. This can cause issues for businesses that have salaried employees with varying work hours

  • Below average reporting feature: Some users find Gusto's reporting feature to be disorganized and hard to navigate, making it difficult to access and analyze important payroll and HR data.

  • Poor customer service: Several users have reported that Gusto's customer service is lacking, with slow response times and a lack of accountability for mistakes made by the software. This has led to frustration and dissatisfaction among users

  • Subpar benefits management: Some users have reported issues with Gusto's management of benefits, particularly childcare benefits. These issues have included slow response times and a lack of support, leading to significant financial losses

Main features

Starting Price

$40

/ month

Free Plan

No

Provide real benefits to your employees

Easily hire new talent

Collaborate on your decisions

Improve payroll payment

Boost performance and skills

Gusto and QuickBooks are both powerful tools for managing your business's financial affairs, but they have distinct differences that cater to varying business needs.


One of the primary differences between Gusto and QuickBooks is their core focus. Gusto primarily excels in payroll and HR management. It provides an intuitive platform for handling employee payroll, tax calculations, and compliance with labor laws. It simplifies tasks like onboarding, benefits management, and employee self-service. In contrast, QuickBooks is a comprehensive accounting software that encompasses a broader range of financial management tasks. It offers features for invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and tax preparation.


Another key distinction lies in their pricing models. Gusto's pricing is primarily based on the number of employees, and it includes payroll processing, tax filings, and HR features. QuickBooks, on the other hand, offers different pricing tiers based on the level of financial...

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Gusto

All-in-one HR platform

3 months free / Unlimited users on Gusto

Save up to $483

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QuickBooks

Optimize your accounting and invoicing management with ease.

30% off for 6 months on QuickBooks

Save up to $360

Get QuickBooks deal

Who is Gusto best for according to our reviewers?

  • Freelancers and Contractors: Gusto is suitable for freelancers and contractors as it offers features like direct deposit turnaround, time tracking for hourly work, and payment for both domestic and international contractors

  • Small Business Owners: Gusto is ideal for small business owners as it simplifies the process of managing payroll, compliance, and employee benefits. It allows customization of plans to fit both company and personal needs, and provides trustworthy financial information

  • HR Professionals: Gusto is beneficial for HR professionals as it allows multiple users to have administrator access, ensures security with multi-factor authentication, and handles aspects like benefit plans, open enrollment, workers compensation insurance payments, new employee reports, and tax reporting

  • Employees: Gusto is user-friendly for employees, offering self-onboarding, easy checking of stubs and deposits, and a neat interface. It also allows automatic transfer of selected amounts to bank accounts for bill payments, while saving the remainder for spending

  • Payroll Processors: Gusto is suitable for payroll processors as it promotes collaboration between the employer, employee, and payroll processor. It also handles payroll, taxes, W-2's, 1099's, and has the ability to pay international employees.

  • Gusto Reviews

    4.3

    Gusto rating

    4.5

    Ease of use

    4.5

    Customer service

    4.5

    Value for money

    4.4

    Likelihood to recommend

    4.5

    Features

    24 Gusto Reviews

    4.3 (24 reviews)
    Leave a review
    • Debra Martinez

      Excellent - Until You Need to Make an Adjustment

      My experience with Gusto has been extremely frustrating. Although Gusto theoretically seems great, we faced a problem and my employees haven't been paid. Despite interacting with five representatives over two weeks, the issue is still unresolved. This represents the worst aspect of automation with minimal escalation capability. I chose Gusto due to their promise of a superior approach through their portal.

      September 16, 2024

    • Kyle J

      Gusto's Time Tracking: Boosting Team Efficiency and Schedule Management

      Gusto's time tracking feature has been a huge help in managing our team's schedules and productivity

      September 7, 2024

    • Andrea Davis

      Efficient Integration: Gusto Streamlines Business Operations

      I love that Gusto integrates seamlessly with our other software tools. It's made managing our business operations much more efficient

      September 1, 2024

    • Albert

      Perfect for Small Businesses: Streamlining Payroll with Gusto

      Gusto has been an incredible tool for me, significantly easing the stress of managing my business. It ensures my employee is paid accurately and punctually, keeping them content. Gusto takes the guesswork out of payroll. I'm not an expert in taxes or reporting, so it's reassuring to know my business is meeting all those requirements without me having to personally oversee it. I haven't found anything I dislike about Gusto. It's very comprehensive and while I don't use many of its features, I appreciate their presence should my needs expand. I chose Gusto because my bookkeeper recommended it. I wasn't familiar with Gusto or its competitors, but I took the opportunity to automate another administrative task within my business.

      August 26, 2024

    • Andrew Miller

      Effortless Onboarding: Gusto Streamlines Employee Integration

      Gusto has made onboarding new employees so much easier. The automated process saves us time and ensures nothing falls through the cracks

      August 18, 2024

    • Jessica D

      Gusto: A Game-Changer for Our Business

      I appreciate Gusto's ease of use, particularly for onboarding employees and setting up payroll. However, I find the reporting feature to be below average, disorganized, and unnecessarily hard to navigate.

      August 12, 2024

    • Paul M

      Gusto: A Valuable Ally for Small Businesses

      Managing payroll, compliance, and employee benefits for small businesses can be tough, but Gusto's all-in-one platform has simplified this for me. It allows me to create and customize plans that fit both my company and personal needs. The sign-up process was straightforward and easy. I love the user interface - it's visually pleasing and user-friendly. Besides handling my weekly paychecks, Gusto also gives me trustworthy financial information. Personally, I have no complaints about Gusto.

      August 3, 2024

    • Rose Garcia

      Absolutely Adore this Comprehensive, User-Friendly Software!

      As a user, I can confidently say that Gusto is incredibly easy to use. My company has been using it since 2017 and we absolutely love it, rejecting any other product that claims to do the same things. Gusto is not "Ala Cart" like many other companies. It's user-friendly, allows self-onboarding by employees, time tracking for hourly employees and by project, and handles benefit plans, open enrollment, workers compensation insurance payments, payroll, taxes, new employee reports, tax reporting, W-2's, 1099's, and payment of both domestic and international contractors. Starting from November 2023, it will also allow payment of international employees. Everything about Gusto is uncomplicated. It's stress-free and compatible with many other programs. We use their partner EasyLlama for training, which is amazing. Whenever I suggest adding a benefit, the owners always ask, "does it work with Gusto?" In over 8 years, I haven't had any issues.

      July 30, 2024

    • Kyle A

      Gusto: A Game-Changer for Small Business Benefits and Taxes

      I've been using Gusto for our small business and it has been a game-changer. It simplifies the process of managing employee benefits and tax filings

      July 22, 2024

    • Carol Brown

      Inexcusable Flaw in Gusto's Childcare Benefits Deductions

      The software made significant mistakes and blamed federal deadlines, not taking any accountability for their slow response times or the failure of a 4th party website. They took months to respond, frequently offering insubstantial apologies and blaming COVID delays - in one instance, it took them six months. However, the main portal is user-friendly and easy to use for checking stubs and deposits. The management of childcare benefits was subpar, being outsourced to a 4th party with no real support, leading to over ten thousand dollars being withdrawn from my account, which has not been returned yet.

      July 14, 2024

    • Zephyrine

      Top-Notch Customer Service at Gusto

      Gusto's customer service is top-notch. They are always available to assist with any issues or questions, providing prompt and helpful responses

      July 6, 2024

    • Joan G

      An Unforgettable Rollercoaster Ride with Gusto: A Customer's Perspective

      I had the pleasure of being a Gusto customer for about half a year. When I switched banks, there was a minor hiccup with Gusto debiting my new account for payroll, which was a unique situation. Despite the information being correct, there seemed to be a technical glitch. However, this gave me an opportunity to experience their customer service firsthand. Seven months after I had moved on from their service, there was an unexpected debit from my account. This was surprising, but it gave me another chance to interact with their customer service. I had three engaging phone calls, each over an hour long, with a representative from the Philippines. We also exchanged numerous emails. It was a learning experience for both of us. As a Small Business Owner, I can say that Gusto is a company that keeps you on your toes. It's a thrilling ride when anything goes wrong, as it challenges you to find solutions and think on your feet. There's a sense of adventure and unpredictability, which keeps things interesting. While I ended up switching to ADP, which is a bit more expensive, I can't deny that my time with Gusto was a rollercoaster ride. It's a company that seems to be on the cusp of something big, like a class action lawsuit. It's definitely an experience I won't forget!

      July 1, 2024

    • Jeffrey Williams

      Really loving this app!

      I really enjoy using the Gusto app. It's far superior to a traditional paycheck, allowing me to automatically transfer a selected amount to my bank for bill payments, while saving the remainder in my Gusto Account for spending. The app simplifies clocking in and out, displays my paycheck periods for hour verification, and reminds me of my pay dates. It greatly facilitates saving. I highly recommend Gusto and believe all employers should utilize it!

      June 24, 2024

    • Ashley Garcia

      Adore the Weekly Variety!

      I've been using Gusto for about 4 years and I'm very satisfied with it. It helps keep meal preparation interesting, even though it can get a bit monotonous preparing the same meals each week. However, I've noticed that deliveries are sometimes placed on one end, which squashes what's inside.

      June 17, 2024

    • Steven A

      Gusto: A Comprehensive HR Solution for All Your Needs

      I appreciate Gusto's comprehensive approach to HR solutions. From payroll to benefits to compliance, they've got it all covered

      June 10, 2024

    • Juan J

      Exceptional Experience with Gusto's Customer Service

      I've had nothing but a smooth journey since starting with Gusto. Their customer service is outsourced, always responsive, and incredibly polite. Even with the urgent payroll deadline for the year-end, my messages over the past two weeks have been promptly addressed. I wholeheartedly recommend using Gusto and I plan to tell my accounting agency to continue endorsing them.

      June 2, 2024

    • Logan S

      Effortless HR and Payroll Management with Gusto

      I find Gusto to be user-friendly and intuitive, allowing multiple users to have administrator access and ensuring security with multi-factor authentication. However, I find the HR and Payroll aspects complex, particularly with different types of employment, leading to frequent questions. I also find their response time to be slow.

      May 26, 2024

    • Danielle

      Gusto's Excellent Reporting Features

      Gusto's reporting features are excellent. They provide detailed reports that have been invaluable in our financial planning and budgeting processes

      May 20, 2024

    • Gloria G

      Efficient Payroll with Streamlined Processes

      it has streamlined our payroll processes significantly. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making payroll a breeze

      May 13, 2024

    • Rachel W

      Experiencing Gusto: A Unique Approach to Customer Service

      I've been working with Gusto for a month now and I must say, their unique approach to resolving issues is quite interesting. They've assured me that my payment is on its way, which is quite reassuring. Their customer service is quite unique, with a system that ensures you're always in touch with someone. They keep me on my toes with their dynamic process, which is quite engaging and keeps things interesting!

      May 6, 2024

    • Anthony C

      Experiencing Gusto's Impressive Customer Support and Security Measures

      I've had quite an interesting experience with Gusto's customer support, which is based in India. It's quite impressive how they manage to communicate effectively despite English not being their first language. My representative was in a lively environment, which added a unique touch to the interaction. What really stood out to me was their advanced security measures. They utilized two-factor authentication and even took a photo of my driver's license and my face for verification purposes. It's clear they take user security seriously, which I appreciate. It's like having my own personal security guard for my account!

      April 28, 2024

    • Juan A

      Top-notch DIY Payroll Software on the Market: Gusto

      I've been a user of Gusto for several years and I'm quite fond of it. They're constantly making enhancements and seeking advice from their partners. Like all software, it has its quirks, but overall, it's an excellent platform. Gusto's self-onboarding and employee communication surpass their competitors, and their interface is neat and easy to use. However, their customer service has been lacking lately. I wish there was an option for a fixed salary that doesn't fluctuate when hours are adjusted. Another drawback is that if there's a mistake, the entire payroll has to be cancelled. It would be a significant improvement to have the ability to cancel a single check. I opted for Gusto because of its direct deposit turnaround and features that Patriot doesn't offer. I switched to Gusto because it's more user-friendly and promotes collaboration between the employer, employee, and payroll processor.

      April 20, 2024

    • Abigail

      Gusto: Intuitive and User-Friendly

      I've found Gusto to be an incredibly intuitive and user-friendly platform

      April 15, 2024

    • Xanthe G

      Exceptional Service and Efficiency with Gusto

      FIVE stars! I received my first paycheck right on time, on Dec. 31. I've sent a few emails and chats, and each time I get a prompt and helpful response. The system works flawlessly. I highly recommend using them. All of the representatives are proficient English speakers and they keep assuring me that everything is in order, they even do a test deposit to ensure everything is working perfectly. My former employer wasn't this efficient. I'm now involving my friends to switch to this software because of its excellent service.

      April 14, 2024