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Gusto Reviews
66 reviews
Save BIG on
Gusto
Save up to $180 on Gusto
Gusto
Used by 379 members
First month free
Save up to $180 on Gusto
Save BIG on
Gusto
- 01 Is Gusto any Good? My expert Review
- 02 Pros and cons from reviewers
- 03 Main features
- 04 How Gusto compare to similar software?
- 05 Who is Gusto best for according to our reviewers?
- 06 Gusto Reviews
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01 Is Gusto any Good? My expert Review
Having spent a lot of time testing various payroll and HR technology systems, I am well aware of the unique journey that each experience brings. After fully experiencing Gusto, I am more than happy to provide my honest opinion on this service. Overall, it has been a delight – Gusto really does take some of the intimidation out of payroll and HR management for small to medium sized businesses.
One thing that stands out to me is the user-friendly design – working with small businesses who may not have any HR representatives, I know that user-friendly is not a nice-to-have – it is a must-have. Just recently, I assisted a startup that didn't have access to administrative resources, and they absolutely loved the employee self-onboarding feature that Gusto offers. It sliced through the typical documentation and paperwork like a hot knife through butter, and the end-users (the job applicants) felt the process was seamless.
Another winner is Gusto's flexibility. A client I worked with recently had a remote operation involving contractors from different countries, and they found the ability for Gusto to facilitate domestic and international payments to be a major bonus. This meant they could find solutions to grow their business instead of collecting random software systems that added extra work to implement.
To be fair, it wasn't all peachy - I remember one client making a mistake in payroll, and when it came time to fix that mistake, they had to delete the entire payroll run. To be honest, this could have been avoided if it was possible to change individual errors. There was also another client I assisted who was providing childcare benefits to their employees, and we ran into slow responses from customer service when needed to resolve any benefit limitations or questions. I felt bad for the delays it created, and we were a bit frustrated because there may have been a path to a solution if customer service had provided the information sooner.
Regardless of a few bumps in the road, I am still very positive about my experience with Gusto. Gusto continually provides payroll processing with reliability, and also has expanded HR tools that help streamline more complex tasks for smaller businesses. If Gusto can improve on a few things – primarily, quicker customer service response times, and flexibility around modifying payroll errors – it could really be an indispensable resource for HR beyond the payroll functions.
02 Pros and cons from reviewers
Pros from reviewers
-
Direct deposit turnaround
Gusto offers a quick turnaround for direct deposits, which is a feature not offered by some competitors -
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 -
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. -
Ease of use
Gusto's interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate and perform tasks
Cons from reviewers
-
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 -
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.
Gusto
All-in-one HR platform
First month free
Save up to $180
03 Main features
Starting Price
Free Plan
Improve payroll payment
Boost performance and skills
Automate tasks
Provide real benefits to your employees
Easily hire new talent
More details about Gusto plans
Starting Price
$49
per month
Free Plan
No
Improve payroll payment
Boost performance and skills
Automate tasks
Provide real benefits to your employees
Easily hire new talent
Gusto
All-in-one HR platform
First month free
Save up to $180
04 How Gusto compare to similar software?
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...
Gusto
Used by 379 members
All-in-one HR platform
First month free
Save up to $180
QuickBooks
Used by 896 members
Optimize your accounting and invoicing management with ease.
30% off for 6 months
Save up to $423
Rippling and Gusto are both leading payroll and HR management solutions, each with its own set of features and advantages tailored to different business needs. One key difference between Rippling and Gusto lies in their approach to payroll and HR management.
Rippling is renowned for its comprehensive, all-in-one platform that integrates payroll, benefits, HR, and IT management into a single system. With Rippling, businesses can automate administrative tasks such as employee onboarding, offboarding, and compliance, streamlining HR processes and reducing manual workload. The platform offers advanced features like real-time syncing across systems, customizable workflows, and built-in compliance checks, making it ideal for businesses seeking a fully integrated solution to manage their entire workforce efficiently.
In contrast, Gusto focuses primarily on simplifying payroll processing and benefits administration for small to medium-sized businesses. While Gusto offers features for managing...
Gusto
Used by 379 members
All-in-one HR platform
First month free
Save up to $180
Rippling
Used by 122 members
Workforce management platform
3 months free
Save up to $2,500
Deel and Gusto are leading platforms in the realm of payroll and HR management, each catering to distinct business needs, which is crucial in understanding their differences.
A primary difference between Deel and Gusto lies in their target markets. Deel is designed primarily for businesses that operate on a global scale, offering services that enable companies to hire, onboard, and manage payroll for employees in over 150 countries. This includes handling local tax laws and compliance issues, which are often significant hurdles for multinational companies. Deel provides a comprehensive solution for managing international workforces, including contractor payments and full-time employee payroll, with features tailored to various country regulations.
On the other hand, Gusto primarily targets small to medium-sized businesses within the United States. It offers a more traditional suite of HR services, including payroll processing, benefits management (like health insurance and retirement...
Gusto
Used by 379 members
All-in-one HR platform
First month free
Save up to $180
Deel
Used by 467 members
Human Resource management software
$1,500 credit on Payroll, HR or IT plans
Save up to $1,500
05 Who is Gusto best for according to our reviewers?
-
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 -
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 -
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. -
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
Gusto
All-in-one HR platform
First month free
Save up to $180
06 Gusto Reviews
Gusto rating
Gusto Reviews
-
Ms. Darin Kemmer
Easy Contractor Payments & Stress-Free 1099s
I run a small agency and Gusto has made contractor payments much easier to manage alongside regular payroll. The separation between employees and contractors is clear, and year-end forms have been much less stressful than with our old setup
May 26, 2026
-
Ricky Gleichner
Simple Yet Robust for a 20‑Person Team
Gusto has been a good fit for our 20-person company because it balances simplicity with enough depth. The benefits side is easier than I expected, and employees like being able to manage their own details instead of sending everything through HR
May 26, 2026
-
Harrison Hirthe
Reliable Direct Deposit & Organized Hiring Docs
We moved from spreadsheets and a local accountant to Gusto, and the direct deposit timing has been reliable. I also like the employee offer letter templates and document storage because it keeps hiring paperwork organized in one system
May 22, 2026
-
Broderick Herman
Manager-Friendly HR Tool
Gusto is one of the few HR tools our managers actually use without complaining. Approving time off, checking team details, and handling basic onboarding tasks feels straightforward. It is not endlessly customizable, but for a growing company that is honestly part of the appeal
May 16, 2026
-
Deidra Weber JD
Pre-Day-One Onboarding & E‑Sign
Gusto has been solid for running payroll and onboarding in one place. I like that new hires can e-sign documents, enter their bank info, and complete their tax forms before day one. The reporting is good enough for a small business, although I still export some data for custom analysis
May 13, 2026
-
Toby Streich
Smooth Multistate Compliance Setup
We came in via Joinsecret and got a free first month, which was helpful since we were comparing a few payroll platforms at the time. After using it, the main win was how easy it became to set up state tax registrations and keep payroll compliant across a couple of states
May 9, 2026
-
Noe Rau
Time-Off Policies That Run Themselves
I signed up through Joinsecret, so not paying for the first month made it easier to test it properly. What convinced me was the onboarding workflow and the way time-off policies plug directly into payroll without much manual work
May 8, 2026
-
Rocco Ortiz
Clean UI + Payroll/Benefits Sync
We found Gusto through Joinsecret and got the first month covered, which was a nice bonus, but the real reason we stayed was how clean the interface is. Benefits administration and payroll sync together better than what we had before, especially for tracking deductions
May 3, 2026
-
Pres. Latoria Braun
Automatic Tax Filing & Compliance Reminders
What I appreciate most is how Gusto handles payroll taxes and filings automatically. We used to double-check every deadline ourselves, and now I mostly just review the payroll summary before submitting. Their reminders for compliance tasks have saved us from a few easy-to-miss mistakes
April 28, 2026
-
Shirley Hansen
Payroll in a Few Clicks
We switched to Gusto when our team hit 12 people, and payroll went from a half-day chore to something I can approve in a few clicks. The employee self-service setup helped a lot too because people can pull their own pay stubs and tax forms without asking me every time
April 26, 2026
Start saving on the best SaaS
Secret has already helped tens of thousands of startups save millions on the best SaaS like Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace & many more. Join Secret now to buy software the smart way.