Remote Work · 10 min read

Gusto review: Pricing, pros, cons & 2026 verdict

By Miguel Vance · Lab Score: 9.2/10

Gusto

★ 4.6/5.0 • From $46/mo

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⚡ Bottom Line Verdict (9.2/10)

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.

✓ Where Gusto shines

• 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

− Where Gusto falls short

• 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

⚡ 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

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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

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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

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⚠️

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.

Hands-on review of Gusto

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.

Gusto pricing & hidden costs

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.