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It's a split decision.
Choose Employee Navigator when broker-led benefits administration, ACA reporting, and benefits integrations matter more than a published price. Its plan prices are not published, so get a quote before comparing total cost. Choose Gusto when you want payroll, HR, and benefits under one vendor with visible month-to-month pricing: Simple starts at $49/month plus $6 per person. Neither lists a free plan. Gusto is easier to budget; Employee Navigator is the closer fit for benefits-first broker workflows.
01Side by side
| Employee Navigator | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Not published; contact sales | $49/month + $6/person/month |
| Free plan | No free plan | No free plan |
| Best for | Broker-led benefits administration | Payroll-led HR for businesses |
| Core strength | Benefits administration and ACA reporting | Payroll automation and tax filings |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations and data | Homepage says more than 600 integrations | Integration count not published |
| Team and seat costs | Per-employee pricing not published | $6–$22/person/month by plan |
| Support | Priority phone support on Platinum; fees may apply | Premium support included; priority support costs extra |
Employee Navigator Choose Employee Navigator if
- Choose Employee Navigator if broker-led benefits administration is central.
- Choose Employee Navigator if ACA reporting is a priority.
- Choose Employee Navigator if its listed integrations fit your stack.
Gusto Choose Gusto if
- Choose Gusto if you want published monthly payroll pricing.
- Choose Gusto if payroll, tax filings, and HR belong together.
- Choose Gusto if per-person plan costs fit your budget.
02Pricing compared
Employee Navigator does not publish monthly or annual plan prices; its pricing page directs buyers to contact sales. Its tiers are aimed at brokers: Enhanced includes online enrollment and ACA reporting, while higher tiers add EDI, third-party apps, onboarding, PTO tracking, or priority support. The 834 EDI feed costs $0.45 PEPM on Enhanced Plus and Elite, is free on Platinum, and is unavailable on Enhanced. Fees for 1095/1094 reporting and email or phone support are not published.
Gusto lists month-to-month prices: Simple is $49/month plus $6 per person, Plus is $80 plus $12 per person, and Premium is $180 plus $22 per person. Annual rates are not shown. Neither product lists a free plan. Get an Employee Navigator quote and compare it with Gusto’s per-person charges and add-ons before weighing total cost.
03Features and depth
Employee Navigator is the more benefits-first option in this comparison. Its tiers cover online enrollment, carrier, payroll and TPA integrations, ACA reporting, and—in higher tiers—834 EDI, third-party apps, onboarding, and PTO tracking. Its homepage says the platform has more than 600 integrations. Payroll is described as integrations, not as a payroll engine in the published feature list.
Gusto puts payroll at the center: it automates payroll and tax filings, with AutoPilot payroll runs, and adds benefits, HR, hiring, contractor management, and time tracking that syncs team hours to payroll. Simple is for basic payroll in one state; Plus adds multi-state payroll, time tracking, scheduling, and contractor invoice management. Premium adds HR guidance and compliance tools. Gusto is broader for payroll and workforce operations; Employee Navigator is more directly aligned with broker-led enrollment and benefits administration.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Both products have a 7/10 ease-of-use score in the published reviews, so the available ratings do not separate them. The practical difference is what you need to learn and price. Employee Navigator’s tiers are framed for brokers and vary by benefits, EDI, onboarding, and support needs; prices are not published, so buyers need a quote to understand the fit and cost.
Gusto publishes monthly plan prices and packages payroll with HR and benefits, but per-person fees rise by tier, and some services carry separate charges. That makes initial budgeting clearer, not necessarily the final bill. For broker-led benefits administration, assess the relevant Employee Navigator tier and add-ons. If payroll is the core job, compare Gusto’s plan details and per-person charges against your headcount and state needs.
Questions people ask
What is Gusto payroll?
Gusto is payroll, HR, and benefits software for businesses. Its payroll features include automated payroll and tax filings, plus AutoPilot payroll runs. Its plans also cover tools such as time tracking, hiring, and benefits, with features and per-person pricing varying by tier.
Does Employee Navigator have an app?
The published Employee Navigator information does not confirm whether it has a mobile app. It describes online benefits administration, HR, ACA reporting, payroll integrations, onboarding, and time-off tracking, but does not specify app availability.
Who are Gusto’s main competitors?
The published information does not list Gusto’s main competitors, so we can’t name them reliably here. In this comparison, Employee Navigator is the alternative: it is positioned more around broker-led benefits administration, while Gusto centers on payroll, HR, and benefits.
Is ease the same as Employee Navigator?
The published reviews give both Gusto and Employee Navigator an ease-of-use score of 7/10. That does not mean their workflows are alike: Employee Navigator is organized around broker-led benefits administration, while Gusto combines payroll with HR and benefits.