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Most buyers should pick Gusto.
Choose Gusto if you want published payroll pricing and core payroll, HR, and benefits in one package: Simple starts at $49/month plus $6 per person. Choose Paylocity if you want a broader HR, payroll, finance, and IT platform and are willing to request a quote. Paylocity's pricing, seat limits, and add-on costs are not published on the vendor's site. Neither product lists a free plan. For a price-led switch, Gusto is easier to evaluate; compare support terms before signing.
01Side by side
| Gusto | Paylocity | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/month + $6 per person | Quote-based; price not published |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | No free plan listed |
| Best for | Payroll, HR, and benefits with published plans | Employers seeking broader HR, finance, and IT |
| Core strength | Payroll, tax filing, and benefits | Unified HR, payroll, finance, and IT |
| Learning curve | Ease-of-use review score: 7/10 | Ease-of-use review score: 6/10 |
| Integrations/data | Integration details not published | Integration details not published |
| Team/seat costs | Per-person fees published by plan | Seat limits and costs not published |
| Support | Support review score: 4/10 | Support review score: 4.5/10 |
Gusto Choose Gusto if
- Choose Gusto if you want published plan prices before requesting a quote.
- Choose Gusto if you need payroll, tax filing, and benefits together.
- Choose Gusto if per-person plan pricing works for your team.
Paylocity Choose Paylocity if
- Choose Paylocity if you want HR, payroll, finance, and IT in one platform.
- Choose Paylocity if custom modules fit how your organization buys software.
- Choose Paylocity if you are ready to request a detailed quote.
02Pricing compared
Gusto is easier to price before you switch: the pricing page lists Simple at $49 per month plus $6 per person, with month-to-month billing and cancellation anytime. Plus is $80 plus $12 per person monthly, and Premium is $180 plus $22 per person monthly. The plans add features such as multi-state payroll, time tracking, HR guidance, and compliance support. Gusto Solo has no published price.
Paylocity pricing is quote-based. The published pricing information does not list a starting price, seat or usage limits, billing terms, or add-on costs, so request a detailed quote to compare total cost. Neither product lists a free plan. Gusto’s published starting rate makes it simpler to estimate, but per-person charges and add-ons can change the bill.
03Features and depth
Gusto combines payroll, HR, and benefits tools. Its listed features include automated payroll and tax filings, time tracking synced to payroll, hiring and onboarding, employee benefits, compliance support, and contractor management. Plan depth matters: Simple is positioned for basic payroll in one state, while Plus adds multi-state payroll, time tracking, and contractor invoice management. Premium adds HR guidance and compliance tools.
Paylocity’s listed scope is broader across departments: its platform covers HR, payroll, finance, and IT, with spend management, asset management, access control, a mobile app, and analytics. Its modules are customizable, but the published information does not state seat or usage limits or identify which capabilities are included in a specific quote. Choose Gusto for a defined payroll-and-HR package; consider Paylocity if bringing finance or IT into the same platform matters, then confirm module coverage and costs in writing.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Our review scores give Gusto 7/10 for ease of use and Paylocity 6/10. Those scores favor Gusto, but they are not a substitute for checking how each system fits your workflows. Gusto’s plans and per-person rates are published, which makes the initial comparison more straightforward. Its plan differences still matter, especially if you need multi-state payroll, time tracking, or HR guidance.
Paylocity’s modular scope may take more evaluation: pricing, included modules, and seat limits are not published on the vendor's site. Ask for a walkthrough tied to your needs, plus a written breakdown of implementation, support, and ongoing charges before deciding.
Questions people ask
What are some companies similar to Paylocity?
Gusto overlaps with Paylocity on payroll and HR, and also lists hiring, benefits, and contractor management. The published information describes Paylocity as extending into finance and IT, including spend and asset management. Compare the specific modules you need rather than assuming the products cover the same ground.
Is Gusto a good payroll service?
Gusto lists payroll automation, tax filings and payments, and plans for single-state and multi-state payroll. The published review gives it 8/10 for features and 6.3/10 overall, while noting that per-person pricing and support complaints temper the case. Check plan costs and support terms against your needs.
Is Gusto cheaper than ADP?
We can’t establish that from the published pricing information: it gives Gusto’s rates but includes no ADP pricing. Gusto Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person, according to its pricing page. Compare an ADP quote with Gusto’s full per-person and add-on costs before switching.
Are Paychex and Paylocity the same company?
The published materials do not establish whether Paychex and Paylocity are the same company, so we can’t verify that claim here. They describe Paylocity’s HR, payroll, finance, and IT platform, but include no information about Paychex or the companies’ relationship.