We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
The bottom line
Gusto covers payroll and HR well, but per-person pricing and support complaints temper the case for switching.
Gusto combines payroll, tax filings, time tracking, hiring, benefits and compliance tools. The pricing page lists Simple at $49/month plus $6 per person for basic payroll in one state; Plus starts at $80 plus $12 per person, and Premium at $180 plus $22 per person. Annual plan rates are not published.
The breadth is useful, but extras can add to the bill, and Reddit users report frustrating support and unresolved tax or payment issues. Those are individual accounts, not proof of a universal problem, but they make support a real consideration before switching.
Good fit if
- Small teams running payroll in one state
- Businesses adding time tracking to payroll
- Teams wanting payroll and HR tools together
Skip it if
- Businesses needing published annual pricing
- Teams seeking low per-person costs
- Buyers who need confidence in support
ScoresHow it rates
What works
- Unlimited payrolls per month on Simple
- Tax filings and payments included on Simple
- Plus adds time tracking and scheduling
- Supports employee and contractor payments
- Benefits include health, dental, vision and 401(k)
What doesn't
- Simple costs $49/month plus $6 per person
- Annual plan prices are not published
- Simple is for payroll in one state
- Several tools and services cost extra
- Reddit users report support and tax-service problems
01What Gusto actually does
Gusto combines payroll, HR, and benefits tools for businesses. It can run payroll, file payroll taxes, manage employee onboarding, and help administer benefits. The product also covers hiring, time tracking, schedules, PTO, contractor payments, and compliance support.
The plan choice matters. Simple is positioned for basic payroll in one state. Plus adds time tracking, scheduling, multi-state payroll, and contractor invoice management. Premium adds HR guidance, premium support, and Gusto Business Compliance. Gusto Solo is listed for S corp owners paying themselves, but its price is not published.
According to the pricing page, plans are month-to-month and cancellable anytime. Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person per month; Plus is $80 plus $12 per person; Premium is $180 plus $22 per person. That makes the headline base price a poor estimate of the actual bill once employees are included.
02Where Gusto is strong
Gusto puts payroll and adjacent HR tasks in one product, which can reduce the number of separate tools a small business has to manage. The listed features cover payroll runs, tax filings and payments, time and PTO tracking, hiring, onboarding, benefits, and contractor management. AutoPilot can automate payroll runs, while team time can sync to payroll.
The plan ladder gives businesses a way to add capabilities as needs change:
- Simple includes unlimited payrolls per month, tax filings and payments, and basic PTO and holiday pay.
- Plus adds time tracking and scheduling, multi-state payroll, contractor invoice management, and unlimited next-day pay.
- Premium adds HR guidance and tools, Gusto Business Compliance, premium account support, and unlimited same-day and instant pay. It also includes 25 invoice payments and bank transfers.
Benefits are another useful part of the package. Gusto lists health, dental, vision, and 401(k) options. The pricing page says health insurance carries premiums but no Gusto administration fee, and life and disability coverage also has no administration fee. That does not mean benefits are free: employees or employers still pay the relevant premiums.
03Where it falls short
Per-person charges can make Gusto substantially more expensive than the base prices suggest. Simple is $49 per month plus $6 per person; Plus is $80 plus $12 per person; Premium is $180 plus $22 per person. U.S. contractors are billed at the plan’s per-person rate in months they are paid. Annual plan rates are not published.
Some useful features cost extra. Next-Day pay is $15 per month plus $3 per person unless included with Plus or Premium. Time & Attendance Plus is $6 per person per month after a free trial. Gusto Business Compliance is $85 per month per state on an annual contract unless included with Premium. State tax registration pricing varies, and the price for Gusto HR Partners is not published.
Support is a concern in user discussions, not a settled measure of service quality. Reddit users describe communication problems, delayed help with a tax issue, and trouble getting a resolution after a returned payment. Those accounts are anecdotal, but they matter when payroll or tax deadlines are involved. We would compare support terms and the full per-person bill before switching.
04Gusto pricing: what you'll actually pay
Gusto’s listed monthly base prices are $49 for Simple, $80 for Plus and $180 for Premium, each plus a per-person fee: $6, $12 or $22 per month, respectively. That makes the move from Simple to Plus a $31 higher base fee and $6 more per person; Premium adds another $100 to the base and $10 per person over Plus. The pricing page shows monthly rates, not annual prices, and says plans are month-to-month and cancellable anytime.
Simple covers basic payroll in one state. Plus adds time tracking, scheduling and multi-state payroll; Premium adds HR guidance and compliance tools. Some extras cost more: Priority Support is $30/month plus $3 per person, and Business Compliance is $85/month per state on an annual contract unless you have Premium. Next-day pay costs $15/month plus $3 per person outside Plus and Premium. Health insurance has no Gusto administration fee, but premiums still apply. Gusto Solo pricing is not published, and U.S. contractors are billed at the plan’s per-person rate in months they’re paid.
05Switching to (or from) Gusto
The published pricing and product information does not say how long migration takes, which payroll records Gusto imports, or what data you can export if you leave. Before switching, ask Gusto for its current import and export documentation, then confirm which employee, tax, benefits and time-tracking records are included. Also check how it handles your first payroll and any outstanding filings; the published materials do not specify those transition steps.
Switching plans may be simpler than switching providers, but the monthly price can rise as your team grows or you add states: the listed per-person fee doubles from Simple to Plus and rises again on Premium. The review verdict flags support complaints as a reason for caution, but no Reddit posts or comments were included here, so we can’t responsibly say what users reported or how common those complaints are. Get support expectations and a data-exit process in writing before moving payroll.
From the threadsWhat users say
The Gusto-specific Reddit posts show mixed-to-negative experiences: one long-time customer says the service had been good before recent support changes, while others describe unresolved tax, payment, and benefits problems. These are individual reports, not proof of how often those problems occur.
It has been good - until the past couple of months
They moved their customer service overseas. BAD move, BAD results
Gusto is demanding we wire the funds in advance
A time-sensitive, penalty-accruing tax issue has languished in Gusto's queue without being assigned to a human for more than a month
Questions people ask
Is Gusto a trustworthy company?
The published sources do not establish Gusto’s overall trustworthiness. The Reddit posts include one customer who says Gusto had been good for years, alongside reports of support, payment, tax, and benefits problems. Treat those as individual experiences, not a measure of how often issues happen; review Gusto’s terms and support options before choosing it.
Can I trust Gusto with my SSN?
The provided product and Reddit sources do not describe Gusto’s SSN security practices, data handling, or breach history, so we can’t verify how it protects that information. Before entering an SSN, check Gusto’s current privacy and security documentation and ask the company what data it collects, how it protects it, and how long it retains it.
How much does Gusto cost per month?
According to the published pricing information, Simple costs $49 per month plus $6 per person; Plus costs $80 plus $12 per person; and Premium costs $180 plus $22 per person. These are monthly prices, and plans are month-to-month. Gusto Solo pricing is not published. Add-ons and benefits may cost extra.
What should I weigh before choosing Gusto?
Consider whether the plan covers your payroll and HR needs, and whether its per-person cost fits your team. The Reddit threads we read raise concerns about customer service, a payment hold after a returned payment, an unresolved tax issue, and an unsuitable health plan. They are anecdotal, but worth discussing with Gusto before switching.
What does Gusto include?
Gusto offers payroll, tax filings, HR tools, hiring and onboarding, time tracking, benefits, and contractor management. The listed plan details vary: Simple includes basic payroll in one state, Plus adds time tracking and multi-state payroll, and Premium adds HR guidance and compliance tools. Check the plan and add-on prices for features your business needs.