Gusto is one of the most popular payroll and HR platforms for small and mid-sized businesses in the US. It bundles payroll processing, tax filings, benefits administration, and HR tools into a single subscription — making it a compelling alternative to piecing together multiple tools.
But Gusto’s pricing structure can be confusing. There’s a base fee, a per-employee fee, optional add-ons, and a contractor-only plan. Depending on your headcount and the features you need, your actual monthly bill can vary significantly from what you see advertised.
This guide breaks down every Gusto pricing plan for 2026 — Simple, Plus, Premium, and Contractor-Only — including what’s included, what’s not, and how it stacks up against competitors. If you’re evaluating Gusto for your business, this is the complete picture.
Gusto Pricing Plans at a Glance
Gusto offers three main subscription tiers for businesses with W-2 employees, plus a separate plan for businesses that only pay contractors. Here’s how the plans compare:
| Plan | Base Price | Per Employee/Month | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | $40/mo | $6/employee | Small teams needing basic payroll |
| Plus | $80/mo | $12/employee | Growing teams needing HR tools |
| Premium | Custom pricing | Custom | Larger businesses with complex needs |
| Contractor Only | $35/mo | $6/contractor | Businesses paying only 1099 contractors |
For example, a 10-person team on the Simple plan would pay $40 + (10 × $6) = $100/month. On Plus, that same team pays $80 + (10 × $12) = $200/month. The per-employee fee makes headcount the biggest driver of your Gusto bill.
Gusto Simple Plan
The Simple plan is Gusto’s entry-level offering, priced at $40/month base + $6 per employee per month. It’s designed for small businesses that need reliable payroll without a lot of HR complexity.
What’s Included in Simple
- Full-service payroll (automatic tax filing and payments — federal, state, and local)
- Unlimited payroll runs
- W-2 and 1099 form filing at year-end
- Employee self-service portal (view pay stubs, tax documents, update info)
- New hire reporting
- Basic HR support via Gusto’s team
- PTO tracking (basic)
- Health benefits administration (if you purchase benefits through Gusto)
- Workers’ comp administration (via partner)
- Two-day direct deposit (four-day for some new accounts)
Limitations of Simple
The Simple plan covers payroll well, but it’s notably limited on HR tools. You don’t get access to Gusto’s time tracking, advanced PTO management, performance reviews, workforce planning, or HR advisory services. If you want those features, you’ll need to upgrade to Plus.
Simple also doesn’t include next-day direct deposit — that’s reserved for higher tiers. For most small businesses with straightforward payroll needs, Simple is sufficient. But if you’re growing quickly or managing complex schedules, you’ll likely hit its ceiling.
Gusto Plus Plan
The Plus plan costs $80/month base + $12 per employee per month. It builds on Simple with a meaningful set of HR tools aimed at businesses that are scaling and need more than just payroll.
What’s Added in Plus
- Everything in Simple, plus:
- Next-day direct deposit
- Time tracking (built-in, including time-off requests and approvals)
- Advanced PTO management and policies
- Team management tools
- HR resource center (templates, guides, compliance tools)
- Workforce costing and reporting
- Performance reviews
- Employee surveys and engagement tools
- Access to certified HR professionals (HR advisory)
- Onboarding tools (offer letters, e-signatures, document management)
- Custom admin permissions
The jump from $6 to $12 per employee doubles your per-head cost, but Plus delivers a substantially more capable HR platform. For a 15-person team, that’s the difference between $130/month (Simple) and $260/month (Plus) — a $130 premium for the full HR suite.
Plus makes the most sense for businesses that are actively hiring, managing complex PTO policies, or needing performance management tools but aren’t ready to invest in a dedicated HRIS.
Gusto Premium Plan
Gusto Premium is their enterprise-tier offering with custom pricing — you’ll need to contact Gusto’s sales team for a quote. It’s generally aimed at businesses with 25+ employees or those with more complex compliance, benefits, or HR needs.
What’s Included in Premium
- Everything in Plus, plus:
- Dedicated customer success manager
- Priority support and faster response times
- Full HR advisory services (access to certified HR pros for strategic guidance)
- Advanced compliance support
- Custom reporting and analytics
- Applicant tracking system (ATS) for recruiting
- Compensation benchmarking tools
- Enhanced onboarding and offboarding workflows
- Payroll migration assistance
Who Needs Premium?
Premium is for businesses that need a dedicated point of contact at Gusto, proactive compliance guidance, and more robust recruiting and reporting capabilities. If you’re in a regulated industry, managing multi-state payroll at scale, or want a hands-on relationship with your payroll provider, Premium may justify the cost. For most small businesses, the Simple or Plus plans will cover their needs.
Gusto Contractor-Only Plan
If your business pays only independent contractors (no W-2 employees), Gusto offers a dedicated Contractor-Only plan at $35/month base + $6 per contractor per month.
What’s Included
- Unlimited contractor payments (domestic)
- 1099-NEC filing at year-end
- Contractor self-service portal
- Reimbursements
- Basic reporting
International contractor payments are available as an add-on (pricing varies by country). The Contractor-Only plan is a solid, affordable option for agencies, consultancies, or early-stage startups working entirely with freelancers. However, if you ever bring on W-2 employees, you’ll need to upgrade to one of the main plans.
Gusto Add-On Costs
Beyond your base subscription, Gusto charges separately for several optional services. These add-ons can significantly increase your total cost depending on which ones you need.
Health Benefits Administration
Gusto partners with major insurance carriers to offer medical, dental, and vision benefits. Gusto’s platform fee for benefits administration is included in your plan — but the actual insurance premiums are separate and depend on your carrier, plan selection, employee ages, and location. Gusto is only available as a benefits broker in select states, so check availability first.
401(k) Retirement Plans
Gusto partners with Guideline to offer 401(k) plans. Pricing starts at around $49/month + $8 per employee per month through Guideline (billed separately from your Gusto subscription). Setup and administration are handled within Gusto’s dashboard.
Workers’ Compensation
Gusto offers pay-as-you-go workers’ comp through a partner (AP Intego). Premiums vary based on your industry, state, and payroll — there’s no fixed monthly fee from Gusto, but the insurance premium itself is an ongoing cost billed separately.
Time Tracking
Built-in time tracking is included in the Plus and Premium plans. On the Simple plan, you can integrate with third-party tools like TSheets (QuickBooks Time) or Deputy, though those carry their own costs.
International Contractor Payments
Paying international contractors requires Gusto Global, which starts at $599/month per international contractor for full-service global employment (EOR). For simpler international contractor-only payments, pricing is lower — contact Gusto for current rates.
State Tax Registration
If you’re expanding into a new state and need Gusto to register your business for payroll tax purposes, Gusto charges a one-time fee (typically around $150 per state) to handle the registration on your behalf.
Is Gusto Worth the Price?
Gusto’s value depends heavily on your team size and which plan you’re on. Here’s an honest look at the pros and cons at each tier.
Simple Plan: Good Value for Small Teams
Pros: Clean interface, reliable payroll, solid tax automation, strong employee self-service. At $40 + $6/employee, it’s competitive for teams under 10 people.
Cons: Limited HR tools, no built-in time tracking, two-day deposit lag. If you’re growing fast, you’ll outgrow Simple quickly.
Plus Plan: Strong Mid-Market Option
Pros: Comprehensive HR tools, time tracking, performance reviews, and HR advisory all bundled. For teams of 10–30, Plus can replace multiple standalone tools.
Cons: The per-employee cost adds up fast. A 25-person team pays $380/month on Plus — meaningful for a small business. Some HR features (like performance reviews) are less robust than dedicated HRIS tools like Lattice or 15Five.
Premium Plan: Only If You Need the Hands-On Support
Pros: Dedicated CSM, priority support, advanced compliance guidance, and recruiting tools make Premium compelling for fast-growing companies.
Cons: Custom pricing means you can’t easily compare costs. Businesses with 50+ employees may find dedicated enterprise HRIS platforms more cost-effective.
Gusto vs Competitors on Price
How does Gusto’s pricing compare to the other major payroll platforms? Here’s a quick side-by-side for a 10-person team on an entry-level plan:
| Platform | Base Fee | Per Employee/Month | Est. Monthly Cost (10 employees) | Notable Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto Simple | $40 | $6 | $100 | Best UI, strong SMB focus |
| OnPay | $40 | $6 | $100 | Similar pricing, more states for benefits |
| QuickBooks Payroll Core | $45 | $6 | $105 | Deep QuickBooks integration |
| ADP Run Essentials | Custom | Custom | ~$130–$180 (est.) | More robust compliance, higher cost |
| Paychex Flex | Custom | Custom | ~$150–$200 (est.) | Enterprise-grade, complex pricing |
Gusto is competitively priced against OnPay and QuickBooks Payroll at the entry level. ADP and Paychex tend to cost more but offer stronger compliance support and dedicated payroll specialists — worth it for businesses in complex regulatory environments. For most small businesses, Gusto Simple or Plus delivers a better experience per dollar than legacy providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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“},{“id”:”faq-2″,”title”:”Does Gusto charge per payroll run?”,”content”:”No. Gusto does not charge per payroll run. All plans include unlimited payroll runs as part of the monthly subscription. This is a notable advantage over some legacy payroll providers that charge per run.
“},{“id”:”faq-3″,”title”:”Is there a Gusto free trial?”,”content”:”Gusto does not currently offer a free trial in the traditional sense. However, they occasionally run promotional periods for new accounts. You can request a demo and speak with their sales team to understand pricing before committing.
“},{“id”:”faq-4″,”title”:”What is the cheapest Gusto plan?”,”content”:”The cheapest Gusto plan for businesses with W-2 employees is the Simple plan at $40/month + $6 per employee per month. For businesses paying only contractors, the Contractor-Only plan starts at $35/month + $6 per contractor — making it the lowest-cost entry point overall.
“}]} –>How much does Gusto cost per month?
Gusto starts at $40/month base plus $6 per employee per month on the Simple plan. A 10-person team pays $100/month. The Plus plan starts at $80/month base plus $12 per employee — $200/month for 10 employees. Premium pricing is custom.
Does Gusto charge per payroll run?
No. Gusto does not charge per payroll run. All plans include unlimited payroll runs as part of the monthly subscription. This is a notable advantage over some legacy payroll providers that charge per run.
Is there a Gusto free trial?
Gusto does not currently offer a free trial in the traditional sense. However, they occasionally run promotional periods for new accounts. You can request a demo and speak with their sales team to understand pricing before committing.
What is the cheapest Gusto plan?
The cheapest Gusto plan for businesses with W-2 employees is the Simple plan at $40/month + $6 per employee per month. For businesses paying only contractors, the Contractor-Only plan starts at $35/month + $6 per contractor — making it the lowest-cost entry point overall.
Related Payroll Resources
If you’re still evaluating payroll options or want to dig deeper into comparisons, these guides cover the key decisions:
- Best Payroll Software in 2026 — our top-rated picks across all business sizes
- Best Gusto Alternatives — the strongest Gusto competitors worth considering
- Gusto vs ADP — a detailed head-to-head comparison on features, pricing, and support
- Rippling vs Gusto — how they compare on HR, IT, and payroll features
- Best Payroll Software for Small Business — the best options specifically for teams under 25 employees
Pricing data verified as of April 2026. Gusto pricing may change — visit gusto.com/pricing for the most current rates.
