What is the cost of using Gusto payroll?
Gusto payroll uses transparent, published pricing: a flat monthly base fee plus a per-person fee. There are no setup fees, and automatic tax filing is included on every paid plan. Here is what Gusto costs in 2026.
Gusto plans and pricing
- Simple — about $40/month + $6 per employee. Full-service single-state payroll, automatic tax filing, direct deposit, employee self-service, and basic benefits administration.
- Plus — about $80/month + $12 per employee. Adds multi-state payroll, next-day direct deposit, time tracking, and hiring and team-management tools.
- Premium — custom pricing with dedicated support, HR resources, and compliance help for larger teams.
- Contractor-only — a low base fee plus a per-contractor fee for businesses that only pay 1099 contractors.
How much does Gusto cost per month?
For a team of 5 employees on Simple, that is $40 + (5 × $6) = $70/month. On Plus, the same team is $80 + (5 × $12) = $140/month. Contractor-only businesses pay much less because there is no full-employee fee.
What is included in the price
Unlike providers that charge add-ons for the basics, every paid Gusto plan includes automatic federal, state, and local tax filing, unlimited payroll runs, direct deposit, and year-end W-2s and 1099s at no extra cost. You pay for the plan, not for each feature.
How to lower your Gusto cost
New customers can earn a $300 Visa card (up to $600 for teams of 10+) for running their first payroll, which offsets several months of the base fee. For a full breakdown see our Gusto pricing guide, estimate take-home pay with the payroll calculator, or compare Gusto's price on the payroll comparison chart.