Payroll Comparison 2026
Gusto vs. the Other Top Payroll Providers
How does Gusto stack up against ADP, QuickBooks, Rippling and the rest? The chart below compares starting price, tax filing, benefits and features side by side. Pick any provider for a full head-to-head breakdown.
| Provider | Starting price | Per employee | Tax filing | Benefits | Best for | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto Editor's pick | $40/mo | $6/employee/mo | Automatic, all 50 states — included | Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HRA | Small businesses that want payroll + HR + benefits in one place | Get $300 offer |
| ADP | Custom quote (~$79/mo) | ~$4/employee/mo | Included on most plans | Add-on, sold separately | Large or fast-scaling companies with complex needs | Gusto vs. ADP |
| QuickBooks Payroll | $50/mo | $6/employee/mo | Included (Core files federal & state) | Health & 401(k) via partners | Businesses already living inside QuickBooks accounting | Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll |
| Rippling | From $8/user/mo | Modular, per-product pricing | Included with payroll module | Full benefits admin (module) | Tech-forward companies wanting IT + HR + payroll in one | Gusto vs. Rippling |
| Paychex | Custom quote (~$39/mo) | ~$5/employee/mo | Included | Full-service (add-on) | Businesses wanting a dedicated payroll specialist | Gusto vs. Paychex |
| Justworks | From $59/employee/mo | $59 (Basic) / $99 (Plus) | Included (PEO model) | Large-group PEO benefits | Startups wanting PEO-level benefits and compliance | Gusto vs. Justworks |
| OnPay | $40/mo | $6/employee/mo | Included, all 50 states | Health & 401(k) integrations | Small businesses wanting simple flat-rate payroll | Gusto vs. OnPay |
| BambooHR | Custom quote | Per-employee, quote-based | Payroll is an add-on | Benefits admin add-on | HR-first teams that need an org/people system | Gusto vs. BambooHR |
| SurePayroll | From ~$20/mo (self-service) | ~$4/employee/mo | Full-service tier files taxes | Limited add-ons | Very small businesses and household employers on a budget | Gusto vs. SurePayroll |
| Square Payroll | $35/mo | $6/employee/mo | Included, all 50 states | Health & retirement via partners | Retail & restaurants already using Square POS | Gusto vs. Square Payroll |
| Paylocity | Custom quote | Quote-based | Included | Full HCM benefits suite | Mid-market companies wanting a full HCM suite | Gusto vs. Paylocity |
| Deel | US payroll from ~$19/employee/mo | Contractors from $49/mo | Included for US payroll | Global benefits & EOR | Companies hiring contractors or employees internationally | Gusto vs. Deel |
Starting prices as of 2026 and gathered from each provider's public pricing. Providers marked "custom quote" do not publish pricing. Always confirm current rates before purchasing.
Why businesses choose Gusto
Gusto bundles full-service payroll, automatic tax filing in all 50 states, and a real benefits marketplace into one transparent price — no sales call required. It's trusted by more than 300,000 businesses and consistently rates as a top payroll platform for small and mid-sized teams. New customers who run payroll through Gusto can also earn a $300 Visa card.