Payroll Comparison 2026
Gusto vs. Deel
Deel is built for global hiring — paying international contractors and employing people abroad through its EOR service. If your team spans countries, Deel is hard to beat. But for a US-only small business, that global machinery is overkill and pricier per head. Gusto is the better choice for domestic payroll, benefits, and HR.
| Feature | Gusto | Deel |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $40/mo | US payroll from ~$19/employee/mo |
| Per employee | $6/employee/mo | Contractors from $49/mo |
| Contractor payroll | $35/mo + $6/contractor | $49/contractor/mo |
| Payroll tax filing | Automatic, all 50 states — included | Included for US payroll |
| Benefits administration | Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HRA | Global benefits & EOR |
| Time tracking | Built in (Plus & Premium) | Built in |
| Intro offer | First month free + $300 offer | Demo-based |
| Support | Phone, email, chat | 24/7 in-app |
| Best for | Small businesses that want payroll + HR + benefits in one place | Companies hiring contractors or employees internationally |
Pricing as of 2026 from each provider's public pricing pages. Confirm current rates before purchasing.
Where Gusto wins
- Lower cost for US-only teams
- Deeper US benefits marketplace
- Simpler for a domestic small business
Where Deel wins
- Best-in-class for international contractors and EOR
- Pays teams in 150+ countries
The bottom line
For most small and mid-sized businesses, Gusto offers the best balance of transparent pricing, built-in benefits, and automatic tax filing — and new customers can earn a $300 Visa card for running payroll. Choose Deel if companies hiring contractors or employees internationally.