Payroll Comparison 2026
Gusto vs. OnPay
OnPay matches Gusto almost dollar-for-dollar on price and is a genuinely good, no-frills payroll option. The difference is depth: Gusto offers built-in time tracking, a broader benefits marketplace, HRAs, and a more polished onboarding flow. If you want room to grow into HR features, Gusto has more headroom.
| Feature | Gusto | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $40/mo | $40/mo |
| Per employee | $6/employee/mo | $6/employee/mo |
| Contractor payroll | $35/mo + $6/contractor | Same $6/person, no separate plan |
| Payroll tax filing | Automatic, all 50 states — included | Included, all 50 states |
| Benefits administration | Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HRA | Health & 401(k) integrations |
| Time tracking | Built in (Plus & Premium) | Integrations only |
| Intro offer | First month free + $300 offer | First month free (varies) |
| Support | Phone, email, chat | Phone, email, chat (business hours) |
| Best for | Small businesses that want payroll + HR + benefits in one place | Small businesses wanting simple flat-rate payroll |
Pricing as of 2026 from each provider's public pricing pages. Confirm current rates before purchasing.
Where Gusto wins
- Built-in time tracking (OnPay relies on integrations)
- Broader benefits and HR feature set
- $300 new-customer offer through this site
Where OnPay wins
- Very similar flat-rate pricing
- Simple, single-plan structure
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 OnPay if small businesses wanting simple flat-rate payroll.