Payroll Comparison 2026
Gusto vs. Paylocity
Paylocity is a full human-capital-management platform aimed at mid-sized employers, with strong reporting, engagement, and workforce tools. It's more than most small businesses need, and pricing requires a sales quote. Gusto covers the payroll, benefits, and HR essentials small teams actually use, with pricing you can see up front.
| Feature | Gusto | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $40/mo | Custom quote |
| Per employee | $6/employee/mo | Quote-based |
| Contractor payroll | $35/mo + $6/contractor | Custom quote |
| Payroll tax filing | Automatic, all 50 states — included | Included |
| Benefits administration | Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HRA | Full HCM benefits suite |
| Time tracking | Built in (Plus & Premium) | Included module |
| Intro offer | First month free + $300 offer | Demo-based |
| Support | Phone, email, chat | Assigned account team |
| Best for | Small businesses that want payroll + HR + benefits in one place | Mid-market companies wanting a full HCM suite |
Pricing as of 2026 from each provider's public pricing pages. Confirm current rates before purchasing.
Where Gusto wins
- Right-sized and priced for small businesses
- No sales quote to get started
- Faster, self-serve setup
Where Paylocity wins
- Enterprise-grade HCM, reporting, and engagement tools
- Better for 100+ employee organizations
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 Paylocity if mid-market companies wanting a full hcm suite.