Payroll Comparison 2026
Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll
QuickBooks Payroll is the natural pick if you already run QuickBooks Online — the two sync tightly. But its benefits and HR tools are thinner than Gusto's, time tracking costs extra, and non-QuickBooks users get little advantage. Gusto is the stronger standalone payroll and HR platform.
| Feature | Gusto | QuickBooks Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $40/mo | $50/mo |
| Per employee | $6/employee/mo | $6/employee/mo |
| Contractor payroll | $35/mo + $6/contractor | Contractor payments add-on |
| Payroll tax filing | Automatic, all 50 states — included | Included (Core files federal & state) |
| Benefits administration | Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HRA | Health & 401(k) via partners |
| Time tracking | Built in (Plus & Premium) | QuickBooks Time (add-on) |
| Intro offer | First month free + $300 offer | 30 days or 50% off 3 months |
| Support | Phone, email, chat | Phone & chat (24/7 on Elite) |
| Best for | Small businesses that want payroll + HR + benefits in one place | Businesses already living inside QuickBooks accounting |
Pricing as of 2026 from each provider's public pricing pages. Confirm current rates before purchasing.
Where Gusto wins
- Built-in time tracking at no extra cost on Plus
- Deeper benefits and HR tooling
- Cleaner onboarding for teams new to payroll
Where QuickBooks Payroll wins
- Seamless sync if your books already live in QuickBooks
- One vendor for accounting + payroll
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 QuickBooks Payroll if businesses already living inside quickbooks accounting.