Payroll Comparison 2026
Gusto vs. Square Payroll
Square Payroll is a great fit if you already run Square for point-of-sale — timecards flow straight from the register into payroll. Outside the Square ecosystem, its HR and benefits tooling is lighter than Gusto's. For businesses that aren't tied to Square hardware, Gusto is the more complete payroll and HR platform.
| Feature | Gusto | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $40/mo | $35/mo |
| Per employee | $6/employee/mo | $6/employee/mo |
| Contractor payroll | $35/mo + $6/contractor | $6/contractor, no base fee |
| Payroll tax filing | Automatic, all 50 states — included | Included, all 50 states |
| Benefits administration | Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HRA | Health & retirement via partners |
| Time tracking | Built in (Plus & Premium) | Built in (syncs with Square POS) |
| Intro offer | First month free + $300 offer | Varies |
| Support | Phone, email, chat | Phone & email (business hours) |
| Best for | Small businesses that want payroll + HR + benefits in one place | Retail & restaurants already using Square POS |
Pricing as of 2026 from each provider's public pricing pages. Confirm current rates before purchasing.
Where Gusto wins
- Deeper benefits and HR tooling
- Not locked to one POS ecosystem
- Stronger onboarding and compliance features
Where Square Payroll wins
- Seamless if you already use Square POS
- Great contractor-only pricing ($6/person, no base)
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 Square Payroll if retail & restaurants already using square pos.