# Gusto vs. SurePayroll — 2026 Payroll Comparison

> Source: https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs/surepayroll
> Independent Gusto referral site. Pricing as of 2026 from each provider's public pricing pages — confirm current rates before purchasing.

SurePayroll is a budget-friendly option, especially its self-service tier and household-employer (nanny) payroll. But the cheapest plan makes you handle tax filing yourself, and benefits and HR tooling are minimal. Gusto costs a little more but includes automatic tax filing and a real benefits marketplace at every tier.

## Feature comparison

| Feature | Gusto | SurePayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $40/mo | From ~$20/mo (self-service) |
| Per employee | $6/employee/mo | ~$4/employee/mo |
| Contractor payroll | $35/mo + $6/contractor | Supported |
| Payroll tax filing | Automatic, all 50 states — included | Full-service tier files taxes |
| Benefits administration | Health, dental, vision, 401(k), HRA | Limited add-ons |
| Time tracking | Built in (Plus & Premium) | Integrations |
| Intro offer | First month free + $300 offer | 6 months half-price promos (varies) |
| Support | Phone, email, chat | Phone & chat (US-based) |
| Best for | Small businesses that want payroll + HR + benefits in one place | Very small businesses and household employers on a budget |

## Where Gusto wins

- Automatic tax filing included at the base tier
- Real benefits marketplace and HR tools
- More modern employee self-service experience

## Where SurePayroll wins

- Lower entry price on the self-service plan
- Strong niche for household/nanny payroll

## The bottom line

SurePayroll competes on price, especially its self-service tier and niche household-employer payroll. The catch is that the cheapest plan leaves tax filing to you and keeps benefits thin. Gusto costs a little more but includes automatic filing and a real benefits marketplace at every tier.

New customers can earn a $300 Visa card (up to $600 for teams of 10+) for running their first payroll with Gusto: https://dub.sh/yDuTchj. Choose SurePayroll if very small businesses and household employers on a budget.

## Gusto vs. SurePayroll — FAQs

### Is Gusto cheaper than SurePayroll?

SurePayroll's self-service plan can be cheaper up front (around $20/mo), but it makes you handle tax filing. Gusto's $40/mo includes automatic filing, so the effective value is closer than the sticker prices suggest.

### Is Gusto or SurePayroll better?

Gusto for most businesses that want automatic tax filing and benefits included. SurePayroll is worth a look for the tightest budgets or for household/nanny payroll, its strongest niche.

### Does SurePayroll file taxes like Gusto?

Only on its full-service tier; the cheaper self-service plan leaves filing to you. Gusto includes automatic tax filing on every plan.

## Compare Gusto to other providers

- [Gusto vs. ADP](https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs/adp)
- [Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll](https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs/quickbooks)
- [Gusto vs. Rippling](https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs/rippling)
- [Gusto vs. Paychex](https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs/paychex)
- [Gusto vs. Justworks](https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs/justworks)
- [Gusto vs. OnPay](https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs/onpay)
- [Full payroll comparison chart](https://gustodiscountcode.com/gusto-vs)

**Get $300 for trying Gusto:** https://dub.sh/yDuTchj