Gusto is a payroll service that distinguishes itself among established providers by offering a comprehensive suite of tools tailored to the payroll needs of small businesses. Its outstanding user experience caters to both seasoned payroll managers and those who are new to the process. Originally founded as ZenPayroll in 2011, Gusto now serves over 40,000 small businesses across all 50 states.

Gusto is dedicated to being a supportive partner for its users, emphasizing the human aspect of human resources. The company focuses on ease of use, employee benefits, and automation. Gusto provides brokered health insurance and an efficient, automated payroll process. Its higher-tier plans offer additional features such as multi-state payroll, time tracking, and compliance alerts.

Gusto has consistently pursued improvement over the years, introducing new features such as state payroll tax registration, enhanced user support, HR tools, and global contractor payments. Their commitment to customizability, usability, and comprehensiveness earned them an Editor’s Choice award for small and medium-sized businesses.

As a payroll provider, Gusto offers a range of service plans that provide significant flexibility. For example, a company can start with the Contractor Only plan for working exclusively with contractors and later transition to the full-payroll option if they decide to hire W-2 employees as well.

Gusto can also function as a direct healthcare broker, allowing employers to seamlessly sync various types of insurance—such as dental, vision, and medical—with their payroll at no additional cost. If a company prefers to stick with its existing healthcare broker, integration into Gusto’s system is available for $6 per employee.

The straightforward Contractor Only plan provides unlimited payroll runs; however, these runs are not automated. Companies requiring Gusto’s assistance with tax handling will need to opt for the Simple plan. With the Simple plan, Gusto can automatically calculate, file, and pay local, state, and federal taxes.

The Simple plan offers essential features for hiring and onboarding, including offer letter templates, hiring documents, and onboarding checklists. It also provides full-service payroll for both 1099 contractors and W-2 employees. Payroll managers can customize administrative permissions and integrate accounting, time tracking, and expense management tools. While users have 24/7 access to the online help center, live customer support is somewhat limited.

The Plus plan includes all the features of the Simple plan, along with several additional benefits. Companies gain access to multi-state payroll services instead of just single-state payroll. It also offers advanced hiring and onboarding features, as well as tools for project and time tracking. Additionally, the plan provides insights into wages, benefits, hours, and more through the workplace cost report.

The Premium plan encompasses all the features included in the Plus plan while offering exclusive access to compliance alerts and the HR Resource Center. Customers also receive support for migrating to full-service payroll and integrating health insurance brokers into Gusto.

Gusto provides payroll services similar to other HR software available in the market, but it stands out with its unlimited payroll feature. This allows managers and employers to pay employees at any time without incurring additional costs. Users are not restricted to a fixed payment cycle; they can process off-cycle payments, issue bonuses, and cancel payments with ease.

Gusto’s HR services encompass features that enhance the workplace experience. Key offerings include health benefits for employees, time-off tracking, payroll management, 401(k) plans, and college savings options. All these records are consolidated on a single dashboard, providing users with easy access and convenience.

Gusto simplifies the onboarding process for new hires, making it easier for hiring managers. Once a job applicant is approved, the manager can effortlessly onboard the new employee with the click of a button. The system automatically distributes all essential paperwork, including tax forms and contracts, for the new hire to sign and return.

Employee records are neatly organized into six categories: Personal, Performance, Job & Pay, Time Off, Benefits, and more. This organization allows managers to quickly access specific information, such as payment methods, compensation details, and tax information for each employee.

Gusto can be integrated with the Deputy time tracker, allowing businesses to monitor employee time usage effectively. Features such as task management, attendance tracking, and talent management provide valuable insights into productivity. Users can sync timesheets from platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, and TSheets for instant updates on hours worked, which are then seamlessly added to the company’s payment system. Additionally, Gusto’s tax management tools help ensure that financial records comply with state and federal regulations.

While Gusto does not provide a dedicated mobile app, its website is optimized for mobile use. This allows users to easily access Gusto’s services directly from their mobile devices without the need to download a separate application.

Gusto provides four service tiers for customers, starting with the most affordable Contractor plan, which allows unlimited payments for contractors located in the United States. This plan costs $6 per person per month and includes the ability to create and file 1099 NEC forms. The $35 base fee is waived for the first six months. Additionally, businesses can pay international contractors from over 120 countries for an extra fee.

The Gusto Simple plan has a base price of $40 per month, while the Gusto Plus plan costs $80 per month. In the Simple plan, users pay $6 per employee each month for payroll services in a single state. In contrast, the Plus plan supports multiple states at a cost of $12 per employee per month.

Gusto’s pricing is generally more affordable compared to other HR service providers. The Simple plan, which offers essential features, is well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and startups at a budget-friendly price.

Gusto features a user-friendly website that creates a welcoming, transparent, and straightforward environment, providing an excellent experience for users from the beginning. Consistent with this positive approach, Gusto emphasizes outstanding customer service by hiring and training dedicated support professionals who effectively manage customer inquiries and foster strong relationships with clients.

Gusto offers 24/7 access to an online help center for all plan levels, though the quality of customer support varies by plan tier. The Simple plan includes basic support with limited access to live support, while the Plus plan provides extended support hours. Premium plan customers benefit from a dedicated and personalized support experience.

For enhanced customer support access, an add-on feature is available for an extra $8 per month. Customers can reach support through website chat, messaging via the Contact page, and phone support, which is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

Payroll management entails complex tasks and data handling, but software with an intuitive user interface can significantly ease the burden for managers. Gusto distinguishes itself with its exceptional features and its commitment to simplifying payroll management for businesses. For organizations seeking additional HR functionality, Gusto provides plans that support project tracking.

Users have access to a broad array of tools and features, though the specifics depend on the selected plan. The competitive pricing of its comprehensive service offerings also contributes to Gusto’s appeal as a leading choice in the market.