Gusto vs Paylocity
Choose Gusto for transparent US SMB payroll (award). Choose Paylocity when mid-market payroll+HR with Community/Ignite AI is the job and you will take a quote. Compare published pricing, hiring, core HRIS, payroll, scheduling, training, time tracking, integrations, and mobile.
Gusto
US SMB payroll + benefits + light HR — Simple from $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22.
Best for
- • Published SMB payroll
- • Month-to-month US pay runs
Starting from $49.00/user/mo
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
Choose Gusto for transparent US SMB payroll (award). Choose Paylocity when mid-market payroll+HR with Community/Ignite AI is the job and you will take a quote.
Paylocity is better for
- ✓ Hiring workflow
- ✓ Core HRIS depth
- ✓ Scheduling depth
- ✓ Training depth
Tie
- • Payroll processing
Choose Gusto if: Published SMB payroll
Choose Paylocity if: Mid-market HR + payroll
Paylocity
US mid-market HR + payroll (+ finance/IT) — custom quote (‘Explore Payroll Pricing’); Ignite AI. Landscape vs Gusto.
Best for
- • Mid-market HR + payroll
- • Employee Community / Ignite AI
No free plan
Feature comparison
Grouped feature support from verified product research for Gusto and Paylocity.
Hiring
| Feature | Gusto | Paylocity | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant tracking | Moderate | Strong | Paylocity |
| Career site & job boards | Limited | Moderate | Paylocity |
| Interview scheduling | Limited | Moderate | Paylocity |
Workforce
| Feature | Gusto | Paylocity | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce scheduling | Limited | Moderate | Paylocity |
| Frontline communications | Limited | Moderate | Paylocity |
| Time & attendance | Moderate | Strong | Paylocity |
| GPS / geofence clock-in | Limited | Moderate | Paylocity |
People & payroll
| Feature | Gusto | Paylocity | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core HRIS | Moderate | Strong | Paylocity |
| Payroll processing | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Benefits administration | Strong | Strong | Tie |
Training
| Feature | Gusto | Paylocity | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOP / knowledge base | Limited | Moderate | Paylocity |
| Employee training paths | Limited | Strong | Paylocity |
| LMS / course commerce | Limited | Limited | Tie |
Platform
| Feature | Gusto | Paylocity | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRIS integrations | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Analytics & reporting | Moderate | Strong | Paylocity |
| AI assistance | Moderate | Strong | Paylocity |
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