SoftwareGlimpse

Gusto vs Personio

Compare Gusto and Personio on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.

Independently recommendedLast updated Aug 18, 20264 evidence sourcesHow we compare
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Gusto logo

Gusto

7.1/10

US SMB payroll + benefits + light HR — Simple from $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22.

Best for

  • US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
  • Teams that want published month-to-month pricing instead of HCM quotes
  • Single-state companies that can start on Simple and upgrade for multi-state

Starting from $49.00/user/mo

No free plan

VS

Our verdict

Our verdict

No universal winner

There is no universal winner between Gusto and Personio. Choose Gusto when US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time. Choose Personio when EU-headquartered or EU-heavy teams that need GDPR-native HRIS. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.

Personio is better for

  • Integrations

Choose Gusto if: US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time

Choose Personio if: EU-headquartered or EU-heavy teams that need GDPR-native HRIS

See detailed comparison ↓
Personio logo

Personio

7.7/10

EU mid-market HRIS — Core from €7.60 PEPM (no USD list); CorePro and Recruiting/Payroll apps are quote-led; 12-month annual minimum.

Best for

  • EU-headquartered or EU-heavy teams that need GDPR-native HRIS
  • Companies comparing Personio as the European BambooHR analogue
  • Orgs that can commit to annual Core and add Recruiting/Payroll apps later

No free plan

Gusto vs Personio pricing

Gusto researched starting price from $49/mo. Personio starting price was not verified in current research — confirm on the vendor pricing page. Affiliate economics excluded.

Gusto logo

Gusto

From $49.00/user/mo

Personio logo

Personio

See plans

Gusto logo

Gusto

Starting from $49.00/user/mo

No free plan

Free trial available

  • SimplePopular$49.00/mo
    • $49/mo platform + $6/person. Single-state US payroll. Time/performance/many benefits features are add-ons.
  • Plus$80.00/mo
    • $80/mo + $12/person. Multi-state payroll path versus Simple.
  • Premium$180.00/mo
    • $180/mo + $22/person. Highest published SMB payroll+HR bundle.
  • Contractor Only$35.00/mo
    • $35/mo + $6/contractor after promo; first 6 months $0 base advertised. Not employee payroll.
View full Gusto pricing →
Personio logo

Personio

Starting price not evidenced

No free plan

No free trial evidenced

  • CorePopularCustom
    • From €7.60 PEPM (homepage). Employee file, absences, workflows, time tracking, preliminary payroll. No USD list.
  • CoreProCustom
    • Most popular — positions, unlimited docs/entities, API. Contact sales.
  • AppsCustom
    • Recruiting, Surveys, Performance, and payroll in selected EU countries — quote.
View full Personio pricing →

Estimate your team cost

Monthly estimate from verified per-seat list pricing. Confirm on the vendor site before purchasing.

Gusto logo

Gusto

$735.00/mo

HR pricing guide →

Verified monthly unit prices · Aug 18, 2026

Prices in USD

Shown per user / month from verified list pricing.

Plans can change

Confirm live vendor rates before purchasing.

Add-ons may apply

Calling, SMS, or usage fees can add cost.

Independence

Affiliate status never changes pricing outcomes.

Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.

Affiliate disclosure: some links may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rankings and scores are never based on commission. Full disclosure

Methodology disclosure: scores and recommendations follow SoftwareGlimpse evaluation criteria (version 1.0.0). Affiliate relationships do not determine rankings.

How we recommend: product claims are tied to recorded research where available.

AI-assisted disclosure: drafts may be AI-assisted from approved facts and assessments. Humans approve publishable editorial judgments. AI does not invent live prices or claim hands-on testing.