Gusto vs When I Work
Compare Gusto and When I Work on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Gusto
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
No universal winner. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.
When I Work is better for
- ✓ Starting pricing
- ✓ Integrations
Choose Gusto if: US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
Choose When I Work if: Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price
When I Work
Per-user hourly scheduling — Essentials from $2.50/user/mo; Pro $5; Premium $8; 14-day trial. Time & attendance is a paid toggle.
Best for
- • Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price
- • Operators who will trial 14 days before buying Deputy or Homebase hubs
- • Multi-location teams that stay on Essentials+ for templates and OpenShifts
Starting from $2.50/user/mo
No free plan
Feature comparison
Grouped feature support from verified product research for Gusto and When I Work.
Hiring
| Feature | Gusto | When I Work | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant tracking | Moderate | Moderate | Tie |
| Career site & job boards | Limited | Moderate | When I Work |
| Interview scheduling | Limited | Limited | Tie |
Workforce
| Feature | Gusto | When I Work | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce scheduling | Limited | Strong | When I Work |
| Frontline communications | Limited | Strong | When I Work |
| Time & attendance | Moderate | Moderate | Tie |
| GPS / geofence clock-in | Limited | Moderate | When I Work |
People & payroll
| Feature | Gusto | When I Work | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core HRIS | Moderate | Moderate | Tie |
| Payroll processing | Strong | Limited | Gusto |
| Benefits administration | Strong | Limited | Gusto |
Training
| Feature | Gusto | When I Work | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOP / knowledge base | Limited | Moderate | When I Work |
| Employee training paths | Limited | Moderate | When I Work |
| LMS / course commerce | Limited | Limited | Tie |
Platform
| Feature | Gusto | When I Work | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| HRIS integrations | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Analytics & reporting | Moderate | Strong | When I Work |
| AI assistance | Moderate | Moderate | Tie |
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