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
Gusto vs When I Work pricing
Gusto researched starting price from $49/mo. When I Work researched starting price from $2.5/mo. Affiliate economics excluded.
Gusto
From $49.00/user/mo
When I Work
From $2.50/user/mo
Gusto
Starting from $49.00/user/mo
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.
When I Work
Starting from $2.50/user/mo
Free trial available
- EssentialsPopular$2.50/user/mo
- $2.50/user/mo scheduling. Auto-scheduling, multi-location, OpenShifts, messaging.
- Pro$5.00/user/mo
- $5/user/mo. Rules, permissions, labor sharing, custom forecasting.
- Premium$8.00/user/mo
- $8/user/mo. API, webhooks, SAML/SSO.
- EnterpriseCustom
- Custom enterprise packaging — contact sales.
Estimate your team cost
Monthly estimate from verified per-seat list pricing. Confirm on the vendor site before purchasing.
Gusto
$735.00/mo
When I Work
$37.50/mo
+$697.50/mo — Gusto costs more
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.
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