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
Comparison scorecard
Criterion-by-criterion results for Gusto and When I Work. Numeric bars appear only when both products have approved scores.
- When I Work
Starting pricing
Published floor price and what that floor actually includes.
When I Work publishes a lower researched starting floor ($2.5/mo vs $49/mo for Gusto). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.
GustoWeakerWhen I WorkStronger - Depends
Free plan
Whether a usable free plan is published, and what it gates.
Gusto does not research a free plan; When I Work does not research a free plan.
GustoDependsWhen I WorkDepends - Depends
User / licence minimum
Seat floors, per-employee minimums, and small-team pricing traps.
Check employee or licence minimums for Gusto and When I Work on current vendor packaging.
GustoDependsWhen I WorkDepends - When I Work
Integrations
Important third-party integrations.
When I Work leads on integrations (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Gusto7/10When I Work8/10
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