Gusto Review
HR, WORKFORCE & TRAINING SOFTWAREChoose Gusto when US SMB payroll and benefits with transparent published pricing is the job — not when you need a full HRIS, people platform, or dedicated ATS.
Starting price
$49.00/user/month
Free plan
No
Free trial
Yes
Best for
US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
SoftwareGlimpse review
7.1/10
Good
- ease of use9
- hiring workforce fit9
- workflow depth7
- integrations7
- mobile frontline6
- analytics5
Best Gusto alternatives
Alternatives are drawn from the product graph and editorial comparisons — not paid placements.
Rippling
Choose Gusto for simple US payroll with transparent published prices. Choose Rippling when you need payroll plus HR and IT on one employee record and will accept quote-stacked TCO. Compare published pricing, hiring, core HRIS, payroll, scheduling, training, time tracking, integrations, and mobile.
From $8.00/user/month
Payroll plus IT provisioning
BambooHR
Choose BambooHR when the employee system of record is the job. Choose Gusto when US SMB payroll and benefits with transparent month-to-month pricing is the job. Compare published pricing, hiring, core HRIS, payroll, scheduling, training, time tracking, integrations, and mobile.
From $10.00/user/month
Core HRIS as system of record
Greenhouse
Structured-hiring ATS (Core / Plus / Pro) — custom quote by plan, hiring volume, and org complexity; no published seat dollars.
Pricing coverage pending
Alternatives comparison at a glance
| Product | Starting price | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | $49.00/user/month | No | Yes |
| Rippling | $8.00/user/month | No | No |
| BambooHR | $10.00/user/month | No | No |
| Greenhouse | — | No | No |
How we choose alternatives
Based on our recommendations
Alternatives come from product relationships and documented capability overlap.
Focused on your needs
We highlight when another tool fits a different workflow better.
Independently evaluated
Affiliate relationships never decide who appears here.