7 Best Gusto Competitors & Alternatives for 2022

Gusto is one of the best payroll companies around. Let’s discuss some alternatives to Gusto, and see which company can provide you with superior service for less money.

The “rippling” is a popular app that helps users track their finances. The “rippling” has been one of the best Gusto competitors for many years. There are also some other options to choose from in 2022.

Gusto is a fantastic solution for small companies since it covers a broad variety of payroll and basic HR operations and is reasonably priced (beginning at $39 + $6 per employee monthly). It may not, however, be appropriate for every company’s demands and budget. In such instance, a product from a leading rival could be the best alternative.

We examined over a dozen payroll software options and reduced the list down to the top seven Gusto rivals in our guide.

• Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay is the best Gusto option for small companies in general; it’s also great for small merchants and restaurants, particularly those who use Square POS.
• Payroll in QuickBooks: For QuickBooks accounting users and employers that desire speedy direct deposit choices, Payroll in QuickBooks is the best solution.
• Rippling: HR, payroll, and IT technologies with strong integrations are best for tech-heavy firms.
• SurePayroll: If you’re searching for a low-cost payroll solution, SurePayroll is the way to go.
• Paychex: For small to big organizations who need a full-service payroll system that can scale with them, Paychex is the best option.
• OnPay is ideal for small agricultural businesses who need to file Form 943.
• Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United is ideal for small enterprises on a tight budget that want cost-effective yet effective payroll software.

Comparison of the Top Gusto Competitors

Table in fullscreen mode

×

*The monthly charge is determined by a quotation we obtained.

**The Full Service payroll plan is included in the pricing. It’s worth noting that the supplier also has a low-cost Self-Service option with DIY payroll tax filings.

For small businesses, Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay is the best overall Gusto competitor.

Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay

What We Enjoy

• Payroll runs that are both automatic and limitless
• Prepares and files tax forms, including W-2/1099 reports at the end of the year.
• Provides free time monitoring and integrates with Square POS.

What Isn’t There

• It takes four days to get a standard direct deposit.
• A Square payments account is required for next-day and fast payout options.
• A Square payments account is required for next-day and fast payout options.
• There are no expert advisors available.

Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay Pricing

• Employees and contractors are paid at a rate of $35 per month plus $5 per employee each month.
• Contractors are paid just once a month, at a rate of $5 per contractor.

Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay is a popular payroll system for small retailers and restaurants, especially those already using Square’s point-of-sale (POS) solution. It handles payroll for both contractors and employees, calculates and files taxes, manages benefits, and has free time tracking—a bonus for those who employ hourly workers. However, its standard four-day direct deposit timeline is slower than Gusto’s and the six other competitors in this guide.

The provider made it to the top of our best Gusto alternatives list because it offers There are no limits to how much money you can make. at no extra charge and automatically imports tips and commissions from Square POS into its payroll module for processing. It also syncs seamlessly with QuickBooks Online and other third-party timecard partners. Plus, unlike the other Gusto competitors we reviewed, Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay has a low-cost contractor-only plan that’s slightly cheaper than Gusto’s ($5 per contractor monthly vs $6 per contractor monthly).

Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay Features

• Low-cost contractor-only plan: If you’re only processing contractor salaries, Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay won’t charge you its base monthly fee of $35 and will only charge you a per-person monthly rate of $5 per contractor. This is similar to Gusto’s contractor plan (although Square’s is slightly cheaper) and is great for companies that primarily contract work out vs hiring employees. Note that the other providers on this list charge you the same price as you’d pay for an employee, which includes a monthly base and per-employee fees.
• Multiple employee payment options: Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay lets you pay employees and contractors through manual checks, aside from four-day direct deposits. You can also pay employees via Square’s Cash App, which allows you to process two-day direct deposits and even send payments instantly—provided you use Square’s Instant Payments feature.
• Tax payments and filings: Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay will automatically file your quarterly and annual taxes and prepare and submit W-2 and 1099 tax forms. This is unlike OnPay and Paychex, which charge extra fees for some of their payroll tax administration services.
• Import tips and commissions: A unique feature that Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay offers, which Gusto and the six other competitors in this guide don’t, is that tips and commissions automatically import from Square POS into its payroll solution. This makes it easy for you to process employee payments without manually extracting and uploading tip/commission data from one system to another.
• Employee benefits: With Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, you can offer benefits to employees like health insurance, retirement plans, and pay-as-you-go workers’ compensation. Similar to the other Gusto alternatives in this guide (except Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United, which doesn’t have this feature), Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay’s health benefits are available across the US. In contrast, Gusto’s is limited to only 39 states.
• Seamless payroll tools integration: Aside from Pay runs are unlimited and automated. for both employees and contractors, Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay seamlessly integrates with Square products like Square POS and Square Team Management. It also connects with third-party software like QuickBooks Online and partner timecard solutions.

Read our Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay Review

Gusto Competitor for QuickBooks Users: Payroll in QuickBooks

Payroll in QuickBooks

What We Enjoy

• Direct deposits are available the same day and the following day.
• QuickBooks bookkeeping is smoothly integrated.
• Payroll runs are unlimited and automated.
• Provides a tax penalty protection scheme that pays fines (up to $25,000 per year) regardless of who is responsible for the error.

What Isn’t There

• Only higher levels contain local tax filings.
• Only its Elite plan offers tax penalty protection.
• It primarily integrates with QuickBooks products; to use third-party software connections, you’ll need to use its accounting platform.

Payroll in QuickBooks Pricing

• $45 per month for the core + $4 each employee per month
• Premium: $75 per month plus $8 per month each employee
• Elite: $125/month Plus $10/month each employee

Payroll in QuickBooks is a great payroll software for small business owners already using or planning to use QuickBooks accounting. Data flows seamlessly between the two solutions, making it easy to capture payroll details for your accounting ledgers. Payroll in QuickBooks offers online employee onboarding tools, access to employee benefits, and more. However, it doesn’t automatically handle local tax filings unless you upgrade to its higher tiers—a feature that Gusto and the other providers on our list offer in their starter plans.

What sets Payroll in QuickBooks apart from Gusto and its alternatives is its robust tax penalty protection. This program, which is included in the premium Elite plan, covers all tax penalty fees and interests up to $25,000 per year, regardless of who made the error. Note that most providers may have a similar penalty protection program, but it’s only for tax filing mistakes that they make.

Payroll in QuickBooks Features

• Efficient pay processing: Running payroll with Payroll in QuickBooks is easy—you can even set it to run automatically. Aside from unlimited payroll, it handles tax filings and year-end tax reporting on your behalf. However, you have to get either its Premium or Elite plan if you want the provider to handle local tax filings. Plus, Payroll in QuickBooks doesn’t have a low-cost contractor-only plan that both Gusto and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay offer.
• Fast direct deposits: Unlike Gusto, which provides next-day direct deposits in its higher tiers, Payroll in QuickBooks offers this in its basic Core package plus a same-day option included in its premium plans. Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay also offers next-day and even instant payouts through its Cash App, but this requires a Square Payments account. Meanwhile, the five other Gusto alternatives in this guide have either two- or four-day direct deposit options.
• Seamless integration with QuickBooks: While Payroll in QuickBooks doesn’t integrate with many third-party software, its native integration with QuickBooks accounting allows seamless data transfers between Intuit QuickBooks products. This means that your payroll information can flow directly to the general journal, plus you can use wage-related information for analytics and other reports.
• Expert support: You are granted access to payroll experts that you can contact via phone and chat. If you subscribe to its highest tier, you get an HR professional who can provide expert advice. This is unlike Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United, which don’t offer access to HR experts, and Rippling, which charges extra for it.

Read our Payroll in QuickBooks Review

Rippling: Best Gusto Competitor for Tech-heavy Businesses Needing HR, IT & Payroll Tools

Rippling

What We Enjoy

• With global payroll capabilities, you can perform an unlimited number of pay runs.
• Separately, and when required, robust HR and IT tools are available.
• 400+ third-party software integrations
• Provides a PEO alternative that is versatile.

What Isn’t There

• Prior to purchasing any additional product, you must first acquire the Core Workforce Management solution.
• Benefits and pay are compensated extras.
• As you add functionality, it becomes more expensive.
• The HR help desk option, which includes phone and email assistance, is an added expense.

Pricing that Shifts*

• $18 per employee per month for a workforce management platform and full-service payroll.
• Employee benefits administration costs $6 per month per employee.
• Commuter perks and flex HSA/FSA: $6 per employee per month
• $100 per month for HR help desk
• App management costs $8 per month per employee.
• Monthly device management costs $8 per employee.

*Pricing is based on a quotation from a vendor.

Rippling provides a comprehensive set of HR, payroll, and IT tools that are both integrated and flexible. Payroll and other modules (such as benefits, app administration, and HR help desk) are paid add-ons to its main platform, which is a workforce management solution. With automated tax computations, tax filing services, and year-end tax reporting, it has a great payroll feature set. It also comes with online capabilities for onboarding and offboarding, time and attendance, document management, and benefits administration.

In addition, the application includes key IT solutions for managing business apps and corporate PCs issued to workers, as well as the ability to store units in its warehouse. The disadvantage of utilizing Rippling is that you must pay for each module separately, which may quickly add up as you add more features. You must also pay for the HR help desk option, which allows you to contact HR specialists through phone or email if you want assistance.

Rippling Characteristics

• Rippling offers a unified HR platform in which all of its products are immediately connected to one another. It gives you a single platform to handle your workers’ payroll, benefits, devices, and applications. Although the other Gusto options in this article provide comparable HR and payroll capabilities, Rippling stands out for its app and device control solutions.
• Efficient pay processing: Rippling can handle both your US and global payroll needs while providing your employees easy access to online pay stubs and tax forms through a self-service portal. It also automatically calculates and files payroll taxes along with year-end tax reporting for you. Note that Payroll in QuickBooks requires you to upgrade to its higher tiers if you need local tax filings, while OnPay and Paychex charge extra for some of their tax services.
• Rippling over Gusto is a better option if you want a more extensive set of HR services with powerful third-party connectors, since the former connects with over 400 systems. Rippling is also the only company in our book with a large partner network that covers accounting, time and attendance, expenditure management, recruitment, training, and office management.
• Expert support: One-on-one support from certified HR professionals is available at an extra cost. If you don’t want to pay extra, consider any of the other Gusto competitors (except Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United) in this list—although you have to get their higher tiers.
• Rippling (and Paychex) provide professional employer organization (PEO) services to assist you handle day-to-day HR and payroll operations if your HR demands have expanded but you don’t want to recruit or expand your HR workforce. This option is not available in Gusto or any of the other options in this tutorial. Rippling, unlike Paychex, lets you to effortlessly switch on and off its PEO services and resume utilizing its software.

Take a look at our Rippling Review.

SurePayroll: Best Gusto Competitor for Startups & Household Employers

SurePayroll

What We Enjoy

• Pricing that is both affordable and clear
• Pay runs are unlimited and automated.
• Provides evening and weekend assistance throughout the week.

What Isn’t There

• Add-on costs are charged for numerous state tax filings and municipal tax filings in Ohio/Pennsylvania.
• Integration of software is an added expenditure with restricted alternatives.
• Only the Full Service package includes access to an HR counselor and two-day direct payments.

Pricing for SurePayroll

• Payroll package with full service: $29.99 per month + $5 per employee
• Self-service package with self-filing tax returns: $19.99 per month + $4 per employee

Fees for extra services

• Integration with accounting software: $4.99 per payroll processed
• Integration of a time clock costs $4.99 per employee per month plus $3 per employee per month.
• Local tax returns in Ohio and Pennsylvania are $9.99 each month.
• Multiple state tax filings: $9.99 per month

SurePayroll, unlike Gusto, provides both a full-service payroll package and a self-service alternative (lets you handle payroll tax filings yourself). While the latter is ideal for individuals with a small team who want to do their own tax filings, the former includes all of the necessary tools for processing payroll for both workers and contractors. It includes services such as payroll tax payments and form filing, as well as year-end tax reporting.

However, unlike Gusto and the other providers we reviewed, you have to pay extra if you require local tax filings in Ohio or Pennsylvania. Accounting and time tracking software integrations also cost extra, plus the choices are limited compared to Rippling’s 400+ partner apps. And while you get two-day direct deposits with SurePayroll’s full-service option, it doesn’t have Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay’s instant payments and Payroll in QuickBooks’s same- and next-day options.

Features of SurePayroll

• SurePayroll’s efficient payroll tools allow you to start limitless and even automated pay runs with minimum effort, while properly deducting payroll taxes and benefits payments. Its method also accommodates a variety of pay rates and schedules.
• Automated tax payment and year-end report filing: Unlike Payroll in QuickBooks, which only includes federal and state payroll tax filings in its basic plan, SurePayroll’s full-service option comes with quarterly and annual tax filing services on federal, state, and local levels—provided your business isn’t located in Ohio or Pennsylvania. If it is, you have to pay an additional $9.99 per month.
• Employee benefits: SurePayroll offers workers’ compensation, 401(k) plans, and health insurance, all of which are accessible in all 50 states. Gusto’s benefits are only offered in 39 states, but Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United does not provide benefits to its employees.
• Expert support: Unlike Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United, SurePayroll grants you access to an HR adviser if you need expert guidance on managing employee issues. However, this option is available only with SurePayroll’s Full Service package.

Take a look at our SurePayroll review.

Paychex: Gusto’s Best Rival for Scalable Payroll Solutions for Small to Large Businesses

Paychex

What We Enjoy

• There are many payment methods available (i.e., direct deposits, paper checks, pay cards, and pay on-demand)
• All programs include customer service that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Has a comprehensive set of HR solutions and services (new hire reporting, onboarding, background checks, time and attendance, PEO, etc.)

What Isn’t There

• Pricing isn’t always straightforward.
• W2/1099 year-end reporting and payroll tax administration are both added costs.
• Only premium plans include check signature and stuffing services, as well as access to a professional payroll consultant.
• Payroll and off-cycle runs are not infinite.

Paychex Charges

• Flex Essentials from Paychex costs $39 per month plus $5 per employee.
• Paychex Flex Select: Priced on a case-by-case basis
• Paychex Flex Pro: Priced on a case-by-case basis

Paychex is a comprehensive payroll system that comes in a variety of packages to suit the requirements of small and big organizations. Its plans and HR solutions are adaptable enough to meet your changing HR needs, and it even offers a PEO alternative for times you want professional assistance with day-to-day HR and payroll activities. It can manage online onboarding, employee benefits, and payroll tax administration in addition to paying workers and contractors. Premium plans also provide access to a dedicated payroll professional as well as check signature and stuffing services.

Gusto and most alternatives in this guide have fully transparent pricing; however, Paychex and Rippling don’t list full pricing on their websites. Both show the starter monthly fees, while the rest of their payroll plans and products are custom-priced. Plus with Paychex, you need to pay additional fees for some of its quarterly and annual payroll tax filings. Note that these are available for free in almost all the other options we reviewed—except for SurePayroll, which charges extra for Ohio or Pennsylvania local tax form submissions, and Payroll in QuickBooks, which requires you to upgrade to its higher tiers for local tax filings.

Paychex Advantages

• Only Paychex offers a system that can expand with your company, as opposed to Gusto and the other suppliers included in this article. Regardless of whether you have 10 or 1,000 employees, it delivers effective pay processing capabilities. You only need to contact a Paychex specialist, who will be able to propose a package that meets your company’s evolving HR demands.
• Payroll features that are efficient: Its simple web capabilities are designed to make it easier to pay workers and contractors. You may even schedule your paycheck to run on a regular basis. It also generates W-2s and 1099s tax reports automatically and manages payroll tax computations, payments, and filings for you. However, some of the company’s payroll tax administration services may be additional.
• Multiple pay options: Like Gusto, you can pay employees through pay cards, direct deposits, and paper checks. Further, Paychex is the only provider that offers check signing and stuffing services among all the Gusto alternatives on this list. However, it doesn’t have Payroll in QuickBooks’s fast direct deposit options and Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay’s instant payments.
• HR features and services in their entirety: Paychex offers a variety of HR solutions and services, including recruiting, new hire onboarding, time and attendance, workers’ compensation, garnishment payments, company insurance, employee benefits, and a financial wellness program, in addition to payroll. None of the Gusto rivals we looked at (or Gusto itself) provide financial wellness features for your workers.
• Personalized assistance: You will get dedicated support from a highly qualified payroll specialist who can assist you with your payroll and tax requirements, in addition to its staff of compliance and HR specialists who can give expert guidance. While the other Gusto rivals in this article may provide HR consulting, they do not give specialized payroll assistance.

Check out our Paychex Review.

OnPay: Gusto’s Best Rival for Small Agricultural Businesses

OnPay

What We Enjoy

• Reasonably priced
• Files Form 943 and may manage taxes for H-2A visa employees.
• There are no limits to how much money you can make.

What Isn’t There

• OnPay’s risk evaluation determines the direct deposit turnaround time (two or four days).
• Options for integration are limited.
• Doesn’t provide as many plan possibilities as Gusto.

Pricing for OnPay

• $36 per month + $4 per month each employee

Fees for extra services

• Employees’ W-2/1099 forms are printed and sent at a cost of $5 per form.
• Return cost for non-sufficient funds (NSF): $50 per returned item

*If your payroll money is insufficient to meet the cost of a pay run, OnPay will incur an NSF fee.

OnPay is a good Gusto alternative, especially for small agricultural businesses that need Form 943 filings. With a cloud-based platform and modern interface that rivals Gusto’s, OnPay offers There are no limits to how much money you can make., manages employee benefits, and files payroll taxes on your behalf. Aside from its efficient payroll tools, OnPay has an Reasonably priced plan. For $36 plus $4 per employee monthly, it’s one of two low-cost Gusto competitors on our list (Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United is the other), with sample annual fees costing only $912 for a company with 10 employees.

However, unlike QuickBooks, which covers all tax errors, OnPay’s tax penalty guarantee only covers mistakes made by OnPay personnel. Furthermore, OnPay’s direct payments take longer than some of its rivals, with a two- or four-day turnaround depending on OnPay’s risk assessment.

Features of OnPay

• Efficient payroll features: OnPay supports multiple pay rates and schedules, including multistate payroll with no extra cost—SurePayroll and Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United charge additional for this. It also enables you to pay employees through direct deposits, manual checks, and pay cards. However, you can’t choose the direct deposit turnaround time (two or four days) because OnPay will identify this for you following the results of its risk assessment. If you want to choose a direct deposit that fits your payroll needs, consider any of the providers in this guide or Gusto. If you need next-day or instant payouts, then Payroll in QuickBooks or Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay, respectively, are great options.
• OnPay specializes on specialist payroll services, such as churches and NGOs, restaurants, and farms. It estimates salaries, tip payments (for restaurants), and handles the necessary tax filings for these companies at no additional expense. OnPay can manage the required tax computations as well as Form 943 reporting for small agricultural businesses with H-2A visa employees.
• Employee benefits: OnPay provides benefits plans from most major providers, including Aetna, Humana, and United Healthcare, similar to the other Gusto options in our article (excluding Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United). Apart from retirement programs, it offers health and dental coverage in all 50 states, while Gusto’s is only offered in 39.

Check out our OnPay Review.

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United: The Best Gusto Competitor for Small Businesses on a Budget

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United

What We Enjoy

• There are no limits to how much money you can make.
• Multiple plans are available.
• Complete Service Gusto’s basic tier is more expensive than the Payroll plan.

What Isn’t There

• The standard timeframe for direct deposit is four days.
• Multistate tax returns are more expensive.
• There are no benefits plans available.

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United Pricing

• Full Payroll Service: $30 per month + $4 per employee each month
• Basic Payroll with Do-It-Yourself Taxes: $10 per month + $4 per employee each month

Fees for extra services

• Monthly time and attendance: $6 + $2 per employee
• Basic HR software costs $6 + $2 per month per employee.
• Filing taxes in several states costs $12 per month for each extra state.
• 1099 e-filings (for Basic Payroll members only): $20 for up to five 1099 e-filings; for six to 35 filings, an extra $2 per 1099 is needed (no additional charge for 36 or more)

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United is a cost-effective small business payroll software perfect for those looking for a budget-friendly solution. It offers reasonably priced full-service payroll plans and a basic DIY option that costs only $10 plus $4 per employee monthly—provided you file your own payroll taxes. All plans come with There are no limits to how much money you can make., multiple payroll frequencies, and customizable hours, money, and deduction types. And you can pay your employees through manual checks and direct deposits. However, the turnaround time for direct deposits (four days) is longer than that of Gusto and the other providers we reviewed.

Like SurePayroll, Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United will handle the payments and filings of all federal, state, and local taxes if you get its full-service plan. Also, it offers a penalty-free guarantee in case of tax filing errors, but only for its representatives’ mistakes. This is unlike Payroll in QuickBooks, which covers all mistakes regardless of who made it. And while it lets you add custom deduction types like benefits contributions into its system, Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United doesn’t offer employee benefits options and manage benefits plans for you.

Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United Features

• Self-service and full-service plan options: If you are on a budget and would prefer to let Patriot take care of your payroll and then file your employees’ taxes on your own, you can opt for its Basic plan. If you don’t want to handle payroll tax filings yourself, you should sign up for its Full Service option. What’s great about this package is that it’s more affordable than Gusto’s offering. For a company with 10 employees, you have to spend $1,118 per year with Gusto—Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United will only charge you annual fees of $840.
• Patriot’s efficient payroll system enables you to conduct an infinite payroll and pay your workers on a weekly, bimonthly, semimonthly, or monthly basis. You may also utilize its regular hours and money kinds or design your own, including employee deductions and other company-paid contributions, all of which are completely free.
• Net-to-Gross Payroll tool: If you are unsure how to calculate bonuses for employees and don’t want to do gross-up calculations for taxes yourself, then you can use Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United’s net-to-gross payroll tool. Simply input the bonus amount to be paid out, and it will automatically gross it up for you. None of the other Gusto competitors on this list have a similar feature.

Read our Patriot Payroll is a payroll company based in the United Review

How Did We Pick the Best Gusto Competitors?

We looked at a dozen of the most popular payroll providers to see how they compared to Gusto. We searched for features and HR capabilities that are most relevant to small firms, in addition to analyzing each software’s cost. Finally, we selected the top seven Gusto rivals to assist you in determining which payroll software is right for you.

Conclusion

Gusto is a terrific payroll service, but depending on your requirements, there are a few more great solutions to consider. Competitors, like Gusto, automate payroll and provide services like as paycheck and direct deposit, onboarding and employee self-service, tax and benefit computations, and even HR help. They’re all reasonably priced, as well.

We found Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay as the best among the seven Gusto alternatives included in this guide. It offers excellent employee pay processing features for small businesses such as multiple payment options, quality payroll tax support, seamless integration with Square POS for tips payments and commission tracking, and a low-cost contractor-only package. Sign up for a Square Payroll is a payroll service that allows you to pay plan today.

Pay a visit to Square Payroll. is a payroll service that allows you to pay

Gusto is a company that offers payroll and human resource solutions. Rippling is an app that allows users to manage their finances. Gusto vs Rippling are the two main competitors for 2022. Reference: gusto vs rippling.

Related Tags

• zenefits
• gusto payroll
• gusto reviews
• justworks
• gusto g2