Compare/Payroll
I use GustoGusto vs QuickBooks Payroll
Gusto for most payroll. QuickBooks if you want everything in one place, only pay contractors, or need fast pay on every plan.
Shanin Drucquer, owner of Iconic LandscapingUpdated September 2026
Where this comes from: I run payroll on Gusto and keep my books in QuickBooks Online. QuickBooks Payroll details come from Intuit’s own pricing and help pages.
Which to pick
You pay W-2 employees
Gusto
Cheaper to start, and it doesn’t need accounting software.
You already run everything in QuickBooks
QuickBooks Payroll
One login, one bill, and payroll lands in your books with no sync.
You only pay contractors
QuickBooks Contractor Payments
$25 + $2/additional contractor vs Gusto’s $35 + $6/contractor.
You run a seasonal crew
Gusto
Dismiss people in the off-season so you’re not billed for them, then re-add them in spring. That’s how I run my crew.
$100 Visa gift card after your first payroll, through my referral link.
Is QuickBooks Payroll cheaper than Gusto?
List prices checked September 2026, before any promotions. QuickBooks Payroll needs a QuickBooks Online plan; Gusto works on its own. Gusto needs Plus for more than one state.
Monthly cost for 8 people
Gusto
Simple
$97
QuickBooks Payroll
Workforce Payroll
$106
Gusto is $9 a month cheaper, about $108 a year.
Start with GustoWhere they actually differ
| Feature | Gusto | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Needs accounting software | No (better) | Yes, from $38/mo |
| Hiring and onboarding | Every plan (better) | Premium and Elite |
| Tax penalty protection | Not listed | Elite plan (better) |
| Benefits | Built in | Through partners |
Both file federal and state payroll taxes, offer time tracking on higher plans, and bill month to month.
List prices checked September 2026. Sources: Gusto pricing, QuickBooks Workforce pricing, QuickBooks Online pricing.
Every plan, side by side
List prices, checked September 2026. Higher plans include everything in the ones above them.
Gusto
Simple$49 + $6/person
Single-state payroll, tax filing, unlimited payrolls, onboarding
Plus$80 + $12/person
Multi-state payroll, next-day pay, time tracking, workforce cost reports
Premium$180 + $22/person
Same-day and instant pay, HR experts, a dedicated advisor, priority support
Contractor Only$35 + $6/contractor
1099 contractors only, with a $0 base fee for the first 6 months
Works on its own; no accounting software needed.
QuickBooks Payroll
Workforce Payroll$50 + $7/employee
Full-service payroll, auto payroll, next-day deposit, 1099 e-file
Workforce Premium$88 + $13/employee
Same-day deposit, time tracking app, hiring and onboarding, automated I-9, setup review
Workforce Elite$134 + $17/employee
Tax penalty protection, expert setup, a personal HR advisor, geofencing and mileage
Contractor Payments$25 + $2/additional contractor
Contractors only
Every plan also needs QuickBooks Online, from $38/mo. Intuit currently offers 50% off for 3 months.
How fast your team gets paid
Faster deposit speeds let you run payroll closer to payday, which matters when hours come in late.
| Feature | Gusto | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| On the entry plan | 4-day for new accounts; 2-day after 15 days and one payroll | Next-day (better) |
| Next-day deposit | Plus and Premium, or $15/mo + $3/person on Simple | Every plan (better) |
| Same-day deposit | Premium, or $90 per payroll on eligible late payrolls | Premium and Elite (better) |
| Submission deadline | 4 pm PT on the run-by date | Not listed on the pricing page |
What costs extra
The plan price covers payroll. These are the costs that come on top, or the reasons to move up a plan.
| Feature | Gusto | QuickBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting software | Not needed (better) | QuickBooks Online, from $38/mo |
| Time tracking | Included on Plus, or $6/person on Simple | Included on Premium and Elite |
| HR help | Onboarding on every plan; HR experts on Premium (better) | Hiring and onboarding from Premium; HR advisor on Elite |
| Priority support | $30/mo + $3/person on Simple and Plus | Expert setup review on Premium, expert setup on Elite |
| Benefits | Health insurance with no Gusto admin fee through its brokers | Health (Allstate), 401(k) (Vestwell), workers’ comp (Next) on every plan |
| Failed payroll debit | $100 fee | Not listed on the pricing page |
From each company’s pricing page and help center, checked September 2026.
Can you use Gusto with QuickBooks?
Yes, and it’s a common setup: Gusto runs payroll, QuickBooks keeps the books. There are two ways to get payroll into QuickBooks.
Option 1
The official sync
Gusto posts payroll to QuickBooks Online as journal entries, mapped to your chart of accounts.
Option 2
The bank feed
Skip the sync. Gusto’s wage and tax withdrawals come through your bank feed, and QuickBooks files them in their own categories.
Bank transactions
Business checking
| Date | Description | Category | Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17 | GUSTO NET PAY | Wages | $9,842.16 |
| Sep 17 | GUSTO TAX | Payroll taxes | $3,127.40 |
| Sep 3 | GUSTO NET PAY | Wages | $9,516.88 |
| Sep 3 | GUSTO TAX | Payroll taxes | $3,011.25 |
When I set up the sync it double-counted payroll, so I use the bank feed. The sync has likely improved since. If you use it, check the first few entries before you trust it.
Switching from QuickBooks Payroll to Gusto
- 1.
Pick a quarter start
Switching on January 1, April 1, July 1, or October 1 keeps each quarter’s filings in one system.
- 2.
Bring your history
Gusto asks for year-to-date payroll during setup so W-2s come out right.
- 3.
Keep QuickBooks for the books
Nothing changes in your accounting. Payroll arrives through the sync or the bank feed.
- 4.
Run one payroll, then cancel
Turn QuickBooks Payroll off after your first Gusto payroll clears.
Common questions
What is QuickBooks Workforce?
It’s Intuit’s current name for QuickBooks Payroll. The plans are Workforce Payroll, Workforce Premium, and Workforce Elite.
Do I need QuickBooks Online to use QuickBooks Payroll?
Yes. It’s sold as an add-on to QuickBooks Online or bundled with a QuickBooks Online plan. Gusto doesn’t need any accounting software.
Does the Gusto QuickBooks sync work?
Gusto posts a detailed journal entry to QuickBooks Online after each payroll. It double-counted payroll when I tried it, which usually happens when the bank-feed transaction is added instead of matched to the journal entry. I use the bank feed instead.
Which pays employees faster?
QuickBooks. Next-day direct deposit is included on every plan and same-day on Premium and Elite. Gusto includes next-day on Plus and Premium and charges extra for it on Simple.
Is Gusto cheaper than QuickBooks Payroll?
At most team sizes, yes. For 8 people, Gusto Simple comes to $97 a month, while QuickBooks Workforce Payroll comes to $106 a month before the QuickBooks Online plan you also need.
Is QuickBooks or Gusto better for payroll?
Gusto for most small businesses: it’s cheaper, works without accounting software, and includes onboarding on every plan. QuickBooks Payroll is better if you want payroll and books in one place, or next-day pay on the entry plan.
Is Gusto the same as QuickBooks?
No. They’re separate companies. Gusto makes payroll and HR software. QuickBooks is Intuit’s accounting software, and QuickBooks Payroll is Intuit’s payroll add-on for it.
Does Gusto work with QuickBooks Online?
Yes. Gusto can sync payroll to QuickBooks Online as journal entries, or you can skip the sync and categorize Gusto’s withdrawals from your bank feed. I use the bank feed.
Can I cancel anytime?
Gusto is month-to-month. QuickBooks Payroll is a monthly subscription added to QuickBooks Online.
For most small businesses: Gusto for payroll, QuickBooks for the books. That’s what I run.
I may earn a referral fee from these links, at no cost to you.How we researchHow I make money
Gusto · from $49/mo
$100 after your first payroll