Where I’d start
Simple
$97/mo
$49 + $6/person · 8 people
Everyone works in one state, and you track hours somewhere else or pay salaries.
Gusto pricing
What Gusto costs, plan by plan, from an owner who pays for it. Every add-on and fee included.
Shanin Drucquer, owner of Iconic LandscapingGusto customer since 2024 · Checked September 30, 2026
Short answer
Gusto costs $49 + $6/person on Simple, $80 + $12/person on Plus, and $180 + $22/person on Premium, billed monthly. No contract, free setup, unlimited payrolls.
Start with Gusto
$100 Visa gift card after your first payroll, through my referral link.
What Gusto costs at your size
List prices from Gusto, checked September 2026. Drag to your team size.
·
Plus
$176/mo
$80 + $12/person · 8 people
You have people in more than one state, want hours tracked inside payroll, or need next-day pay without the add-on.
·
Premium
$356/mo
$180 + $22/person · 8 people
You want an HR expert on call, a dedicated advisor, or same-day pay when a payroll runs late.
·
Contractor Only
$83/mo
$35 + $6/contractor · 8 contractors
$0 base fee for the first 6 months
You only pay 1099 contractors and haven’t hired W-2 employees yet.
The same 8 people on other payroll
- Square PayrollFull-service payroll$83/mo
- GustoSimple$97/mo
- OnPayPayroll Essentials$97/mo
- QuickBooks PayrollWorkforce Payroll$144/mo
List prices for the entry plan at each company, checked September 2026. QuickBooks Payroll also needs a QuickBooks Online plan.
Gusto plan totals update as you change the team size.
What costs extra
The plan price covers payroll. These are the charges that can show up on top of it.
Faster pay
- Next-day pay
- Extra on Simple. Included on Plus and Premium.
- $15/mo + $3/person
- Same-day pay
- Included on Premium. Only offered on eligible late payrolls. You can’t turn it on yourself.
- $90 per payroll
- Instant pay
- Included on Premium. Eligible late payrolls only, and it can’t be reversed.
- $100 per payroll
Sources disagree. Gusto’s pricing page lists next-day pay as an add-on on Simple, but its help center says it’s included on all plans for accounts in good standing. We show the pricing page’s version. Check your plan settings before paying for it.
Time and HR
- Time & Attendance Plus
- Extra on Simple. Plus and Premium include time tracking.
- $6/person
- Priority support
- Extra on Simple and Plus. Included on Premium.
- $30/mo + $3/person
- Performance reviews
- Extra on Simple.
- $3/person
Benefits
- Health insurance
- All plans. No Gusto admin fee when you use their brokers.
- Premiums only
- Bring your own broker
- All plans.
- $6/mo per eligible employee
- Workers’ comp
- All plans. Pay-as-you-go, synced to payroll.
- From $14/mo
Fees to avoid
- Payroll your account can’t cover
- All plans. Charged if the money isn’t in your bank by 4 pm PT on the debit date. Gusto can also pause faster pay speeds.
- $100
- Registering in a new state
- Optional add-on. Or register with the state yourself.
- Varies by state
How to pay less
- 1
Start on Simple
Upgrade only when you add a second state or need hours tracked inside payroll. You can switch plans anytime.
- 2
Skip the add-ons you don’t need
Gusto pitches HR and benefits add-ons often. None of them are required to run payroll.
- 3
Track hours where you already do
I track my crew’s hours in Jobber and enter them in Gusto, so I don’t pay for time tracking twice.
- 4
Keep the payroll cash in the bank
A payroll your account can’t cover costs $100. Connecting your bank with Plaid lets Gusto warn you first.
- 5
Contractors only? Use that plan
The Contractor Only plan has no base fee for the first 6 months.
Is it worth it?
For me, yes. Gusto files my payroll taxes, and both times a tax notice showed up, they sorted it. What bugs me is the steady pitch for HR add-ons, and the push to get my employees onto Gusto’s money account. You can ignore both.
Common questions
How much does Gusto cost per employee?
It depends on the plan. Each has a monthly base fee plus a charge per person: $49 + $6/person on Simple, $80 + $12/person on Plus, and $180 + $22/person on Premium.
Does Gusto charge for contractors?
Yes, contractors count as people on your plan. If you only pay contractors, the Contractor Only plan is $35 + $6/contractor, with no base fee for the first 6 months.
Does Gusto have a contract or setup fee?
No. Gusto is month-to-month, setup is free, and you can switch plans or cancel anytime.
Does Gusto have hidden fees?
The plan price covers payroll and tax filing. Extra charges come from add-ons like next-day pay on Simple ($15/mo + $3/person), same-day pay ($90 per payroll), and a $100 fee if a payroll debit fails for lack of funds.
Is Gusto cheaper than QuickBooks Payroll?
Usually, at the entry plans: Gusto Simple is $49 + $6/person and QuickBooks Payroll is $50 + $7/employee, plus a QuickBooks Online plan you need alongside it.
How many payrolls can I run each month?
Unlimited, on every plan.
Sources: Gusto pricing, Direct deposit speeds, Processing payroll overview.
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Gusto · from $49/mo
$100 after your first payroll