SFDIFY
Gusto pricing has three team plans: Simple at $49/mo + $7/mo per person, Plus at $99/mo + $12/mo per person and Premium at $179/mo + $22/mo per person, plus a Solo plan for solopreneurs running an S corp at the same $49/mo + $7/mo per person as Simple [1]. Every plan is month-to-month and includes unlimited payroll runs [1]. On list price, OnPay starts slightly lower at "$49 base + $6/worker per month" [2], Rippling starts at "$8 per employee per month, with a monthly base fee" and quotes the rest [3], and ADP shows no RUN prices on its product page, only "Get Pricing" buttons [4].
How we chose
We compared Gusto's four published plans with three tools a small business is likely to price next: OnPay, RUN Powered by ADP and Rippling. Every price and feature comes from the vendors' own pricing and product pages, checked on 2026-11-08; we did no hands-on testing. Prices exclude payroll taxes, benefits premiums and promotions unless noted.
Gusto pricing at a glance
| Product | Best for | Starting price | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | Small US teams that want published per-person pricing and optional benefits | $49/mo + $7/mo per person on Simple [1] | Simple is for payroll "in one state"; multi-state payroll starts on Plus [1] |
| OnPay | Cost-focused teams, including those paying staff in several states | $49 base + $6/worker per month [2] | Multi-state payroll at "No additional cost" [2] |
| RUN Powered by ADP | Businesses with 1-49 employees that prefer a sales-led quote | Quote only ("Get Pricing") [4] | Four packages, from Essential Payroll to HR Pro Payroll & HR [4] |
| Rippling | Companies that want payroll, HR, IT and finance on one platform | From $8 per employee per month plus a base fee [3] | Total depends on the products you select; custom quote [3] |
Gusto plans explained: Simple, Plus, Premium and Solo
Each Gusto plan combines a monthly base fee with a per-person fee, and Gusto says "you're only charged for active employees" [1]. Upgrades take effect immediately, while downgrades start at the next billing period, the first of the month [1].
Simple: $49/mo + $7/mo per person
Gusto's one-line description is "Run basic payroll in one state." The headline features are unlimited payrolls per month, tax filings and payments, and basic PTO policies and holiday pay [1]. Support is Basic Support: the online Help Center plus call or chat during business hours [1]. It fits a single-location business with a few W-2 employees.
Plus: $99/mo + $12/mo per person
Gusto tags Plus "BEST VALUE" and pitches it for paying "a mixed workforce" and expanding into new states [1]. It adds time tracking and scheduling, unlimited next-day pay, multi-state payroll and contractor invoice management [1]. For multi-state or remote teams, Plus is the realistic starting point. Support is still Basic Support unless you buy the Priority Support add-on [1].
Premium: $179/mo + $22/mo per person
Premium adds Premium Account Support with "a dedicated Premium Account Partner," HR guidance and tools, Gusto Business Compliance, unlimited same-day and instant pay, and project-based rules and costing [1]. Several items that are paid add-ons on lower plans, such as Remote I-9 and E-Verify, are included [1]. It suits growing companies that would otherwise buy those add-ons one by one.
Solo: $49/mo + $7/mo per person
Under the "Pay Myself" tab, Gusto lists Solo "For solopreneurs needing payroll, S corp compliance support and the option to pay contractors" [1]. Its features include compliant self-pay with automatic tax filing, a reasonable salary calculator, and S corp election and compliance [1].
Is there a contractor-only plan? The pricing page we checked does not list a separate contractor-only plan. Instead, "U.S. contractors are billed at the per-person cost for any plan you select," and only in months when you pay them [1]. Global contractor payments reach "more than 120 countries" with no monthly per-contractor fee; Gusto charges a service and foreign exchange fee on each payment instead [1].
Gusto add-ons and fees to budget for
With Gusto payroll pricing, the base plan is rarely the whole bill. These are the add-ons Gusto prices on its pricing page [1]:
- Next-day pay (Simple only; included in Plus and Premium): "$15/mo + 3/mo per person".
- Same-day pay: $90 per payroll. Instant pay: $100 per payroll. Both are included in Premium.
- Time & Attendance Plus (Simple): "Try it free, then $6/mo per person".
- Priority Support (Simple and Plus): $30/mo + $3/mo per person.
- Gusto Business Compliance: "$85/mo per state for an annual contract", included in Premium.
- Remote I-9: $20 per submission, included in Premium.
- Health insurance: no Gusto administration fee when Gusto is your broker; keeping your own broker costs $6/mo per eligible employee.
- R&D tax credits: "Pay 15% of identified tax credits".
Gusto payroll cost at 5, 10 and 25 people
| Team size | Gusto Simple | Gusto Plus | Gusto Premium | OnPay Payroll Essentials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 people | $84/mo | $159/mo | $289/mo | $79/mo |
| 10 people | $119/mo | $219/mo | $399/mo | $109/mo |
| 25 people | $224/mo | $399/mo | $729/mo | $199/mo |
We calculated these monthly list prices from the published fees [1] [2], before add-ons or promotions. Two details matter. Gusto Simple is limited to one state [1], while OnPay's base plan includes multi-state payroll [2], so a multi-state team should compare OnPay with Gusto Plus rather than Simple. And Gusto Plus includes time tracking [1], while OnPay sells Time Tracking as an add-on at "$15 base and $4/worker per month" [2], so like-for-like gaps are smaller than the base columns suggest.
Gusto — published pricing that scales with you
Gusto handles payroll, HR and benefits for small businesses, and says more than 500,000 businesses run on it [5]. It is the most complete self-serve option here, but not the cheapest.
Verified features: Unlimited payroll runs on every plan, with no extra charge for off-cycle payrolls [1]. Gusto files federal, state and local payroll tax forms, including Form W-2 and Form 1099 [1]. Health, 401(k) and business insurance options sit alongside payroll [1], and accounting integrations include QuickBooks and Xero [1].
Pricing: Simple $49/mo + $7/mo per person, Plus $99/mo + $12/mo per person, Premium $179/mo + $22/mo per person, and Solo $49/mo + $7/mo per person [1]. Gusto is "month-to-month. Cancel anytime." [1]
Strengths: All four plans and most add-ons are priced on the page, so you can budget without a sales call [1]. Contractors are billed only in months you pay them [1]. You can switch plans as you grow, with upgrades applied immediately [1].
Limitations: Simple is a one-state plan [1], so a multi-state employer starts at $99/mo plus $12 per person. At every team size in the table above, OnPay's list price is below Gusto Simple [1] [2]. Faster pay timing costs extra below Premium ($90 per payroll for same-day, $100 for instant) [1], and only Premium includes a dedicated support contact [1].
Best fit: Small US businesses that want transparent self-serve pricing and expect to move up to Plus or Premium as they grow.
OnPay — lowest list price, multi-state included
OnPay pairs payroll software with what it calls "35+ years of payroll expertise" [6]. It is the closest like-for-like price competitor to Gusto.
Verified features: The Payroll Essentials base plan lets you "Pay W-2 and 1099 workers," "Compliantly pay workers across all 50 states," and automates federal, state and local tax filings and payments [2]. It also includes benefits administration and "Free account setup and historical data migration" [2].
Pricing: $49 base + $6/worker per month for Payroll Essentials [2]. Add-ons include HR at "$15 base and $2/worker per month," Time Tracking at "$15 base and $4/worker per month," and Live HR Support at "$65 base per month" [2].
Strengths: One base plan covers multi-state payroll [2], which Gusto lists starting on Plus [1]. The base price is lower than Gusto Simple at every size we calculated.
Limitations: HR tools, time tracking and live HR support are separate add-ons [2], so the total climbs as you add them. The pricing page lists "Extended support hours (9am – 8pm weekdays)" [2], not round-the-clock support.
Best fit: Small businesses that mainly need payroll and tax filing, especially with employees in more than one state, and want the lowest published price.
RUN Powered by ADP — quote-based packages for 1-49 employees
RUN Powered by ADP is ADP's payroll and HR platform for small businesses, and ADP says it is "TRUSTED BY OVER 900,000 SMALL BUSINESSES" [4].
Verified features: RUN calculates and files payroll taxes, generates and e-files W-2 and 1099 forms, and offers "AI-enabled error flagging" [4]. It integrates with Clover POS and offers a mobile app for running payroll [4]. ADP advertises "24/7 real-person support from payroll professionals" [4].
Pricing: The RUN page shows no prices. It lists four packages "FOR BUSINESSES WITH 1-49 EMPLOYEES" (Essential Payroll, Enhanced Payroll, Complete Payroll & HR+ and HR Pro Payroll & HR), each with a "Get Pricing" button [4]. ADP also promotes "Get up to 6 months FREE payroll," subject to terms and conditions [4].
Strengths: 24/7 live payroll support is listed even on Essential Payroll [4]. Higher packages add live HR support, an employee handbook wizard and, on HR Pro, access to legal assistance [4].
Limitations: Without published prices, you cannot compare RUN with Gusto until you request a quote [4].
Best fit: Owners who value round-the-clock live support and are comfortable negotiating price through ADP sales.
Rippling — modular pricing for payroll plus IT and finance
Rippling offers "global HR, Payroll, IT, and Finance in one place" [7]. It is broader than Gusto, and priced that way.
Verified features: Payroll "for employees and contractors around the world," IT tools to "Manage identity, access, and devices," and finance tools covering corporate cards, expenses and bill pay [7]. Rippling "integrates with hundreds of third-party apps" [3].
Pricing: "Rippling plans start at $8 per employee per month, with a monthly base fee," and your total depends on the products you choose; Rippling asks you to request a custom quote [3]. Eligible US VC-backed startups can get free access for 6 months through its startup program [3].
Strengths: Modular pricing lets you add products as you grow [3].
Limitations: The base fee and the full price are not published, so you need a quote to compare [3]. A payroll-only small business may pay for more platform than it uses.
Best fit: Venture-backed or fast-growing companies that want payroll tied to device management, app access and spend controls. For a deeper look, see our Deel vs Rippling comparison.
How to choose
- One state, small team, lowest bill: compare Gusto Simple with OnPay Payroll Essentials. OnPay's base list price is lower [1] [2].
- Employees in several states: compare OnPay's base plan with Gusto Plus, since Gusto Simple covers one state [1] [2].
- You want benefits, payroll and fast-pay options in one self-serve account: Gusto Plus or Premium.
- You want 24/7 live support and don't mind a sales quote: request RUN pricing from ADP [4].
- You also need IT and spend management: get a Rippling quote [3].
If you plan to pipe payroll or headcount data into a CRM or internal dashboard, our custom CRM development and AI integration services teams can help.
FAQ
How much does Gusto cost per month?
Gusto costs $49/mo + $7/mo per person on Simple, $99/mo + $12/mo per person on Plus, and $179/mo + $22/mo per person on Premium [1]. By our math from those list prices, a 10-person team pays $119, $219 or $399 per month before add-ons [1].
What is Gusto contractor pricing?
Gusto bills U.S. contractors "at the per-person cost for any plan you select," and only in months when you pay them [1]. Global contractor payments have no monthly per-contractor fee; Gusto charges a service and foreign exchange fee per payment [1].
Which Gusto plans include multi-state payroll?
Multi-state payroll is listed as a Plus feature, and Premium is the tier above Plus. Simple is described as basic payroll "in one state" [1].
Gusto pricing vs ADP: which costs less?
Gusto publishes its prices, starting at $49/mo + $7/mo per person [1]. ADP's RUN page shows no prices, only "Get Pricing" requests for its four packages [4], so you need an ADP quote to compare.
Does Gusto charge extra for payroll runs or require a contract?
No. Every plan "comes with unlimited payroll runs," and Gusto says it is "month-to-month. Cancel anytime." [1]
Our recommendation
Gusto pricing is easy to model, and Plus is the plan most growing teams should price first because it adds multi-state payroll and time tracking [1]. If you only need payroll and tax filing, price OnPay first: its base plan is cheaper and already covers multiple states [2]. Choose ADP RUN if 24/7 live support matters more than a published price, and Rippling if payroll is part of a wider HR, IT and finance rollout. If Gusto fits, start with Gusto on the plan that matches your state count today.
Sources
- Gusto Pricing, Plans & Fees (2026) | How Much Does Gusto Cost? — checked 2026-11-08
- OnPay Pricing Starts at $55 Per Month | Get Your First Month Free — checked 2026-11-08
- Rippling pricing: The platform for companies that want to grow faster — checked 2026-11-08
- RUN Powered by ADP Payroll Software | ADP — checked 2026-11-08
- Gusto | Online HR Services: Payroll, Benefits and everything else — checked 2026-11-08
- OnPay | Top-Rated Payroll Services, HR and More — checked 2026-11-08
- Rippling: Workforce Management System | HR, IT, Finance — checked 2026-11-08
