Gusto review

The easiest-to-use platform for all-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR, perfect for business owners without HR staff.

Top 11 rank

#1 of 11

Score

9.3/9.4

Pricing

$$ ($46 to $150+/mo)

HQ

San Francisco, USA

Verdict

Gusto is the best overall payroll provider for SMBs because its platform is exceptionally easy to navigate, making complex tasks like payroll runs, benefits enrollment, and employee onboarding simple for non-HR experts.

What customers praise

The 'autopilot' feature for payroll is a significant time-saver, and the employee self-service portal is best-in-class.

What customers criticise

Customer support response times can sometimes lag during peak periods like year-end tax season.

Best for

Small businesses prioritizing an intuitive, user-friendly interface for integrated payroll, benefits, and basic HR.

At a glance

  • Integrations: QuickBooks Online, Xero, TSheets, Deputy, Clover, Google Workspace
  • Compliance: Federal Tax Filing, State Tax Filing, Local Tax Filing, W-2/1099 Generation, ACA, Workers' Comp
  • Regions served: USA
  • Typical onboarding: 1 day

Red flags

Public risk signals as of May 2026: none. No material public risk signals as of 2026-05-31. See the full red-flag report.

Alternatives

See alternatives to Gusto, or compare against the next-ranked entry: Gusto vs Rippling.

Where else this brand ranks

Source: Top 11 Gusto vs Rippling vs QuickBooks Payroll: 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs 2026, verified May 31, 2026 — no paid placement.