Gusto vs Rippling
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs. Last verified May 31, 2026.
The short answer
Gusto ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #2) for Small business owners running payroll without in-house HR. The easiest-to-use platform for all-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR, perfect for business owners without HR staff.
At a glance
| Gusto | Rippling | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs | #2 / The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Best for | Overall ease of use | Unified HR, IT, and payroll |
| Pricing | $$ ($46 to $150+/mo) | $$ ($43 to $200+/mo) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | 2016 |
Gusto
The easiest-to-use platform for all-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR, perfect for business owners without HR staff.
gusto.comRippling
A powerful, automation-focused platform that unifies payroll with HR and IT for streamlined operations.
www.rippling.comMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.