Gusto vs SurePayroll
Side-by-side from the Top 11 ranking of The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026). Last verified May 31, 2026.
The short answer
Gusto ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #10) 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 | SurePayroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026) | #10 / The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026) |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.3 | 7.6 |
| Best for | Overall ease of use | Household and micro-business payroll |
| Pricing | $$ ($46 to $150+/mo) | $ ($20+/mo) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | Glenview, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | 2000 |
Gusto
The easiest-to-use platform for all-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR, perfect for business owners without HR staff.
gusto.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026)
SurePayroll
An affordable, simple solution for micro-businesses and household employers, backed by Paychex.
www.surepayroll.comSee full entry in The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs (2026)
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.