Shareworks by Morgan Stanley vs Gusto
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of The 11 Best Cap Table Management Software and The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs. Last verified June 3, 2026.
The short answer
Gusto ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #4) for Startup founders managing equity, options, and 409A / 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
| Shareworks by Morgan Stanley | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #4 / The 11 Best Cap Table Management Software | #1 / The 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 8.6 | 9.3 |
| Best for | Enterprise & late-stage | Overall ease of use |
| Pricing | $$$$ (Quote-based) | $$ ($46 to $150+/mo) |
| HQ | Calgary, Canada | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 1999 | 2011 |
Shareworks by Morgan Stanley
Institutional-grade platform for mature private and public companies.
www.morganstanley.com/atwork/shareworksGusto
The easiest-to-use platform for all-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR, perfect for business owners without HR staff.
gusto.comMethodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.