Gusto excels as a dedicated payroll and HR platform with simpler, more affordable pricing starting at $40/month, while Rippling is a comprehensive all-in-one workforce management platform that integrates payroll, HR, IT, and benefits into a single system, making it better for larger enterprises seeking complete workplace automation.
Gusto vs Rippling — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Cloud-based payroll and HR platform designed for small to mid-sized businesses.
All-in-one workforce management platform integrating payroll, HR, IT, and benefits into a single system.
Starting Monthly Price. Primary Focus. IT Management & Device Control. Best For Company Size. Third-Party Integrations. Benefits Administration. Ease of Implementation
Choose Gusto if you're a small-to-mid-sized company (under 200 employees) seeking an affordable, easy-to-use payroll and HR solution with quick implementation. Choose Rippling if you're a growing mid-market or enterprise company that needs unified control over payroll, HR, IT infrastructure, and employee devices in a single platform, justifying the higher investment.
Gusto: $40 base + $6 per employee | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Advanced with real-time updates | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Built-in time tracking tool | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: REST API with limitations | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Up to 500-1000 | Rippling: Unlimited (5000+)
Gusto: No | Rippling: Yes, fully integrated
Gusto: Payroll, HR, benefits, time-off | Rippling: Payroll, HR, benefits, time-off, basic IT
Gusto: Full employee self-service and admin | Rippling: Employee self-service with limited admin
Gusto: Email, chat, phone (business hours) | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Basic HR, benefits, time tracking | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Gusto Simple Plan | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Highly intuitive, modern design | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Comprehensive, fully integrated | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Small to mid-market | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Full payroll management | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Self-service HR tools, employee directory | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: User-managed with guidance | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Third-party integrations | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Low - quick self-setup | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Self-service resources, chat, email | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: 24/7 phone support | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: 5 minutes (phone) | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: $46 flat + $6/employee | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: 24/7 (168 hours/week) | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: 20+ pre-built templates only | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: 2-4 weeks | Rippling: 8-16 weeks (broader system scope)
Gusto: None (no native tools) | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Yes (included) | Rippling: Yes; native payroll in 160+ countries
Gusto: 50+ (bundled/direct) | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Built-in native module | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: Limited (15-20 standard) | Rippling: N/A
Gusto: $4–$8/month | Rippling: $10–$20/month
Gusto: No (requires integration) | Rippling: Yes (native MDM + provisioning)
Gusto: 500 employees | Rippling: 5000+ employees
Gusto: HR documents + benefits only | Rippling: IT + HR + hardware provisioning
Gusto: 99.8% (highly verified) | Rippling: 99.6% (enterprise audits)
Gusto: Not available | Rippling: Full MDM & provisioning
Gusto: 4.7/5 stars | Rippling: 4.4/5 stars
Gusto: Basic enrollment & management | Rippling: Advanced with AI optimization
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Modern, intuitive
Base Price Per Employee Per Month (PEPM)
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Unified all-in-one
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Comprehensive device tracking and security
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Partial - custom quotes required
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Native integration
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Yes, comprehensive MDM
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Basic peer recognition
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, FedRAMP (3)
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Full enrollment & management
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Yes (built-in across 50+ U.S. states)
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Native provisioning and SSO included
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Standard or not available
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Limited engagement tools
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Comprehensive employee directory with IT profile sync
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Standard ATS with basic workflow and offer management
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Built-in with auto tax updates and e-filing for all 50 states
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Native MDM with device provisioning and management
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: 300+ integrated carriers
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Full support with tax compliance
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Health insurance, 401(k), FSA/HSA, commuter benefits
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Automated with geolocation, project codes, approval workflows
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: 100+ including Slack, Workday, ADP
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: 2-5 business days
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Full MDM included
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Limited (employee-focused)
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: 4.7 stars (3,200+ reviews)
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Native payroll built-in
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Standard (basic tasks and requests)
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Native MDM, device provisioning, and asset tracking included
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Standard 2-way reviews, basic feedback, limited customization
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Basic survey capabilities; engagement not primary focus
Annual Cost (500 employees, standard tier)
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: 4.6 / 5.0 (2,800+ reviews)
Typical Vendor Integration Count Eliminated
Gusto: N/A | Rippling: Consolidates 5-10 vendors into single platform
How to choose between Gusto and Rippling
Gusto vs Rippling — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Gusto vs Rippling. Contains 172 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Gusto vs Rippling — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Gusto vs Rippling.
Which platform is cheaper for a 50-person startup?
Gusto is significantly cheaper for small teams. At $40/month base plus $6-12 per employee per month, a 50-person company would pay approximately $340-640/month. Rippling's pricing starts at $500+/month and scales higher, making it 2-3x more expensive for small teams. Gusto is the clear choice for startups optimizing for cost.
Does Gusto handle IT management like device provisioning?
No, Gusto does not offer IT management or device provisioning. It focuses exclusively on payroll and HR. If you need to manage employee devices, laptops, and IT infrastructure, you would need to use a separate tool like Jamf or Microsoft Intune, or switch to Rippling, which includes comprehensive IT management built-in.
Can Rippling replace my current HR, payroll, and IT tools?
Yes, Rippling is designed as an all-in-one platform to replace separate HR, payroll, and IT management tools. It consolidates employee data across all functions, reducing redundancy and manual data entry by up to 80%. However, you may still need specialized tools for advanced analytics, recruiting, or performance management depending on your needs.
How long does it take to switch from another payroll system to Gusto?
Gusto typically completes migration and implementation in 2-4 weeks. The platform handles the data import from your previous system and provides dedicated onboarding support. Most companies can go live with their first Gusto payroll within a month, making it one of the fastest implementations in the market.
Which platform is better for a 500-person company?
For a 500-person company, Rippling is the better choice despite higher costs. At this scale, the unified platform prevents data inconsistencies across HR, payroll, and IT systems. Gusto could still work for payroll and HR alone, but you'd lose the integrated IT management benefits that become critical for enterprise-level operations. The ROI from automation and unified administration at this scale typically justifies Rippling's investment.
How to Choose Between Gusto and Rippling
Starting Monthly Price: Gusto has $40/month, while Rippling has $500+/month.
Primary Focus: Gusto has Payroll + HR, while Rippling has All-in-one workforce platform (payroll, HR, IT, benefits, devices).
Consider: IT Management & Device Control
IT Management & Device Control: Gusto has Not included, while Rippling has Full IT management, MDM, device provisioning.
Best For Company Size: Gusto has 1-500 employees (small to mid-market), while Rippling has 100+ employees (mid-market to enterprise).
Third-Party Integrations: Gusto has 400+ integrations, while Rippling has 1000+ integrations.
Benefits Administration: Gusto has Basic benefits enrollment and management, while Rippling has Advanced benefits with cost optimization and analytics.
Ease of Implementation: Gusto has 2-4 weeks, user-friendly, while Rippling has 4-8 weeks, requires more configuration.