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
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.
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.
Structured comparison data for Gusto vs Rippling with 172 attributes.
Base Price Per Employee Per Month (PEPM)
Annual Cost (500 employees, standard tier)
Typical Vendor Integration Count Eliminated
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.