Payroll, benefits, and HR compliance platform designed for small-to-mid-sized businesses.
Startups, SMBs, and growing companies that want affordable, flexible payroll software with direct control over HR operations
Transparent, affordable HR and payroll platform for early-stage startups and small businesses.
Small to mid-size businesses seeking comprehensive HR outsourcing, compliance management, and reduced HR department burden
Gusto is a self-service payroll and HR software platform where you manage everything internally, while Justworks operates as a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) co-employer that handles HR, payroll, and compliance on your behalf. Justworks offers more hands-on support and compliance management, while Gusto provides greater flexibility and lower costs for small businesses.
Gusto is the better choice for cost-conscious startups and small businesses that want maximum control and flexibility with transparent, scalable pricing. Justworks excels for companies seeking comprehensive HR management, compliance handling, and dedicated support as a strategic co-employer partner. The decision hinges on whether you prioritize affordability and autonomy (Gusto) or outsourced HR expertise and compliance assurance (Justworks).
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Startups, SMBs, and growing companies that want affordable, flexible payroll software with direct control over HR operations
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| Metric | Gusto | Justworks | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (Monthly)(USD) | $40 base + $6 per employee | — | — |
| Employee Self-Service Portal Rating(score) | 8.1 out of 10 | — | — |
| Maximum Company Size Supported(employees) | 5000+ | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost Per Employee(USD) | $6 | — | — |
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Choose Justworks if
Small to mid-size businesses seeking comprehensive HR outsourcing, compliance management, and reduced HR department burden
| Maximum Employee Count Supported(Employees) |
| Up to 500-1000 |
| — |
| — |
| Average Implementation Time(Days) | 1-3 days | — | — |
| Number of Integrations(Integrations) | 200+ | — | — |
| Customer Satisfaction Score (NPS)(Points) | 72 | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $40 + $10 base | — | — |
| Implementation Timeline(days) | 1-2 weeks | — | — |
| US Market Share(percent) | ~5% | — | — |
| Global Payroll Countries(countries) | 100+ | — | — |
| Max Employee Capacity(employees) | 500-1000 | — | — |
| Entry-Level Monthly Base Fee($) | Gusto Simple Plan | — | — |
| Mid-Tier Monthly Base Fee($) | Gusto Plus Plan | — | — |
| Maximum Recommended Company Size(employees) | Small to mid-market | — | — |
| State Coverage(states) | All US states | — | — |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $35 | $50 | -30% |
| Per-Employee Monthly Cost($) | $6-$22 | $8 | +75% |
| Base Monthly Price(USD) | $39 | — | — |
| Payroll Per-Employee Fee(USD per employee) | $6 (included) | — | — |
| Average Support Response Time(minutes) | 5 minutes (phone) | — | — |
| G2 Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars (out of 5)) | 4.7 | — | — |
| Target Company Size (Employee Count)(employees) | 1-1,000 | — | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $46 flat + $6/employee | — | — |
| Typical Implementation Timeline(months) | 1-2 weeks | — | — |
| Supported Payroll Countries(countries) | USA only | — | — |
| Mobile App Store Rating(stars) | 4.8/5 stars | — | — |
| Starting Price (per employee/month)(USD) | $12-15/month | — | — |
| Implementation Timeline(weeks) | 2-4 weeks | — | — |
| Customizable HR Fields(fields) | 20-30 | — | — |
| Benefits Provider Integrations(carriers) | 100+ | — | — |
| Customer Support Response Time(hours) | 24-48 hours | — | — |
| Optimal Company Size Range(employees) | 1-500 | — | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(applications) | 150+ | — | — |
| Maximum Pricing Tier(USD/month) | $599 | $599 | — |
| Base Monthly Fee(USD) | $50 | $50 | — |
| Third-party Integrations(integrations) | 200+ | 200+ | — |
| Implementation Time(hours) | 1-2 weeks | 1-2 weeks | — |
| Starting Price Per Employee/Month(USD) | $8 | $8 | — |
| Payroll Processing Fee(USD) | $50 flat + $8/person | $50 flat + $8/person | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Gusto
Self-service software platform
Justworks
Professional Employer Organization (PEO/Co-employer)🏆
Gusto
$35-$80🏆
Justworks
$50-$79
Gusto
$6-$22🏆
Justworks
$8
Gusto
User responsibility with guidance
Justworks
Handled by Justworks as co-employer🏆
Gusto
Self-service with resources
Justworks
Dedicated support and consultation🏆
Gusto
Integration with third-party providers
Justworks
Built-in with PEO Plus plan🏆
Gusto
Startups to mid-size (1-500+ employees)
Justworks
Small to medium (1-500+ employees)
Gusto
High control, full customization🏆
Justworks
Shared control with PEO governance
Gusto is a self-service payroll and HR software platform where you retain full control and manage everything internally with the company's guidance. Justworks operates as a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), acting as a co-employer that handles HR, payroll, tax filing, and compliance on your behalf. Gusto offers more flexibility and lower costs, while Justworks provides comprehensive outsourced HR management and compliance expertise.
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| Attribute | Gusto | Justworks |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (Monthly)(USD) | $40 base + $6 per employee | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost Per Employee(USD) | $6 | — |
| Starting Monthly Cost(USD) | $40 + $10 base | — |
| Entry-Level Monthly Base Fee($) | Gusto Simple Plan | — |
| Mid-Tier Monthly Base Fee($) | Gusto Plus Plan | — |
Show 10 more attributesBase Monthly Price(USD) $35 $50 Per-Employee Monthly Cost($) $6-$22 $8 Base Monthly Price(USD) $39 — Starting Monthly Cost(USD) $46 flat + $6/employee — Starting Price (per employee/month)(USD) $12-15/month — Maximum Pricing Tier(USD/month) $599 — Base Monthly Fee(USD) $50 — EOR Pricing(USD/employee/month) Not offered — Starting Price Per Employee/Month(USD) $8 — Payroll Processing Fee(USD) $50 flat + $8/person — | ||
| Tax Compliance Automation | Advanced with real-time updates | — |
| State Coverage(states) | All US states | — |
| Compliance Management | User-managed with guidance | PEO-managed (co-employer responsibility) |
| Employee Self-Service Portal Rating(score) | 8.1 out of 10 | — |
| Mobile App Store Rating(stars) | 4.8/5 stars | — |
| Maximum Company Size Supported(employees) | 5000+ | — |
| Maximum Employee Count Supported(Employees) | Up to 500-1000 | — |
| Max Employee Capacity(employees) | 500-1000 | — |
| Maximum Recommended Company Size(employees) | Small to mid-market | — |
| Ideal Employee Range(employees) | 10-500 | — |
Show 1 more attributeIdeal Company Size(employees) 1-50 employees — | ||
| Time Tracking | Built-in time tracking tool | — |
| Payroll Processing | Full payroll management | Full payroll management + tax filing |
| Benefits Administration | Third-party integrations | Basic benefits included |
| API Availability | REST API with limitations | — |
| API Access Level | Limited REST API | — |
| Integrated IT/Device Management | No | — |
| Features Included in Base Plan | Payroll, HR, benefits, time-off | — |
| Mobile App Functionality | Full employee self-service and admin | — |
| Employee Benefits Platform | Comprehensive, fully integrated | — |
| Payroll Loan Program | Not available | — |
Show 6 more attributesHR Tools Included Self-service HR tools, employee directory Complete HR platform with dedicated support Customizable HR Fields(fields) 20-30 — Performance Management Capabilities None (no native tools) — Benefits Provider Integrations(carriers) 100+ — IT Asset Management Minimal capabilities — Industry-Specific Tools General HR tools — | ||
| Average Implementation Time(Days) | 1-3 days | — |
| Implementation Timeline(weeks) | 2-4 weeks | — |
| Number of Integrations(Integrations) | 200+ | — |
| Customer Satisfaction Score (NPS)(Points) | 72 | — |
| Implementation Timeline(days) | 1-2 weeks | — |
| Typical Implementation Timeline(months) | 1-2 weeks | — |
| US Market Share(percent) | ~5% | — |
| Global Payroll Countries(countries) | 100+ | — |
| Customer Support Availability(hours/day) | Email, chat, phone (business hours) | 24/7 dedicated support |
| Customer Support Type | Self-service resources, chat, email | Dedicated advisors, 24/7 support |
| Customer Support Availability(hours/day) | 24/7 phone support | — |
| Average Support Response Time(minutes) | 5 minutes (phone) | — |
| Customer Support Hours(hours/week) | 24/7 (168 hours/week) | — |
Show 1 more attributeCustomer Support Response Time(hours) 24-48 hours — | ||
| Customer Satisfaction Rating(relative ranking) | 4.8 | — |
| HR & Talent Management Features | Basic HR, benefits, time tracking | — |
| User Interface Complexity | Highly intuitive, modern design | — |
| Setup Complexity | Low - quick self-setup | Medium - onboarding support required |
| Implementation Time(hours) | 1-2 weeks | — |
| Payroll Per-Employee Fee(USD per employee) | $6 (included) | — |
| G2 Customer Satisfaction Rating(stars (out of 5)) | 4.7 | — |
| Target Company Size (Employee Count)(employees) | 1-1,000 | — |
| Supported Payroll Countries(countries) | USA only | — |
| Custom Report Builder | 20+ pre-built templates only | — |
| Optimal Company Size Range(employees) | 1-500 | — |
| Third-Party Integrations(applications) | 150+ | — |
| Third-party Integrations(integrations) | 200+ | — |
| Pricing Transparency | Full - four published tiers | — |
| Contract Terms | Month-to-month available | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes