Gusto review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Gusto fits small businesses in the US that want payroll handled inside the same product. It starts at $49 and offers no free plan, so teams that want to try before paying lean toward ANNA Money instead.
Key facts
- Best for
- Small US businesses that want payroll included in the plan rather than added on.
- Price from
- $49 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- No (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Payroll
- Included (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2012 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Small business
- Pricing model
- Free trial
- Official website
- gusto.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Payroll is included in the offering, matching included
- Aimed squarely at small businesses, as small business shows
- Runs on ios, so staff can use their phones
- Entry pricing of $49 is close to the payroll software median of €21.40
Cons
- There is no free plan, so there is nothing to try at no cost
- Entry pricing of $49 sits above the site median of €13.15
- Only ios is listed, so desktop access is not part of the stated platforms
Who it suits
- US small businesses that run payroll every pay cycle
- Teams that want payroll included rather than bought as an add on
- Office managers who check payroll from a phone
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams that need a free plan, where ANNA Money starts free
- Anyone outside the US, since Gusto is based in the United States
Intro and renewal prices
Gusto charges from $49, which places it in the middle of the payroll software range rather than at the entry end. The mode is a free trial, so you can look around before settling on a plan. There is no free plan, so a trial is the only route in at no cost. Renewal pricing is not listed, so treat $49 as the entry point and confirm the ongoing figure with Gusto before you sign up.
The company behind it
Gusto was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in the United States, so it is a US company built for the small business market. That focus is why payroll is treated as a core part of the product rather than an extra. It is a sensible fit for a US team that wants one place for payroll, and a poor match for anyone operating in another market.
How Gusto compares
8.7 vs 8.7
8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 9.1- 8.7 vs 9.2
8.7 vs 9.5
8.7 vs 9.0- 8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 9.2- 8.7 vs 9.0
- 8.7 vs 8.9
8.7 vs 9.1
8.7 vs 9.0
8.7 vs 8.9
8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 8.8
8.7 vs 8.0
Where Gusto is available
- Available
- United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Gusto cost?+
Gusto starts at $49. That is above the €13.15 median across the site and close to the €21.40 payroll software median, so expect a mid range figure rather than the cheapest entry on the market.
Is there a free plan?+
No. Gusto has no free plan, so there is nothing to use at no cost. The way in is a free trial, which is the model Gusto uses for people who want to look before they commit to a paid plan.
Is payroll included or an extra?+
Payroll is included in the Gusto offering, which suits teams that do not want to bolt payroll onto another tool. It is one of the more common setups in the payroll software ranking, so a paid add on is not required to get the core function.
Where is Gusto based and who does it serve?+
Gusto is headquartered in the United States and was founded in 2012. Its stated audience is small business, so it is aimed at teams of that size rather than large enterprises or individual hobbyists.
Which platforms does Gusto run on?+
The listed platform is ios, so phone access is the stated way in. There is no other platform named in the details, so check the current platform list if desktop access matters to your team.
Can I try Gusto before paying?+
Gusto runs on a free trial model, so there is a trial to explore. The length of that trial is not listed here, and a typical trial on the site runs about 14 days, though yours may differ.
How does Gusto compare with free options?+
Free tools such as ANNA Money start at £0 and Aspire at SGD 0, so both give you a way to start at no cost. Gusto starts at $49 and carries no free plan, which is the trade for having payroll included.
Sources
- apps.apple.com/us/app/gusto-mobile/id1478804271 checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Platforms
“trackName=Gusto Mobile; sellerName=Gusto, inc.”
- startupfundraising.com/library/articles/zenpayroll-gusto-... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Audience
“Headquarters San Francisco, California, United States”
- techcrunch.com/2019/07/24/smb-payroll-startup-gusto-raise... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“The company was founded in 2012”
- spotsaas.com/product/gusto/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan, Pricing model, Payroll, Price from
“Pricing Model Free Trial Subscription Quotation Based”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Free trial length, Local compliance.