Gusto vs Pipedrive
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Gusto and Pipedrive. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Pipedrive edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.4/5. However, Gusto (4.3/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise US-based small businesses wanting simple, full-service payroll with benefits administration. Read on for the full breakdown.
Gusto vs Pipedrive at a Glance
Gusto
★ 4.3Gusto is a modern payroll and HR platform that simplifies paying employees, filing taxes, and managing benefits. Known for its delightful user experience and full-service payroll, it handles everything from direct deposits and tax filings to health insurance and retirement plans. Primarily focused on the US market.
Starting from: £30/month + £5/person
Best for: US-based small businesses wanting simple, full-service payroll with benefits administration
Read full review →Pipedrive
★ 4.4A sales-focused CRM built by salespeople, for salespeople. Pipedrive excels at visual pipeline management and is known for its simplicity and ease of use.
Starting from: £14/user/month
Best for: Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM
Read full review →Gusto vs Pipedrive Feature Comparison
Here is how Gusto and Pipedrive compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Gusto | Pipedrive |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £30/month + £5/person | £14/user/month |
| Best For | US-based small businesses wanting simple, full-service payroll with benefits administration | Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM |
| Our Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
Gusto vs Pipedrive Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
Gusto Pricing
Simple
£30/month + £5/person
- ✓Full-service payroll
- ✓Employee self-service
- ✓Health benefits
- ✓2-day direct deposit
Plus
£55/month + £8/person
- ✓Everything in Simple
- ✓Next-day direct deposit
- ✓Time tracking
- ✓PTO management
- ✓Hiring tools
Premium
Custom
- ✓Everything in Plus
- ✓Dedicated support
- ✓HR Resource Centre
- ✓Compliance alerts
- ✓Performance reviews
Pipedrive Pricing
Essential
£14/user/month
- ✓Pipeline management
- ✓Deal tracking
- ✓Email integration
Advanced
£29/user/month
- ✓Everything in Essential
- ✓Email automation
- ✓Workflow automation
Professional
£49/user/month
- ✓Everything in Advanced
- ✓Revenue forecasting
- ✓Team management
- ✓Custom fields
Power
£64/user/month
- ✓Everything in Professional
- ✓Phone support
- ✓Project management
Enterprise
£79/user/month
- ✓Everything in Power
- ✓Enhanced security
- ✓Unlimited reports
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Gusto and Pipedrive for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
Gusto Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Excellent, user-friendly interface
- •Full-service payroll (they handle tax filings)
- •Built-in benefits administration
- •Good hiring and onboarding tools
- •Affordable for small businesses
✗Cons
- •Primarily US-focused (limited international)
- •No UK payroll currently
- •Per-person pricing increases with headcount
- •Limited HR features on Simple plan
- •Benefits are US-specific
Pipedrive Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Beautiful, intuitive visual pipeline
- •Very easy to set up and use
- •Excellent mobile app
- •Good value for money
- •Built-in calling features
✗Cons
- •Limited marketing features
- •Reporting could be more advanced
- •No free plan available
- •Email integration can be clunky
- •Limited customer support features
Our Verdict: Gusto vs Pipedrive
Both Gusto and Pipedrive are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose Gusto if you need US-based small businesses wanting simple, full-service payroll with benefits administration. With a starting price of £30/month + £5/person and a rating of 4.3/5, it offers excellent, user-friendly interface.
Choose Pipedrive if you need Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM. Starting at £14/user/month with a 4.4/5 rating, it excels at beautiful, intuitive visual pipeline.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between Gusto and Pipedrive? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up Gusto or Pipedrive for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.