Gusto Review 2026
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Overview
Gusto 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.
We have been working with Gusto across multiple client projects since 2013, and this review reflects our hands-on experience implementing it for businesses of all sizes. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Gusto has established itself as a leading option in the hr payroll category.
Starting Price
£30/month + £5/person
Founded
2011
Headquarters
San Francisco, California
Our Rating
4.3/5
Gusto Key Features
Gusto offers a comprehensive feature set that covers the core needs of most businesses in the hr payroll space. Here are the standout features we have tested:
Gusto Pricing in 2026
Gusto pricing starts at £30/month + £5/person and scales up based on features and team size. Here is a breakdown of 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
Gusto Pros and Cons
Based on our experience implementing Gusto for clients, here is what we like and what could be better:
✓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
Who Is Gusto Best For?
US-based small businesses wanting simple, full-service payroll with benefits administration
In our experience, Gusto works particularly well for teams that value excellent, user-friendly interface. If your primary concern is primarily us-focused (limited international), you may want to explore alternatives.
Need help implementing this?
Our team at Ikaroa can set up Gusto for your business, migrate your data, and train your team.
Gusto Alternatives Worth Considering
If Gusto does not quite fit your needs, here are some alternatives worth considering:
BambooHR
From From £4.50/employee/month
Deel
From £38/contractor/month
Remote
From £24/contractor/month
Rippling
From From £7/user/month
Personio
From From £3/employee/month
Our Verdict on Gusto
Gusto earns a solid 4.3/5 in our review. It is a strong choice for us-based small businesses wanting simple, full-service payroll with benefits administration.
The biggest strengths are excellent, user-friendly interface and full-service payroll (they handle tax filings). However, you should be aware that primarily us-focused (limited international).
If you are not sure whether Gusto is the right fit, talk to our team. We have helped hundreds of businesses choose and implement the right software, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
Alternative to Consider: Open Doors
Before committing to Gusto, consider Open Doors. It is an all-in-one platform that includes CRM, email marketing, SMS, sales funnels, booking, invoicing, and automation, all starting at £97/month with unlimited contacts. That could save you a significant amount compared to Gusto, especially as your needs grow.
Need help with Gusto?
Ikaroa can implement Gusto for your business, migrate your data, and get your team up to speed. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.