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TOP ALTERNATIVE Gusto Alternatives
6 alternatives compared · Gusto pricing starts at $49/mo · ✓ verified 39h ago
If Gusto isn't the right fit for your hr & payroll needs — whether the price ($49/mo) doesn't match your budget, the feature set is too thin, or you want to avoid vendor lock-in — there are 6 legitimate alternatives in this category. Below we rank them by our StackScore (a weighted blend of price, feature coverage, and free-tier value), with verified pricing pulled directly from each vendor's live page.
The top alternative right now is Deel at $5/mo. Below that, you'll find 5 additional options ranging from free-plan options to premium tools — each linked to its full pricing breakdown plus a head-to-head comparison against Gusto.
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Starting at $3.49/mo
93% cheaper than Gusto
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About the hr & payroll category
HR and payroll pricing in 2026 splits into two worlds: domestic US platforms (Gusto, OnPay, Paychex) and global platforms (Deel, Rippling). For a 20-person US team, costs range from $98.80/mo (Buddy Punch, time tracking only) to $300+/mo (BambooHR with payroll add-on). Gusto and OnPay charge identical rates: $49 base + $6/person. Paychex undercuts both at $39 + $5/person but strips features from its entry tier. The global side is more expensive by design — Deel's EOR service at $599/employee/mo and Rippling's quote-based pricing reflect the complexity of multi-country employment law. Deel disrupted the market with free HR for up to 200 people, making it the most generous free tier in any SaaS category we track.
How to choose: buying criteria for hr & payroll
Two questions determine your shortlist. First: do you hire internationally? If yes, only Deel and Rippling handle global payroll and contractor payments. Everyone else is US-only, and bolting a second platform onto your domestic payroll creates operational overhead. Second: what do you actually need? If it's just payroll and tax filing, OnPay's single $49 + $6/person plan covers everything with no upsells. If you need HR workflows (performance reviews, PTO management, onboarding), BambooHR and Rippling offer deeper tools. If you need time tracking for field workers, Buddy Punch's GPS and geofencing solve a specific problem no one else addresses. Also compare integration ecosystems: Rippling has 500+, Gusto has 250+, OnPay has just 40 — that gap matters if your accounting software needs to sync automatically.
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Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best alternatives to Gusto in 2026?
- The top alternative to Gusto is Deel with a StackScore of 85/100. Other options include OnPay and Paychex. All prices verified daily.
- Is there a cheaper alternative to Gusto?
- Yes! Buddy Punch starts at $3.49/mo, which is cheaper than Gusto's $49/mo.
- Are there free alternatives to Gusto?
- Currently, none of the hr & payroll alternatives in our comparison offer a free plan, but several offer free trials.