Gusto vs OnPay (October 2026)
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Gusto
Full-service US payroll with automatic tax filing, benefits and HR tools for small businesses.
Visit GustoVerdict. Both start at USD 49.00, so the plans and features below decide. Gusto confirms 3 of our 3 key features; OnPay confirms 2.
Side by side
| Feature | Gusto | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | Simple: USD 49 per month + USD 6 per person | Payroll Essentials: USD 49 per month + USD 6 per worker |
| Other plan or fee | Plus: USD 80 per month + USD 12 per person | Bundled HR: USD 71 per month + USD 1 per worker |
| Another plan or fee | Premium: USD 180 per month + USD 22 per person | — |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free plan or trial | No | Yes |
| Contractor payments | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Benefits administration | Yes | Yes |
| HR tools | Yes | Yes |
| Number of plans listed | 3 | 2 |
| Our score | 80/100 (#1 of 4) | 77/100 (#3 of 4) |
| Best for | Lowest entry price | Lowest entry price |
| A year on the cheapest paid plan | USD 588 | USD 588 |
| Notes | — | Prices from OnPay's accountant pricing page; its footer says pricing starts at USD 55 a month; One month free |
Shaded cells mark the lower price. Sources: Gusto, OnPay.
Which to choose
Choose Gusto if you need contractor payments.
Choose OnPay if you prefer OnPay's plans and features above.
See all options: best US payroll and HR services.
More: Gusto pricing, Gusto alternatives, Gusto vs Justworks, Gusto vs Rippling, OnPay pricing, OnPay alternatives, OnPay vs Justworks.