Workzenly makes time clock, scheduling, PTO and payroll software, and it appears in this list as one option. We researched every product on its own website on November 7, 2026. No company paid to be included. Features and prices change, so check each vendor’s site before you buy.
Most people looking for Gusto alternatives are happy with the idea of Gusto and want one specific thing it does not give them: a lower price, multi-state payroll on the entry plan, accounting in the same subscription, a bigger provider with 24/7 support, or a time clock built for hourly staff. This list is for US small business owners with 1 to 50 employees who are comparing Gusto competitors before switching or signing up.
First, a fair summary of Gusto. It is online payroll, benefits and HR for small US businesses, with published prices on November 7, 2026: Simple at $49 a month plus $6 per person for payroll in one state, Plus at $80 plus $12 per person with time tracking, scheduling and multi-state payroll, and Premium at $180 plus $22 per person with a named advisor and HR guidance. Every plan includes unlimited payrolls, tax filings, and employer and employee mobile apps. It is a good product, which is why every payroll like Gusto on this list is measured against it.
Top picks at a glance
OnPayBest for the same price with all 50 states
ADP RUNBest for a large provider with HR tiers
QuickBooks PayrollBest for QuickBooks users
Zoho PayrollBest for a cheaper option
JustworksBest for PEO health benefits
RipplingBest for payroll plus HR and IT
Comparison table
| Tool | Best for | Free plan or trial | Starting price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnPay | a Gusto-like price with all 50 states included | One month free | $49/mo + $6 per worker | Web (mobile friendly) |
| ADP RUN | owners who want a large provider with phone support and HR tiers | Up to 6 months free payroll (promotion; terms apply) | Quote | Web, iOS, Android |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Gusto users who keep their books in QuickBooks Online | No free trial listed; 50% off the base price for 3 months (promotion) | $50/mo + $7 per employee (Workforce Payroll) | Web, QuickBooks Workforce mobile app |
| Zoho Payroll | a cheaper alternative to Gusto with tax filing | 14-day free trial, no credit card | $29/mo + $5 per employee billed yearly ($39 + $6 monthly) | Web; employee self-service on web and mobile |
 Workzenly | hourly teams that want the time clock and payroll in one app | Book a demo | Book a demo | Web, phone app, shared tablet time clock |
 Paychex Flex | businesses that want a dedicated provider for payroll, time and retirement | Free payroll months until April 2027 for new clients who start by November 24, 2026 (one-year agreement) | Quote | Web, iOS, Android (Paychex Flex app) |
 Square Payroll | Square POS sellers who want timecards and tips to import | No free plan or trial listed | $35/mo + $6 per person; contractor-only $6 per person | Web; hours import from Square POS and the Square Team app |
| Justworks | small teams that want better health benefits through a PEO | No free trial listed | Payroll $50/mo + $8 per employee; PEO Basic $79 per employee/mo | Web, employee mobile app |
| Rippling | growing companies that want payroll, HR and IT on one record | No free trial listed | From $8 per employee/mo plus a monthly base fee (quote) | Web, iOS, Android |
 Paycor | businesses that want onboarding, HR support and performance tools with payroll | Promotions listed (50% off for 6 months, free months); check terms | $99/mo + $5 per employee (Basic, under 50 employees) | Web, employee mobile app |
- Best for
- a Gusto-like price with all 50 states included
- Free plan or trial
- One month free
- Starting price
- $49/mo + $6 per worker
- Platforms
- Web (mobile friendly)
OnPay is the closest like-for-like Gusto alternative: an online, full-service payroll service for small US businesses with HR, benefits and time tracking you can add. The difference is structure. Instead of Gusto’s three tiers, OnPay sells one payroll plan and lets you add modules.
On November 7, 2026, OnPay’s pricing calculator listed payroll at a $49 base plus $6 per worker, the same entry price as Gusto Simple, although the page footer said pricing starts at $55, so confirm when you sign up. The key difference: OnPay says all 50 states are included at no extra cost, while Gusto Simple runs payroll in one state and multi-state payroll starts on Gusto Plus at $80 plus $12 per person. OnPay includes unlimited pay runs, multiple pay rates, W-2s, 1099s and year-end filings. HR (onboarding with e-signatures, PTO policies, org charts and document storage) is a $15 base plus $2 per worker, and time tracking is $15 plus $4 per worker. New customers get one month free and free data migration from their old provider.
Strengths
- All 50 states included in full-service tax filing
- One payroll plan with unlimited pay runs
- Free data migration and one free month
Drawbacks
- HR and time tracking cost extra
- No dedicated mobile app mentioned on its site
- Fewer built-in HR features than Gusto Plus or Paycor
- Best for
- owners who want a large provider with phone support and HR tiers
- Free plan or trial
- Up to 6 months free payroll (promotion; terms apply)
- Starting price
- Quote
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
RUN Powered by ADP is the small business payroll service from ADP, one of the largest US payroll companies. Owners usually compare it with Gusto when they want a bigger provider, round-the-clock payroll support and a clear path to outsourced HR help.
Unlike Gusto, ADP does not publish prices; you request a quote. On November 7, 2026, the RUN page advertised up to six months of free payroll for new clients, with terms behind a separate link. RUN comes in four packages: Essential (payroll, taxes and compliance help), Enhanced (adds ZipRecruiter, state unemployment insurance administration and garnishment payments), Complete Payroll and HR+ (adds basic HR support) and HR Pro (adds more HR support and employee perks). All packages file federal, state and local taxes and produce W-2s and 1099s. ADP lists 24/7 payroll support, an AI assistant that flags errors, time tracking tools, and integrations with accounting and POS systems such as Clover. There is an employer mobile app and a separate app for employees.
Strengths
- Four packages from payroll only to payroll with HR support
- 24/7 payroll support listed
- Up to six free months on new accounts
Drawbacks
- No published pricing; you need a quote to compare
- Promotion terms sit behind a separate link
- Many features are spread across higher packages
3. QuickBooks Payroll
Best for Gusto users who keep their books in QuickBooks Online
- Best for
- Gusto users who keep their books in QuickBooks Online
- Free plan or trial
- No free trial listed; 50% off the base price for 3 months (promotion)
- Starting price
- $50/mo + $7 per employee (Workforce Payroll)
- Platforms
- Web, QuickBooks Workforce mobile app
Gusto integrates with QuickBooks Online, but some owners would rather have payroll and accounting from one company. Intuit sells small business payroll as QuickBooks Workforce, either on its own or bundled with QuickBooks Online accounting, so pay runs post to your books without a connector.
Intuit’s US pricing page on November 7, 2026 listed Workforce Payroll at $50 a month plus $7 per employee, with full-service tax filing, auto payroll, 1099 e-filing, next-day direct deposit and an employee portal. Workforce Premium, at $88 plus $13 per employee, adds same-day direct deposit, the Workforce app for mobile and kiosk time tracking, scheduling, time-off management, hiring and onboarding with automated I-9s, and recruiting. Workforce Elite, at $134 plus $17 per employee, adds expert setup and tax penalty protection. Compared with Gusto Simple ($49 plus $6 per person), the entry price is close, but time tracking and HR cost more at Premium than at Gusto Plus for small teams. A promotion took 50% off the base price for three months.
Strengths
- Payroll posts straight into QuickBooks Online
- Same-day direct deposit from the Premium plan up
- Elite adds expert setup and tax penalty protection
Drawbacks
- Time tracking and HR tools need Premium at $88 + $13 per employee
- Per-employee fees rise to $13 on Premium and $17 on Elite
- No free trial listed
- Best for
- a cheaper alternative to Gusto with tax filing
- Free plan or trial
- 14-day free trial, no credit card
- Starting price
- $29/mo + $5 per employee billed yearly ($39 + $6 monthly)
- Platforms
- Web; employee self-service on web and mobile
Zoho Payroll is the budget Gusto alternative on this list. It is the payroll app from Zoho, the company behind Zoho Books, and its US version calculates, pays and files federal, state and local payroll taxes for you, the same core job Gusto does.
Standard is $29 a month plus $5 per employee billed yearly, or $39 plus $6 billed monthly, against Gusto Simple’s $49 plus $6 per person. For 10 employees that is $79 a month on yearly billing or $99 on monthly billing, versus $109 for Gusto Simple. Standard covers payroll in one state, with direct deposit, off-cycle runs, paid time off, benefit and garnishment deductions, and an employee self-service portal on web and mobile. Professional, at $49 plus $7 per employee billed yearly ($59 plus $8.50 monthly), adds multi-state payroll, multiple pay rates and pay run approvals. Compared with Gusto, Zoho’s pricing page does not list time tracking or scheduling, so hours have to come from another tool. Zoho also lists separate fees for some services, such as $3 per employee for next-day processing and $150 for an amended tax return. The 14-day free trial does not ask for a credit card.
Strengths
- Lower published price than Gusto Simple on both billing options
- Free trial needs no credit card
- Connects with Zoho’s accounting and expense apps
Drawbacks
- Multi-state payroll requires the Professional plan
- No time tracking or scheduling listed on its pricing page
- Several services carry separate fees
5. Workzenly Our product
Best for hourly teams that want the time clock and payroll in one app
- Best for
- hourly teams that want the time clock and payroll in one app
- Free plan or trial
- Book a demo
- Starting price
- Book a demo
- Platforms
- Web, phone app, shared tablet time clock
Workzenly is our product. Gusto is strongest as payroll and benefits for small offices, and it adds time tracking and scheduling on its Plus plan. Workzenly is built the other way around: it starts with hourly and shift-based teams in restaurants, retail, healthcare, construction, field services, warehouses and offices.
Employees clock in on a phone or a shared tablet, with GPS and geofencing so punches come from the job site. Managers build schedules, employees swap shifts and request PTO in the same app, and approved hours flow into payroll with overtime calculated from the punches. Pay stubs appear in the employee app next to schedules and PTO balances. New hires complete e-signed onboarding forms, and documents and performance reviews stay with each employee record. If the reason you are leaving Gusto is that hours, overtime and time off live in separate tools, this is the gap Workzenly is built to close. We do not publish prices, so book a demo to see it with your own locations and pay rules.
Strengths
- Time clock, scheduling, PTO and payroll share one set of records
- One employee app for pay stubs, schedules, shift swaps and time off
- GPS and geofencing on phone punches
Drawbacks
- No published pricing or free plan
- Built for hourly teams more than salaried-only offices
6. Paychex Flex
Best for businesses that want a dedicated provider for payroll, time and retirement
- Best for
- businesses that want a dedicated provider for payroll, time and retirement
- Free plan or trial
- Free payroll months until April 2027 for new clients who start by November 24, 2026 (one-year agreement)
- Starting price
- Quote
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android (Paychex Flex app)
Paychex is a long-established US payroll and HR company, and Paychex Flex is its online platform for small businesses. It suits owners who want a big provider with payroll, time and attendance, HR and retirement plans under one contract.
Paychex does not publish prices. Its small business payroll comes in Basic, Foundations, Advanced and Complete packages, and you request a quote. On November 7, 2026, Paychex was running a “Do Not Pay Until April 2027” promotion for new clients with 1 to 250 employees who process a first payroll by November 24, 2026: up to six free months of the payroll fee, with a one-year service agreement. Setup, delivery, time and attendance and other fees still apply, and leaving early can cancel the offer. The platform calculates, pays and files payroll taxes, produces W-2s and 1099s, uses AI to flag missing time punches, and gives employees a 24/7 self-service portal. The Paychex Flex app on iOS and Android shows pay stubs and W-2s and lets employees clock in if you subscribe to Paychex Flex Time.
Strengths
- Payroll, time, HR and retirement from one provider
- Employee app on iOS and Android
- Integrations listed with QuickBooks, Xero and Indeed
Drawbacks
- No published pricing
- Current promotion requires a one-year agreement
- Time clock in the app needs a separate Flex Time subscription
7. Square Payroll
Best for Square POS sellers who want timecards and tips to import
- Best for
- Square POS sellers who want timecards and tips to import
- Free plan or trial
- No free plan or trial listed
- Starting price
- $35/mo + $6 per person; contractor-only $6 per person
- Platforms
- Web; hours import from Square POS and the Square Team app
Square Payroll is the payroll service from Square, the point-of-sale and payments company. It makes the most sense for cafes, restaurants, salons and shops that already ring up sales on Square, because employees clock in on the POS and those timecards import straight into payroll.
The full-service plan is $35 a month plus $6 per person paid. It includes automated federal and state tax payments and filings, multistate payroll, unlimited pay runs, auto payroll, overtime calculations, next-day direct deposit, benefit deductions and new-hire reporting. For tipped staff, the full-service plan tracks and imports direct tips and reports labor cost including wages and tips. Employees can be paid by direct deposit, paper check or Cash App, and get digital pay stubs. A contractor-only plan costs $6 per person paid with no base fee, but Square says automated federal and state tax filings are not included in it. Support is by specialists Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time, and payroll connects to QuickBooks Online.
Strengths
- Timecards and tips import from Square POS
- Low base fee for full-service payroll
- Contractor-only plan with no base fee
Drawbacks
- Most useful only if you already use Square
- Support hours are weekdays only
- No free plan or trial listed
- Best for
- small teams that want better health benefits through a PEO
- Free plan or trial
- No free trial listed
- Starting price
- Payroll $50/mo + $8 per employee; PEO Basic $79 per employee/mo
- Platforms
- Web, employee mobile app
Gusto helps you buy health insurance as a small group. Justworks takes a different route: it is a PEO (professional employer organization) that co-employs your team, so a small company can get benefits through Justworks’ larger pool. It also sells a payroll-only plan that competes directly with Gusto.
Prices are published. Payroll is $50 a month plus $8 per employee and includes multi-state payroll, off-cycle runs, tips processing, tax filings, W-2s and 1099s, onboarding, basic timecards, PTO management, a document center and an employee mobile app. US contractors are $8 per paid contractor. PEO Basic is $79 per employee per month and adds compliance support, HR consulting, 24/7 support, 401(k) and an applicant tracking system. PEO Plus, at $124 per employee, adds medical, dental and vision administration, HSA and FSA accounts, and mental health and fertility benefits. Time tracking is $8 per employee a month on any plan. Compared with Gusto, the payroll plan includes multi-state payroll at entry level, and the PEO plans cost much more but bundle benefits and HR support.
Strengths
- Published prices for payroll and PEO plans
- PEO Plus gives small teams access to group health benefits
- Payroll plan includes multi-state payroll and tips processing
Drawbacks
- PEO plans cost far more per employee than payroll-only services
- Time tracking is extra on every plan
- No free trial listed
- Best for
- growing companies that want payroll, HR and IT on one record
- Free plan or trial
- No free trial listed
- Starting price
- From $8 per employee/mo plus a monthly base fee (quote)
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android
Rippling is the Gusto alternative for companies that are outgrowing simple payroll. It combines payroll and HR with IT tools, such as device and app management, and finance tools such as expense management, all on one employee record.
Rippling says plans start at $8 per employee per month with a monthly base fee, and the total depends on the modules you choose, so you need a custom quote. Payroll files with federal, state and local agencies, pays employees and contractors, and pulls new hires, raises and benefit deductions from the HR record automatically. Time and attendance, time off, benefits and expenses feed each pay run. Rippling also offers global payroll and integrates with QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite, and its mobile app is on the App Store and Google Play. Eligible US venture-backed startups can get six months free. Compared with Gusto, you get far more modules, but you lose the simple published price list.
Strengths
- Payroll, HR, IT and finance modules on one employee record
- Global payroll available as you grow
- Accounting integrations with QuickBooks, Xero and NetSuite
Drawbacks
- Only a starting price is published; the real total needs a quote
- Many separate modules can add up for a small team
- More than a 5-person business usually needs
10. Paycor
Best for businesses that want onboarding, HR support and performance tools with payroll
- Best for
- businesses that want onboarding, HR support and performance tools with payroll
- Free plan or trial
- Promotions listed (50% off for 6 months, free months); check terms
- Starting price
- $99/mo + $5 per employee (Basic, under 50 employees)
- Platforms
- Web, employee mobile app
Paycor is an HR and payroll company that publishes small business pricing for companies with fewer than 50 employees. It suits owners who like Gusto’s idea of payroll plus HR but want more structured HR tools, such as E-Verify, labor law posters and performance reviews, in higher tiers.
Paycor’s small business pricing page on November 7, 2026 listed four plans. Basic is $99 a month plus $5 per employee, with payroll and tax filing, direct deposit, new-hire reporting, a mobile app for pay stubs, time off and schedules, reports and basic HR tools. Essential, at $149 a month plus a per-employee fee, adds onboarding with E-Verify, an HR support center, time off management, labor law posters and workers’ comp. Complete, at $199 a month, adds on-demand help from a certified HR professional, analytics and 401(k) integration. HCM, at $199 a month plus $12 per employee, adds performance reviews, goals, surveys and workflows. The page showed two different per-employee rates for Essential and Complete, so confirm the quote. Its promotions were also worded differently in different places (50% off for six months, three months free, one month of free payroll), so read the terms.
Strengths
- Published small business pricing with four clear tiers
- Higher tiers add HR advisors, E-Verify and performance reviews
- Employee app for clocking in, pay stubs and time off
Drawbacks
- Higher base fee than Gusto Simple
- Per-employee rates for some plans were inconsistent on the pricing page
How we chose these tools
Our criteria
- Each alternative runs full-service US payroll for small businesses, the core job Gusto does.
- Each does at least one thing differently from Gusto: price, states included, accounting, support model, PEO benefits, HR depth or time tracking.
- We checked every product, and Gusto’s own pricing, on the vendor’s website on November 7, 2026, and used published prices only.
- Gusto itself is not ranked; it is summarized in the introduction for comparison.
- No vendor paid to appear.
How to choose between Gusto competitors
Gusto alternatives each solve a different problem, so start with the reason you are looking and the gap you are trying to close.
| If you want | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The same price, more states | OnPay | $49 + $6 per worker with all 50 states included, per OnPay |
| A lower price | Zoho Payroll | $29 + $5 per employee billed yearly for full service in one state |
| Accounting in the same bill | QuickBooks Payroll | Payroll that posts straight into QuickBooks Online |
| A big provider and 24/7 support | ADP RUN, Paychex Flex | Quote-based packages with HR and time options |
| Better health benefits | Justworks | PEO plans from $79 per employee |
| Payroll plus IT and finance | Rippling | Modules on one employee record |
| POS timecards and tips | Square Payroll | Imports hours and tips from Square POS |
| Hourly time clock and scheduling | Workzenly, Paycor | Time and payroll in one place |
Gusto vs. the alternatives: a switching checklist
- Switch at a quarter boundary if you can. Starting with a new provider on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1 means the new provider files a full quarter of Form 941, and you avoid splitting year-to-date figures. If you switch mid-quarter, ask the new provider how it imports your year-to-date totals.
- Export everything from Gusto first. Download pay stubs, payroll registers, tax filings and W-2s. The Department of Labor requires payroll records for at least three years, and the IRS says to keep employment tax records for at least four.
- Re-check tax accounts. Your federal EIN, state withholding number and state unemployment account move with you. Each new state needs registration.
- Rebuild pay rules carefully. Non-exempt employees earn 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under the FLSA, and states such as California add daily overtime. Test one pay run with our overtime calculator before you go live.
- Move time tracking with payroll. If you used Gusto’s time tools, plan how hours will reach the new payroll. A time clock connected to payroll avoids retyping.
- Tell employees what changes. New logins, new pay stub layout, maybe a new direct deposit form. Our guide to reading a pay stub is useful to share, and new hires will still need a W-4 form on file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Gusto?
For most small businesses, OnPay is the closest alternative to Gusto: it lists the same $49 base plus $6 per worker and says all 50 states are included. Zoho Payroll is cheaper at $29 plus $5 per employee for one state when billed yearly. ADP RUN and Paychex Flex suit owners who want a large provider, and Justworks suits teams that want PEO benefits.
Is there a cheaper payroll like Gusto?
Yes. Zoho Payroll lists its Standard plan at $29 a month plus $5 per employee billed yearly, compared with Gusto Simple at $49 plus $6 per person. Square Payroll is $35 plus $6 per person. For 10 employees in one state, Zoho comes to $79 a month and Gusto Simple to $109, based on prices published on November 7, 2026.
Gusto vs. ADP: which is better for a small business?
Gusto publishes its prices, runs on a simple online setup and includes employer and employee apps on every plan. ADP RUN prices by quote, offers four packages that add HR support step by step, and lists 24/7 payroll support. Pick Gusto for price clarity and ease, and ADP if you want a large provider with built-in HR help.
Is it hard to switch from Gusto to another payroll provider?
It takes planning more than effort. Export your payroll registers, tax filings and pay stubs from Gusto, give the new provider your year-to-date totals and tax account numbers, and run a test payroll. Switching at the start of a calendar quarter keeps quarterly Form 941 filings simple. Many Gusto alternatives, including OnPay, offer free data migration.
Which Gusto competitor is best for hourly employees?
Look for a service where the time clock feeds payroll directly. Square Payroll imports timecards and tips from Square POS, Workzenly builds payroll on its own time clock, and Paycor’s employee app includes clocking in. Gusto includes time tracking on its Plus plan, at $80 a month plus $12 per person.