Best Gusto Alternatives 2026
Modern payroll and HR for small businesses. Find free, indie, and cheaper options that work for your team.
Want to calculate your exact savings from Gusto?
Calculate Gusto Savings →What is Gusto?
Gusto is a payroll and HR platform handling payroll processing, benefits administration, tax filing, and employee onboarding. Plans start at $6/user/month plus a base fee, making it accessible for small businesses.
Key Features
Why Look for Gusto Alternatives?
Gusto is US-only, which becomes a dealbreaker as companies hire internationally. Growing companies also find that Gusto's HR features are too basic and need a platform that scales with more advanced workforce management capabilities.
Common Pain Points
- •Limited to US-based employees and contractors
- •Customer support quality has declined as the company has grown
- •Benefits administration options are limited in some states
- •Reporting capabilities are basic compared to enterprise platforms
Best Gusto Alternatives (3)
Rippling
$8/user
Similar to Gusto but with IT management included.
Best for: Teams who want HR + IT in one
Visit Rippling →Justworks
$59/user
PEO model-they're the employer of record. Simpler compliance.
Best for: Teams wanting to outsource HR compliance
Visit Justworks →Wave Payroll
$20/mo
Simple payroll from Wave. Good for small teams.
Best for: Small teams using Wave for accounting
Note: US only, limited states
Visit Wave Payroll →How to export your data from Gusto
CSV, PDF, Excel (.xlsx) · verified against official docs
Gusto head-to-head
More HR tools people are leaving
All HR alternatives →What would you save without Gusto?
Pick your team size and see the yearly number.
Tips for Switching from Gusto
Gusto alternatives: common questions
How do I export my payroll data from Gusto before switching?+
Gusto lets you download payroll reports, tax filings, and employee records as CSV or PDF files from the Reports section of your admin dashboard. Export year-to-date payroll summaries, W-2s, 1099s, and benefits enrollment data before you cancel, since access to historical records is cut off after your account closes. Most competing platforms (Rippling, BambooHR, Deel) have onboarding teams that can import this data directly, but you should still keep your own backup copies.
What do I lose if I switch away from Gusto?+
You'll lose access to Gusto's specific UI for past pay stubs and its built-in health insurance broker relationships, which may require re-shopping for benefits plans with a new provider. If you're mid-year, you may also need to re-enter year-to-date payroll totals into the new system so tax filings stay accurate. Any integrations you had connected to Gusto (accounting software, time tracking apps) will need to be reconnected to the new platform.
Is a free HR tool enough for a small team instead of paying for Gusto?+
Free tools like BambooHR's trial or basic time-tracking apps don't handle payroll tax filing, so they're not a real substitute for Gusto if you need to pay US employees compliantly. For a very small team (1-2 people) or contractor-only setup, Deel and some competitors offer free contractor management tiers, but actual payroll processing with tax compliance is rarely free. Budget for at least a base fee plus per-employee cost with any payroll provider you choose.
Do Gusto alternatives integrate with the same accounting and time-tracking tools?+
Most major alternatives (Rippling, BambooHR, Deel) integrate with popular accounting tools like QuickBooks and Xero, similar to Gusto. Rippling in particular has a broader integration marketplace since it's built as an all-in-one HR/IT platform. Check your specific time-tracking or benefits provider's integration list before switching, since smaller or niche tools may only support one platform.
Will switching from Gusto actually save money over time?+
It depends on your headcount and whether you need international hiring support. For a US-only team under 20 people, Gusto's $6-$12/user/month pricing is often cheaper than Rippling, which starts higher and adds costs for extra modules. If you need to hire contractors or employees outside the US, Deel's per-contractor pricing can be cheaper than cobbling together Gusto plus a separate international payroll service.
Pro Tips
Ready to Switch from Gusto?
See exactly how much you'll save by switching to one of these alternatives.
Calculate My Gusto Savings →Looking for Something Similar?
Check out alternatives for related tools in the same category.