Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll: Pricing and Features Compared (2026)
At 10 employees, Gusto lists around $109 per month versus about $120 for QuickBooks Payroll at entry tier, a difference of $11 per month, as of November 2026. Gusto publishes its prices; QuickBooks Payroll publishes its prices. Gusto is the better fit when: teams under 50 who want to run payroll themselves in a few clicks and get benefits, 401(k) and HR tools without a sales call. QuickBooks Payroll is the better fit when: businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
Prices verified November 2026
Price at a glance
| Gusto | QuickBooks Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Simple | Workforce Payroll (Core) |
| Base fee / month | $49 | $50 |
| Per employee / month | $6 | $7 |
| 1 employee | $55 | $57 |
| 5 employees | $79 | $85 |
| 10 employees | $109 | $120 |
| 25 employees | $199 | $225 |
| 50 employees | $349 | $400 |
| Pricing published? | Yes, fully | Yes, fully |
| Billing | Flat monthly base plus per person; unlimited payroll runs | Monthly base plus per employee; QuickBooks Online accounting subscription sold separately |
| Contract | Month to month, no long-term contract | Month to month; frequent 50%-off-for-3-months promotions |
| Support | Email, chat and phone; dedicated support on Premium | Chat and phone; expert setup review on Premium and Elite |
Quote-only providers shown as estimates from publicly reported quotes. See each provider page for the estimate basis.
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| Feature | Gusto | QuickBooks Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Federal & state tax filing | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited payroll runs | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-state payroll | Plus+ | add-on |
| 1099 contractors | Yes | Yes |
| Health benefits | Yes | Yes |
| HR tools | Yes | Premium+ |
| Time tracking | Plus+ | Premium+ |
| Same-day deposit | No | Premium+ |
| PEO option | No | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
Choose Gusto if
Teams under 50 who want to run payroll themselves in a few clicks and get benefits, 401(k) and HR tools without a sales call.
Choose QuickBooks Payroll if
Businesses already on QuickBooks Online who want payroll to post to the ledger automatically.
Gusto strengths and weaknesses
- Every plan and price is published; no sales call needed
- Unlimited payroll runs at no extra cost
- Consistently rated the easiest payroll software to use
- Simple plan raised to $49 in March 2026, second increase in a year
- Multi-state payroll requires Plus, doubling the per-person fee
- Health insurance broker integration costs $6 per eligible employee unless Gusto is your broker
QuickBooks Payroll strengths and weaknesses
- Seamless sync with QuickBooks Online; no journal entries to reconcile
- Tax penalty protection on Elite (Intuit pays penalties from its errors, up to a cap)
- Frequent introductory discounts
- Per-employee fees rose in 2025 and again in 2026
- Core tier does not file local taxes
- Requires a separate QuickBooks Online subscription for full value
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- Prices verified November 2026
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Frequently asked questions
Is Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll cheaper?
At list price for 10 employees, Gusto is cheaper by about $11 per month (published price). Both publish prices, so the comparison holds unless you need higher tiers.
Which is easier to use, Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll?
Gusto is generally rated easier for owners who run payroll themselves. QuickBooks Payroll leans on human support and setup help instead.
Can I switch from Gusto to QuickBooks Payroll?
Yes. Most providers migrate your employee data and year-to-date totals for free. Switching at a quarter boundary is cleanest. See our guide to switching payroll providers.
Sources
- Gusto pricing page, read November 2026
- QuickBooks Payroll pricing page, read November 2026