Paychex vs Gusto: Pricing and Features Compared (2026)
At 10 employees, Paychex lists around $89 per month versus about $109 for Gusto at entry tier, a difference of $20 per month, as of November 2026. Paychex quotes; Gusto publishes its prices. Paychex is the better fit when: owners who want a named human to call, businesses considering a PEO later, and anyone bundling payroll with workers' comp or retirement. 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.
Prices verified November 2026
Price at a glance
| Paychex | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Flex Essentials | Simple |
| Base fee / month | $39 | $49 |
| Per employee / month | $5 | $6 |
| 1 employee | $44 | $55 |
| 5 employees | $64 | $79 |
| 10 employees | $89 | $109 |
| 25 employees | $164 | $199 |
| 50 employees | $289 | $349 |
| Pricing published? | Partly | Yes, fully |
| Billing | Monthly base plus per employee; quarterly and year-end filing fees may apply | Flat monthly base plus per person; unlimited payroll runs |
| Contract | Quote-based above Essentials; setup fee is negotiable | Month to month, no long-term contract |
| Support | Dedicated payroll specialist on Select and above; 24/7 phone support | Email, chat and phone; dedicated support on Premium |
Quote-only providers shown as estimates from publicly reported quotes. See each provider page for the estimate basis.
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| Feature | Paychex | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Federal & state tax filing | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited payroll runs | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-state payroll | Yes | Plus+ |
| 1099 contractors | Yes | Yes |
| Health benefits | Yes | Yes |
| HR tools | Yes | Yes |
| Time tracking | add-on | Plus+ |
| Same-day deposit | add-on | No |
| PEO option | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
Choose Paychex if
Owners who want a named human to call, businesses considering a PEO later, and anyone bundling payroll with workers' comp or retirement.
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.
Paychex strengths and weaknesses
- Dedicated payroll specialist on most tiers; consistently praised in reviews
- Real PEO option (Paychex PEO) when you outgrow basic payroll
- Published entry price ($39 + $5/employee) gives you a floor to negotiate from
- Quarterly filing and year-end form fees are often extra
- Setup fee (commonly ~$200) unless waived
- Only the cheapest tier is publicly priced
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
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- Prices verified November 2026
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Frequently asked questions
Is Paychex or Gusto cheaper?
At list price for 10 employees, Paychex is cheaper by about $20 per month (estimate). Promotions and negotiation can change the result; get written 12-month quotes.
Which is easier to use, Paychex or Gusto?
Gusto is generally rated easier for owners who run payroll themselves. Paychex leans on human support and setup help instead.
Can I switch from Paychex to Gusto?
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
- Paychex pricing page, read November 2026
- Gusto pricing page, read November 2026