Gusto Review 2026 — Payroll & HR Software for Small Business

What is Gusto?

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll, HR and benefits platform built specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. Founded in 2011 (originally as ZenPayroll), Gusto now serves over 300,000 businesses across the US and is consistently ranked as the most user-friendly payroll software available.

For accountants, Gusto is a game-changer. Its accountant portal lets you manage payroll for multiple clients from a single dashboard, with automated tax filings, direct deposit and benefits administration handled entirely by the platform. Gusto files federal, state and local payroll taxes automatically — eliminating one of the most time-consuming tasks in an accounting practice.

Key Features

💸

Automated Payroll

Run payroll in minutes. Gusto calculates, files and pays payroll taxes automatically every pay period.

📋

Tax Filing & Compliance

Federal, state and local tax filings handled automatically. W-2s and 1099s generated and filed at year end.

🏥

Benefits Administration

Health insurance, 401(k), dental, vision and more — all managed inside Gusto with employee self-service.

👋

Employee Onboarding

Digital onboarding with e-signatures, I-9 and W-4 collection — new hires complete everything online.

⏱️

Time & Attendance

Built-in time tracking that syncs directly to payroll — no manual data entry or spreadsheets.

🧑‍💼

Accountant Portal

Manage all your clients from one dashboard. Free access for accountants — Gusto pays you a revenue share.

👍 Pros

✅ Easiest payroll software to use — minimal training needed
✅ Automatic federal, state and local tax filing
✅ Free accountant portal with revenue share programme
✅ Full benefits administration in one platform
✅ Excellent employee self-service portal
✅ Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks and more
✅ Highly rated customer support

👎 Cons

❌ US only — not available outside the United States
❌ Per-employee pricing adds up for larger teams
❌ Benefits administration only available in some US states
❌ Reporting is less advanced than dedicated HR platforms
❌ No free plan — starts at $40/mo

Gusto Pricing 2026

Simple

$40

per month + $6/employee

Full-service payroll
Employee self-service
Basic onboarding
Unlimited payroll runs

Plus ⭐ Most Popular
$80
per month + $12/employee
Everything in Simple
Time tracking
PTO management
HR tools & templates
Team management

Premium

Custom

contact for pricing

Everything in Plus
Dedicated HR support
Compliance alerts
Priority support

For Accountants

Free

accountant access

Free partner account
Manage all clients
Revenue share paid
Dedicated support

* Gusto offers 1 month free for new customers. Pricing may vary — always check gusto.com for current rates.

Who is Gusto Best For?

🧾 Accountants & Bookkeepers

Managing payroll for multiple clients
Eliminating manual tax filing
Offering payroll as a service
Earning revenue share from Gusto
Integrating with Xero or QuickBooks

🏢 Small Business Owners

First time running payroll
Teams of 1–100 employees
Need benefits administration
Want to automate tax compliance
Replacing manual payroll spreadsheets

Gusto for Accountants — The Partner Programme

Gusto's accountant partner programme is one of the most generous in the payroll industry. As a Gusto partner accountant you get free access to the Gusto platform to manage all your clients, a dedicated account manager, priority support and a revenue share on every client you bring to Gusto.

This means Gusto is not just a tool you recommend to clients — it's a revenue stream. Accountants who actively use Gusto report earning an additional $500–$3,000 per month in revenue share depending on their client base size. It's one of the best affiliate and referral programmes available to accounting professionals.

Best Alternatives to Gusto

ADP Run

More powerful for larger teams, steeper learning curve

From $59/mo View →

Rippling

Best for tech companies, combines HR + IT management

From $8/user View →

Paychex Flex

Good for mid-size businesses, strong compliance features

Custom pricing View →

QuickBooks Payroll

Best if already using QuickBooks accounting

From $45/mo View →

Wave Payroll

Budget option — basic payroll for very small teams

From $20/mo View →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Gusto do?

Gusto is payroll, HR and benefits software for small businesses. It automates payroll calculations, tax filings, direct deposit, employee onboarding, time tracking and benefits administration — all in one platform.

Is Gusto free for accountants?

Yes — Gusto offers a free partner account for accountants and bookkeepers. You get access to manage all your clients at no cost, plus Gusto pays you a revenue share for each client you bring onto the platform.

Does Gusto file payroll taxes automatically?

Yes — this is one of Gusto's biggest selling points. It automatically calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxes on your behalf. At year end it generates and files W-2s and 1099s automatically.

Does Gusto integrate with QuickBooks and Xero?

Yes — Gusto integrates directly with QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave and most major accounting platforms. Payroll journal entries sync automatically, eliminating manual data entry.

Is Gusto available outside the US?

No — Gusto is currently only available to businesses registered in the United States. For international payroll, alternatives like Deel or Remote are better options.

How does Gusto compare to ADP?

Gusto is significantly easier to use and better priced for small businesses (under 50 employees). ADP has more advanced features for larger companies. For most small businesses and their accountants, Gusto is the better choice.