Gusto and Intuit QuickBooks are two payroll providers that receive excellent reviews. While both are comprehensive payroll services, Gusto is known to be more scalable and user-friendly when it comes to startups and new ventures. QuickBooks integrates better with accounting software for a one-stop view of a company’s financial health and enables you to pay employees faster with same-day direct deposits in its top-tiered plan.
Featured Partners
1
Rippling
Yes
Yes
$35/month plus $8 PEPM
2
OnPay
Yes
Yes
$40 per month + $6 per user
3
Paychex Flex
Yes
Yes
$39-plus per month, depending on company size and needs (6 month free offer)
4
Gusto
Yes
Yes
$40 per month plus $6 per user
Gusto vs. QuickBooks: At a Glance
Gusto and QuickBooks are solid choices when it comes to choosing payroll software. Both scale to businesses, though Gusto is more accommodating to a business scaling from a few employees to several hundred. QuickBooks limits its application to 150 employees.
Both providers offer benefits administration so employers can offer key benefits packages with ease to all employees. However, QuickBooks’ plan is outsourced to a third-party, SimplyInsured. For businesses that work mainly with contractors, either system will give you the option to pay contractors directly, with Gusto even offering a contractors-only plan.
Gusto
Starting price:
$40 per month plus $6
Benefits administration
Yes
Contractor payments
Yes
$40 per month plus $6
Yes
Yes
Gusto offers five plans, starting with its Core plan that is designed for smaller businesses that don’t have a lot of complexity in their payroll. It’s available for $39 per month plus $6 per person to get full-service payroll, employee self-service, and health and financial benefits. For companies with more complex payroll needs such as time tracking and PTO management, the Complete plan is a better option. The base price is also $39 per month, but the per-person cost jumps to $12. This plan also offers next-day direct deposit and project tracking so that you can actively see what a new launch is costing the company in resources.
Larger businesses that need more support should consider the Concierge plan at $149 per month plus an additional $12 per person. This option gives you an HR resource center and compliance alerts to always be ahead of the ever-changing HR rules and regulations. You have access to a certified HR pro with a dedicated support team to troubleshoot any issues. Companies can get a Select plan that is customized for their unique needs, or the Contractors Only plan if they just need an easy way to pay 1099 workers.
- Easy onboarding
- Simplified benefits package set up
- Intuitive platform
- Only supports U.S. payments
- No U.S.-based customer support
- Charge payment after cancellation
QuickBooks
Starting Price
$45 per month plus $6 per person
(all plans are available at 50 percent off for the first three months)
Benefits administration
Yes
Contractor payments
Yes
$45 per month plus $6 per person
(all plans are available at 50 percent off for the first three months)
Yes
Yes
Intuit QuickBooks offers three options when it comes to payroll and combining it with QuickBooks business solutions. The Payroll Core + Simple Start is the base package that comes with a lot for $75 per month plus $6 per employee (its current promotion offers the first three months for $37.50 per month for the first three months plus $6 per employee). You get full-service payroll with tax filings, benefits and standard accounting needs such as expense and income tracking. The more popular plan is the Payroll Core + Essentials, which gives you the same features for payroll and adds bill management and time tracking. It’s $105 per month plus $6 per employee (currently offered at $52.50 per month for the first three months plus $6 per employee).
With Payroll Premium + Plus for $170 per month plus $8 per employee (the current promotion offers the first three months for $85 per month for the first three months plus $8 per employee), you get the ability to generate reports that help you manage your business. You also get to use the mobile app with a “time tracker on the go” system that manages a mobile workforce. The Premium plan also allows you to track inventory, keeping your business up to date with replenishing products.
If you only want payroll software and aren’t concerned about combining it with an accounting solution, pricing for QuickBooks Payroll starts at $45 per month ($22.50 for the first three months during the current promotion) plus $6 per employee. Whichever tier you select when signing up for QuickBooks, you have the choice of getting either a 30-day free trial or a 50% discount on your first three months.
- Integrates with Intuit products
- Comprehensive business financial management with plans
- Next-day or same-day direct deposits
- Not suitable for large companies
- Designed mainly for those using QuickBooks for accounting
- Limited data in employee portal
How Gusto and QuickBooks Stack Up
| Gusto | Intuit QuickBooks | |
|---|---|---|
|
Self-Service Employee Portal
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Third-Party Integrations
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Ledger Report
|
No
|
Yes
|
|
Analytics
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Health Benefits Administration
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Customer Support
|
Phone 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
|
Phone 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday
|
When comparing Gusto and QuickBooks side by side, there are many similarities. Both payroll providers give employees a portal to review and manage their payroll. This eliminates a lot of extra work for payroll administrators. Both plans integrate with third-party providers, such as accounting and time-tracking services, although QuickBooks is best paired with other Intuit products.
Employers can better manage cash flow with ledger reports and analytics provided by the platform. These insights show how much and where money is flowing so you can determine the ROIs of certain departments or projects. While Gusto offers analytics, it doesn’t offer a ledger report as QuickBooks does.
QuickBooks has a slightly more extensive customer support center, available in the early morning hours for business leaders trying to tackle payroll before the workday begins. Overall, both providers are very similar and get similar star ratings in our proprietary reviews.
Bottom Line
We like both Gusto and QuickBooks as payroll provider solutions for small to midsized businesses. Gusto has the ability to scale a bit higher than the 150-employee cap of QuickBooks, making it a bit more dynamic for growing businesses. However, the costs of Gusto can add up quickly for its popular Complete plan, putting a strain on companies with slim budgets for payroll services.
Payroll Solutions Tailored To Your Business Goals
