Gusto Pricing (2026): Simple, Plus and Premium Costs Explained

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Updated October 31, 2026. Prices below were checked on Gusto’s pricing page on this date.

Gusto is one of the most popular payroll services for small businesses, combining payroll, benefits and HR in one place. Every plan has a monthly base fee plus a fee for each person you pay, so your real cost depends on your team size. Here’s what each plan costs and what you get.

Gusto pricing at a glance

• Simple: $49 a month + $7 per person. Payroll in one state.
• Plus: $99 a month + $12 per person. Adds multi-state payroll, time tracking and next-day pay.
• Premium: $179 a month + $22 per person. Adds a named advisor, HR guidance and compliance tools.
• Solo (for one-person S corps): $49 a month + $7 per person.
• No contracts, free account setup, and you can switch or cancel anytime.

What Gusto costs for your team

Plan	Base + per person	5 people	10 people	25 people
Simple	$49 + $7	$84/mo	$119/mo	$224/mo
Plus	$99 + $12	$159/mo	$219/mo	$399/mo
Premium	$179 + $22	$289/mo	$399/mo	$729/mo

Monthly totals are the base fee plus the per-person fee for each person paid, before add-ons and taxes. Try your own numbers in our free payroll cost calculator.

What each plan includes

Simple ($49 + $7 per person)

Unlimited payrolls, direct deposit or printable checks, automatic federal and state tax filings and payments, payroll approvals, Payroll on AutoPilot, domestic contractor payments, expenses and reimbursements, basic PTO policies and the employee and employer mobile apps. It covers payroll in a single state.

Plus ($99 + $12 per person)

Gusto’s best-value plan adds multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling, unlimited next-day pay, contractor invoice management, workforce cost reports and unlimited custom earning types.

Premium ($179 + $22 per person)

Adds a named advisor and premium support, HR guidance and tools, Gusto Business Compliance, unlimited same-day and instant pay, project-based costing and unlimited custom admin roles.

Add-ons and catches to know about

• Multi-state payroll needs Plus. Hire one employee in another state and you move from $49 to $99 a month base.
• Per-person fees add up. On Plus, 25 people cost $300 a month in per-person fees alone.
• State tax registration is extra on every plan.
• Some features are paid add-ons, including global contractor payments and the 401(k) integration ($6 per eligible employee a month).

Is Gusto worth the price?

For most small teams, yes: it’s easy to use, files your payroll taxes automatically and grows with you into benefits and HR, which is why it’s a top pick in our payroll software guide. If cost matters most, Patriot Payroll is cheaper, and if your books are in QuickBooks, compare Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Gusto cost per month?

From $49 a month plus $7 per person on Simple. For 5 people, that’s $84 a month. Plus is $99 + $12 per person and Premium is $179 + $22 per person.

Does Gusto charge setup fees or require a contract?

No. Gusto says account setup is free, there are no contracts, and you can switch plans or cancel anytime.

Which Gusto plan do I need for employees in more than one state?

Plus or Premium. Simple covers payroll in one state only.

Comparing payroll options? Use our free payroll cost calculator, see Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll and Gusto vs ADP, or compare five providers in our guide to the best payroll software for small business.