This article will go through the best Gusto Payroll alternatives.
- Gusto’s combined payroll and HR services have received high accolades. However, they are only appropriate for some small businesses. One of these six Gusto payroll options may suit your requirements.
- Gusto is renowned for its simple payroll processing and comprehensive HR features. However, it is only suitable for some businesses.
- Gusto does not conduct international payrolls, and small organizations with strong human resources and accounting teams may find its sophisticated services unneeded.
- Paychex, OnPay, ADP, Rippling, Intuit QuickBooks Payroll, and Square Payroll are popular Gusto alternatives.
- This article is for small business owners looking for alternatives to Gusto payroll in their search for the best payroll service.
- Gusto’s position in the payroll market originates largely from the fact that it is significantly more than just a payroll service. The company is renowned for its full-service HR platform, which combines payroll with advanced features such as workforce costing and handbook templates for employee handbooks. It also provides access to a trained HR expert at the highest pricing tier. However, for some small organizations, Gusto options may be preferable. Here’s an overview of Gusto and its features and six Gusto alternatives that might be perfect for your business.
Gusto overview
Gusto swiftly became prominence among payroll services after its November 2011 introduction, thanks to its seamless integration of payroll processing with high-level HR features. It can also manage your benefits administration, time and attendance tracking, compliance, and successful onboarding if you choose them to operate your payroll. These features are frequently game changers for small organizations that need help to afford an in-house HR department.
On the other hand, Gusto’s extensive HR features may be superfluous for small organizations with competent accounting and HR departments. Furthermore, Gusto does not process payroll for overseas employees. If either of these factors makes Gusto an unsuitable fit for your company, one of the Gusto payroll alternatives listed below should be a better fit. You may consult our Gusto payroll review and payroll software best picks list as you browse through this list.
Key Takeaway
When choosing the best payroll service for your business, Gusto payroll alternatives may be better for small firms with full accounting or HR teams and international employees.
Top 6 Best Gusto Payroll Alternatives In 2023
1. Paychex: Best for larger businesses
Paychex has been a well-known payroll service provider for over a half-century, during which time it has created a niche for working with larger organizations. It includes basic payroll services and features that large teams may want, such as internet marketing, time and attendance tracking, and incorporation help.
If you choose Paychex, you’ll also be assigned a dedicated account professional with access to 24/7 customer service.
Some of the best Paychex features are as follows:
- Calculating payroll in its most basic form
- Calculation and payment of payroll taxes
- Pay cards and direct deposits
- Hundreds of payroll reports
- There are numerous accounting connections.
- Reporting on new hires
- Administration of benefits
- Administration of an employee financial wellness program
- Employee onboarding and background screening
- Tracking of time and attendance
- Performance evaluations and tracking
- Coordination of unemployment insurance programs
- Secure document storage
Online promotion
Services for the incorporation of businesses
Paychex has three price plans: Go, Flex Select, and Flex Enterprise.
- Paychex Go commands $59 per month plus $4 per employee. Basic payroll processing, tax services, and new-hire reporting are just a few of the services offered.
- Paychex Flex Select costs $90 per month plus per-employee expenses. Income verification, mobile app use, and access to a dedicated account specialist are among the services provided.
- Paychex Flex Enterprise costs $160 per month, plus per-employee fees. It includes the other plans’ features, accounting software integration, state unemployment insurance services, tools for screening and onboarding employees, and an employee handbook builder.
Tip
Read our Paychex payroll service review to learn more about the company.
2. OnPay: Best for very small businesses
Extremely tiny enterprises with less than ten employees may need more resources to handle payroll directly. OnPay is intended for these types of businesses. It has only one cost tier and feature set, which is on purpose.
All OnPay customers have equal access to the company’s exceptionally user-friendly payroll processing and tax services and responsive customer service. All of this is free of long-term contracts and hidden fees.
These features are available to all OnPay customers:
- Tax payments and full-service payroll processing
- Pay cards and direct deposits
- Full reimbursement for any tax penalties or interest incurred due to OnPay’s services.
- Countless payroll runs
- Various pay schedules
- There are five tiers of employee access.
- Reporting on new hires
- Services for Onboarding
- Extensive integrations
- Tracking paid time off (PTO) Offer letters
- Human Resources Resource Center
- Administration of benefits and workers’ compensation
For OnPay, you’ll pay $36 monthly plus $4 per employee. The only additional fees that apply are for year-end tax forms. You’ll have to pay $5 plus delivery for OnPay to print and mail these forms to your business. For an additional $6 plus shipping, OnPay may mail these forms directly to your employees. You can also print your W-2 forms for free. Check out Sandboxie Alternatives as well.
Tip
To learn more, read our OnPay payroll software review.
3. Square Payroll: Best for payroll tax prep
Square is best known as a leader in credit card payment processing and point-of-sale (POS) systems, but it also offers great payroll services. If payroll tax preparation is your major issue, Square Payroll is your best bet. Square Payroll integrates payroll data with compliance standards to ensure you meet all deadlines and avoid fees. It accomplishes it through a platform that is as simple as its popular payment processing and POS products.
Some of Square Payroll’s features include:
- Processes for handling payroll at a basic level
- The importance of timely and accurate payroll tax payments must be balanced.
- Employee and contractor payments are automatically generated on tax forms.
- POS and time and attendance integrations are seamless.
- Employee payments made using the Square Cash app
- Customer service is available via phone, email, and live chat.
- Tools for team management
Square Payroll is quite inexpensive. Its monthly costs begin at $29, plus $5 per employee every month. Take note of the phrase “per employee.” When you pay contractors, the base monthly charge disappears. Instead, you’ll only have to pay $5 per contractor every month. You will not be required to sign any binding, lengthy contracts, whether you are paying contractors or employees.
Key Takeaway
Paying solely contractors using Square Payroll rather than full-time employees saves money.
4. Rippling: Best for ease of use
Although payroll services are designed to save you countless hours on payroll, taxes, and human resources, some payroll software platform interfaces make the process more difficult. Rippling, on the other hand, allows you to complete payroll in as little as 90 seconds. That is why it is our top choice for small enterprises that prioritize usability.
The following are some significant Rippling features:
- Payroll is run in 90 seconds.
- Compliance and tax filing automation
- Payroll worldwide
- Various pay scales
- Deposit through direct deposit
- Time management software
- PTO administration
- Templates and reports for payroll that can be customized
- Job pricing
- Salary garnishments
- Hundreds of integrations
- Administration of benefits (if you sign up for Rippling HR)
Pricing plans for Rippling begin at $8 per user per month. Your real pricing may vary depending on various factors, and you’ll need to request a personalized quote before you can begin utilizing the service.
Tip
More information on Rippling can be found in our Rippling HR software review.
5.Intuit QuickBooks Payroll: Best for small businesses
Given the company’s expertise in accounting software, Intuit QuickBooks Payroll is an excellent alternative for small businesses of all sizes. QuickBooks Payroll seamlessly connects its payroll and accounting platforms, allowing you complete control over employee payments. You can also choose whether to host your software online or on your desktop.
Some of the best QuickBooks Payroll features are as follows:
- Payroll processing with full service
- Full-service payroll tax preparation and payment
- Deposit through direct deposit
- Countless payroll runs
- Various pay schedules
- Time tracking on a mobile device
- Certain plans fully cover tax penalties and interest.
- Seamless Accounting connection with QuickBooks
- HR services in addition to assigned account HR consultant
- Workers’ compensation administration
- SimplyInsured manages health insurance, and Guideline manages 401(k) plans.
QuickBooks Online Payroll is offered in Core, Premium, and Elite plans.
- The base rate is $45 per month plus $4 per worker. You will receive complete payroll and benefits management services.
- Monthly premium: $75, plus $8 for each worker every month. You’ll get all the Core services, workers’ compensation administration, mobile time tracking, direct deposit, HR center access, and expert setup assistance.
- Elite: $125/month plus $10/month for each worker. You’ll get all the services included in the other plans, plus 24/7 expert product support, tax penalty protection, and a personal HR counselor.
QuickBooks Desktop Payroll includes three plans: Basic, Enhanced, and Assisted.
- Basic: $29 per month plus $2 per employee, with 20% off for the first six months. Direct deposit, fast paycheck printing, and live support are available.
- Enhanced: $45 per month plus $2 per employee every month, with 20% off for the first six months. Everything in Basic includes tax calculation and the ability to print W-2s. However, you must still pay your taxes by hand.
- Assisted: $109 per month plus $2 per employee every month, with 40% off for the first six months. It includes the above services, comprehensive reports and inventory management, Salesforce CRM integration, simultaneous access for up to 40 users, and more.
Tip
You may read more in our Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll comparison.
6. ADP: Best for complex payrolls
ADP’s breadth of payroll and human resource services makes it an excellent choice for complex payrolls. ADP can handle it if your company hires many employees and contractors at disparate pay rates and hours. Furthermore, it is the most widely used payroll service: When we questioned businesses when researching payroll services, nearly one-quarter said they use ADP. Alternatives to Synthesia.io are also available.
ADP has the following features:
- Finish payroll processing
- Calculation and submission of payroll taxes
- Payroll is conducted online, by phone, and by mobile app.
- Year-end tax returns
- Paper checks and direct deposit
- Signing and filling paper checks
- Portal for employee self-service
- Payroll reports are common.
- Reporting on new hires
- Services for hiring and education
- Documents and forms
- Background investigations
- Employee handbook guru
- Tracking of applicants
- Management of performance
- Marketing instruments
- Administration of state unemployment insurance
- Access to HR professionals
- Legal representation
All ADP prices are completely customizable. There are four plans to choose from: Essential, Enhanced, Complete, and HR Pro. You’ll also have to pay a $200 setup charge regardless of your chosen plan. ADP Essential includes basic payroll services and some extras like onboarding and marketing tools. The Enhanced plan includes additional services such as paper check stuffing and state unemployment insurance administration. The Complete and HR Pro plans to add more HR services to the mix, with HR Pro including legal help that other payroll services we studied did not.
Read our ADP payroll services review to learn more about the company. Learn how it compares to Gusto in our Gusto vs. ADP payroll comparison. Don’t hesitate to look into other Gusto payroll options as your quest progresses; this list is only a beginning point.
