Gusto vs Calamari (2024 Comparison)
Gusto offers a comprehensive HR solution with robust payroll and benefits management features. Its user-friendly interface and reliable customer support make it a top choice for businesses seeking an all-in-one HR platform.
- Comprehensive HR functionalities
- User-friendly interface
- Robust customer support
- Higher cost for small businesses
- Limited leave management features
Free plan?
NoStarting price
$40 per month
Calamari specializes in leave management and offers seamless integrations with popular tools. Its affordable pricing and user-friendly interface make it an excellent choice for businesses focused on specific HR tasks.
- Specialized leave management
- Seamless integrations
- Affordable pricing
- Limited payroll features
- Basic benefits administration
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$20 per monthWhat is Gusto?
Gusto is a comprehensive payroll and HR software designed to simplify the complexities of managing employee benefits, payroll, and compliance. It offers a user-friendly interface that allows businesses to automate payroll processes, manage employee benefits, and ensure compliance with ease. Gusto's intuitive platform helps businesses save time and reduce errors, making it an ideal choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to streamline their HR operations.
What is Calamari?
Calamari is a versatile HR management tool that focuses on leave and attendance tracking. It provides businesses with an efficient way to manage employee time-off requests, track attendance, and generate insightful reports. Calamari's integration capabilities with popular tools make it a flexible solution for businesses of all sizes. Its user-friendly interface and robust features help businesses maintain accurate records and improve overall workforce management.
Pros and Cons of Gusto vs Calamari
Pros & Cons of Gusto
- Gusto offers a wide range of HR functionalities, including payroll, benefits administration, and compliance management. This makes it an ideal choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one HR solution.
- Gusto's intuitive interface makes it easy for users to navigate through its various features, reducing the learning curve and improving overall user experience.
- Gusto provides comprehensive customer support, ensuring that users have access to assistance when needed. This makes it a reliable choice for businesses looking for dependable support options.
- Gusto's pricing may be higher for small businesses, making it less accessible for those with limited budgets. However, its comprehensive features may justify the cost for larger businesses.
- While Gusto offers leave management features, they may not be as comprehensive as those offered by specialized tools like Calamari. Businesses focused on leave management may find Gusto's features lacking.
Pros & Cons of Calamari
- Calamari excels in leave management, providing a seamless way to track and manage employee time-off requests. Its specialized focus makes it a top choice for businesses focused on leave management.
- Calamari offers seamless integrations with popular tools, making it a flexible choice for businesses with existing software ecosystems. This enhances its overall functionality and usability.
- Calamari offers competitive pricing, making it an accessible choice for businesses of all sizes. Its affordability, combined with its robust features, makes it a strong contender in the HR software market.
- Calamari's payroll features are limited compared to comprehensive HR tools like Gusto. Businesses looking for robust payroll management may find Calamari's features lacking.
- Calamari offers basic benefits administration features, which may not be sufficient for businesses looking for comprehensive benefits management. Gusto's extensive features may be a better fit for such needs.
Gusto vs Calamari: At A Glance
Value to Price
Gusto offers a comprehensive suite of HR tools at a competitive price, making it a great value for businesses looking to streamline their HR processes. Calamari, while slightly less expensive, focuses more on specific HR functions like leave management. If you're looking for a more all-encompassing HR solution, Gusto provides better value for the price.
Ease of Use
Both Gusto and Calamari are designed with user-friendliness in mind. Gusto's interface is intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate through its various features. Calamari also offers a straightforward interface, particularly for managing leave and attendance. If ease of use is your top priority, both tools perform well, but Calamari edges out slightly due to its simplicity in specific HR tasks.
Functionality
Gusto excels in providing a wide range of HR functionalities, from payroll to benefits management. Calamari, on the other hand, specializes in leave and attendance tracking. If your business requires a full suite of HR functionalities, Gusto is the better choice. However, if your focus is on specific HR tasks, Calamari's specialized features might be more suitable.
Scalability
Gusto is designed to grow with your business, offering scalable solutions that can accommodate increasing HR needs. Calamari also offers scalability, particularly for businesses looking to expand their leave and attendance management capabilities. If you're planning for significant growth, Gusto's comprehensive features make it a more scalable option.
Integrations
Calamari shines in its ability to integrate with a variety of popular tools, making it a flexible choice for businesses with existing software ecosystems. Gusto also offers integrations, but Calamari's focus on seamless connectivity gives it an edge. If integrations are crucial for your business, Calamari is the better option.
Customer Support
Gusto provides robust customer support, ensuring that users have access to assistance when needed. Calamari also offers customer support, but Gusto's comprehensive support options make it a more reliable choice. If customer support is a key consideration, Gusto is the better option.
Security
Both Gusto and Calamari prioritize security, implementing measures to protect sensitive HR data. Gusto's security features are comprehensive, providing peace of mind for businesses handling payroll and benefits information. Calamari also offers strong security, particularly for leave and attendance data. If security is a top concern, both tools perform well, but Gusto's broader security measures make it a slightly better choice.
Overall Rating
Gusto receives a higher overall rating due to its comprehensive HR functionalities and robust support options. Calamari, while slightly lower in overall rating, excels in specific HR tasks like leave management. If you're looking for an all-in-one HR solution, Gusto is the better choice. However, if your focus is on specific HR functions, Calamari is a strong contender.
Gusto vs Calamari: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Payroll Management
Gusto excels in payroll management, offering a comprehensive solution that automates payroll processes, calculates taxes, and ensures compliance. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy for businesses to manage payroll efficiently. Calamari, while not primarily focused on payroll, offers basic payroll functionalities. If payroll management is a priority, Gusto is the clear winner with its robust features and ease of use.
Leave Management
Calamari shines in leave management, providing a seamless way to track and manage employee time-off requests. Its intuitive interface and integration capabilities make it a top choice for businesses focused on leave management. Gusto also offers leave management features, but Calamari's specialized focus gives it an edge. If leave management is your primary concern, Calamari is the better option.
Benefits Administration
Gusto offers a comprehensive benefits administration platform, allowing businesses to manage employee benefits with ease. Its integration with various benefits providers simplifies the process. Calamari, while offering some benefits management features, is not as comprehensive as Gusto. If benefits administration is a key consideration, Gusto is the superior choice with its extensive features.
Time Tracking
Both Gusto and Calamari offer time tracking features, but Calamari's focus on attendance tracking gives it an advantage. Its intuitive interface and integration capabilities make it a strong choice for businesses looking to improve time tracking. Gusto also offers time tracking, but Calamari's specialized features make it the better option for businesses focused on attendance management.
Employee Self-Service
Gusto provides a robust employee self-service portal, allowing employees to access their payroll, benefits, and personal information easily. Calamari also offers self-service features, particularly for leave management. If you're looking for a comprehensive self-service solution, Gusto is the better choice with its wide range of features.
Reporting and Analytics
Gusto offers a comprehensive reporting and analytics platform, providing businesses with valuable insights into their HR operations. Calamari also offers reporting features, particularly for leave and attendance data. If you're looking for a more comprehensive reporting solution, Gusto is the better choice with its extensive analytics capabilities.
Pricing Comparison of Gusto and Calamari
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Gusto and Calamari. This comparison will highlight the best option for managing your HR needs.
Gusto Pricing Plans
- Basic support for payroll and HR queries.
- Employee profiles and self-service options available.
- Basic hiring and onboarding tools for new employees.
- Gusto-brokered health insurance administration.
- Next-day direct deposit for faster payroll processing.
- Advanced hiring and onboarding tools for efficient recruitment.
- PTO management and policies for employee leave.
- Time tracking and project tracking for better management.
- HR resource center for comprehensive HR management.
- Compliance alerts to stay updated with regulations.
- Access to certified HR experts for expert advice.
- Full-service payroll migration and account setup.
- Efficient management of contractor payments.
- No monthly base fee for the first 6 months.
- Simple and straightforward contractor payment processing.
- Easy integration with existing systems.
Calamari Pricing Plans
- Permission settings to control access to sensitive data.
- Approval processes to streamline HR workflows.
- Collaboration guidelines to enhance team communication.
- Customizable fields to tailor the system to your needs.
- Flexible policies and flows for diverse needs.
- Automated entitlement calculation for accuracy.
- Reporting tools for tracking time off usage.
- Multi-country absence policies for global teams.
- Clock-in and clock-out tools for employee attendance.
- Seven tracking methods for flexibility.
- Project tracking to monitor work on specific tasks.
- Custom approval flows for tailored processes.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly evaluate each HR software, focusing on key factors like functionality, ease of use, and integrations. By analyzing user reviews and conducting in-depth testing, we ensure our recommendations fit your needs. Each factor is weighted by importance to provide an accurate final rating, helping you make informed decisions.
Gusto or Calamari: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Gusto If You Need ...
- Comprehensive HR solution
If you are a business looking for a comprehensive HR solution that includes payroll, benefits administration, and compliance management, Gusto is the ideal choice. Its wide range of features and user-friendly interface make it a top contender for businesses seeking an all-in-one HR platform.
- Robust customer support
If you value robust customer support and need reliable assistance with your HR software, Gusto is the better option. Its comprehensive support options ensure that users have access to help when needed, making it a dependable choice for businesses.
Choose Calamari If You Need ...
- Specialized leave management
If your primary focus is on leave management and you need a tool that excels in tracking and managing employee time-off requests, Calamari is the better choice. Its specialized features and user-friendly interface make it a top choice for businesses focused on leave management.
- Seamless integrations
If you need a tool that offers seamless integrations with popular software and enhances your existing software ecosystem, Calamari is the ideal choice. Its integration capabilities make it a flexible and adaptable option for businesses with diverse software needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main differences between Gusto and Calamari?
Which tool is better for small businesses?
How do Gusto and Calamari compare in terms of pricing?
Can Gusto and Calamari integrate with other software?
Which tool offers better customer support?
How do Gusto and Calamari handle security?
Martin Lunendonk
Martin Lunendonk is a senior tech writer specializing in website builders, web hosting, and ecommerce platforms. With a background in finance, accounting, and philosophy, he has founded multiple tech startups and worked in medium to large tech companies and investment banking, bringing deep expertise and reliable insights to his software reviews.
