Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll (2024 Comparison)
Gusto offers a user-friendly platform for managing payroll and HR tasks. With comprehensive benefits management and reliable customer support, it's an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses.
- User-friendly interface for easy navigation
- Comprehensive benefits management options
- Reliable customer support available
- Limited advanced financial features
- Higher cost for additional features
Free plan?
NoStarting price
$40 per month
QuickBooks Payroll provides seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting, offering advanced tax management and robust time tracking features. It's ideal for businesses seeking a comprehensive financial management solution.
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting
- Advanced tax management capabilities
- Robust time tracking features
- Complex setup for new users
- Longer customer support response times
Free plan?
YesStarting price
$42.50 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 an intuitive interface that allows businesses to automate payroll processes, manage employee benefits, and ensure compliance with ease. Gusto's user-friendly platform is perfect for small to medium-sized businesses looking to streamline their HR operations, making it a valuable tool for business owners who want to focus more on growth and less on administrative tasks.
What is QuickBooks Payroll?
QuickBooks Payroll is a robust payroll management solution that integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software. It helps businesses efficiently manage payroll, taxes, and employee benefits, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. QuickBooks Payroll is ideal for businesses that already use QuickBooks for accounting, as it provides a unified platform for managing financial and payroll operations, saving time and reducing errors.
Pros and Cons of Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll
Pros & Cons of Gusto
- Gusto's interface is designed with simplicity in mind, making it easy for users to navigate and manage payroll and HR tasks without extensive training. This ease of use is particularly beneficial for small business owners who may not have dedicated HR staff.
- Gusto offers a wide range of benefits management options, allowing businesses to tailor their offerings to meet the needs of their employees. This flexibility is a significant advantage for companies looking to attract and retain top talent.
- Gusto provides dependable customer support, with resources available to assist users with any issues they may encounter. This level of support is crucial for businesses that rely on their payroll software to operate smoothly.
- While Gusto excels in payroll and benefits management, it lacks some of the advanced financial features offered by competitors like QuickBooks Payroll. This limitation may be a drawback for businesses seeking a more comprehensive financial management solution.
- Gusto's pricing can increase significantly as businesses add more features and services. This cost may be a concern for small businesses with limited budgets, particularly if they require advanced functionality.
Pros & Cons of QuickBooks Payroll
- QuickBooks Payroll integrates effortlessly with QuickBooks accounting software, providing a unified platform for managing financial and payroll operations. This integration is a significant advantage for businesses already using QuickBooks, as it streamlines processes and reduces errors.
- QuickBooks Payroll offers robust tax management capabilities, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. This feature is particularly beneficial for businesses with complex tax needs, as it simplifies the filing process and reduces the risk of errors.
- QuickBooks Payroll provides advanced time tracking features, allowing businesses to monitor employee hours and manage schedules effectively. This functionality is a valuable asset for companies that require detailed time tracking and reporting.
- The integration of QuickBooks Payroll with QuickBooks accounting can be complex for new users, requiring a learning curve to fully utilize its features. This complexity may be a barrier for businesses without dedicated accounting staff.
- Some users report longer response times from QuickBooks Payroll's customer support team. This delay can be frustrating for businesses that require prompt assistance to resolve issues and maintain smooth operations.
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll: At A Glance
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll: A Detailed Breakdown of Key Features
Payroll Processing
Gusto offers a seamless payroll processing experience, allowing you to automate payments and manage employee records with ease. QuickBooks Payroll, however, takes it a step further by integrating directly with QuickBooks accounting, providing a more comprehensive financial management solution. If you're looking for a payroll system that integrates with your accounting software, QuickBooks Payroll is the better choice.
Tax Filing
Both Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll offer automated tax filing, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. QuickBooks Payroll's integration with QuickBooks accounting provides additional tax management features, making it a more robust solution for businesses with complex tax needs. If you require advanced tax management capabilities, QuickBooks Payroll is the superior option.
Employee Benefits
Gusto excels in managing employee benefits, offering a wide range of options to suit different business needs. QuickBooks Payroll also provides benefits management, but its primary strength lies in its integration with QuickBooks accounting. If you prioritize comprehensive benefits management, Gusto may be the better choice.
Time Tracking
Gusto offers basic time tracking features, allowing employees to log hours and manage schedules. QuickBooks Payroll provides more advanced time tracking capabilities, particularly when integrated with QuickBooks accounting. If you need detailed time tracking and reporting, QuickBooks Payroll is the better option.
Direct Deposit
Both Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll offer direct deposit options, ensuring timely and accurate payments to employees. QuickBooks Payroll's integration with QuickBooks accounting provides additional financial management features, making it a more comprehensive solution for businesses seeking an all-in-one platform. If you need advanced financial management features, QuickBooks Payroll is the better choice.
Mobile Access
Gusto provides mobile access, allowing you to manage payroll and HR tasks on the go. QuickBooks Payroll also offers mobile access, with additional features available through its integration with QuickBooks accounting. If you require a mobile solution with advanced financial management capabilities, QuickBooks Payroll is the superior option.
Pricing Comparison of Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll
To assist you in making an informed choice, we’ve outlined the pricing plans and essential features of Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll. This comparison will highlight the best option for managing your payroll and 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.
QuickBooks Payroll Pricing Plans
- Auto Payroll feature to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.
- Employee portal for easy access to pay stubs and tax forms.
- Track income and expenses to maintain financial clarity.
- Invoice and accept payments to streamline cash flow management.
- Run enhanced reports to gain deeper insights into business performance.
- Manage bills and enter time to streamline operations.
- Connect up to 3 sales channels for expanded reach.
- Includes 3 users to facilitate team collaboration.
- 24/7 expert product support for uninterrupted assistance.
- Track project profitability to optimize resource allocation.
- Track inventory to manage stock levels effectively.
- Includes 5 users to support larger teams.
Our Rating Methodology
We thoroughly evaluate each payroll software, focusing on key factors like ease of use, functionality, and integrations. By analyzing user reviews and testing features, we ensure our recommendations meet diverse business needs. Each factor is weighted to provide an accurate final rating, helping you choose the best tool for your payroll management.
Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll: Which One Matches Your Business Needs?
Choose Gusto If You Need ...
- User-friendly payroll solution
If you are a small business owner seeking an easy-to-use payroll and HR platform, Gusto is an excellent choice. Its intuitive interface and comprehensive benefits management make it ideal for businesses without dedicated HR staff.
- Comprehensive benefits management
If you need a flexible solution for managing employee benefits, Gusto offers a wide range of options to suit different business needs. This flexibility is a significant advantage for companies looking to attract and retain top talent.
Choose QuickBooks Payroll If You Need ...
- Integrated financial management
If you are a business already using QuickBooks accounting, QuickBooks Payroll provides seamless integration, offering a unified platform for managing financial and payroll operations. This integration streamlines processes and reduces errors.
- Advanced tax management
If you require robust tax management capabilities, QuickBooks Payroll offers advanced features to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. This functionality simplifies the filing process and reduces the risk of errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tool is better for small businesses?
How does QuickBooks Payroll integrate with QuickBooks accounting?
What are the key differences in tax management between the two tools?
Which tool offers better customer support?
How do the mobile access features compare?
Which tool is more cost-effective?
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.
