How Gusto prices
Captured November 2, 2026 at 1440px wide. The page continues below the crop (14,696px in total).
Gusto plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| SimpleRun basic payroll in one state. | $49/mo | + $6/mo per person |
| PlusHighlightedConfidently pay a mixed workforce and expand in new states. | $80/mo | + $12/mo per person |
| PremiumA named advisor as you scale, with built-in compliance, HR guidance, and financial tools. | $180/mo | + $22/mo per person |
As printed on the page captured November 2, 2026.
How does Gusto pricing work?
The value metric is a two-part price that tracks how payroll costs behave: a base fee for the company-level work of filings and compliance, and a per-person fee that scales with the team. Simple is "$49/mo + $6/mo per person", Plus "$80/mo + $12/mo per person" and Premium "$180/mo + $22/mo per person", so both parts step up together. Each tagline names the customer the plan fits: "Run basic payroll in one state.", "Confidently pay a mixed workforce and expand in new states." and "A named advisor as you scale, with built-in compliance, HR guidance, and financial tools." Plus carries the BEST VALUE flag and the row's only filled button, Premium bundles "Gusto Business Compliance", "Unlimited same day + instant pay" and "25 incl. invoice payments & bank transfers", and the Pay My Team / Pay Myself tabs send solo S-corp owners to the Gusto Solo plan.
The motion is self-serve. Every card leads with "Get started", the subhead reads "Payroll, benefits, and HR all in one place" with "Cancel any time.", and the comparison table opens on "No contracts. Free account setup. Switch or cancel anytime." The table has a sticky header of plan names and buttons, Payroll administration expanded and six more sections collapsed, including Business Compliance. A band titled "All kinds of tools, for all kinds of businesses" then presents Health benefits, Retirement benefits, Business insurance and Gusto Money, followed by the S corp prompt, a help block pairing "Talk to our team" with "Go to FAQs", review and award badges, and the teal add-on catalog running through Payroll, Business compliance, HR tools and expert support, Employee benefits, Tax-advantaged accounts, Business insurance and Money management before the Pricing FAQs.
The add-on catalog shows the billing system underneath. Units change with the service: "$5 per payment" for global contractor payments, "$90 per payroll" for Same-day pay and "$100 per payroll" for Instant pay, "$85/mo per state for an annual contract" for Gusto Business Compliance, "$20/submission" for Remote I-9 and "$5/submission" for E-Verify, "$4/mo per participant" with a "$20/mo minimum" for FSAs, and "Pay 15% of identified tax credits" for R&D credits. Each card also says which plan bundles the service and which plans can buy it, and insurance lines read "Pay only for premiums", with workers' comp adding "up to $5/mo for pay-as-you-go", so the premium passes through while Gusto earns on the platform. That points to a rate table with per-plan inclusions behind every account, and the pattern is worth borrowing: tie each add-on's unit to the event that drives its cost, and print the floor next to the rate.
What does Gusto's pricing page do well?
- Both halves of the price sit on every card, "$80/mo + $12/mo per person", so the per-employee fee is part of the first number a buyer reads
- Plan taglines name the moment a customer fits each tier, from "Run basic payroll in one state." to "expand in new states"
- Each add-on card states a price and its plan availability, such as "$85/mo per state for an annual contract" with "Included in Premium plan"
- Stacked fees are spelled out on the card: E-Verify's "$5/submission" carries "*on top of the $20 Remote I-9 add-on"
- Minimums print beside the rates: "$4/mo per participant" and "$20/mo minimum" on each FSA line, and "No minimum" on HSAs
What does Gusto's pricing page reveal about its pricing strategy?
- A base fee plus a per-person fee lets revenue grow with each customer's headcount, a built-in expand motion with no upgrade conversation
- Add-on units follow the cost of the service: per payment, per payroll, per state, per submission, per participant, or 15% of identified tax credits
- Premium works as a compliance and speed bundle: Business Compliance, Remote I-9, E-Verify, Same-day pay and Instant pay are included there and sold per use on Simple and Plus
- "25 incl. invoice payments & bank transfers" on Premium points to an included usage allowance for Gusto Money attached to the top plan
- Benefits and insurance are priced around premiums, with "Pay only for premiums" and "No Gusto administration fees", so the premium passes through and Gusto earns on the platform
Learn with Orb
- ProductPrice modeling A platform fee plus a per-person fee on every plan, with add-ons per payment, per payroll and per participant, is layered pricing logic; Orb's price modeling covers dimensional rates and hybrid plans.
- ProductInvoicing Add-ons billed per payment, per payroll, per state and as 15% of tax credits found make each bill a mix of units; Orb's invoicing carries usage detail customers can follow and finance can reconcile.
Questions about Gusto pricing
How much does Gusto cost?
Gusto's pricing starts at $49/mo + $6/person/mo. The page shows 3 plans.
What pricing model does Gusto use?
Gusto prices on a hybrid of seats and usage, combined with transaction fees. Buyers choose a plan and sign up on their own. Its plans are aimed mainly at small businesses.
Does Gusto have a free plan?
Gusto's pricing page shows no free plan or free trial. The lowest paid plan starts at $49/mo + $6/person/mo.
Does Gusto offer an annual discount?
Gusto's pricing page shows a single billing period. The listed prices start at $49/mo + $6/person/mo.
How is Gusto's pricing page laid out?
The page shows 3 plans, highlights Plus, and includes a comparison table and an FAQ. The breakdown above marks 14 points on it: 8 things it does well and 6 insights into the pricing.
What does the Gusto Business Compliance add-on include, and which plans get it?
Gusto Business Compliance is listed at "$85/mo per state for an annual contract". It provides tools to track state tax registrations, annual reports, and agency mail as a business expands into new states, in supported states. It is "Included in Premium plan" and "Available with Simple and Plus plans".
What do Remote I-9 and E-Verify cost with Gusto?
Remote I-9 is "$20/submission" and E-Verify is "$5/submission", and the E-Verify card notes "*on top of the $20 Remote I-9 add-on". Both are "Included on Premium plan" and "Available with Simple and Plus plans". E-Verify is for businesses already enrolled in E-Verify, which can submit directly from their Gusto account.
How much does Gusto charge for same-day pay and instant pay?
Gusto prices Same-day pay at "$90 per payroll" and Instant pay at "$100 per payroll". Both are included in the Premium plan and available as add-ons with the Simple and Plus plans. Next-Day pay is listed at "$15/mo + 3/mo per person", included in Plus and Premium and available with Simple.
From the page as captured November 2, 2026. Current prices are on gusto.com
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