VETTED SAAS
Head to head · HR and Payroll

Gusto vs Justworks

Gusto is payroll led HR software with flat pricing. Justworks is a PEO that bundles payroll, compliance, and access to large group benefits under one per employee fee. Two models for two kinds of team.

Reviewed by M. HALLORAN·Updated MAY 2026·How we vet
★ Our pick
Gusto
90 /100
vs
Challenger
Justworks
85 /100
◂ Gusto Advantage Justworks ▸
Gusto wins on value, payroll flexibility, and pricing clarity · Justworks wins on bundled benefits, compliance, and PEO simplicity.

These are affiliate links marked rel=“sponsored”. We may earn a commission if you buy · it never affects our scores or who wins. Disclosure.

How they score

Criteria Gusto Justworks Winner
Ease of use
92
86
Gusto
Value for small teams
90
74
Gusto
Benefits administration
88
90
Justworks
Compliance and liability
80
90
Justworks
Payroll flexibility
88
82
Gusto
Pricing transparency
90
86
Gusto

Scores are our editorial assessment against the VettedSaaS rubric · not vendor supplied.

Choose Gusto if…
+You want affordable payroll with optional benefits
+You prefer a flat base fee plus per employee pricing
+You want to keep your own benefits broker
+You are budget conscious and want flexibility
Choose Justworks if…
+You want a PEO to co employ and handle compliance
+You want access to large group health plans
+You value bundled HR, benefits, and compliance in one fee
+You would rather offload employment liability

Feature by feature

✓ full  ·  ∼ partial  ·  — none
Capability Gusto Justworks
Full service US payroll ✓ ✓
PEO co employment — ✓
Large group health plans ∼ ✓
Flat transparent pricing ✓ ✓
Contractor only plan ✓ ∼
Built in compliance support ∼ ✓
International hiring (EOR) — ∼

Feature support verified as of June 2026 · check the vendor for current details.

Pricing, side by side

Base fee plus per employee, where listed
Gusto Our pick
Simple $49 + $6/employee
Plus $80 + $12/employee
Premium $180 + $22/employee
Justworks Challenger
PEO Basic $59/employee
PEO Plus (with benefits) $109/employee
Payroll only request a quote

Pricing as of June 2026. Vendors change plans often · check the vendor for current pricing. Gusto lists flat base plus per employee fees. Justworks PEO charges per employee per month, and Plus reflects the platform fee only · insurance premiums are billed on top.

Keep exploring
Best HR and Payroll Software (overall) Gusto vs Paychex Gusto vs Rippling Best HR and Payroll for Startups