Gusto vs OnPay: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Gusto
4.6(5,247 reviews)
Payroll and HR platform for small businesses with benefits, compliance, and hiring tools.
OnPay
8.3(1,400 reviews)
Straightforward payroll and HR for small businesses. One plan at $40/month + $6/person with no feature gating or upsells.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Gusto | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Small businesses and startups (1-100 employees) | Small businesses under 50 employees that want all features without tiered pricing games |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $40/mo | $40/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| Platforms | WEB, IOS, ANDROID | WEB, IOS, ANDROID |
| Rating | 4.6/10 | 8.3/10 |
Pros & Cons
Gusto
Pros
- Excellent payroll that handles all 50 states flawlessly
- Easy setup—most companies run first payroll same day
- Affordable benefits access typically reserved for larger companies
- Clean, intuitive interface for employers and employees
- Strong customer support for complex payroll questions
Cons
- HR features are basic compared to dedicated HRIS platforms
- Gets expensive as employee count grows past 50
- Limited international capabilities—US focused
- Reporting and analytics could be more powerful
OnPay
Pros
- One plan with everything included — no feature gating, no tiers, no surprise upsells
- Transparent pricing at $40/month + $6/person makes budgeting dead simple
- Free accountant dashboard lets CPAs manage multiple client payrolls from one login
- Rock-solid QuickBooks and Xero integrations that sync without manual intervention
- US-based customer support with dedicated specialists who actually know payroll
Cons
- No international payroll — US only, no contractor payments abroad
- Mobile app is functional but limited compared to desktop experience
- Reporting is basic — standard reports only, no custom report builder
- No 24/7 support — business hours only, which is tough for after-hours emergencies
- Limited scalability past 100 employees — features plateau for larger companies
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gusto | subscription | $40/mo |
| OnPay | subscription | $40/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Gusto if...
Small businesses and startups (1-100 employees)
Choose OnPay if...
Small businesses under 50 employees that want all features without tiered pricing games
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.