Gusto Payroll Review 2025

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What Is Gusto Payroll?

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform designed for small to mid-sized businesses that need the best payroll tools to simplify operations. It offers automated payroll management, accurate payroll tax filings, and complete payroll processing for employees and contractors—all through an intuitive interface built for reliable payroll control.

Over 400,000 businesses trust Gusto for its easy setup, responsive support, and transparent payroll pricing. With features like automated payroll runs, digital paystub generator access, health benefits integration, and time tracking, Gusto delivers the best payroll experience for growing teams.

Whether you’re managing employee payroll, running contractor payroll, or generating detailed paystubs, Gusto ensures every payroll task is handled accurately and on time. It’s widely recognized as one of the best payroll platforms in the market—making complex payroll and HR work simple for modern businesses.

What Does Gusto Include?

  • Full-service payroll with automated tax filings
  • Health benefits and 401(k) administration
  • Onboarding and document e-signatures
  • Time tracking and PTO management
  • Direct deposit and contractor payments
  • Employee self-service portal
  • Integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, and more

Pros & Cons

  • User-friendly interface
  • All-in-one HR & payroll
  • Excellent support and onboarding
  • Automated federal, state, and local tax filings
  • Strong benefits and compliance features
  • No international payroll
  • Time tracking only available on higher-tier plans
  • Pricing increases with team size

Customer Experiences

Gusto consistently earns strong feedback from small and mid-sized business owners who highlight its payroll automation, ease of use, and reliability. Many report cutting payroll processing time from hours to minutes and avoiding costly tax mistakes by switching to one of the best payroll systems available.

Employers appreciate how Gusto simplifies multi-state compliance, onboarding, and payroll management, while employees value direct deposits, clear digital paystubs, and instant access to their earnings through Gusto’s built-in paystub generator.

User reviews frequently mention how the payroll software integrates smoothly with accounting tools, supports automated payroll tax filings, and keeps everything transparent. Gusto’s employee app, Gusto Wallet, also receives praise for helping users view pay history, manage savings, and check payroll details anytime.

Overall, customers describe Gusto as one of the best payroll solutions—dependable, intuitive, and time-saving. It transforms complex HR and payroll tasks into a seamless, automated experience trusted by thousands of growing businesses.

Extras and Benefits

Comprehensive HR Tools: Includes hiring and onboarding workflows, customizable checklists, and digital document signing—all integrated with payroll functions for smoother setup.

Performance & Engagement: Built-in surveys, goal tracking, and review templates connect employee feedback directly to payroll and HR performance metrics.

Time Tracking & Attendance: Features like Time Kiosk allow staff to clock in securely, syncing hours directly to payroll for precise payroll calculations and accurate payments.

Benefits Management: Offers medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and commuter benefits, with automatic payroll deductions and instant access to records via the paystub generator.

Compliance & Reporting: Keeps businesses aligned with federal and state laws, automatically updating tax and labor settings—making Gusto one of the best payroll systems for accuracy and reliability.

Gusto Global: Enables compliant hiring and payment of international contractors in over 120 countries through secure global payroll processing.

Security & Access: Two-factor authentication, encrypted data, and self-service portals ensure every payroll record and employee paystub remains protected.

Bottom Line

Gusto is a reliable, all-in-one payroll and HR solution built for small and growing businesses that value simplicity, compliance, and employee satisfaction. It automates payroll processing, manages tax filings, and centralizes benefits, time tracking, and onboarding in one intuitive payroll platform.

Users consistently highlight its ease of use, responsive support, and strong compliance features that reduce costly payroll errors. Gusto’s focus on innovation—like Gusto Wallet and Gusto Global—helps businesses handle payroll management confidently across teams and locations.

As one of the best payroll solutions, Gusto combines automation, compliance, and convenience with tools like its built-in paystub generator for fast, accurate digital pay records.

In short, Gusto turns complex HR and payroll administration into a seamless, stress-free process, giving business owners more time to grow instead of managing payroll manually.

Why Choose Gusto?

Trusted by 400,000+ U.S. businesses. Perfectly simplifies payroll, taxes, and benefits with automation, compliance, and employee self-service—all in one secure, people-first platform built for growth and reliability.

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FAQs

Does Gusto file and pay payroll taxes automatically?

Yes. Gusto calculates, files, and pays all federal, state, and local payroll taxes automatically. Its automated payroll system ensures full compliance and accuracy, making it one of the best payroll platforms for effortless tax management.

Is Gusto good for small businesses?

Absolutely. Gusto is designed for small and growing businesses that want simple, reliable payroll management. It’s recognized as one of the best payroll solutions for companies with 1 to 100 employees.

Can Gusto handle contractor and employee payments?

Yes. You can manage payroll for W-2 employees and 1099 contractors from the same dashboard, generate accurate paystubs using the integrated paystub generator, and receive automated year-end forms.

Does Gusto support multi-state payroll?

Yes. Gusto supports multi-state payroll processing, handling tax registration and compliance across all 50 U.S. states. This makes it one of the best payroll platforms for nationwide businesses.

Can I offer benefits through Gusto?

Yes. Gusto provides access to health, dental, vision, and retirement plans, with all deductions automatically synced to payroll. The paystub generator ensures that every benefit adjustment appears clearly on employee paystubs.

Can Gusto handle international teams?

Yes. Through Gusto Global, businesses can hire full-time international employees and manage global payroll for contractors in over 120 countries, ensuring accurate and compliant payroll processing worldwide.

Is employee data secure with Gusto?

Yes. Gusto protects every payroll record using bank-level encryption, two-factor authentication, and secure data centers with 24/7 monitoring, making it one of the best payroll systems for both reliability and security.