Square Payroll vs Gusto

The main difference between Square Payroll and Gusto is that Square Payroll is a feature-rich payroll solution. It includes direct deposit, wage garnishments, automatic tax filing, and benefits administration. It seamlessly integrates with third-party applications and Square software, like Square POS, accounting software, and employee management tools. On the other hand, Gusto, previously known as ZenPayroll, is a top payroll solution. It offers a comprehensive suite of payroll tools with a user-friendly interface. With automated payroll management and attendance reporting, Gusto simplifies payroll processing. It also offers higher-tier plans that provide premium support, like expert guidance on taxes and compliance.

In this versus, we compare Square Payroll vs Gusto in-depth to help you choose one of them. If you want to know more details, we recommend you to read our Square Payroll review and Gusto review.

However, you can also directly find the Best Payroll Software, we list them by ranking (based on our review rating), you can find all the comparisons we made and we explain how you should choose the proper one.

Here is what we will talk about in the rest of this article:

Quick overview

Square Payroll vs Gusto at a Glance

To make your choice quick and efficient, here is a short summary about our comparison of Gusto vs Square Payroll. Find out their ratings, features, prices and then discover the winner of the versus.

Pros and Cons comparison

9.4
Square Payroll Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

Square Payroll Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

In this Square Payroll review, you’ll find more information about its features, pricing, pros and cons and why you …
Average Score 9.4
Customer support
9.2
Value for money
9.4
Ease of use
9.6
Features
9.4
PROS:
  • User-friendly interface
  • Automated tax filings
  • Seamless integration with other Square products
  • Live support available
CONS:
  • Limited advanced customization
  • Reporting features could be more robust
9.1
Gusto Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

Gusto Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

In this Gusto review, you’ll find more information about its features, pricing, pros and cons and why you should …
Average Score 9.1
Customer support
8.9
Value for money
9.1
Ease of use
9.2
Features
9.2
PROS:
  • Feature-rich
  • Compliant with local labor laws
  • Ease of use
CONS:
  • Challenging time off management
  • Manuel entry for contractor payments
  • Physical paychecks

Specifications comparison

DetailsSquare PayrollGusto
FeaturesAutomated tax filing / Automatic Time Tracking / Customizable Payroll Reports / Employee Payroll Data / HR Tools / Make Payroll 90% Faster / Multi-state payroll / Multiple Payment Options / Team ManagementCalendar sync / Complete Solution for Human Resources / Compliance and Regulations / Customer Success / Health insurance broker integration / Make Payroll 90% Faster / Multi-state payroll / Scalable / Security and Compliance / Time Kiosk / Time Tracking
Best suited forSmall businesses, Mid size businessesFreelancers, Small businesses
Website languagesEnglish / French / Japanese / SpanishEnglish
Website URLVisit official websiteVisit official website
Support linkSupport pageSupport page
Support emailsupport@gusto.com
Live chatYesNo
Company addressUnited StatesCalifornia 94107
Year founded20092011

Pricing comparison

Compare the price between Square Payroll vs Gusto

Find out which software has the best valuable pricing, which one offers a free trial and money back guarantee.

Pricing comparisonSquare PayrollGusto
Pricing range$6 per personFrom $40 to $80 per month
Pricing typesMonthly subscription / Pay-per-useMonthly subscription
Free planNoNo
Free trialNoNo
Money back guaranteeNoNo
Pricing page linkSee plansSee plans

Square Payroll Pricing details

Square Payroll offers two straightforward pricing plans with no hidden fees. The “Pay Employees & Contractors” plan costs a $35 monthly subscription fee plus an additional $6 per person paid each month, covering a wide range of features including unlimited pay runs and multistate payroll.

The “Pay Contractors Only” plan charges a flat $6 monthly fee per contractor, offering unlimited pay runs and 1099-NEC form mailing. Both plans allow for cancellation at any time and include free seasonal inactivity.

Square Payroll pricing

Pay Employees & Contractors Plan

  • Monthly Subscription Fee: $35
  • Per Person Paid: Additional $6 monthly fee per person
  • What’s Included:
    • Unlimited pay runs per month
    • Automatic payroll tax calculations
    • All tax filings and payments
    • Multistate payroll
    • Live support for account setup
    • Timecards and employee app
    • Track and import tips and commissions
    • W-2s and 1099-NEC forms mailed
    • Payment options: Check, direct deposit, or Cash App
    • No commitment, cancel anytime
    • Free seasonal inactivity

Pay Contractors Only Plan

  • Per Person Paid: $6 monthly fee per person
  • What’s Included:
    • Unlimited pay runs per month
    • Mailing of all 1099-NEC forms
    • Payment options: Check, direct deposit, or Cash App
    • No commitment, cancel anytime
    • Free seasonal inactivity

Gusto Pricing details

From startups to growing businesses, Gusto offers a range of pricing plans tailored to your needs. With plans starting at just $40/month and scaling to exclusive premium offerings, there’s a perfect fit for every budget. Dive in to find the best value for your business !

Gusto pricing

Simple Plan

    • Price: $40/mo base + $6/mo per person
    • Features:
      • Full-service single-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s
      • Full support
      • Employee profiles and self-service
      • Basic hiring and onboarding tools
      • Gusto-brokered health insurance administration
      • Employee financial benefits
      • Payroll and time-off reports
      • Custom admin permissions
      • Integrations for accounting, time tracking, expense management, and more

Plus Plan

    • Price: $80/mo base + $12/mo per person
    • Features:
      • Everything in the Simple plan
      • Full-service multi-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s
      • Next-day direct deposit
      • Advanced hiring and onboarding tools
      • PTO management and policies
      • Time tracking and project tracking
      • Workforce costing and reports
      • Team management tools
      • Performance reviews
      • Employee surveys and insights
    • Add-ons:
      • Priority support and HR resources: +$8/mo per person
      • Time Kiosk: +$4/mo per Time Kiosk user (Currently free for a limited time)

Premium Plan

    • Price: Exclusive pricing (Contact Gusto for details)
    • Features:
      • Everything in the Plus plan
      • Dedicated Customer Success Manager
      • HR Resource Center
      • Compliance alerts
      • Access to certified HR experts
      • Full-service payroll migration and account setup
      • Health insurance broker integration
      • R&D tax credit discount
      • Waived fees and exclusive pricing
      • Priority support
      • Time Kiosk

Contractor Only Plan

    • Price: Discounted base price of $0/mo for 6 months (Regularly $35/mo) + $6/mo per contractor

These plans offer a range of features tailored to different business needs, from basic payroll functionalities to comprehensive HR tools and benefits administration.

Square Payroll provides free payroll processing with seamless payment options in person, online, over the phone, or on the go. There are no setup or monthly fees, and you only pay when you receive a payment. On the other hand, Gusto offers a monthly base fee of $40 and an additional charge of $6 per person. This comprehensive package includes a seamless suite of automatic payroll features and integrations with benefits. So, in terms of pricing, Square Payroll definitely has the upper hand.

🏆 Winner: Square Payroll

Learn more in the section below with our comparison of the different features of Square Payroll vs Gusto .

Features comparison

We highlight the main differences between Square Payroll vs Gusto

Here is a quick summary of the differences between the features and services offered by Square Payroll vs Gusto:

Features overview

In this section, we will compare only the big differences between Square Payroll and Gusto, and we will assign a winner for each feature or service.
So we will compare first:

  • Services
  • Integrations
  • HR Manager
  • Payroll

Services

Square Payroll offers to strengthen customer relations with easy customer management tools, align on scope and pricing upfront, schedule appointments easily, and get a 360-degree view of your customers. On the other hand, Gusto empowers you with access to robust data, cutting-edge tools, and comprehensive training. With these resources, you can effortlessly deliver unparalleled financial expertise and People Advisory services to your valued clients and beyond. So, the winner of this round is Square Payroll for its focus on customer management tools and customer engagement.

🏆 Winner: Square Payroll

Integrations

Both Square Payroll and Gusto offer integrations with a variety of business tools. Square seamlessly integrates with a diverse array of business tools, spanning from Wix to QuickBooks. This comprehensive integration empowers you to effortlessly manage staff, generate reports, handle finances, and customize your website to align precisely with your vision and needs. In contrast, Gusto also provides seamless integration with various popular tools, including 15five, 7shifts, Accelo, Accounting Suite, and many others. So, the Victor of this round is a tie as both Square and Gusto offer impressive integration capabilities.

🏆 Winner: Both

HR Manager

Square Payroll’s HR manager keeps you informed and confident with updates on HR policies and expert assistance. You can stay up-to-date with law alerts sent directly to your email, access a library of resources on HR and compliance, and set your team up for success with hiring and onboarding resources. On the other side, Gusto utilizes personalized onboarding checklists to generate essential documents efficiently, enroll employees in benefits, and even facilitate software provisioning. Further, Gusto offers teams a centralized data hub, resulting in a time savings of 5 hours per month on HR administration tasks after making the switch. So, in terms of HR management, the winner is Gusto.

🏆 Winner: Gusto

Payroll

Both Square Payroll and Gusto offer easy solutions to track employee hours. Square Payroll simplifies employee hour tracking with payroll software that seamlessly syncs with your timecards and point-of-sale system. On the other hand, Gusto provides the flexibility to run payroll as frequently as needed each month. With Gusto, your team can get paid quickly and easily with just a few clicks, and you can even set it on AutoPilot for added convenience. So, Square Payroll is the clear winner of this round, as it offers more automation and integration options for tracking employee hours.

🏆 Winner: Square Payroll

User Reviews

Find out what current users think about Square Payroll and Gusto

If you need some external reviews of Ciroapp, you can read the reviews written by their users. Feel free to add your own on these platforms once you are an experienced user of Square Payroll or Gusto, to help our community to choose.

Square Payroll Reviews

9.4
Square Payroll Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

Square Payroll Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

In this Square Payroll review, you’ll find more information about its features, pricing, pros and cons and why you …

Gusto Reviews

9.1
Gusto Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

Gusto Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

In this Gusto review, you’ll find more information about its features, pricing, pros and cons and why you should …

Now that you have read everything and know all the differences between Square Payroll and Gusto, it’s time to define a winner! Find out in the following whom the winner of this versus is ⚡.

Winner

Square Payroll vs Gusto: Who is the winner?

The winner of this versus is Square Payroll because it offers remarkable integration capabilities, efficient HR management, seamless payroll tracking, and a comprehensive solution. It provides personalized onboarding checklists and a centralized data hub, saving time and streamlining HR tasks.

However, Gusto offers more flexibility in running payroll as frequently as needed each month. It also has the added convenience of AutoPilot for quick and easy employee payments. Ultimately, the decision between Square Payroll and Gusto will depend on the specific needs of your business.


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