Best Gusto Alternatives (2026)

Straightforward payroll with flat pricing and no tier maze. Good for small teams that want simplicity and predictable costs.

OnPay stands out for value and clarity. One main plan, base-plus-per-person pricing you can see upfront, and solid payroll plus benefits without the complexity of tiered plans. It's a strong alternative to Gusto if you want similar ease of use with a simpler pricing structure. Support is included, and it works with any accounting software.

Enterprise-grade payroll and HR that scales. RUN Powered by ADP is the 1–49 product (quote-based packages); Workforce Now is 50+. Optional dedicated support for growing and multi-state businesses.

ADP is the pick when you need to scale past payroll-only tools. For most small businesses the product is RUN Powered by ADP (1–49 employees, four packages, quote required). Workforce Now is ADP’s 50+ platform. Pricing is not a public RUN dollar card. For a very small crew that only needs payroll, Gusto, OnPay, or SurePayroll are often simpler; for growing businesses that want payroll plus HR infrastructure, ADP is a top option.

Payroll combined with HR, benefits, and IT device management in one modern platform. Strong for growing companies that want one system for people operations.

Rippling is the pick when you want payroll plus HR and IT in a single, automation-heavy platform. It suits growing companies that need onboarding, app provisioning, and device management alongside pay runs—not just a payroll-only tool. Pricing is typically custom; compare with Gusto or OnPay if you want simpler published rates and a narrower feature set.

Full-service payroll with strong support and advisory. Good for businesses that want a partner for compliance and benefits.

Paychex is the full-service alternative: custom pricing, optional dedicated reps, and a reputation for hands-on support. If you want someone to guide you through compliance, benefits, and setup—rather than running everything yourself—Paychex is a strong choice. Compare with ADP if you're weighing two traditional providers.

Payroll add-on paired with Wave’s free accounting. Fits solopreneurs and very small teams that want minimal cost and simple pay runs.

Wave pairs free accounting with a payroll add-on, which appeals to micro businesses and solopreneurs who want to keep monthly software cost low. It’s not as deep on HR and benefits as Gusto or Rippling—but for very small teams that already use Wave for books, it’s a practical path to run payroll without switching platforms.