Gusto vs HoneyBook: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and HoneyBook — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: HoneyBook wins on our scorecard (8/10 vs 7.9/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | HoneyBook |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 9 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 8 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 7 |
| Customer support | 6 | 7 |
| Features | 9 | 9 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Starter Plan (Monthly) | — | $19 |
| Essentials Plan (Monthly) | — | $39 |
| Premium Plan (Monthly) | — | $79 |
| Card Processing (CC) | — | 2.9% + $0.25 |
| ACH Transfers | — | 1.5% |
Gusto in one paragraph
Gusto is the gold standard for small business payroll automation, trading high-touch human support for a near-perfect digital interface.
Skip it if: You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
HoneyBook in one paragraph
HoneyBook is the gold standard for service-based solopreneurs who want to look like a 10-person agency while automating their most tedious tasks.
Skip it if: Skip it if you run a high-volume retail shop or a business with razor-thin margins where a 3% transaction fee is a dealbreaker.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or HoneyBook?
On our five-axis scorecard, HoneyBook scores higher (8/10 vs 7.9/10). HoneyBook is the gold standard for service-based solopreneurs who want to look like a 10-person agency while automating their most tedious tasks.
Who should skip Gusto?
You have a complex multi-state employee base and require a dedicated, 24/7 human account manager to handle manual tax adjustments.
Who should skip HoneyBook?
Skip it if you run a high-volume retail shop or a business with razor-thin margins where a 3% transaction fee is a dealbreaker.