Gusto vs HubSpot CRM (Free): which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and HubSpot CRM (Free) — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: Gusto wins on our scorecard (7.9/10 vs 7.8/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | HubSpot CRM (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 9 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 8 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 10 |
| Customer support | 6 | 4 |
| Features | 9 | 7 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Monthly Software Fee | — | $0 |
| Per User Fee | — | $0 |
| Payment Processing (Stripe) | — | 2.9% + 30¢ (varies) |
| Onboarding Fee | — | $0 |
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.
HubSpot CRM (Free) in one paragraph
HubSpot CRM (Free) is the gold standard for zero-cost lead tracking, provided you can tolerate their branding and the lack of live support.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need highly customized reports or want to send unbranded professional emails without paying for a subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or HubSpot CRM (Free)?
On our five-axis scorecard, Gusto scores higher (7.9/10 vs 7.8/10). Gusto is the gold standard for small business payroll automation, trading high-touch human support for a near-perfect digital interface.
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 HubSpot CRM (Free)?
Skip it if you need highly customized reports or want to send unbranded professional emails without paying for a subscription.