Gusto vs OnPay: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and OnPay — fees, features, ease, support, and which one fits your business. Scored on the same rubric.
Short answer: OnPay wins on our scorecard (8.1/10 vs 7.9/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 9 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 9 |
| Customer support | 6 | 7 |
| Features | 9 | 8 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Base Monthly Fee | — | $40.00 |
| Per Employee Fee | — | $6.00 |
| Setup Fee | — | $0.00 |
| Year-end W-2/1099s | — | Included |
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.
OnPay in one paragraph
OnPay is the best value-for-money payroll provider for U.S. small businesses that want flat, predictable pricing and full-service tax compliance.
Skip it if: Skip it if you need to pay international contractors or require a native mobile app to run payroll from your phone.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or OnPay?
On our five-axis scorecard, OnPay scores higher (8.1/10 vs 7.9/10). OnPay is the best value-for-money payroll provider for U.S. small businesses that want flat, predictable pricing and full-service tax compliance.
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 OnPay?
Skip it if you need to pay international contractors or require a native mobile app to run payroll from your phone.