Gusto vs Salesforce Starter: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and Salesforce Starter — 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 7.3/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | Salesforce Starter |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 7 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 7 |
| Customer support | 6 | 6 |
| Features | 9 | 8 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Starter Tier (per user/mo) | — | $25 |
| Pro Suite (per user/mo) | — | $100 |
| Implementation Fee | — | $0 (Self-serve) |
| Contract Term | — | Annual |
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.
Salesforce Starter in one paragraph
A powerful, future-proof CRM that trades advanced automation for ease of use, perfect for teams of 2 to 10.
Skip it if: Skip it if you are a solo freelancer who only needs a basic contact list and no marketing tools.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or Salesforce Starter?
On our five-axis scorecard, Gusto scores higher (7.9/10 vs 7.3/10). 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 Salesforce Starter?
Skip it if you are a solo freelancer who only needs a basic contact list and no marketing tools.