Gusto vs Square POS: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and Square POS — 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 7.5/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | Square POS |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 8 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 7 |
| Customer support | 6 | 5 |
| Features | 9 | 8 |
| Simple Base Fee | $40/mo | — |
| Simple Per-Person | $6/mo | — |
| Plus Base Fee | $80/mo | — |
| Contractor Only Base | $35/mo | — |
| Basic Software Fee | — | $0/mo |
| In-Person Processing | — | 2.6% + 10¢ |
| Online Processing | — | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Keyed-in Processing | — | 3.5% + 15¢ |
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.
Square POS in one paragraph
Square POS remains the fastest way to start taking payments, but high-volume businesses will eventually outgrow its flat-rate pricing.
Skip it if: You process more than $25,000 a month and need a dedicated account manager who picks up the phone every time.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or Square POS?
On our five-axis scorecard, Gusto scores higher (7.9/10 vs 7.5/10). 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 Square POS?
You process more than $25,000 a month and need a dedicated account manager who picks up the phone every time.