Gusto vs ZenBusiness: which one fits your business?
Side-by-side comparison of Gusto and ZenBusiness — 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 7.2/10).
| Scored on | Gusto | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|
| Right fit for small biz | 9 | 7 |
| Ease of use | 8 | 9 |
| Fees & pricing | 7 | 6 |
| 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 | — | $0 + State Fees |
| Pro Tier | — | $199/year |
| Premium Tier | — | $299/year |
| Registered Agent (Standalone) | — | $199/year |
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.
ZenBusiness in one paragraph
ZenBusiness is a top-tier choice for effortless LLC formation, provided you are vigilant about disabling the expensive annual subscription add-ons.
Skip it if: You are comfortable navigating your state's Secretary of State website and want to avoid high-margin recurring compliance fees.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Gusto or ZenBusiness?
On our five-axis scorecard, Gusto scores higher (7.9/10 vs 7.2/10). 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 ZenBusiness?
You are comfortable navigating your state's Secretary of State website and want to avoid high-margin recurring compliance fees.