Gusto vs BambooHR Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| Gusto | BambooHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $49/mo | $10/mo |
| Number of plans | 3 | 3 |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Pricing model | hybrid | per-seat |
Price is one row. To weigh the features too, use our feature comparison template →
Simple
- Single-state payroll
- Unlimited payrolls per month
- Tax filings and payments
- Basic PTO policies and holiday pay
- Direct deposits or printable checks
- Payroll approvals
- Payroll on AutoPilot®
- Gusto employee app
- Multiple pay rates and schedules
- Employer mobile app
- Domestic contractor payments
Plus
Popular- Multi-state payroll
- Next-day pay
- Time Tracking
- Unlimited payrolls per month
- Direct deposits or printable checks
- Tax filings and payments
- Payroll approvals
- Payroll on AutoPilot®
- Gusto employee app
- Multiple pay rates and schedules
- Employer mobile app
- Domestic contractor payments
- Expenses and reimbursements
- Workforce cost reports
- Unlimited custom earning types
Premium
- Dedicated Service Advisor
- Access to certified HR experts
- Performance & compensation management
- Custom reports
- Priority support
- Payroll migration and account setup
- Unlimited payrolls per month
- Direct deposits or printable checks
- Tax filings and payments
- Payroll approvals
- Payroll on AutoPilot®
- Gusto employee app
- Multiple pay rates and schedules
- Employer mobile app
- Domestic contractor payments
- Expenses and reimbursements
- Workforce cost reports
- Unlimited custom earning types
- Unlimited custom admin roles
- Same-day pay
- Instant pay
Core
- HR Data & Reporting
- Hiring & Onboarding
- Time Off & Benefits Tracking
- Employee Experience Tools
- HR Insights
- Compliance Intelligence
- Compliance Training: 1 Course
- On-Demand Pay
- AI Assistant
Pro
- Performance Management
- Employee Community
- Recognition & Rewards
- Compliance Training: 15 Courses
- Upgraded AI Assistant
Elite
Popular- Compensation Management
- Custom Dashboards & Analytics
- HR Benchmarks
- Premium Services
- Compliance Training: 300+ Courses
- Advanced AI Assistant
Gusto vs BambooHR FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- BambooHR is the cheaper option, starting at $10/mo vs $49/mo for Gusto.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Neither has a free plan.
- How do they charge?
- Different approach here. Gusto uses hybrid pricing, while BambooHR goes with per-seat. That changes the math depending on your team size and usage.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. Gusto: Gusto sits mid-market — pricier than bare-bones payroll tools but cheaper than enterprise HRIS platforms like Rippling or Justworks once you factor in per-person costs at scale. They're chasing small businesses and startups who want payroll + light HR in one place without needing a dedicated HR hire. BambooHR: At $10-25 per employee, BambooHR sits mid-market — pricier than bare-bones HRIS tools but well under enterprise suites like Workday or ADP's higher tiers. They're courting SMBs and growing mid-size companies that want a polished, all-in-one HR system without an enterprise sales cycle or custom quote.
Still deciding? See the best Gusto alternatives or the best BambooHR alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
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