As of October 2026, Gusto's payroll plans cost $49 a month plus $6 a month per person on Simple, $80 a month plus $12 per person on Plus, and $180 a month plus $22 per person on Premium. Every plan includes unlimited payroll runs, tax filings and payments, and contractor payments, with no contract.
Those are the prices on Gusto's own plan pages. The per person charge is where the bill grows, so here's how it adds up, what each tier gets you, and the add-ons that sit on top.
Gusto plans and prices
| Plan | Base price | Per person | Example: 5 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | $49 a month | $6 a month | $79 a month |
| Plus | $80 a month | $12 a month | $140 a month |
| Premium | $180 a month | $22 a month | $290 a month |
The five-person column is simple arithmetic on Gusto's listed prices: base price plus five times the per person rate. Gusto says it only charges for active employees, so the bill rises as you hire and falls when people leave.
US contractors are billed at the same per person rate as your plan, but only in months you've paid them. Global contractors are different: Gusto says there's no monthly per contractor fee, just a service and foreign exchange fee on each payment.
What every Gusto plan includes
- Unlimited payrolls per month, with direct deposit or printable checks
- Federal, state and local tax filings and payments
- Payroll approvals and Payroll on AutoPilot
- Multiple pay rates and schedules
- Domestic contractor payments, expenses and reimbursements
- The employee app and the employer mobile app
Gusto's FAQ also says it won't charge extra for off-cycle payrolls. It files forms such as W-2, 1099, 940 and 941 on your behalf.
What Plus and Premium add
| Feature | Simple | Plus | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor invoice upload | No | Yes | Yes |
| Workforce cost reports | No | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited custom earning types | No | Yes | Yes |
| Unlimited custom admin roles | No | No | Yes |
| Same-day pay and instant pay | No | No | Yes |
| Support | Basic | Basic | Premium Account Support with a dedicated partner |
| State tax registration, global contractor payments | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on |
The jump from Simple to Plus is mostly about reporting and contractor admin. Premium is where faster pay options and a dedicated account partner come in, and Gusto notes that same-day and instant pay are subject to eligibility.
Add-ons and extra costs
- Priority Support on Simple or Plus: $30 a month plus $3 a month per person.
- Keeping your own health insurance broker: $6 a month per eligible employee for the broker integration. With Gusto as your broker, it says administration is included and you pay only the premium.
- Tax-advantaged benefits (HSAs, FSAs, dependent care FSAs and commuter benefits): one $200 annual service charge covers all four account types.
- Time and Attendance Plus, R&D tax credits, Next-Day pay and state tax registration are listed as add-ons, priced separately.
How to work out your own Gusto bill
- Count the people you'll pay each month: employees, plus any US contractors you pay that month.
- Multiply that number by the per person price of the plan you're considering: $6, $12 or $22.
- Add the plan's base price: $49, $80 or $180.
- Add any add-ons you need, such as Priority Support at $30 a month plus $3 a person, or the $200 yearly charge for tax-advantaged benefit accounts.
- Check it again whenever you hire. Gusto bills only active employees, so the total moves with your headcount.
Benefits are where the add-on list gets long. Gusto offers health insurance through its own licensed brokers, a 401(k) that runs with payroll, pay-as-you-go workers' compensation through a partner, and life and disability cover. Insurance premiums aren't part of the plan prices above.
Who each plan suits
| If you... | Look at |
|---|---|
| Run a small team with one pay schedule and want payroll and tax filings handled | Simple |
| Pay contractors who send invoices, or need cost reports by team | Plus |
| Need same-day or instant pay, custom admin roles, or a dedicated support partner | Premium |
| Pay contractors abroad | Any plan, with the global contractor payments add-on |
Gusto also says it supports S corp owners paying themselves through payroll, and cannabis-related businesses on all three plans, although some of those need a compliance add-on.
Contracts, setup and switching
Gusto says there's no contract and you can cancel any time, because it's month to month. Account setup is free, and its plan pages say you don't pay until you run payroll. If you upgrade, the change takes effect straight away.
Moving from another provider mid-year means gathering your EIN, staff addresses and salaries, plus records of payroll taxes you've already filed. For a wider look at the options, this roundup of payroll software for small businesses compares Gusto with the alternatives, and the full Gusto review covers how it handles day to day.
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The verdict
For a small US team, Simple at $49 a month plus $6 a person is fair value: unlimited payroll runs and tax filings are included, and there's no contract to get stuck in. Don't let the base price fool you on the bigger plans, though, because the per person rate does the damage as you grow. At ten people, Premium's $22 per person alone is $220 a month before the $180 base. Start on Simple, and only move up when you need a specific Plus or Premium feature, not because it sounds more complete.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Gusto cost per month?
As of October 2026, Gusto Simple is $49 a month plus $6 per person, Plus is $80 a month plus $12 per person, and Premium is $180 a month plus $22 per person.
Does Gusto charge for contractors?
US contractors are billed at your plan's per person rate, but only in months you pay them. Global contractors have no monthly per contractor fee, just a service and foreign exchange fee per payment.
Does Gusto have a contract?
No. Gusto says it's month to month and you can cancel any time.
Does Gusto charge extra for off-cycle payroll?
No. Gusto says every plan includes unlimited payroll runs and it won't charge extra for off-cycle payrolls.
How much is Gusto Priority Support?
On Simple and Plus it's an add-on at $30 a month plus $3 a month per person. Premium includes Premium Account Support.
Is Gusto setup free?
Yes. Gusto says account setup is free and you don't pay until you run payroll.
