Choose Gusto if you want a payroll and HR platform that stands on its own, with unlimited payroll runs on every plan, AutoPilot and contractor payments in more than 120 countries. Choose QuickBooks Payroll if your books already live in QuickBooks and you want payroll, time tracking and HR synced with your accounting. One change to know first: Intuit now sells its payroll as QuickBooks Workforce.
I read Gusto's home, plans and about pages, then Intuit's QuickBooks payroll and payroll plans pages. Both are built for US small businesses, so the choice mostly comes down to where the rest of your admin lives.
Gusto and QuickBooks Payroll side by side
| Gusto | QuickBooks Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Payroll, benefits and HR platform | Payroll inside QuickBooks Workforce, with HR and benefits |
| Plans | Simple, Plus, Premium | Workforce Payroll, Workforce Premium, Workforce Elite |
| Automation | Tax filings and approvals on AutoPilot | Payroll runs automatically after setup |
| Time tracking | Time and Attendance Plus add-on | Integrated time tracking; geofencing and mileage on Elite |
| Contractors | Global contractor payments in 120+ countries add-on | 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC e-file |
| Expert help | Gusto HR Partners and priority support add-ons | Setup review on Premium; expert setup and HR advisor on Elite |
| Free option (as of October 2026) | No free plan; free account setup, no contracts | Not mentioned on the pages I read |
What Gusto does well
Gusto launched in 2012 as ZenPayroll and says it now serves more than 500,000 businesses. Every plan includes unlimited payrolls, direct deposit or printable checks, multiple pay rates and schedules, and tax filings and approvals on AutoPilot. Higher plans add contractor invoice upload and workforce reports, and same-day and instant pay are available.
The add-on list is where Gusto stretches. You can pay contractors in more than 120 countries, have Gusto handle state tax registration when you start filing in a new state, claim R&D tax credits, verify new hires with Remote I-9 or E-Verify, and bring in Gusto HR Partners for hands-on HR work. There aren't any contracts, and setup's free.
What QuickBooks Payroll offers
Intuit now sells payroll as QuickBooks Workforce, which it describes as combining AI automation and expert guidance across payroll, HR, team management and benefits. Payroll is included with every Workforce plan, and if you already use QuickBooks you add it by signing in. Taxes are calculated and filed for you, payroll can run automatically, and same-day direct deposit is available.
Its pull is the connection to your accounting. Intuit says employee data, payroll, time tracking and accounting stay synced, and your team can see pay info and W-2s in the Workforce app. Premium adds an expert review of your setup, and Elite has an expert set payroll up for you, a personal HR advisor powered by Mineral, tax penalty protection, geofencing and mileage tracking.
The name change that trips people up
If you go looking for QuickBooks Payroll plans, you'll find Workforce Payroll, Workforce Premium and Workforce Elite. It's the same product family under a new name, and QuickBooks Desktop Payroll is still a separate option for desktop users. Check which one your accountant means before you compare features.
How to decide
- Already run your books in QuickBooks Online? Its Workforce payroll keeps everything in one place.
- Use other accounting software, or none? Gusto works as a standalone platform.
- Pay contractors abroad? Gusto's add-on covers more than 120 countries.
- Want an expert to set payroll up for you? Look at QuickBooks Workforce Elite.
- Hate long commitments? Gusto has no contracts, and QuickBooks says there's no annual contract.
For a wider look at your options, see my guide to payroll software for small businesses and what an independent contractor agreement should include.
My advice on Gusto or QuickBooks Payroll
If your bookkeeping already lives in QuickBooks, adding its Workforce payroll is the path of least resistance, and the sync with your accounts saves real admin time. If you're choosing payroll on its own merits, or you pay people overseas, Gusto is the more flexible platform with a generous list of add-ons. Talk to your accountant first, because they'll know how they file for you, and that's often what decides it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is QuickBooks Payroll now called QuickBooks Workforce?
Intuit's payroll pages now sell it as QuickBooks Workforce, with plans called Workforce Payroll, Workforce Premium and Workforce Elite.
Which should I pick if I already use QuickBooks?
Intuit says payroll is included with every QuickBooks Workforce plan and you add it by signing in to QuickBooks, which keeps payroll and accounting data synced. Gusto is the standalone option if you'd rather keep payroll separate.
Can Gusto pay international contractors?
Yes. Gusto's global contractor payments add-on covers more than 120 countries.
Does QuickBooks Payroll include time tracking?
Intuit says payroll and time tracking data connect, and Elite adds geofencing and mileage tracking.
Do either of them lock you into a contract?
Gusto says there are no contracts and you can switch or cancel anytime. Intuit's plans page lists no annual contract and cancel anytime.
