Gusto pricing in 2026
Published rates and provenance
| Pricing model | Three tiers (Simple / Plus / Premium), monthly base + PEPM. Contractor-only plan also offered. |
|---|---|
| Provenance | vendor-published list rate |
| Cheapest rate | Simple $49/mo base + $6 PEPM (list, published) |
| PEPM band (low / mid / high) | $6.00 $12.00 $22.00 |
| Implementation fee band | $0.00 to $0.00 |
| Source | https://gusto.com/product/pricing [1] |
| Last re-verified | 2026-06-20 |
| Recent changes | 2026 list price holds: Simple $49 + $6 PEPM, Plus $80 + $12 PEPM, Premium $180 + $22 PEPM. Contractor-only $35 + $6 per contractor. |
What the buying committee actually pays
Gusto publishes list. Implementation is self-serve and there is no formal implementation fee. Renewal-uplift on multi-year contracts averages 12% per year unless capped in the MSA [2].
What do the tiers cost in 2026?
Simple $49 + $6 PEPM. Plus $80 + $12 PEPM. Premium $180 + $22 PEPM. Contractor-only $35 + $6 per contractor with no employee minimum.
When does the contractor plan become more expensive than Simple?
Above eight contractors. $35 + 8 x $6 = $83. Simple at zero W-2 employees and one contractor is $55, so the contractor plan only wins when you have multiple contractors and zero W-2s.
Which features sit on Plus vs Premium?
Plus adds Performance reviews, surveys, time tracking, project tracking, and PTO policies. Premium adds dedicated CSM, HR resource centre, R&D tax credit eligibility, and HR-compliance support.
What multi-state payroll fees are there?
$15/mo per additional state filing on Plus and below. Premium bundles unlimited states.
How does Gusto compare to Rippling at 75 employees?
At 75 employees on Plus + Premium HR support, Gusto lands around $14-$15 PEPM. Rippling Core + Payroll lands $14-$18 PEPM. The deciding line is whether you need IT/Device, Performance, and Recruiting in one platform - if yes, Rippling wins; if not, Gusto wins on transparent list pricing.