Gusto vs Paychex
HR/HRIS pricing comparison · 2026
Gusto pricing ranges from $35–$180/month, while Paychex ranges from $39–$149/month. Both products are similarly priced at comparable tiers.
VS
Gusto and Paychex both operate in the hr/hris category. This page compares their list pricing.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Gusto | Paychex |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $49 /month | $39 /month base + $5/user |
| Plus | $80 /month | $79 /month base + $8/user |
| Premium | $180 /month | $119 /month base + $12/user |
| Contractor Only | $35 /month | $149 /month base |
Cost at Scale
Total cost of ownership — licenses, implementation, and hidden costs included.
Gusto
5 scenarios$65/month ($35 base + $30 for 5 contractors at $6/each)
Contractor-Only Setup (5 contractors)
$80/month
Growing Business
+ $12/employee
$180/month
Enterprise Setup
+ $22/employee
Paychex
3 scenarios$39/month
Starter Setup
$79/month
Growing Business
Custom pricing — typically negotiated annually, contact sales for quote
Enterprise (100+ users)
Market Intelligence
Gusto
- Median annual cost
- $1,368
- Based on
- 62 deals
Paychex
- Median annual cost
- $480
- Based on
- 45 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Gusto | Paychex |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | — | — |
| Cancellation | — | — |
| Minimum commitment | — | — |