Gusto vs Paylocity
HR/HRIS pricing comparison · 2026
Gusto pricing ranges from $35–$180/month, while Paylocity ranges from $20–$40/user/month. Paylocity is typically 63% more affordable, though your actual cost depends on tier and team size.
VS
Gusto and Paylocity both operate in the hr/hris category. This page compares their list pricing.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Gusto | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $49 /month | $20 /user/month |
| Plus | $80 /month | $30 /user/month |
| Premium | $180 /month | $40 /user/month |
| Contractor Only | $35 /month | — |
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
Paylocity
6 scenarios$20/month
Starter Setup
$30/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
Paylocity
- Median annual cost
- $42,240 0
- Based on
- 13 deals
Contract Terms
| Term | Gusto | Paylocity |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-renewal | — | No |
| Cancellation | — | No official renewal required |
| Minimum commitment | — | Typically 1 year |
| Price escalation | — | Standard annual increase around May, amount varies. Can be avoided with multi-year lock-in. |
| Can downgrade | — | Yes |