Gusto Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Gusto pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $180 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Gusto's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Limited time offer
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Single-state payroll
- Unlimited payrolls/month
- Tax filings and payments
- Basic PTO policies
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| perPerson | 6 | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Single-state payroll or Unlimited payrolls/month
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Gusto branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Simple Plan Comparison
| Contractor Only $0 | Simple $49/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 1 included | 4+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Gusto branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Contractor-only businesses | Small businesses |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Gusto free?
Yes, Gusto offers a forever free plan with 1 core features included. However, there are limits on perperson that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Gusto's free plan?
Gusto's free plan includes: Limited time offer. Key limits include perPerson: 6.
03 What's NOT included in Gusto's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Single-state payroll, Unlimited payrolls/month, Tax filings and payments, Basic PTO policies. You'll also have Gusto branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Gusto's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Single-state payroll or Unlimited payrolls/month, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $49/month.
05 Is Gusto's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Gusto's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
Get Gusto pricing updates
We'll notify you when pricing changes or new free features are added.