Gusto alternatives
Teams leaving Gusto that don't need US payroll usually compare Deel HR (Core from $5 per employee), HarmonyHR (from $5), Zoho People and PeopleMuster, which covers attendance, leave, timesheets and client projects for $3 per person with no base fee. Gusto charges Simple $49 a month plus $6 per person, verified 22 September 2026.
Why people leave
- The base fee is the arithmetic that starts most searches. At six people, Simple works out far higher per head than at sixty.
- Tier gates matter too. Simple covers a single US state, so a team that hires in a second state meets $80 plus $12 sooner than planned.
- A third group leaves because payroll was never the whole job. They want capacity planning and client projects, which sit outside Gusto's payroll-first product.
The real options
Seven products, Gusto included, were compared in September 2026 on price shape, payroll coverage and what else comes with the employee record. Evaluated from each vendor's own documentation and pricing, with every figure re-read on 24 September 2026. Gusto's figures were read in a browser on 22 September 2026.
PeopleMuster
$3 per person a month from the first person. Every module included, no base fee, no seat minimum. 14 days free, no card.- Who it suits
- Teams that want attendance, leave, timesheets and client projects beside their payroll provider.
- Where it wins
- No base fee, so a six-person team pays for six people. Attendance, leave, timesheets and capacity are all included.
Deel
HR Core from $5 per employee a month; US PEO $125, EOR $599 per month. Verified September 2026.- Who it suits
- Companies paying people in more than one country.
- Where it wins
- Global payroll and contractor coverage beyond Gusto's US focus.
- Where it falls short
- Priced per product, so a full stack costs far more than the $5 headline.
HarmonyHR
HRIS + Survey from $5 per employee a month; annual billing saves 20%; ATS $32.50 per recruiter a month. Verified 24 September 2026.- Who it suits
- Small firms that want an HR record without a payroll base fee.
- Where it wins
- Free migration and onboarding are included.
- Where it falls short
- Hiring is a separate line at $32.50 per recruiter a month.
BambooHR
Core $10, Pro $17, Elite $25 per employee a month; flat from $250 at 25 or fewer. Verified September 2026.- Who it suits
- Firms that want HR depth first and payroll bundled to it.
- Where it wins
- A rich employee record, with a US payroll and benefits bundle discount.
- Where it falls short
- Per seat above 25 people, and it is not a payroll-first product.
Zoho People
In USD: Essential HR $1.50 to People Plus $10 per user a month billed monthly ($1.25 to $9 annual). Paid plans need 5 users; prices vary by region. Verified 24 September 2026.- Who it suits
- Small teams already inside the Zoho suite.
- Where it wins
- Five paid plans, a free edition for five users and a 30-day trial.
- Where it falls short
- Paid plans need five users, and invoicing runs in a sibling Zoho app.
Rippling
Quote-gated. Products sold separately on a required core platform. Checked September 2026.- Who it suits
- Growing companies that want payroll, IT and spend in one platform.
- Where it wins
- Breadth. Payroll sits beside device and app management.
- Where it falls short
- No published price, and the core platform is a floor under every quote.
Personio
From €7.60 per month per employee on Core. Verified 22 September 2026.- Who it suits
- European teams that need European payroll practice.
- Where it wins
- Built for European HR, with an entry figure on the page.
- Where it falls short
- Tiers above Core are demo-gated.
Questions people ask
What are good Gusto alternatives if I don't need US payroll?
Deel HR Core and HarmonyHR both start from $5 per employee, and Zoho People publishes USD plans from $1.50 per user. PeopleMuster covers attendance, leave, timesheets and client projects for $3 per person with no base fee, so pay runs stay with whoever runs them today.
What does Gusto charge in 2026?
Simple is $49 a month plus $6 per person, Plus is $80 plus $12, and Premium is $180 plus $22. Those were read from Gusto's own pricing page on 22 September 2026.
Why does the base fee hurt small teams?
A base fee is the same whatever the headcount. Split across five people it lands heavily per head; split across fifty it almost disappears. That is why very small teams shop around.
What does PeopleMuster cost for six people?
Three dollars per person a month, so six people pay eighteen dollars. There is no base fee, and every module is included.