Affiliate disclosure: This comparison contains affiliate links to both Gusto and OnPay. If you sign up through them, JD HR Solutions may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Both providers are linked the same way, and the comparison uses each company's public pricing page as of October 2026. Verify before you buy. General information only, not tax or legal advice.

Comparison · Checked October 2026 · General information, not legal or tax advice

Gusto vs OnPay (2026): Pricing, Features and Which to Pick

The short answer

• Pick OnPay if you pay (or might pay) anyone outside your home state, run a farm or nursery (it supports Form 943), or want benefits administration in the base plan.
• Pick Gusto if everyone is in one state and you like an all-in-one setup. Or pick it if you want built-in time tracking and scheduling and are willing to pay for the Plus plan.

At 10 employees in one state, the two entry plans cost the same, $109/month. They split once you add other states or time tracking.

Pricing side by side (as of Oct 2026, verify)

	Gusto	OnPay
Entry plan	Simple: $49/mo + $6/person	Payroll Essentials: $49/mo + $6/worker
Multi-state	Not on Simple; Plus is $80 + $12/person	Included in base plan
Time tracking	Included in Plus	Add-on: $15/mo + $4/worker
HR tools	Basic PTO on Simple; more on Plus/Premium	Add-on: $15/mo + $2/worker
HR expert support	Premium: $180 + $22/person	Live HR Support add-on: $65/mo
Pricing published (no sales call to see it)	Yes	Yes
Contract	Month-to-month, cancel anytime	Verify current terms
Payroll runs	Unlimited	Unlimited

Cost examples (base + per-person fees only, before promos)

Scenario (10 employees)	Gusto	OnPay
One state, payroll only	Simple: $109	Essentials: $109
One state + time tracking	Plus: $200	Essentials + Time: $164
Two states, payroll only	Plus: $200	Essentials: $109

Math: Gusto Plus = $80 + 10 × $12. OnPay with time tracking = $49 + $15 + 10 × ($6 + $4).

Where Gusto stands out

• One platform for payroll, benefits and onboarding, with clear tiers.
• Plus plan bundles time tracking, scheduling, multi-state and next-day pay. If you need all of those, Plus can be simpler than stacking add-ons.
• Premium adds a named account partner and access to HR experts.
• Watch for: Gusto repackaged its plans on October 1, 2026. New sign-ups get the new feature set, and the contractor-only plan is closed to new customers. Business Compliance is reported as a paid add-on on Simple and Plus; confirm the current terms on Gusto's site.

See Gusto's current plans

Where OnPay stands out

• Multi-state payroll at no extra cost, with automatic state tax registrations.
• Base plan includes automated state new-hire reporting, e-signature for I-9, W-4 and offer letters, benefits administration with licensed in-house agents, and accounting integrations.
• Form 943 support for agricultural employers.
• Phone, email and chat support for all clients, with free setup and data migration.
• Watch for: time tracking, HR tools and compliance resources are separate add-ons, so price the bundle you actually need.

Get OnPay pricing

Features both cover

• Full-service payroll with automatic federal, state and local tax filings
• W-2s and 1099s at year end
• Paying both employees and contractors
• Direct deposit
• Unlimited payroll runs
• Accounting software integrations

Which one for your business?

If you are…	Lean toward
A single-state shop that wants the simplest all-in-one	Gusto Simple
Hiring a remote worker in another state	OnPay
A restaurant or retailer needing time clocks and schedules	Price Gusto Plus against OnPay + Time Tracking, or pair either with Homebase
A farm, nursery or other agricultural employer	OnPay (Form 943)
Wanting on-demand HR advice	Gusto Premium or OnPay + Live HR Support; compare totals

Florida note

Florida employers don't withhold state income tax, but they do owe reemployment tax (2.7% on the first $7,000 per employee for new employers) every quarter. Both Gusto and OnPay's full-service plans file state taxes for you. Confirm during setup that your Florida reemployment tax account number is entered. More details: Best payroll software for small businesses in Florida.

Not sure either is right?

• Lowest published full-service price: Patriot Software, $37 + $5/worker
• Already on QuickBooks: QuickBooks Workforce
• Want a larger provider with a PEO path: ADP RUN or Paychex

Last checked October 2026 against gusto.com/product/pricing and onpay.com/payroll/software/costs-pricing. Plans and prices change; verify before purchasing.