Gusto payroll review: coverage, features & pricing
What is Gusto?
Gusto started as a US-focused payroll platform in 2011, but they've quietly expanded to cover 103 countries. What really caught my attention is they accept crypto payments, which is rare in payroll.
Pricing isn't publicly listed, so you'll need to contact them for a quote. They've got a 4.5-star rating from over 2,200 reviews on G2, which is strong for a mature platform.
In this review, we'll cover their global payroll capabilities, pricing context, who should consider them, and the key trade-offs.
Best for
- •US companies expanding internationally who want a familiar platform that has grown beyond domestic payroll
- •Businesses managing a mix of full-time employees and contractors across multiple countries
- •Companies interested in offering modern payment options like crypto or on-demand pay to their workforce
- •Not ideal for companies needing transparent, upfront pricing without going through a sales process
What makes Gusto unique
- •Accepts cryptocurrency payments alongside traditional methods like ACH, SEPA, and SWIFT, giving companies more flexibility in how they pay workers
- •Combines global payroll with employer of record and contractor management services, letting you consolidate vendors for international hiring
- •Offers on-demand pay features, allowing employees to access earned wages before scheduled pay dates
- •Built-in HRIS integration and compliance dashboard keep employee data and regulatory requirements in one system
- •Mobile app gives employees and admins access to payroll functions from anywhere
What countries does Gusto support?
Gusto operates in 9 countries with local compliance expertise.
- MXMexico
- BRBrazil
- AUAustralia
- CACanada
- INIndia
- IEIreland
- ESSpain
- PHPhilippines
- GBUnited Kingdom
What is Gusto's payroll pricing?
- ✓Employee self-service portal
- ✓Payslip generation
- ✓Tax filing
Contractor management
Pay and manage contractors globally
Note: Prices may vary based on country, employee volume, and contract terms. Contact Gusto for a custom quote tailored to your needs. Volume discounts may be available for larger teams.
What fees does Gusto charge beyond the headline price?
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
International contractor payment feeMinimum $18 for Ukraine, Taiwan and Turkey. Gusto covers intermediary bank fees; the conversion fee is built into the exchange rate shown. | Per payment: $5 to a US bank account; 1.5%–2% to a local bank account in local currency; 0.75%–1.5% in USD (min $15, max $100); 1.5% to a digital wallet. No monthly per-contractor fee. | Gusto's site (2026) |
Only fees Gusto states on its own website are listed, each verified against the linked page. A fee missing here means it is not publicly disclosed, not that it is free.
What are Gusto's payroll features?
A look at Gusto's platform capabilities and tools.
Pay cycles
- •bi-weekly
- •semi-monthly
What are the pros and cons of Gusto?
Pros
- +For US payroll, Gusto files taxes, issues payslips and gives employees a portal and a mobile app.
- +Gusto publishes its plan prices, including a contractor-only plan.
- +Paying contractors abroad carries no monthly per-contractor fee, only a fee per payment.
Cons
- –Gusto runs no payroll outside the US. Its non-US employees are hired through Remote, which is the legal employer.
- –Since May 2026, Gusto sends new customers who want to hire abroad directly to Remote.
- –Each payment to a contractor abroad carries a fee, and the rate depends on how the contractor is paid.
What integrations does Gusto offer?
Native integrations available today.
Google Workspace
Greenhouse
Okta
XeroWhat do users say about Gusto?
| Platform | Rating | Reviews | |
|---|---|---|---|
| G2 | 4.6/5 | 13,712 reviews | Read reviews ↗ |
| Trustpilot | 2.8/5 | 2,646 reviews | Read reviews ↗ |
About these ratings: Ratings are sourced directly from each platform, last verified October 2026. We do not collect ratings ourselves; the score above is an average of third-party platforms.
Frequently asked questions about Gusto
What services does Gusto offer?
Gusto offers global payroll, employer of record (EOR), and contractor management. It was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Francisco. The platform combines payroll, benefits, and HR management in one place.
How many countries does Gusto cover?
Gusto covers 106 countries in total. However, note that international hiring through Gusto Global is limited to 12 countries, so full EOR support is more restricted than the overall country count suggests.
What is Gusto's pricing for contractor management?
Gusto's contractor management starts from USD 40 per month. Pricing can increase importantly as your team grows, and some advanced features are only available on higher-tier plans. Gusto does not publish its full pricing tiers in its public materials.
What payment methods does Gusto support?
Gusto supports bank transfer, ACH, SEPA, SWIFT, Wise, PayPal, and crypto. This gives businesses a good range of options for paying employees and contractors across different regions.
What pay frequencies does Gusto offer?
Gusto supports bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay frequencies. If your business requires weekly or monthly payroll cycles, Gusto may not be the right fit.
What payroll features does Gusto include?
Gusto includes multi-currency payroll, automated tax filing, payslip generation, an employee portal, API access, HRIS integration, a compliance dashboard, on-demand pay, and a mobile app. Automated tax filing and regulatory updates are handled directly within the platform, which reduces manual compliance work.
What support options does Gusto provide?
Gusto offers live chat, a dedicated customer success manager, a knowledge base, and 24/7 support. Having a dedicated CSM is a noted strength, particularly for businesses that want hands-on help with HR and payroll questions.
Is Gusto well rated by users?
Gusto scores 4.6 out of 5 on G2 from 11,805 reviews and 4.9 out of 5 on Capterra from 4,297 reviews. Its Trustpilot score is especially lower at 2.1 out of 5 from 2,474 reviews, so it's worth reading across multiple platforms before making a decision.
What are people asking about Gusto?
Answers from other buyers and from the editorial team.
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Take it up with Gusto directly.
Pricing above is what Gusto publishes. Your quote depends on countries, headcount, and term, so get it from the source.