| OnPay | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Monthly fee | Starting at $49 per month + $6 per person | Starting at $49 per month + $6 per person |
| Account setup and data migration | Included | Additional fees |
| Full-service payroll | ||
| Automated federal and state tax filings and payments | Included | Included |
| Unlimited pay runs | Included | Included |
| Multi-state payroll | Included | Additional fees |
| Accounting and time tracking integrations | Included | Included |
| New hire reporting | Included | Included |
| Year-end filings, W-2s, and 1099s | Included | Included |
| Accuracy guarantee | Included | Not available |
| HR and Team Management | ||
| Manage and track time off | Included | Additional fees |
| Employee directory + Org charts | Included | Additional fees |
| Document storage and audits | Included | Included |
| Onboarding and Employee Self-Service | ||
| Employee self-onboarding | Included | Included |
| Employee self-service portal | Included | Included |
| Document e-sign for I-9s and W-4s | Included | Included |
| Customize and send offer letters for e-signature | Included | Additional fees |
| Benefits and Compliance | ||
| Integrated workers' comp plans | Pay premiums only | Pay premiums only |
| Medical, dental, and vision plans | Pay premiums only | Pay premiums only |
| Integrated 401(k) plan | Pay premiums only | Additional fees |
| Broker of record | Pay premiums only | Additional fees |
| HSAs, FSAs, and commuter benefits | Pay premiums only | Additional fees |
| Customer Support | ||
| Live support | Included | Additional fees for priority support |
| Extended hours for live support | Included | Included |
— Sasha, Rivvly
Every small business has different needs, so make sure you know exactly what you’ll be getting. Most notably, take a closer look to understand everything Gusto and OnPay do to simplify paying and managing your team. And if you need to go above and beyond payroll, make sure you understand how much HR, benefits, and integrations with accounting software will all cost so there are no surprises later.
If you want to make payroll fast and easy, while eliminating all the busywork associated with filing and paying payroll taxes, you can’t make a bad choice here. Both Gusto and OnPay handle the basics beautifully and process both employer payroll taxes and employee tax forms (like W-2s and 1099s) for no extra fee.
OnPay’s accuracy guarantee gives business owners the added assurance that payroll will be done right. And while both OnPay and Gusto have different levels of permissions that allow employers to delegate some of the payroll duties, Gusto requires an expensive upgrade to access this functionality. With Gusto, if you need to pay workers in multiple states it requires an upgrade that will nearly double your base and per-employee cost.
Your business finances don’t start and end with payroll, so your payroll provider should make it easy to get your data where it needs to be. From accounting software to time tracking apps, being able to sync with the other platforms you use will save tons of time and duplicated efforts.
OnPay offers the most robust integrations with leading accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. Features like custom item mapping and employee-level detail let you (or your accountant) do more to set up the general ledger in a way that makes sense for your business. Both providers also offer integrations with top time tracking software, and Gusto has the option to use an internal time tracking feature for an additional fee.
If you run a restaurant, a farm, or a nonprofit, the IRS throws a few different payroll tax wrinkles at you. If you’re making a choice between OnPay or Gusto (or any other payroll provider), it’s a good idea to make sure all the special filings, deductions, and exemptions for your industry can be processed without too much extra legwork.
OnPay is designed to serve every type of business well — in fact, it also receives the highest rating from accounting publication CPA Practice Advisor. Whether it’s filing Form 943 for ranches, processing payroll for workers on an H2-A visa, or helping churches with parsonage exemptions, OnPay does more to get all the little details right.
Keeping a team healthy and happy — and keeping your business compliant — requires a lot more than just paying employees and filing taxes. OnPay and Gusto are among the top-rated payroll services because they help businesses do more to take care of their teams. Both offer employee self-service, e-signable offer letters, and new hire reporting. And both can help with integrated health plans, workers’ comp, and retirement plans.
In addition to basic HR functionality, OnPay offers some features that require more expensive upgrades with Gusto (like org charts, PTO management, and HR document templates). OnPay also includes the ability to create custom HR workflows, delegate tasks around your organization, and perform compliance audits.
Moving to a new payroll provider can sometimes feel intimidating. Both OnPay and Gusto offer account setup to make the transition smooth. What sets them apart is that OnPay includes personalized onboarding and priority support at no additional cost. You can connect with friendly experts by phone, email, or chat whenever you need them. With Gusto, similar support may require an upgrade or extra fees.
While the levels of service look similar on paper, OnPay’s customers approve of its customer support 97% of the time, while only 84% of Gusto customers give it the thumbs up. OnPay likely gets higher marks for its accuracy guarantee and its highly-trained support staff.