Gusto
US SMB payroll and HR.
From $49/mo MCP server API
Bottom line
US small-business payroll, benefits and onboarding in one stack, from around $49/mo plus a per-seat charge.
Stands out for: Payroll sitting next to HR for US small companies, with a first-party MCP.
Watch out for: It is US-only, so it is not a route to hiring people in other countries.
Overview
Gusto is US small-business payroll and HR. Payroll, benefits and onboarding sit in one stack for small US companies, and the Plus and Premium plans include Gusto Recruiting, a basic applicant tracker with job posting to 100+ boards, scorecards and offer letters. It is not a global employer of record or a full ATS. There is a first-party MCP at mcp.api.gusto.com plus a public API.
Teams pick Gusto when the company is US-based and the buyer is finance or HR rather than talent acquisition. Pricing starts at $49/mo plus $6 per person, so headcount moves the bill.
Who it's for
Best for
- US small companies running payroll in-house
- HR teams that want benefits next to pay
- Desks that want MCP on payroll data
- A first HRIS after spreadsheets
Not ideal for
- Global employer-of-record buyers
- Enterprise HRIS selection processes
Key features
Payroll. Payroll in the same stack as HR and talent.
Benefits. Benefits administration next to HRIS.
Screenshots
Onboarding tools
Taxes filed confirmation
App integrations
Images: Gusto's own website. Select an image to see it full size.
MCP server
https://mcp.api.gusto.com
First-party MCP at mcp.api.gusto.com. Official vendor-hosted server. Connect Claude or ChatGPT with your own login.
Setup steps and live status MCP Directory Check your stack in the MCP readiness checker
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | $49/mo | plus $6 per person; single state payroll |
| Plus | $80/mo | plus $12 per person; multistate payroll, time tracking, Gusto Recruiting |
| Premium | $180/mo | plus $22 per person; dedicated support, HR experts, Gusto Recruiting |
Simple is $49/mo plus $6 per person, Plus is $80/mo plus $12 per person, and Premium is $180/mo plus $22 per person. Gusto Recruiting (job posting to 100+ boards, applicant tracking and offer letters) is included on Plus and Premium. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 30 Sep 2026. Vendors change prices without notice.
Is Gusto expensive?
Gusto starts at $49/mo. We list 25 benefits administration tools in total. 0 have a free tier, and those with a public price typically start around $12 a month.
- 19 quote-based
- 0 free tier
- 5 public price
Worked out automatically from every benefits administration listing, so it updates as the directory changes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Payroll, benefits and onboarding in one US stack
- MCP and API available
- Fits small-business HR and finance buyers
Cons
- US-only
- Per-person charges on top of the base
- Recruiting is basic: no interview scheduling or automated candidate emails
Integrations
Xero QuickBooks Slack Google Workspace
What's new at Gusto
No updates logged yet. Follow Gusto and we will email you when it announces something new or its starting price changes.
Follow Gusto
Get an email when Gusto ships a new feature, posts release notes or changes its starting price. Only when something changes, and you can stop in one click.
How Gusto compares
See all Gusto alternatives, with what each one does differently and a head to head for every pairing.
| Tool | Free tier | From | MCP | API | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | – | $49/mo | ✓ | ✓ | |
| | – | $250/mo | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | $49/contractor/mo | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | Sales-quoted | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | Quote-based | – | ✓ | Compare |
$250/mo MCP API
Small-business HRIS with a light ATS if hiring volume is the pain.
$49/contractor/mo MCP API
Global payroll and EOR if you have people outside the US.
Sales-quoted MCP API
Broader HRIS plus IT if you have outgrown small-business payroll.
Quote-based API
US mid-market HRIS if you are past the Gusto size band.
Your next step
Shortlisting Gusto?
Still deciding? Ask an AI assistant about Gusto.
ChatGPT (opens in a new tab)Claude (opens in a new tab)Grok (opens in a new tab)