Compare/Head to head

Deel vs Gusto

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Deel

$49/contractor/mo

Global employer of record, payroll and contractor payments. EOR employees are $599 each per month and contractors $49; the $14 entry is the hiring module per worker.

Where Deel fits

  • Companies hiring in many countries without entities
  • Teams paying global contractors
  • HR organisations that also want a light hire module
  • Buyers who want MCP on employment data

Gusto

$49/mo

US small-business payroll, benefits and onboarding in one stack, from around $49/mo plus a per-seat charge.

Where Gusto fits

  • 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

At a glance

DetailDeelGusto
Starting price$49/contractor/mo$49/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underEOR, HRIS, PayrollBenefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance
Capterra4.9 from 4,308 reviews4.6 from 4,225 reviews

Where they pull apart

Deel

Stands out: Hiring, contractors and employer of record in one global stack, with MCP and API.

Watch out: The $14 figure is the recruiting module, not the cost of employing someone abroad: employer of record is $599 per employee per month. Contractor of Record is listed at $325 and US PEO at $125.

Not the right fit for

  • US-only small-business payroll
  • Teams that need Deel to be the ATS of record

Gusto

Stands out: Payroll sitting next to HR for US small companies, with a first-party MCP.

Watch out: It is US-only, so it is not a route to hiring people in other countries.

Not the right fit for

  • Global employer-of-record buyers
  • Enterprise HRIS selection processes

Pros and cons

Deel

  • Employer of record, payroll and contractors from one vendor
  • Published prices for contractors, EOR and US PEO
  • MCP and API available
  • The advertised entry price is not the employer-of-record cost
  • The $599 EOR fee sits on top of salary and benefits
  • Not an ATS

Gusto

  • Payroll, benefits and onboarding in one US stack
  • MCP and API available
  • Fits small-business HR and finance buyers
  • US-only
  • Per-person charges on top of the base
  • Recruiting is basic: no interview scheduling or automated candidate emails

What each one costs

Deel

$49/contractor/mo

Contractor management is $49 per contractor per month, or $325 with Contractor of Record. Employer of Record is $599 per employee per month and US PEO is $125 per employee per month. The hiring and applicant tracking product is $14 per worker per month. Pricing is month to month. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Gusto

$49/mo

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 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Deel cheaper than Gusto?
Deel starts lower, at $49/contractor/mo against $49/mo for Gusto. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Deel or Gusto for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does Deel or Gusto have an MCP server?
Deel and Gusto ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?