Compare/Head to head

Gusto vs isolved HCM

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

Starting price

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

isolved HCM

Sales-quoted

isolved HCM for payroll, HR, time, and benefits. Pricing is sales-quoted.

Where isolved HCM fits

US SMBs consolidating payroll, HR, and time
Employers that want benefits admin beside payday
HR teams that will take a demo rather than self-serve
Companies outgrowing starter payroll

At a glance

Detail	Gusto	isolved HCM
Starting price	$49/mo	Sales-quoted
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	✓Yes	–No
Public API	✓Yes	–No
Listed under	Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance	Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance
Capterra	4.6 from 4,225 reviews	Not enough reviews

Where they pull apart

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

isolved HCM

Stands out: A US HCM suite aimed at small and midsize employers that want payroll plus HR in one place.

Watch out: There is no public per-employee menu. Modules and services are scoped in a quote.

Not the right fit for

Buyers who need a printed $17-style payroll grid
Global enterprises that need 100-country payroll

Pros and cons

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

isolved HCM

Payroll, HR, time, and benefits suite
Aimed at US small and midsize employers
One vendor instead of four point tools

No public prices
Demo-and-quote buying
Not a global 100-country HCM

What each one costs

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

isolved HCM

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Gusto or isolved HCM for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Does Gusto or isolved HCM have an MCP server?

Gusto ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Gusto alternatives All isolved HCM alternatives Every Benefits administration tool

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