Compare/Head to head

Gusto vs Keka

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

Keka

Sales-quoted Free trial

Cloud HRMS bundling core HR, payroll, attendance, performance, and recruiting. US commercial terms are quoted. A free trial is the public entry.

Where Keka fits

Growing SMBs that want HR, payroll, attendance, and recruiting in one login
India-origin companies expanding to US payroll on the same PeopleOS
Teams that want a free trial before a Foundation vs Strength vs Growth quote
Buyers comparing a mid-market HRMS against BambooHR or Zoho People

At a glance

Detail	Gusto	Keka
Starting price	$49/mo	Sales-quoted
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	Not on record	Yes
MCP server	✓Yes	–No
Public API	✓Yes	–No
Listed under	Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance	ATS, HRIS, Payroll, Performance
Capterra	4.6 from 4,225 reviews	4.4 from 91 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

Keka

Stands out: Keka sells Foundation, Strength, and Growth HR/payroll bands plus Hire Pro recruiting, with a US site at keka.com/us and native multi-state payroll.

Watch out: Keka publishes no US dollar amounts. Do not budget from India rupee cards if you are buying US payroll.

Not the right fit for

US buyers who need a printed per-employee USD rate before a sales call
Enterprises standardizing on Workday or UKG as the system of record

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

Keka

HR, payroll, attendance, performance, and recruiting in one suite
US site with multi-state payroll and a free trial path
Foundation / Strength / Growth bands so you are not forced into a mega-suite on day one

No published US list prices
Recruiting (Hire Pro) is a separate add-on conversation
API access is not on the entry band

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

Keka

Sales-quoted

US plans (Foundation, Strength, Growth, and Hire Pro) are quoted. A free trial is available. The US pricing page is the commercial path for US payroll buyers. India rupee cards on other regional pages are a different rate card and are not the US list. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Gusto or Keka for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Keka offers a free trial.

Does Gusto or Keka 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 Keka 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?