Compare/Head to head

Gusto vs Namely

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

Namely

$9/employee/mo

US mid-market HRIS covering benefits, core HR and talent. Namely Now starts at $9 per employee per month; higher tiers are quoted. No MCP.

Where Namely fits

US mid-market employers
HR teams combining benefits and HRIS
Companies that want talent next to core HR
Buyers already in a US benefits conversation

At a glance

Detail	Gusto	Namely
Starting price	$49/mo	$9/employee/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	✓Yes	–No
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance	Benefits administration, HRIS, Onboarding
Capterra	4.6 from 4,225 reviews	4.2 from 439 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

Namely

Stands out: A US-employer HRIS that often doubles as the first light ATS.

Watch out: Higher tiers are quoted, and it is not a global EOR.

Not the right fit for

Global EOR buyers
Teams that need MCP
High-volume hiring that needs a real ATS

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

Namely

US benefits plus HRIS from one vendor
Public API
Fits mid-market HR buyers

Higher tiers are quote only
No MCP
Not built for high-volume hiring

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

Namely

$9/employee/mo

Namely Now starts at $9 per employee per month. NamelyPlus, NamelyPlus People and NamelyComplete are priced on a tailored diagnostic of modules, services and complexity. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Gusto cheaper than Namely?

Namely starts lower, at $9/employee/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 Gusto or Namely for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Does Gusto or Namely 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?

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