Head to head

Gusto vs OnPay

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

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

OnPay

$49/mo

US full-service payroll with optional HR, time tracking and benefits. Payroll Essentials is $49/mo base plus $6 per worker.

Where OnPay fits

  • US small businesses that want payroll without a quote
  • Employers paying W-2 staff and 1099 contractors
  • Teams with workers in several states
  • Owners who want benefits admin with payroll

At a glance

DetailGustoOnPay
Starting price$49/mo$49/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underBenefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendancePayroll
Capterra4.6 from 4,225 reviewsNot 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

OnPay

Stands out: Published pricing with unlimited pay runs, multi-state filing and year-end forms in the $49 base plan.

Watch out: The $49 is a base fee: each paid worker adds $6/mo. HR ($15 base plus $2/worker) and time tracking ($15 base plus $4/worker) cost extra.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies hiring employees abroad
  • Enterprises that need a full HCM suite

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-seat charges on top of the base
  • Not built for hiring pipelines

OnPay

  • Published $49 base plus $6 per worker
  • Unlimited pay runs and multi-state filing
  • Free setup and data migration
  • Per-worker fee adds up on larger teams
  • HR and time tracking cost extra
  • US payroll only

What each one costs

Gusto

$49/mo

From ~$49/mo +/seat. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Sep 2026

OnPay

$49/mo

Payroll Essentials is $49 a month base plus $6 per worker, billed monthly. Add-ons: HR $15 base plus $2 per worker, time tracking $15 base plus $4 per worker, compliance resources $10, live HR support $65. Bundles start at $70 base plus $10 per worker. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Gusto cheaper than OnPay?
Gusto starts lower, at $49/mo against $49/mo for OnPay. 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 OnPay for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does Gusto or OnPay 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 OnPay alternatives Every Benefits administration tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 7 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?