Compare/Head to head

Gusto vs PayFit

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

PayFit

Sales-quoted

UK payroll and HR platform with managed pay runs and Payfit AI included. Pricing is a monthly per-employee quote.

Where PayFit fits

UK companies with about 20 to 1,000 staff
Teams that want experts to run payroll
HR teams using Xero, QuickBooks, or BambooHR
Buyers who want Payfit AI included

At a glance

Detail	Gusto	PayFit
Starting price	$49/mo	Sales-quoted
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	✓Yes	–No
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendance	HRIS, Payroll
Capterra	4.6 from 4,225 reviews	4.5 from 51 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

PayFit

Stands out: UK payroll experts prepare each pay run and take legal responsibility, while you review and approve.

Watch out: PayFit is built for UK, French, and Spanish payroll, not US IRS filing. There is no public rate card.

Not the right fit for

US employers that need IRS payroll filing
Buyers who need a public price card

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

PayFit

Managed UK payroll with HMRC RTI
Payfit AI included on all plans
Xero, QuickBooks, and BambooHR sync

No public per-employee price
Not a US payroll system
Buying starts with a demo

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

PayFit

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. Monthly per-employee subscription with no extra fees for starters, leavers, bonuses, corrections, or onboarding. Plans range from self-managed payroll to a dedicated expert team. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Gusto or PayFit for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Does Gusto or PayFit 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 PayFit 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?