Head to head

Gusto vs SurePayroll

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

SurePayroll

$29/mo + $7/worker

Full-service small-business payroll. Small Business is $29/mo plus $7 per worker.

Where SurePayroll fits

  • US small employers that want full-service taxes
  • Single-state teams starting at $29 plus $7 per worker
  • Households paying a nanny on the $39 plan
  • Owners who will add $9.99 for a second state

At a glance

DetailGustoSurePayroll
Starting price$49/mo$29/mo + $7/worker
Free tier–No–No
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes–No
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

SurePayroll

Stands out: A $29 base with tax filing in the product, plus a $9.99/mo add-on for extra states.

Watch out: Free months are a promo, not a numbered trial. Multi-state payroll is $9.99/mo extra. Nanny plan is $39/mo.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies that need a global EOR
  • Teams that want a 14-day labeled trial

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

SurePayroll

  • $29/mo plus $7 per worker
  • Full-service tax filing
  • Extra state only $9.99/mo
  • Promo months are not a numbered trial
  • US small business only
  • Per-worker fees on every run

What each one costs

Gusto

$49/mo

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

Checked 7 Sep 2026

SurePayroll

$29/mo + $7/worker

Small Business is $29/mo + $7/worker, first state included. Multi-state add-on $9.99/mo. Nanny and Household is $39/mo including one employee. Promo free months are not a numbered trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Gusto cheaper than SurePayroll?
SurePayroll starts lower, at $29/mo + $7/worker 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 SurePayroll for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does Gusto or SurePayroll 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 7 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?