Head to head

Gusto vs Zoho People

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

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo 30 day free trial

Cloud HRIS from Zoho with a free plan for small teams. Paid Essential HR is $1.25/user/mo billed annually, with a five-user minimum.

Where Zoho People fits

  • Small HR teams already in the Zoho suite
  • Orgs that can start on the free five-user edition
  • Companies that need leave and files before attendance
  • HR ops that will add performance on Premium

At a glance

DetailGustoZoho People
Starting price$49/mo$1.25/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialNot on record30 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underBenefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Payroll, Time & attendanceHRIS, Learning, Onboarding, Performance
Capterra4.6 from 4,225 reviews4.4 from 362 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

Zoho People

Stands out: Low per-user pricing: Essential HR $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed yearly.

Watch out: Paid plans require five users, so Essential HR costs at least $6.25/mo. Attendance starts on Professional, and performance, LMS, and help desk sit higher.

Not the right fit for

  • US payroll-first buyers (payroll is a separate Zoho product)
  • Teams that need attendance tracking on the $1.25 plan

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

Zoho People

  • Free edition for up to five users
  • Essential HR $1.25/user/mo billed yearly
  • 30-day trial, then you keep Free
  • Five-user minimum on paid plans
  • Attendance is not on Essential HR
  • Payroll is a separate Zoho SKU

What each one costs

Gusto

$49/mo

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

Checked 7 Sep 2026

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo

The Free edition covers up to five users. Essential HR is $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed annually, with a five-user minimum; monthly billing costs more. Paid plans include a 30-day free trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Gusto cheaper than Zoho People?
Zoho People starts lower, at $1.25/user/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 Zoho People for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Zoho People offers a 30 day free trial.
Does Gusto or Zoho People have an MCP server?
Gusto and Zoho People ship 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?