15Five vs Gusto

15Five

15Five is a continuous performance management platform focused on weekly check-ins, OKRs, and employee engagement. It helps managers stay connected with their teams through structured feedback and recognition tools. 15Five is popular with remote and distributed teams that need async communication tools.

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Gusto

Gusto is a full-service payroll platform built for small businesses in the US. It handles payroll taxes automatically, offers employee benefits administration, and includes onboarding tools that make it easy to bring on new hires. Gusto is known for its clean interface and transparent pricing, making it a top choice for founders managing payroll for the first time.

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Pros

• ✓Simple and intuitive weekly check-in format that drives adoption
• ✓Strong OKR and goal-setting tools
• ✓Excellent manager training and coaching resources
• ✓Good engagement survey tools with benchmarking

Cons

• ✗Limited HR functionality beyond performance and engagement
• ✗No payroll or benefits administration
• ✗Reporting could be more advanced for data-driven HR teams

Pros

• ✓Automatic federal, state, and local tax filing saves hours each month
• ✓Transparent flat-rate pricing with no hidden fees
• ✓Excellent onboarding flow with offer letters and e-signatures
• ✓Strong benefits administration including health, dental, and 401k

Cons

• ✗International payroll is limited and requires third-party tools
• ✗Can get expensive as headcount grows beyond 50 employees
• ✗Reporting and analytics are basic compared to enterprise tools

Best For

Companies focused on employee engagement and performance

Best For

Small businesses under 100 employees wanting full-service payroll with benefits