Gusto vs Employment Hero

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.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

Employment Hero

Employment Hero is an all-in-one HR, payroll, and benefits platform with a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand. It offers a free HR plan alongside paid payroll and benefits modules, making it accessible for businesses at any stage. Employment Hero also operates a job marketplace called Swag for employees.

Freemium pricing · Get Pricing →

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

Pros

• ✓Free HR plan available with core employee management features
• ✓Strong compliance tools for Australian and NZ employment law
• ✓All-in-one platform covering HR, payroll, and benefits
• ✓Employee benefits marketplace with discounts and perks

Cons

• ✗Payroll module costs extra and is best suited for AU/NZ companies
• ✗Limited support and compliance coverage outside Australia and New Zealand
• ✗Some users report the platform can feel complex to navigate

Best For

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

Best For

Australian and NZ businesses needing full HR suite