SoftwareDuel

Gusto vs Rippling ATS

A head-to-head comparison to help you pick the right tool

Gusto

Gusto is a full-service HR and payroll platform built for small businesses. 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 HR for the first time.

Paid pricing · Get Pricing →

Rippling ATS

Rippling Recruiting is the applicant tracking module within the Rippling platform. It connects recruiting directly to onboarding, payroll, and IT provisioning so that when a candidate is hired, their entire employee setup happens automatically. Rippling ATS is ideal for companies already using Rippling for HR who want a seamlessly integrated recruiting experience.

Paid 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, e-signatures, and self-onboarding
  • 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

  • Seamless connection from hiring to onboarding to payroll — zero manual handoff
  • Automatically provisions IT accounts and equipment when a candidate is hired
  • Deep integration with the full Rippling platform
  • Eliminates duplicate data entry across HR systems

Cons

  • Only valuable if you use the full Rippling platform
  • Requires custom pricing quote
  • Less feature-rich as a standalone ATS compared to dedicated tools like Greenhouse
  • Overkill for companies not using Rippling

Our Take

Choose Gusto if small businesses under 100 employees. Choose Rippling ATS if companies using rippling for hr who want recruiting seamlessly connected to onboarding and payroll.

Best For

Small businesses under 100 employees

Best For

Companies using Rippling for HR who want recruiting seamlessly connected to onboarding and payroll