QuickBooks Online vs. Gusto: Which is best for your business in 2025?

Compare the features, pricing plans, and add-ons available with QuickBooks Online Payroll and Gusto to find the best payroll solution for your business.

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QuickBooks vs Gusto

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Gusto logo

Integration

Payroll to accounting integration

(payroll is mapped to corresponding accounts)

yes checkmark fully integrate. detailed data

yes checkmark requires API. basic data

Payroll to job costing integration

(time and payroll mapped for job costing)

yes checkmark

no x mark

Payroll & taxes

Unlimited payroll runs

(at no extra cost)

yes checkmark

yes checkmark

Same-day direct deposit

yes checkmark premium or elite

no x mark 2-4 days or next day in higher plans

Auto file & pay taxes

(federal, state, local)

yes checkmark local requires premium or elite

yes checkmark

Tax penalty protection

(coverage whether it’s our fault or customer’s fault)

yes checkmark elite

no x mark

Time tracking

Employee scheduling

(shift and project scheduling)

yes checkmark shift scheduling in premium only, project scheduling in elite only, shift swapping in elite only

no x mark

Employee time tracking

(when an employee worked)

yes checkmark premium or elite

yes checkmark requires higher plan

Employee location tracking

(GPS tracking and geofencing)

yes checkmark GPS tracking in premium or elite geofencing in elite only

no x markrequires higher plan. geofencing only

HR & employee management

Document management

(securely store and share employee documents)

yes checkmark

yes checkmark

HR support

(labor, wage, anti-discrimination, & benefits laws)

yes checkmark premium or elite

yes checkmark requires higher plan

Benefits management

(health insurance, retirement, employee benefits)

yes checkmark

yes checkmark

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QuickBooks Payroll vs. Gusto: Comparison Overview 2025 

QuickBooks Online Payroll and Gusto are both popular workforce management solutions for small businesses. However, QuickBooks Online Payroll has beneficial time tracking, job costing, and faster direct deposit features that make it a top choice for small to mid-sized businesses.


Below, we break down the key differences in features, advantages, and pricing to help you choose the platform that best suits your business needs and budget.

QuickBooks payroll overview

QuickBooks Online Payroll gives you everything you need to manage and pay your team with confidence. Track time, run payroll when you want with same-day direct deposit, automate tedious tasks, and more.

Find the right payroll plan for you

Already have QuickBooks? Add payroll.

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Payroll Core

Pay your team and get payroll taxes done for you.

Save 50% for 3 months*
+$6/employee/mo
Take care of payday
Full-service payroll
We’ll calculate, file, and pay your payroll taxes for you and more.
Includes automated taxes & forms
Auto Payroll
Run Auto Payroll for salaried employees on direct deposit. Review, approve, or edit payroll before payday.**
1099 E-File & Pay
Create and e-file unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms.
Expert product support
Get step-by-step help, troubleshooting assistance, tips, and resources via phone or chat.**
Next-day direct deposit
Offer fast direct deposit for your team.
Take care of your team
Team management tools
Manage employee documents and view team structure—all in one place.
Employee portal
Your team can access their pay stubs and W-2s and enter their personal, direct deposit, and tax info online or in app.**
Health benefits for your team
Offer affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance packages by Allstate Health Solutions.**
401(k) plans
Access affordable retirement plans by Guideline that sync with QuickBooks Payroll.**
Workers’ comp administration
Save money and get coverage for on-the-job injuries with a policy by NEXT.**

Payroll Premium

Streamline payday and access HR. Includes Time Premium.

Save 50% for 3 months*
+$9/employee/mo
Take care of payday
Full-service payroll
We’ll calculate, file, and pay your payroll taxes for you and more.
Includes automated taxes & forms
Auto Payroll
Run Auto Payroll for salaried employees on direct deposit. Review, approve, or edit payroll before payday.**
1099 E-File & Pay
Create and e-file unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms.
Expert product support
Get step-by-step help, troubleshooting assistance, tips, and resources via phone or chat.**
Same-day direct deposit
Pay employees faster, for free. Submit payroll up to the morning of payday.
Track time on the go
Track, submit, and approve employee time anywhere.**
24/7 expert product support
Get troubleshooting assistance, tips, and resources from payroll support experts by phone, chat, or video.**
Expert review
An expert will review your payroll setup for you.**
Take care of your team
Enhanced team management tools
Streamline HR with e-signatures, job history, and automated onboarding.
Employee portal
Your team can access their pay stubs and W-2s and enter their personal, direct deposit, and tax info online or in app.**
Health benefits for your team
Offer affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance packages by Allstate Health Solutions.**
401(k) plans
Access affordable retirement plans by Guideline that sync with QuickBooks Payroll.**
Workers’ comp administration
Save money and get coverage for on-the-job injuries with a policy by NEXT.**
HR support center
Mineral Inc offers customized job descriptions and best practices on everything from hiring to performance.**

Payroll Elite

Access on-demand experts and tax protection. Includes Time Elite.
Save 50% for 3 months*
+$11/employee/mo
Take care of payday
Full-service payroll
We’ll calculate, file, and pay your payroll taxes for you and more.
Includes automated taxes & forms
Auto Payroll
Run Auto Payroll for salaried employees on direct deposit. Review, approve, or edit payroll before payday.**
1099 E-File & Pay
Create and e-file unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms.
Expert product support
Get step-by-step help, troubleshooting assistance, tips, and resources via phone or chat.**
Same-day direct deposit
Pay employees faster, for free. Submit payroll up to the morning of payday.
Expert setup
A payroll expert will complete your setup for you.**
Track time and projects on the go
Track time and manage projects from anywhere.**
24/7 expert product support
Get troubleshooting assistance, tips, and resources from payroll support experts by phone, chat, or video.**
Tax penalty protection
We’ll pay up to $25,000 if you receive a payroll tax penalty.**
Personal HR advisor
Get professional help on critical HR issues and custom handbooks and policies, powered by Mineral, Inc.**
Take care of your team
Premium team management tools
Get advanced HR tools, seamless integrations, and personalized support.
Employee portal
Your team can access their pay stubs and W-2s and enter their personal, direct deposit, and tax info online or in app.**
Health benefits for your team
Offer affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance packages by Allstate Health Solutions.**
401(k) plans
Access affordable retirement plans by Guideline that sync with QuickBooks Payroll.**
Workers’ comp administration
Save money and get coverage for on-the-job injuries with a policy by NEXT.**
HR support center
Mineral Inc offers customized job descriptions and best practices on everything from hiring to performance.**

Overall features

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match"

Fast processing

Hold onto your cash longer and run payroll when you're ready. Depending on your plan, you can pay by direct deposit the same day you run payroll or the next day.

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Job costing

Track labor costs, allocate expenses to specific projects, and generate detailed reports to analyze profitability and make informed decisions for future projects.

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Manage time tracking

Improve accuracy, approve timesheets, and save over 2 hours every time you run payroll.2

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Employee scheduling

Add QuickBooks Time to create schedules by jobs or shifts. Easily edit, publish, and share the schedules with your team.

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Seamless sync

Your payroll data syncs with your accounting tools to ensure your payroll data is accurate and up-to-date.

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Automatic payroll

Reduce manual entries and free up your time when you set payroll to run on its own.**

Gusto overview

Gusto is an HR platform with tools for managing payroll. It helps you pay your employees and contractors, stay compliant, file taxes, and identify tax credits.

Plans & pricing

Gusto offers three distinct pricing plans tailored to different business needs: Simple, Plus, and Premium. Each plan offers varying levels of functionality and support.

Simple

Simple is for small businesses needing basic payroll. It provides full-service single-state payroll, 1099s, basic hiring and onboarding tools, and payroll and time-off reports.

Plus

For evolving teams needing advanced payroll, HR, and time tracking, Plus offers everything in the Simple plan, plus full-service multi-state payroll, next-day direct deposit, time and project tracking, and advanced hiring and onboarding tools.

Premium

Premium is for scaling businesses that require a comprehensive payroll, benefits, and HR solution with dedicated support. Features include compliance alerts, an HR Resource Center, access to certified HR experts, and more.

Overall features

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Integrations

Gusto has integrations for accounting, time tracking, expense management, and more.

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Single state payroll

Process full-service single-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s. Get unlimited payroll runs, plus automatic tax calculations and filing.

A blue headphones with numbers on them.

Customer support

Customers can access an online Help Center or call or chat with Gusto’s support team.

A blue toothbrush with a picture of a woman's face on it.

Hiring and onboarding tools

Post jobs, track applications, create offer letters and onboarding checklists, and integrate your hiring workflows.

See How QuickBooks Payroll Works Compared to Gusto

QuickBooks Online Payroll is a standout payroll software option for small to mid-size businesses. It offers seamless integration between its payroll and accounting software, ensuring real-time data syncing that keeps payroll accurate and updated. Plus, QuickBooks has advanced time-tracking features that integrate with its job costing system, allowing for precise allocation of labor costs to specific jobs or projects. And when you're ready to scale your operations, QuickBooks is a user-friendly solution designed to grow with your needs.

How QuickBooks Online can help your business differently

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Effortless integration with QuickBooks

With QuickBooks Online Payroll, your payroll data automatically syncs with your QuickBooks accounting software, ensuring accuracy and consistency across your financial records.

Payroll direct deposit icon

Fast direct deposit

Keep employees and contractors happy with same-day or next-day direct deposits.

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Live support

QuickBooks offers live phone and chat support six days a week, providing you with a direct line to experts whenever you need them. With personalized assistance, you can tackle any accounting challenge with confidence and keep your business on track.

Frequently asked questions

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Get everything you need to streamline payday, track time, manage HR, and offer team benefits with the #1 payroll provider.¹