: Which is Better in 2026? | AgentStackPro
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HR & Payroll · 2026 Comparison

Gusto vs OnPay

Which HR & Payroll tool is right for your business in 2026? We compared 20 features across pricing, integrations, ease of use, and more.

Gusto

HR & Payroll

"Gusto is a full-service payroll platform designed for small businesses. It simplifies payroll, benefits, hiring, and compliance."

Visit Gusto →

OnPay

HR & Payroll

"OnPay is an online payroll service that helps small businesses manage payroll, taxes, and HR tasks efficiently."

Visit OnPay →

🏆 Winner for Small Business

Gusto

Gusto is the overall winner for small business due to better pricing, user interface, and payroll frequency options.

Try Gusto Free →

✅ Gusto is best for…

  • • Affordable base price
  • • Excellent user interface
  • • Comprehensive payroll features

✅ OnPay is best for…

  • • Lower per employee cost
  • • Basic compliance tools
  • • Simple integration options

🏆 Winner for Mid Market

Gusto

OnPay wins in mid-market due to their advanced compliance tools, lower transition fees, and built-in time tracking.

Try Gusto Free →

✅ Gusto is best for…

  • • More integrations available
  • • Enhanced user management
  • • Better payroll frequency options

✅ OnPay is best for…

  • • Advanced HR compliance tools
  • • Built-in time tracking
  • • Lower overall employee costs

🏆 Winner for Enterprise

Gusto

Gusto is favored in enterprise due to superior scalability, faster reporting speed, and enhanced customer support.

Try Gusto Free →

✅ Gusto is best for…

  • • Greater scalability for larger teams
  • • Superior reporting capabilities
  • • Enhanced customer support options

✅ OnPay is best for…

  • • Basic compliance features
  • • Less scalable for larger organizations
  • • Limited customer support

Pricing Plans

Gusto Plans

Core $39/mo
Complete $49/mo
Concierge $149/mo

OnPay Plans

Basic $40/mo
Premium $60/mo

Feature Comparison

Feature Score Summary

20 features compared across 18 categories

17 Gusto wins
0 Ties equal
3 OnPay wins

Pricing

2 features
Base Price Gusto wins

Gusto

$39/month

OnPay

$40/month

Per Employee Cost OnPay wins

Gusto

$6/employee

OnPay

$5/employee

Payroll Processing

1 feature
Payroll Frequency Options Gusto wins

Gusto

Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly

OnPay

Biweekly, Monthly

Payroll Features

1 feature
Automatic Tax Calculations Gusto wins

Gusto

Yes

OnPay

Yes

User Interface

1 feature
Ease of Use Gusto wins

Gusto

Very intuitive

OnPay

Moderately intuitive

Integrations

2 features
Third-Party App Integrations Gusto wins

Gusto

Over 30 integrations

OnPay

Over 20 integrations

Accounting Software Integration Gusto wins

Gusto

QuickBooks, Xero

OnPay

QuickBooks

Customer Support

1 feature
Support Channels Gusto wins

Gusto

Email, Chat, Phone

OnPay

Email, Chat

Reporting

1 feature
Custom Reporting Features Gusto wins

Gusto

Yes

OnPay

Limited

Features for Employees

1 feature
Employee Self-Service Portal Gusto wins

Gusto

Yes

OnPay

Yes

Onboarding

1 feature
Employee Onboarding Features Gusto wins

Gusto

Yes

OnPay

No

Compliance

1 feature
HR Compliance Tools OnPay wins

Gusto

Basic tools included

OnPay

Advanced tools included

Accessibility

1 feature
Mobile App Gusto wins

Gusto

Full features

OnPay

Limited features

User Management

1 feature
Roles and Permissions Gusto wins

Gusto

Custom roles

OnPay

Standard roles

Tax Management

1 feature
W-2 Generation Gusto wins

Gusto

Yes

OnPay

Yes

Employee Types

1 feature
Contractor Payment Support Gusto wins

Gusto

Yes

OnPay

Yes

Time Tracking

1 feature
Time Tracking Integration OnPay wins

Gusto

Third-party integration only

OnPay

Built-in time tracking

Scalability

1 feature
Employer Size Support Gusto wins

Gusto

1-100 employees

OnPay

1-50 employees

Security

1 feature
Data Encryption Gusto wins

Gusto

Yes

OnPay

Yes

Performance

1 feature
Reporting Speed Gusto wins

Gusto

Fast

OnPay

Moderate

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Gusto or OnPay?

Gusto is generally more affordable, with starting prices at $39/month compared to OnPay's $40/month.

Who is Gusto best suited for?

Gusto is highly recommended for businesses that specifically need: affordable base price, excellent user interface, comprehensive payroll features.

When should I choose OnPay instead?

OnPay is the better choice if your primary focus is: lower per employee cost, basic compliance tools, simple integration options.

What is the final verdict on Gusto vs OnPay?

Gusto is the overall winner for small business due to better pricing, user interface, and payroll frequency options.

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