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Try It FreeGusto has built a reputation as a polished, well-designed payroll and HR platform. For many small businesses, though, "polished" doesn't always mean "the right fit," especially once pricing, support, and what happens after cancellation come into play.
Public reviews point to several concerns worth considering, including recent price increases, reports of slow or difficult-to-reach support, and billing disputes some customers say continued after cancellation. None of that means Gusto is a bad product, but those experiences are worth weighing alongside its features and user experience.
Here, we'll compare the best Gusto alternatives for 2026, including what each platform does well, where it falls short, how much it costs, and which types of businesses it suits best.
Quick Picks: The Best Gusto Alternatives
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OnTheClock: Best for Connected Time Tracking and Payroll
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OnPay: Best for Flat, No-Tier Pricing
How We Evaluated These Gusto Alternatives
Gusto's core appeal is an established payroll and HR experience with features that can grow alongside a business. But businesses comparing alternatives may prioritize different things, including built-in time tracking, simpler pricing, support access, or fewer HR features.
With that in mind, we evaluated each Gusto alternative based on:
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Pricing structure and recent pricing changes
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Whether time tracking is built in or requires a separate product or tier
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Support access and how easily reviewers report reaching a real person
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Overall fit for a small business with hourly employees
The Best Gusto Alternatives for 2026
OnTheClock: Best for Connected Time Tracking and Payroll
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Gusto's Simple plan base price rose from $40 to $49 per month in early 2026, on top of a $6 per-employee fee, and features like faster direct deposit are reserved for the pricier Plus and Premium tiers.
One difference is how employee access is structured. Gusto employees create individual accounts that can remain available to them after they leave an employer, allowing continued access to certain personal payroll information. OnTheClock manages employee access within the employer's account, keeping time tracking and payroll administration centered on the business's system.
OnTheClock takes a different approach. Time tracking is the foundation, and payroll connects directly to the timecards your team already uses, all inside the same platform your business logs into.
What Makes OnTheClock Different From Gusto?
OnTheClock keeps time tracking and payroll inside one connected system your business controls.
Another important difference is support. Public reviews of Gusto include reports of slow response times and difficulty reaching a human rather than automated help. OnTheClock provides phone, chat, and email access to its U.S.-based support team without requiring customers to upgrade to a higher payroll tier.
OnTheClock Key Features
OnTheClock Integrations
OnTheClock Pros
OnTheClock Cons
OnTheClock Pricing
- Payroll: $40 per month base + $6 per employee/month
- Implementation: One-time $250 payroll implementation fee
OnPay: Best for Flat, No-Tier Pricing
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OnPay takes the opposite approach to Gusto's multitier structure: one plan, published pricing, and core payroll features included, without requiring a move to a higher-priced payroll tier.
Who Is OnPay Best For?
OnPay fits well for a business that wants simple, predictable payroll pricing without navigating multiple tiers or paying for HR functionality it doesn't need. The tradeoff is that OnPay doesn't offer a native employee time clock, so businesses that need time tracking will need a separate system.
OnPay Key Features
OnPay Integrations
OnPay Pros
OnPay Cons
OnPay Pricing
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Flat plan: $49/month base + $6 per employee/month
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No separate tiers; all core features included
Gusto Alternatives: Side-by-Side Comparison
Why Choose OnTheClock?
See how OnTheClock stacks up against other Gusto alternatives.
| Tool | Best For | Pricing | Time Tracking | Employee Account Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnTheClock | Connected time tracking + payroll | Flat, published | Native | Managed within your business account |
| Gusto | HR depth, structured onboarding | Tiered, base price increased in 2026 | Plus tier and above | An individual employee's account can persist after departure |
| OnPay | Flat, no-tier pricing | Single flat plan | Not included | Managed within your business account |
Pricing shown reflects publicly available vendor pricing as of 2026 and is subject to change. Confirm current pricing directly with each provider before making a purchasing decision.
Which Gusto Alternative Is Best for Your Business?
If you're evaluating alternatives to Gusto, it's worth looking beyond the feature list: Is time tracking included? How predictable is the pricing? And what does it actually take to reach a real person when something goes wrong?
If you're manually moving employee hours between a time clock and payroll, OnTheClock is the strongest fit in this comparison, with time tracking and payroll built into one platform that your business controls. If you want the simplest possible pricing and don't need built-in time tracking, OnPay is a strong, predictable option.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gusto Alternatives
What is the best Gusto alternative?
For businesses that want time tracking and payroll connected in one platform, OnTheClock is a strong alternative. OnPay is a good fit for businesses that want the simplest possible flat pricing and don't need built-in time tracking.
Why do businesses look for Gusto alternatives?
Common reasons include a base price increase in early 2026, support that reviewers frequently describe as slow or difficult to escalate to a real person, and billing disputes some customers report after cancellation.
Has Gusto's pricing increased recently?
According to Gusto's own published pricing, its Simple plan base price rose from $40 to $49 per month in early 2026, in addition to its per-employee fee.
Do employees keep their own Gusto accounts after leaving a company?
Yes. Employees create individual Gusto accounts to access their payroll information, and they can retain access to those accounts after leaving an employer.
Do Gusto alternatives handle payroll taxes?
OnTheClock and OnPay handle federal, state, and applicable local payroll tax filings as part of their payroll services.
Is switching payroll providers difficult?
The difficulty depends on your workforce size, how much payroll history needs to be migrated, and the implementation support your new provider offers. Switching at the start of a calendar year, rather than mid-year, generally simplifies the process.
