Gusto vs Rippling

Last updated 2026-10-17. Prices and terms checked against each linked source on 2026-10-17; vendors change them, so confirm before you buy.

Gusto publishes flat plan prices; Rippling prices by the modules you pick and quotes the total. That difference alone often decides it for small teams that want a predictable bill.

Published facts below, then how to pick.

	Gusto	Rippling
What it is	Payroll, benefits and HR for small businesses.	Payroll, HR, IT and spend in one platform.
Category · stage	Payroll & HR · Pre-seed	Payroll & HR · Seed
Plans & price	Simple $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80/mo + $12/person; Premium $180/mo + $22/person.source	Starts at $8 per employee per month plus a monthly base fee; total depends on the products you add. Custom quote.source
How pricing works	Published flat base plus per-person fee; month-to-month, cancel anytime; unlimited payroll runs.source	Modular: most products priced per employee per month, some with a monthly base fee.source
Multi-state	Simple runs payroll in one state; Plus adds multi-state payroll.source	Not covered in our sources
Contractors	US contractors billed at the per-person rate only in months they're paid; global contractor payments in 120+ countries with no monthly per-contractor fee.source	Not covered in our sources
R&D credit	R&D tax credit add-on: 15% of identified credits.source	Not covered in our sources
Website	Visit Gusto	Visit Rippling

How to choose

You want a price you can see before talking to sales: Gusto lists Simple at $49/mo + $6 per person, Plus at $80/mo + $12, Premium at $180/mo + $22.
You have hires in more than one state: Gusto's Simple plan covers one state; multi-state needs Plus or higher.
You want payroll, HR, IT and spend in one system: Rippling sells these as modules; get a quote for the exact set you need.
You'll claim the R&D payroll tax credit: Gusto offers an add-on at 15% of identified credits; compare against a specialist (see Tax & Compliance).

FAQ

How much does Gusto cost?

Simple $49/mo + $6/person, Plus $80/mo + $12/person, Premium $180/mo + $22/person, per Gusto's pricing page.

How much does Rippling cost?

Rippling says plans start at $8 per employee per month with a monthly base fee, and the total depends on the products you choose.

Is Gusto month-to-month?

Yes. Gusto says there is no long-term contract and you can cancel anytime.

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