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Gusto vs OnPay: the same $79 for five, different state limits
Updated Oct 15, 2026
Gusto Simple and OnPay Payroll Essentials cost the same: $49 a month plus $6 per person, or $79 a month for five employees. Both file federal, state and local payroll taxes and W-2s and 1099s, and both say they pay penalties caused by their own filing errors. OnPay pays workers in as many states as you need on its one plan and gives new sign-ups the first month free. Gusto Simple is single-state; more states need Plus, at $80 a month plus $12 per person.
At a glance, by our score
- Top scoreLowest price
#1 OnPay
Small teams that want local taxes, W-2s and multi-state payroll in one $79 plan, first month free
9.5/10ExcellentOur scoreVisit OnPayOn onpay.com - Lowest price
#2 Gusto
Single-state teams that want federal, state and local taxes filed for $79 a month for five employees
9.0/10ExcellentOur scoreVisit GustoOn gusto.com
Side by side
| Criterion | Gusto | OnPay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.0/10ExcellentOur score #2 of 7 | 9.5/10ExcellentOur score #1 of 7 |
| Cost for five employees (35%) | 8.6 / 10 | 8.6 / 10 |
| Included on the entry plan (20%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Tax filing (20%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Tax accuracy guarantee (10%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Support (10%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Free trial (5%) | 0.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Price from | $6 / month | $6 / month |
| Best for | Single-state teams that want federal, state and local taxes filed for $79 a month for five employees | Small teams that want local taxes, W-2s and multi-state payroll in one $79 plan, first month free |
| Visit | Visit GustoOn gusto.com | Visit OnPayOn onpay.com |
Who should pick which
- Gusto: Single-state teams that want federal, state and local taxes filed for $79 a month for five employees
- OnPay: Small teams that want local taxes, W-2s and multi-state payroll in one $79 plan, first month free
At a glance
| Gusto | OnPay | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan and billing | Simple: $49 a month + $6 per person, monthly, no contract | Payroll Essentials: $49 a month + $6 per worker, monthly |
| Cost for five employees | $79 a month | $79 a month |
| Tax filing | Federal, state and local, plus W-2s and 1099s; one state only | Federal, state and local, plus W-2s and 1099s; as many states as you need |
| Included on the entry plan | Unlimited runs, direct deposit, employee app, contractor payments, state new-hire reporting | Unlimited runs, direct deposit, self-service portal, contractor payments, state new-hire reporting |
| Tax penalty guarantee | Yes, for penalties from a "Gusto Error" (payroll terms) | Yes, for penalties from its negligent errors (terms) |
| Support | Call or chat in business hours; 24/7 help centre | Phone, email and chat |
| Free trial | No; you pay nothing until you run payroll | First month free (sign-up page) |
Prices and features from Gusto's pricing page and OnPay's pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026.
Price
Both entry plans cost $49 a month plus $6 per person, so one employee costs $55 a month and five cost $79 a month on either. Gusto bills US contractors the per-person fee in months they are paid; OnPay counts each employee or contractor included in at least one pay run that month.
Neither shows an introductory price on these plans, but OnPay's first month is free for new sign-ups. The gap opens when you need more:
- A second state. On Gusto that means Plus, at $80 a month plus $12 per person ($140 a month for five). OnPay charges nothing extra.
- Add-ons. OnPay sells HR ($15 + $2 per worker), time tracking ($15 + $4 per worker), compliance resources ($10) and live HR support ($65), all monthly. Gusto sells next-day pay ($15 + $3 per person) and priority support ($30 + $3 per person) as monthly add-ons on Simple.
Where they differ
- States. Gusto's pricing page lists Simple as "single-state payroll" and puts multi-state payroll on Plus. Its payroll page says it's "the same price whether you run payroll in one state or all 50"; we use the pricing page, the worse reading. OnPay's pricing page says "Pay workers in as many states as you need", at no additional cost.
- Pay speed. Gusto sells next-day pay to Simple as an add-on; a Gusto help article calls it included, but we use the pricing page. OnPay's direct deposit article gives a 2-day or 4-day turnaround after a risk assessment, and its pages don't mention a next-day option.
- Trial. OnPay says "Your first month is free" on its sign-up page. Gusto has no free trial on Simple; setup is free and you pay nothing until you run payroll.
- Plan shape. OnPay sells one payroll plan and adds HR and time tracking on top. Gusto tiers them: project labour cost reports are on Plus and Premium, per its time tools page.
- Support. OnPay lists "Expert support by phone, email, and chat" on its one plan. Gusto Simple gets call or chat during business hours and a 24/7 help centre, with priority support as a paid add-on.
Who should pick which
Pick Gusto if your whole team works in one state and you expect to grow into its higher tiers for time tracking, project costs, benefits and HR from the same company.
Pick OnPay if you pay people in more than one state, want a free first month, or want email support as well as phone and chat, all on the one plan at $79 a month for five.
Both appear in our payroll services ranking and our list for construction and trades. How we score them is on the methodology page.