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Gusto vs Paychex Flex: a published $79 against $64 plus unpublished fees
Updated Oct 15, 2026
Gusto Simple costs $49 a month plus $6 per person, $79 for five employees, and files federal, state and local taxes and W-2s and 1099s at that price. Paychex Flex Essentials costs $39 a month plus $5 per employee, $64 for five, but its tax filing "Additional fees may apply" and its W-2s and 1099s are "Available at additional cost", with no amounts published. Gusto Simple covers one state; Paychex lets you add employees in other states.
At a glance, by our score
#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- Lowest price
#4 Paychex Flex
Teams under 20 employees that sign up online from $64 a month for five, with tax filing billed extra
8.3/10Very goodOur scoreVisit Paychex FlexOn paychex.com
Paychex Flex's lowest monthly price is lower than Gusto's, checked Sep 27, 2026 and Sep 27, 2026.
Side by side
| Criterion | Gusto | Paychex Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 9.0/10ExcellentOur score #2 of 7 | 8.3/10Very goodOur score #4 of 7 |
| Cost for five employees (35%) | 8.6 / 10 | 9.3 / 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 | 0.0 / 10 |
| Support (10%) | 10.0 / 10 | 10.0 / 10 |
| Free trial (5%) | 0.0 / 10 | 0.0 / 10 |
| Price from | $6 / month | $5 / month |
| Best for | Single-state teams that want federal, state and local taxes filed for $79 a month for five employees | Teams under 20 employees that sign up online from $64 a month for five, with tax filing billed extra |
| Visit | Visit GustoOn gusto.com | Visit Paychex FlexOn paychex.com |
Who should pick which
- Gusto: Single-state teams that want federal, state and local taxes filed for $79 a month for five employees
- Paychex Flex: Teams under 20 employees that sign up online from $64 a month for five, with tax filing billed extra
At a glance
| Gusto | Paychex Flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan and billing | Simple: $49 a month + $6 per person, monthly, no contract | Paychex Flex Essentials: $39 a month + $5 per employee, under 20 employees |
| Cost for five employees | $79 a month | $64 a month, before tax-filing and W-2/1099 fees it doesn't publish |
| Tax filing | Federal, state and local, plus W-2s and 1099s; one state only | Federal, state and "identified local"; "Additional fees may apply" |
| Included on the entry plan | Unlimited runs, direct deposit, employee app, contractor payments, state new-hire reporting | Unlimited runs, direct deposit, employee self-service, contractor 1099s (extra cost), new-hire reporting |
| Tax penalty guarantee | Yes, for penalties from a "Gusto Error" (payroll terms) | Its pages don't say |
| Support | Call or chat in business hours; 24/7 help centre | "24/7 support options"; live chat or phone (support page) |
| Free trial | No; you pay nothing until you run payroll | No; no cost until your first payroll |
Prices and features from Gusto's pricing page and Paychex Flex's pricing page, read Sep 27, 2026.
Price
On the published prices, one employee costs $55 a month on Gusto Simple and $44 on Paychex Flex Essentials; five cost $79 and $64, a $15 gap in Paychex's favour.
That gap is a floor, not the bill. Paychex's Essentials page marks payroll tax administration "*Additional fees may apply" and W-2s and 1099s "**Available at additional cost". Its sign-up page says you can review those fees "when you sign your Service Agreement". Gusto's $79 includes its tax filing and year-end forms.
Neither shows an introductory price. Paychex's other packages (Basic, Foundations, Advanced, Complete) are "Request Pricing" only, per its compare page.
Where they differ
- What the price covers. Gusto files federal, state and local tax forms on every plan, per its pricing page. Paychex files federal, state and "identified local" payroll taxes, with the extra fees above.
- States. Gusto Simple is "single-state payroll"; multi-state starts at Plus ($80 + $12 per person). Paychex's Essentials FAQ says "If employees work in other states, you can add that information too", and names no extra fee.
- Penalty guarantee. Gusto's payroll terms cover penalties from a "Gusto Error". Paychex's pages don't say it pays penalties caused by its own errors.
- Size limit. Essentials, the plan with a published price, is for businesses with fewer than 20 employees and/or contractors; Paychex's other packages are quote-only.
- Support. Paychex's Essentials page says "24/7 support options available", and its support page offers live chat or a call. Gusto Simple has call or chat in business hours and a 24/7 help centre.
Who should pick which
Pick Gusto if you want to know the full monthly cost before you sign, with local taxes and year-end forms included and a written penalty commitment, and your team is in one state.
Pick Paychex Flex if you have fewer than 20 people, possibly in more than one state, want support around the clock, and are willing to get the tax-filing and W-2 fees in writing before you sign the service agreement.
Both appear in our payroll services ranking and our list for construction and trades. Scoring is on the methodology page.