Gusto vs. Rippling: 2026 Comparison
Updated July 2, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Written by Emilie Audubert
Content Analyst
Edited by Lindsay Page
Editor
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- Introduction
- Comparison Snapshot
- Pricing Comparison
- Reviewers Perspective
- Key Features Comparison
- Bottom Line
- Other Popular Comparisons

Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Comprehensive HR services
- Streamlined employee onboarding
Cons:
- Pricing model
- Lack of scalability

Pros:
- All-in-one platform
- Payroll management
- Easy access to multiple systems
Cons:
- Customer support responsiveness
- Complex setup process
8,673 verified reviews evaluated
276 features analyzed
309 integrations considered
Comparison Snapshot
Starting Price
$35.00
Starting Price
Pricing available upon request
Pricing Comparison
Starting Price
$35.00 / month
Simple
$49.00 / month
Plus
$80.00 / month
Premium
$180.00 / month
Contractor
$35.00 / month
Pricing available upon request
Core
Pricing available upon request
Pro
Pricing available upon request
Gusto and Rippling both receive positive feedback for pricing, with Rippling (73%) having a slightly higher proportion of favorable reviews than Gusto (71%).
Gusto's pricing is often valued as a competitive and scalable tool, particularly for small businesses, with its linear model benefiting frequent payrolls. However, some users find costs escalate with growth or added features, citing confusing structures and hidden fees
Rippling is app...
reciated for its all-in-one platform consolidating HR functions, saving time and increasing efficiency. Conversely, a significant concern is lack of pricing transparency and undisclosed fees. Its 'a la carte' model is often mentioned as expensive for smaller businesses, with customer service issues adding to frustration over hidden costs. This analysis is based on 650 pricing reviews.
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Reviewers Perspective
Ease of Use
Gusto Reviewers Rating
"Gusto is a very user-friendly and intuitive product to learn."
4.0
Rippling Reviewers Rating
"The simple and easy to use UI…"
5.0
Both platforms are generally appreciated for their user-friendly and intuitive interfaces, with Gusto (92% positive reviews) scoring slightly higher than Rippling (89%).
Gusto receives diverse user feedback regarding its design:
- Users value its simple, intuitive design, which simplifies navigation and reduces the learning curve, especially for smaller businesses.
- Its organized interface and automation features streamline payroll and HR...
Value for Money
Gusto Reviewers Rating
"Gusto is very affordable compared to the features it has…"
5.0
Rippling Reviewers Rating
"…saved our company hundreds of man-hours"
5.0
Users indicate that both Gusto and Rippling offer comprehensive feature sets designed to streamline HR and payroll, shaping their feedback regarding value for money. However, their overall value propositions and feature utilization generate different user sentiments.
Gusto's features are generally praised for their value and usability:
- Users commend Gusto's simple and efficient features, which often contribute to its value for money.
- Th...
Customer Support
Gusto Reviewers Rating
"Customer service was very helpful during setup."
5.0
Rippling Reviewers Rating
"…is always available, the resources are user-friendly"
5.0
Both platforms generate varied user sentiment regarding customer support, with Rippling (79% positive reviews) receiving a higher proportion of favorable comments than Gusto (69%). Gusto's support receives mixed reviews:
According to Gusto’s users:
- The prompt, helpful, and knowledgeable staff is appreciated, with reviewers noting quick and accurate responses across various channels.
- The support team is often described as friendly and c...
Expert Analysis of Features
Online benefits enrollment
Gusto Feature Rating
4.20 / 5
Rippling Feature Rating
4.90 / 5
Gusto and Rippling both provide online benefits enrollment features, each with particular characteristics for managing employee benefits.
Gusto's online benefits enrollment feature provides a digital pathway for employees to choose and manage their benefits. This includes options for health, dental, and vision insurance, as well as retirement plans. The system allows employees to view plan details, add dependents, and make their selections directly within their Gusto account. This feature integrates with Gusto's overall HR platform, aiming to simplify the administration of benefits for businesses and provide employees with a convenient self-service experience.
Rippling's online benefits enrollment feature allows employees to select and manage their benefits directly through the platform. This functionality is designed to streamline the enrollment process for both new hires and during open enrollment periods. Employees are presented with eligible plans, and the system can handle a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) options. The platform aims to centralize the benefits administration experience, allowing for integration with chosen brokers and facilitating automated updates.
Online benefits enrollment for Gusto
Gusto's online benefits enrollment feature garnered an average rating of 4.2 from over 60 reviewers. Users consistently praise Gusto's online benefits enrollment features for their simplicity and ease of use, enabling employees to make their selections without stress. Reviewers frequently highlight the platform's ability to streamline the benefits process, making it straightforward for both new hires and during open enrollment. The clear presentation of benefit options and the integrated nature of the feature within Gusto's overall HR system are also highly valued by users.
Online benefits enrollment for Rippling
From 94 reviews, 99% rated Rippling's online benefits enrollment feature as important or highly important, with an average rating of 4.9. The feature is praised for its clear, visually appealing format that allows easy comparison of plans and prices. Users find the navigation intuitive and the process quick, often taking less than 10 minutes. The integration with insurance providers and the ability to manage elections, changes, and terminations online are highly valued. Some users note occasional bugs, but overall, the feature significantly reduces the workload for HR and employees.
Payroll management
Gusto Feature Rating
4.40 / 5
Rippling Feature Rating
4.90 / 5
Gusto and Rippling both provide payroll management features, supporting various business needs with distinct approaches to international processing.
Gusto's payroll management includes automated wage, tax, and deduction calculations, along with support for multiple pay schedules (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly). It offers time tracking features, available in higher-tier plans or as an add-on, that integrate directly with payroll for automated hour recording. For international reach, Gusto directly supports international contractors in over 120 countries and integrates with Remote for international employee payroll in over 12 countries.
Rippling's payroll management also features automated wage, tax, and deduction calculations, and supports multiple pay schedules. It provides time and attendance tracking that integrates with its payroll system to automate data transfer. Rippling’s platform directly handles international payroll for employees in over 185 countries, helping manage currency conversions and local compliance.
Payroll Management for Gusto
Among 142 reviewers, 93% rated Gusto's Payroll Management as important or highly important, with an average rating of 4.4. Users find it efficient and user-friendly, praising automated payroll processes (taxes, direct deposits, pay stubs), timekeeping integration, and remote management. Detailed breakdowns and off-cycle payrolls are valued, despite some noted customer support issues and occasional processing errors.
Payroll Management for Rippling
From 215 reviews, 95% rated Rippling's Payroll Management as important or highly important, with an average rating of 4.9. Reviewers value its comprehensive, user-friendly design, enabling real-time tracking, detailed pay breakdowns, and easy pay stub access. Integration with other tools and multi-country payroll are appreciated. Despite noted tax calculation issues, customer support concerns, and a cluttered interface, it's generally seen as efficient and reliable.
Employee self service portal
Gusto Feature Rating
4.0 / 5
Rippling Feature Rating
4.20 / 5
Rippling and Gusto both include functionalities for an employee database, with specific approaches to managing employee data.
Gusto's employee self-service features offer employees a dedicated interface to manage their employment details. Through this portal, individuals can view and update their personal contact information and access relevant company documents. The platform facilitates time-off requests and provides visibility into their approved leave. Employees can also manage their own benefits selections and access information related to their employment.
Rippling's employee self-service features provide a portal where employees can manage various aspects of their employment. This includes the ability to access and update personal information, view company directories, and locate internal training resources. Employees can also use the platform to request and track time off, and manage details related to benefits enrollment. The system is designed to centralize information and tasks, allowing employees to handle administrative actions independently.
Employee self service portal for Gusto
Among more than 260 reviewers, Gusto's employee self-service portal received an average rating of 4. Users frequently highlight Gusto's employee self-service portal feature, praising its user-friendly interface and ease of use for both administrators and employees. The employee self-service portal is consistently noted as a key benefit, fostering transparency and allowing employees to manage their own information. Reviewers particularly value its effectiveness in onboarding new hires and its ability to centralize and organize employee data, contributing to increased employee satisfaction and productivity.
Employee self-service portal for Rippling
Our analysis of over 300 reviewers shows that Rippling's self-service portal received an average rating of 4.2. Users frequently commend Rippling's employee self-service portal feature for its ease of use and centralized platform, simplifying various employee-related tasks. The employee self-service portal is consistently noted for fostering transparency and enabling employees to manage their own information and requests. Reviewers particularly appreciate its effectiveness in onboarding new employees, thanks to streamlined workflows.
Bottom Line:
Gusto is appreciated by users for its intuitive interface and efficient automation of HR tasks. Users highlight how Gusto simplifies navigation and core HR processes such as onboarding and benefits enrollment. Its user-friendly design, comprehensive feature set, and perceived affordability make it a suitable option for smaller businesses looking to streamline HR processes.
Rippling stands out as an all-in-one platform that centralizes HR, IT, and payroll functions. Users value its seamless integrations and efficiency. Rippling is highlighted for automating HR tasks, its international capabilities, and its employee data and benefits management. Users commend its convenience and features, making it suitable for those seeking a broad range of HR and IT solutions.
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Sources
Our independent and objective research is based on market demand signals along with analysis of our proprietary data, including product information, verified user reviews, and advisor conversations with buyers. We did not consider client status when selecting products in this list.
Product descriptions: In our descriptions of each featured product, we included the following details:
Most valued features: Our research team analyzed verified software reviews on Software Advice to identify each product’s highest-rated features (among features with at least 5 reviews). We then summarized user sentiment using real reviews for each feature.
Review excerpts: Review excerpts are passages extracted from longer reviews written by verified reviewers. We obtain these excerpts by applying an algorithm that considers factors including, but not limited to, length, sentiment, topic coverage, and thematic relevance. Excerpts represent user opinion and do not represent the views of, nor constitute, an endorsement by Software Advice or its affiliates. Excerpts are trimmed for brevity.



