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Gusto vs Rippling

Gusto vs. Rippling: 2026 Comparison

Updated July 2, 2025 at 7:39 AM

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Written by Emilie Audubert

Content Analyst

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Edited by Lindsay Page

Editor

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On this page
  • Introduction
  • Comparison Snapshot
  • Pricing Comparison
  • Reviewers Perspective
  • Key Features Comparison
  • Bottom Line
  • Other Popular Comparisons
Gusto

Majority of recent reviews are from small businesses (90%), primarily in IT, software dev and health, wellness, and fitness industries.

Starting Price: $35.00 per month

Pros:

  • User-friendly interface
  • Comprehensive HR services
  • Streamlined employee onboarding

Cons:

  • Pricing model
  • Lack of scalability
Pros & Cons
VS
Rippling

Recent reviews are from small businesses (75%) in the IT, software dev, and health, wellness, and fitness industries.

Pricing available upon request

Pros:

  • All-in-one platform
  • Payroll management
  • Easy access to multiple systems

Cons:

  • Customer support responsiveness
  • Complex setup process
Pros & Cons
Why You Can Trust Our Comparison

8,673 verified reviews evaluated

276 features analyzed

309 integrations considered

Comparison Snapshot

Gusto
Gusto
Rippling
Rippling

Starting Price

$35.00

per month

Pricing available upon request

Overall Rating

4.6
(4167)
4.9
(4506)
Integrations
Trello
Trello
Dropbox Business
Dropbox Business
QuickBooks Enterprise
QuickBooks Enterprise
Google Docs
Google Docs
Google Drive
Google Drive
PayPal
PayPal
See All
Top Rated Features
Attendance Management
5.0
Attendance Tracking
5.0
Mobile App
5.0
User Provisioning
5.0
Automatic Time Capture
5.0
Autosave & Autofill
5.0
See All

Pricing Comparison

Gusto
Gusto

Starting Price

$35.00 / month

For contractor-only businesses who haven’t hired W-2 employees yet. $35/month. Limited Time Offer: $0/month for first 6 months + $6 per month per contractor.
Free trial
Free version

Simple

$49.00 / month

+ $6/month per person A streamlined set of automatic payroll features and benefits integrations.

Plus

$80.00 / month

+ $12/month per person Limited Time Offer: $60/month + $9 per month per person for first 3 months. Comprehensive payroll, benefits, and HR tools to help employers build a great place to work—in-person or remote.

Premium

$180.00 / month

+ $22/month per person Scalable payroll and benefits, expert HR, priority support, and a dedicated success liaison to meet the complex needs of growing teams.

Contractor

$35.00 / month

For contractor-only businesses who haven’t hired W-2 employees yet. $35/month. Limited Time Offer: $0/month for first 6 months + $6 per month per contractor.
See All Pricing Plans
Rippling
Rippling

Pricing available upon request

Free trial
Free version

Core

Pricing available upon request

Pro

Pricing available upon request

See All Pricing Plans

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

Gusto Reviewers Rating

4.6/ 5

"Gusto is a very user-friendly and intuitive product to learn."

4.0

Melanie H.
HR Specialist
Used for less than 6 months
VS
Rippling

Rippling Reviewers Rating

4.9/ 5

"The simple and easy to use UI…"

5.0

Tony C.
Physician Assistant, Health, Wellness and Fitness
Used for 2+ years

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...
tasks effectively. - However, some find it too basic or lacking customization, with occasional unresponsiveness or a scattered layout. Rippling offers a centralized HR platform with both strengths and challenges: - It's appreciated for its user-friendly interface and seamless integrations, providing a convenient centralized platform for HR tasks. - Its app-based interface simplifies employee actions, and users highlight its intuitive design, customization, and automation. - Conversely, some report issues with customization flexibility, describe the design as sometimes outdated, and find navigation confusing, with the Android app noted to lack polish. This section’s analysis is based on 1392 reviews about the ease of use for Gusto and Rippling.

Value for Money

Gusto

Gusto Reviewers Rating

4.5/ 5

"Gusto is very affordable compared to the features it has…"

5.0

Cris N.
Founder and Creative Director
Used for 6-12 months
VS
Rippling

Rippling Reviewers Rating

4.8/ 5

"…saved our company hundreds of man-hours"

5.0

Jen S.
Director of People, Information Technology and Services
Used for 2+ years

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...
e platform's many features and options, including advanced capabilities, are seen as providing significant value. - However, some note advanced features are limited to higher plans, and some feel a "constant push" to use features they don't need, potentially being overkill. Rippling's value for money is tied to its extensive feature set: - Users find Rippling offers strong value due to its extensive, all-in-one platform centralizing HR, IT, and payroll, leading to significant efficiencies. - However, a common sentiment is that Rippling has too many features, which can lead to underutilization and considered overkill for smaller organizations. - The initial learning curve and "hidden" features can detract from its immediate value, with some reports of malfunctioning or overly complicated features hindering efficiency. This section’s analysis is based on 650 reviews about the value for money for Gusto and Rippling.

Customer Support

Gusto

Gusto Reviewers Rating

4.4/ 5

"Customer service was very helpful during setup."

5.0

Grant K.
President
Used for 6-12 months
VS
Rippling

Rippling Reviewers Rating

4.7/ 5

"…is always available, the resources are user-friendly"

5.0

Reza B.
Accounting Manager, Electrical/Electronic
Used for 2+ years

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...
apable of resolving complex issues, particularly during setup. - However, some express dissatisfaction due to slow response times, limited availability outside business hours, and perceived inability to handle highly complex issues. Rippling's customer support also has varied feedback: - Users highlight the responsiveness and professionalism of its support, with quick chat assistance and timely email replies. - Dedicated representatives and specialized teams are valued for efficient problem resolution, alongside 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support. - Conversely, criticisms include reports of slow or unresponsive support, the perceived lack of a direct phone line, and concerns about untrained offshore customer service leading to unresolved issues. This section’s analysis is based on 1219 reviews about customer support for Gusto and Rippling.

Expert Analysis of Features

Online benefits enrollment

Gusto

Gusto Feature Rating

4.20 / 5

VS
Rippling

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.

Online benefits enrollment in Gusto

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 in Rippling

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

Gusto Feature Rating

4.40 / 5

VS
Rippling

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.

Payroll management in Gusto

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 in Rippling

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

Gusto Feature Rating

4.0 / 5

VS
Rippling

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.

Employee self service portal in Gusto

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 in Rippling

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:

User-friendly design for HR tasks

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.

Comprehensive HR and IT Hub

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.