Last updated: October 2026 | Prices checked against Gusto’s and QuickBooks’ official pricing pages
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If you already use QuickBooks Online for your books, QuickBooks Payroll looks like the obvious choice: one login, one bill, payroll entries flowing straight into your accounts. Gusto is the most popular alternative, a standalone payroll and HR service that connects to QuickBooks, Xero and other accounting tools.
The big difference in 2026 is how they are sold. Intuit now packages payroll together with a QuickBooks Online plan, so you buy both at once. Gusto is payroll only, and you pick your accounting software separately.
Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll at a glance
| Gusto | QuickBooks Payroll | |
|---|---|---|
| How it’s sold | Payroll only | Bundled with a QuickBooks Online plan |
| Entry price | $49/mo + $6 per person | $88/mo + $6.50 per employee (with Simple Start) |
| Includes accounting software | No (connects to QuickBooks, Xero and others) | Yes |
| Fastest direct deposit on entry plan | Payroll in one state, unlimited runs | Next-day direct deposit |
| Time tracking | Plus and Premium | Premium bundle |
| HR tools | Premium (HR guidance) | Premium bundle (HR suite) |
| Best for | Owners who want flexible, standalone payroll | Businesses committed to QuickBooks Online |
Gusto pricing in 2026
| Gusto plan | Base | Per person | Key additions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | $49/mo | $6/mo | Payroll in one state, unlimited payroll runs, tax filings |
| Plus | $80/mo | $12/mo | Multi-state payroll, time tracking and scheduling, next-day direct deposit |
| Premium | $180/mo | $22/mo | HR guidance and tools, dedicated account partner, same-day pay |
QuickBooks Payroll pricing in 2026
QuickBooks lists payroll as “Workforce” bundles that include a QuickBooks Online plan.
| QuickBooks bundle | Base | Per employee | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll + Simple Start | $88/mo | $6.50/mo | Full-service payroll, next-day direct deposit, basic accounting |
| Payroll + Essentials | $125/mo | $6.50/mo | Same-day direct deposit, enhanced reports, bill management, 3 users |
| Premium + Plus | $203/mo | $10/mo | Same-day direct deposit, time tracking, HR suite, project profitability, inventory, 5 users |
When we checked, every bundle was 50% off the base price for the first three months. All bundles include automatic payroll, 1099 e-filing, an employee portal and access to health, 401(k) and workers’ comp benefits.
Cost example: 10 employees in one state
| Setup | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Gusto Simple + QuickBooks Simple Start ($38) | $49 + $60 + $38 = $147 |
| QuickBooks Payroll + Simple Start bundle | $88 + $65 = $153 |
| Gusto Plus + QuickBooks Essentials ($85) | $80 + $120 + $85 = $285 |
| QuickBooks Payroll + Essentials bundle | $125 + $65 = $190 |
| QuickBooks Premium + Plus bundle | $203 + $100 = $303 |
At the entry level, Gusto plus a separate QuickBooks plan and the QuickBooks bundle cost almost the same. One tier up, the QuickBooks bundle is clearly cheaper, because Gusto Plus doubles the per-person fee. If you don’t need QuickBooks at all (for example, you use Xero or a bookkeeper’s software), Gusto alone is the cheaper starting point.
Features compared
Integration with your books
QuickBooks Payroll lives inside QuickBooks Online, so paychecks, taxes and benefits post to your accounts automatically with no syncing. Gusto connects to QuickBooks Online and Xero, and the sync works well, but it is still two systems to set up and reconcile.
Direct deposit speed
QuickBooks’ entry bundle offers next-day direct deposit (run by 5 PM), and the Essentials and Premium bundles offer same-day (run by 7 AM). Gusto offers next-day direct deposit from Plus and same-day pay on Premium.
Multi-state employees
Gusto Simple covers one state; you need Plus for remote employees in other states. Check QuickBooks’ terms for multi-state support on your bundle if you hire across state lines.
Time tracking and HR
Gusto includes time tracking and scheduling from Plus. QuickBooks includes time tracking and its HR suite in the Premium + Plus bundle. Lower QuickBooks bundles only include scheduling.
Ease of use
Gusto is known for a clean, guided setup and a friendly employee experience. QuickBooks Payroll is straightforward if you already know QuickBooks, and payroll setup can be reviewed by an expert on the Premium bundle.
Pros and cons
Gusto
Pros
- Works with any major accounting software
- Transparent, published pricing
- Unlimited payroll runs on every plan
Cons
- Simple plan limited to one state
- Per-person fee doubles on Plus
- Separate accounting subscription needed
QuickBooks Payroll
Pros
- Payroll and accounting in one system
- Same-day direct deposit from the Essentials bundle
- Bundles are cheaper than Gusto + QuickBooks above the entry tier
Cons
- You must buy a QuickBooks Online plan
- Time tracking and HR only in the top bundle
- Harder to switch accounting software later
Which should you choose?
Choose QuickBooks Payroll if you already run your books in QuickBooks Online and plan to stay there. The bundles are cheaper than Gusto plus QuickBooks once you need more than the basics.
Choose Gusto if you use Xero or another accounting tool, want to keep payroll independent of your books, or value Gusto’s employee experience and HR tools.
Three real-world scenarios
A coffee shop with 8 hourly employees using QuickBooks. The owner already reconciles the bank in QuickBooks Online Essentials and wants same-day direct deposit for staff who are paid every Friday. The QuickBooks Payroll + Essentials bundle costs $125 + (8 × $6.50) = $177 a month and keeps payroll entries inside the books with no sync to manage. Gusto Plus plus a separate Essentials plan would cost $80 + $96 + $85 = $261 a month. QuickBooks is the clear winner.
A design studio with 4 salaried employees using Xero. The studio’s bookkeeper works in Xero and has no interest in moving to QuickBooks. Gusto Simple costs $49 + $24 = $73 a month and syncs to Xero. QuickBooks Payroll would mean paying for QuickBooks Online as well, which makes no sense here. Gusto wins.
A remote startup with 12 people in five states. The team needs multi-state payroll and time tracking for a few contractors. Gusto Plus costs $80 + $144 = $224 a month for payroll alone. QuickBooks’ Premium + Plus bundle costs $203 + $120 = $323 but includes accounting, time tracking and an HR suite. The right choice depends on whether the startup already pays for accounting software elsewhere.
Questions to ask before you sign up
- Which states do your employees live and work in? This decides whether Gusto Simple is enough.
- Which accounting software will you use for the next three years? If it isn’t QuickBooks Online, the bundle loses most of its appeal.
- How fast do employees need to be paid? Same-day direct deposit is on QuickBooks Essentials and up, and on Gusto Premium.
- What happens after the introductory discount? Compare the full regular price for the first year, not the first three months.
- Do you need HR help? Compare Gusto Premium’s HR guidance with QuickBooks’ HR suite in the Premium bundle.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from Gusto to QuickBooks Payroll later?
Yes. Both support mid-year switches, but you’ll need year-to-date totals for every employee. Switching at the start of a quarter keeps tax filings cleaner.
Can I use Gusto with QuickBooks Online?
Yes. Gusto integrates with QuickBooks Online and syncs payroll journal entries to your books.
Is QuickBooks Payroll sold separately?
On Intuit’s current pricing page, payroll is sold as a bundle with a QuickBooks Online plan rather than as a standalone add-on.
Which is cheaper for 5 employees?
Gusto Simple costs $49 + (5 × $6) = $79 a month for payroll only. The QuickBooks Simple Start bundle costs $88 + (5 × $6.50) = $120.50 a month but includes accounting software. If you need both, the totals are close.
Do both file payroll taxes for me?
Yes. Both are full-service payroll: they calculate, file and pay federal and state payroll taxes and produce W-2s and 1099s.
The bottom line
For QuickBooks users, QuickBooks Payroll is the simpler and usually cheaper choice above the entry tier. Gusto is the better pick if you want payroll that works with any accounting software or prefer its HR and employee tools.
Related: Gusto vs ADP RUN · QuickBooks Online vs Xero · OnPay vs Gusto