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Payday HCM vs. Gusto: Comparing HR & Payroll Services, Pricing

March 7th, 2025 | 5 min. read

By Keith Edwards

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Imagine you’re at the grocery store: you’re trying to decide what kind of pasta sauce to buy. Of course, there’s the kind you got last time, but you’re not really sure if you liked it and you’re looking to try something new. Now, at an ordinary grocery store, this wouldn’t be too difficult: you’d look at the price tags, find one that’s a good price, take a look at the ingredients, and then you’d put it in your cart and cross it off the list. Unfortunately for you, though, you’re not in an ordinary grocery store. In fact, the grocery store you’re in actually has a never-ending selection of pasta sauces that stretches all the way to the ceiling. Sure, there’s a ladder to help you look at everything available, but with this many pasta sauces, how are you supposed to know what’s better, let alone compare any of them? This is pretty close to the experience of finding and comparing payroll providers through Google: a seemingly infinite amount of options with difficult to find pricing and almost no way of comparing them.

If this sounds a lot like you, don’t worry—you’re not alone. At Payday HCM, we understand the difficulty of trying to sort through the constant stream of different payroll providers. We’ve had plenty of current and potential clients approach us with this exact issue, struggling to understand the best methods for determining what provider might be best for their business. We want to ensure that anyone considering our services has the tools at their disposal to make the most informed choice possible.

That’s why, in this article, we’re going to compare our services to fellow payroll provider Gusto. We’ll go in-depth with how our services stack up against theirs in regards to payroll, HR and benefits, customer experience and support, and pricing. We’ll provide all the information you need to accurately compare the two services so that, by the end of this article, you’ll have everything you need to take the next best step for your business.

In this article, we will compare:


Payday HCM vs. Gusto: Payroll Services

Firstly, we’ll start out by comparing Payday’s and Gusto’s payroll services to get a better understanding of what each provider offers.

Payday HCM: Personalized Payroll Precision

Payday HCM offers full-service payroll processing with a focus on compliance, accuracy, and customization. Unlike standard payroll platforms, we provide tailored payroll solutions with dedicated customer service representatives, ensuring an accurate payroll run every time.

We also specialize in Affordable Care Act compliance and Beneficial Ownership Information filing, helping businesses stay ahead of regulations. Plus, Payday HCM ensures tax filings and direct deposits are handled seamlessly, reducing the risk of potentially costly errors.

Gusto: Automated Payroll Efficiency

Gusto takes a more automated approach, helping to take the load off of businesses. Their platform supports automated tax filings, direct deposits, and compliance management, making it ideal for small businesses looking to simplify payroll administration.

With an easy-to-use interface, Gusto lets companies run payroll with just a few clicks so they can focus on other priorities. Additionally, Gusto’s payroll features integrate well with other business tools like Slack and Zoom, creating an all-in-one solution that keeps operations running smoothly.

The Gusto payroll platform. Photo courtesy of Gusto.

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Payday HCM vs. Gusto: HR and Benefits

Now we’ll get into how Payday HCM’s HR and benefits services stack up against Gusto’s.

Payday HCM: Comprehensive HR and Benefits Services

Payday HCM offers full-service HR support, including compliance management, employee relations guidance, and benefits administration. Our offerings include customized benefits packages, with options like healthcare, flexible work arrangements, and financial wellness programs like wages on demand.

Businesses looking for hands-on HR expertise will find this a valuable resource. Additionally, Payday HCM offers recruitment assistance, training and development programs, and performance management tools, helping businesses build and retain a strong workforce.

Gusto: Integrated HR Tools and Benefits Management

Gusto provides built-in HR tools, including hiring and onboarding features, an employee self-service portal, and compliance support, all within the same portal as their payroll services. Their benefits administration makes it easy to set up health insurance, 401(k) retirement plans, and workers' compensation.

This makes it a strong choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one digital human capital management solution. Gusto also simplifies time tracking and PTO management, ensuring that businesses can handle every aspect of workforce management within a single platform.

Payday HCM vs. Gusto: Customer Experience and Support

Next, will go into the differences between Payday HCM’s and Gusto’s approaches to customer support.

Payday HCM: Personalized Customer Assistance

At Payday HCM, we pride ourselves on dedicated, human-centered customer service. Clients work with payroll and HR specialists who understand their business, providing a level of consistency and personalized attention that’s hard to find in more automated systems.

If you value direct access to knowledgeable support, this could be a key advantage. Whether it's a complex payroll issue or a compliance question, having a dedicated team ensures that businesses receive timely and tailored solutions.

Gusto: Streamlined Digital Support

Gusto offers a modern, user-friendly platform with customer support available via live chat, email, and phone. Gusto offers different levels of customer support depending on which plan you select, allowing businesses a higher level of customizability when it comes to choosing the best solution.

Businesses comfortable with a self-service approach will find Gusto’s system intuitive and easy to navigate. The platform also provides a robust help center with extensive resources, making it easy for users to troubleshoot common issues independently.

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Payday HCM vs. Gusto: Pricing

Finally, we’ll break down how Payday HCM and Gusto differ in terms of pricing and the different packages they offer.

Payday HCM: Flexible Pricing for Growing Businesses

Payday HCM offers a variety of different options when it comes to pricing, so businesses only pay for the services they need. This flexible approach makes us a great choice for organizations that want scalable payroll and HR solutions tailored to their specific growth needs.

For payroll services, our core services with time-keeping start at $9.60 a month per employee for businesses with 49 employees or less; for 50 or more employees, our core services with time-keeping start at $14 a month per employee. Benefits and HR services would be additional costs on top of this.

Gusto: Transparent Pricing with Scalable Plans

Gusto provides clear, tiered pricing based on company size and required features. It’s a budget-friendly option for small businesses looking for an all-in-one HR and payroll platform. While it scales to an extent, larger businesses with complex HR needs may eventually require a more customized approach.

For Gusto’s Basic plan, it costs $49 a month plus $6 a month per employee—this includes payroll administration as well as health insurance plan administration and a basic PTO policy. Businesses can also upgrade to the plus or premium plans for $60 or $135 a month, respectively, with higher per-employee costs per month.

Finding The Best Payroll Solution For Your Business

Running a business is all about making decisions: make the right one, and you can help your business save time and money. Make the wrong one, and you just might cost your business even more time and money. When it comes to things like choosing a payroll provider, it’s no different. You want to find the right solution for your business, but you don’t have the luxury of trial and error. In-depth research and a deep understanding of what each provider has to offer is essential to making the right decision. With the information provided in this article, you have at least some of the information to help you on your journey towards making the best decision for your business.

As we’ve said time and time again throughout this article, choosing the right payroll provider is one of the most important steps your business can take. Learn more about Payday HCM’s payroll services to find out if we’re the right fit for your organization.

Keith Edwards

Keith Edwards is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a former U.S. Army Captain. He has over 34 years of leadership experience in government, financial services, manufacturing, retail, and non-profit organizations. He assists businesses in improving the bottom line through increased efficiency in payroll processing, time and attendance, employee benefits, and human resources. His goal is to allow your business to focus on revenue-producing activities instead of non-revenue-producing activities to allow business leaders to sleep better at night knowing they are protected from threats related to compliance and tax/financial issues in the areas of payroll and HR.

Topics:

Payroll