Payroll is no easy task, and while you may find it a manageable when starting out, you’ll soon see that as your businesses grows so does the need for dedicated payroll software. Choosing the right package is difficult, and each business has its own needs that not every payroll service caters to. It’s even harder to choose between two of the very best payroll solutions in the business. That’s the problem we’ll be tackling in trying to differentiate two seemingly very similar payroll services. First we have Gusto, a hugely popular and well-rounded payroll solution, up against Zenefits, another all-rounder with a well-deserved reputation for its large number of integrations. How do you choose between them?
| Main Features | Gusto | Zenefits |
| Logo |  |  |
| Rating |  | |
| Reviews | Reviews | Reviews |
| Visit | Visit Site | Visit Site |
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free Trial |
| Coupons | Coupons | Coupons |
| iOS App | ||
| Android App | ||
| Windows App |
| Payroll Management | Gusto | Zenefits |
| Employee Types | ||
| International Workers | ||
| Tax Form Generation | ||
| Tax Form Filing | ||
| Payment Intervals | ||
| Hourly Pay Rate | ||
| Salary Pay Rate | ||
| Multiple Pay Rates | ||
| Break Management |
| Payouts | Gusto | Zenefits |
| Digital | ||
| Paper | ||
| Lifetime Access | ||
| Auto Mode | ||
| Reimbursements | ||
| Bonuses |
| Integrations & Extra Services | Gusto | Zenefits |
| Health Insurance | ||
| Retirement | ||
| Time Tracking | ||
| Business Operations Systems | ||
| Expense Management Systems | ||
| Accounting Software Systems | ||
| Onboarding | ||
| PTO Policies | ||
| Vacation Policies | ||
| Sick Day Policies | ||
| Perk Management |
| Pricing | Gusto | Zenefits |
| Lowest Price | $45/mo | $6/mo |
| Monthly Plan | ||
| Yearly Plan | ||
| Free Trial | 30 days | 14 days |
| Free Plan | ||
| Money-Back Guarantee |
| Payment Methods | Gusto | Zenefits |
| Visa | ||
| PayPal | ||
| Mastercard | ||
| American Express | ||
| Wire Transfer | ||
| Discover | ||
| Google Checkout | ||
| Liberty Reserve | ||
| Bitcoins |
| Customer Support | Gusto | Zenefits |
| 24/7 Support | ||
| FAQ | ||
| Tutorials | ||
| Video Tutorials | ||
| Live Chat | ||
| Phone | ||
| Community | ||
| Training Events | ||
| About | Gusto | Zenefits |
| Headquarters | California, U.S. | California, U.S. |
| Founded | 2011 | 2013 |
| Languages | EN | EN |
Gusto
Originally known as ZenPayroll, Gusto has had a meteoric rise in the payroll industry since its launch in 2012, and now supports over 100,000 businesses. The reason Gusto grew so fast is in part due to its stylish and user-friendly interface that will have a payroll novice feeling like an expert in no time. Gusto is a totally paperless platform with customizable paystubs emailed to employees, although there are printing options if needed. Dealing with taxes is never fun when processing payroll, but luckily Gusto will calculate and file all your taxes for you – saving a great deal of time and frustration. Although Gusto may not have a vast array of integrations like its rival Zenefits, it still has integrations for accounting, time tracking, expenses, and more. For users who want a little more, for an extra fee Gusto offers an HR resource center with professionals on hand to provide personal support.
Run Payroll
Payroll Report
Manage Benefits
Contractors
Gusto delivers first-class customer service, with certified payroll specialists available via email, live chat, and over the phone. Anyone switching to Gusto from another payroll software product will be assigned a dedicated team member who will be able to walk them through the whole process – a strong incentive for anyone unhappy with their current service. While Gusto isn’t the cheapest payroll software on the market, it offers fantastic value for the features it provides. Gusto offers new customers a 30-day free trial, allowing you to test everything out before committing.
Zenefits
Up against Gusto is Zenefits – which is much more than just payroll software. Founded in 2013, Zenefits aims to be a complete business package with HR, performance management, and staff well-being all part of its many services. Although payroll serves only as an add-on to the larger Zenefits package, it’s clearly not just an afterthought. Zenefits’s payroll software is one of the best, aimed at small-to-medium businesses but with features that will satisfy businesses of any size. Zenefits offers total control over payments, allowing you to add an unlimited number of one-off pay runs. Where Zenefits really shines is through its huge list of integrations that cover every business need, like accounting, finances, travel, and management. All Zenefits payments are digital, and workers can access and download their pay stubs through the impressive mobile app, available for Android and iOS.
Payroll
Payroll Runs
Payroll Report
Apps
The Zenefits website offers a wealth of helpful resources, with excellent startup guides that will ease you through the entire setup process. There’s also a large FAQ section where you can find answers to any issues you may encounter. Alternatively, you can contact the support team directly over the phone, using live chat, or via social media. Compared to Gusto, Zenefits is the cheaper overall package especially when considering the extra services it provides. You can take advantage of Zenefits’ 14-day free trial to test it all out before you buy.
Conclusion
Here we have two fantastic options that will help any business deal with the tricky world of payroll, and it’s incredibly difficult to pick a clear winner. Gusto offers a large amount of customization and shines when it comes to dealing with taxes – all while providing unparalleled levels of customer support. Meanwhile, Zenefits has a far greater number of integrations and is a cheaper package overall – although the price difference is fairly small. Both payroll services are great all-rounders allowing businesses from startups to large corporations to solve their payroll needs.