Gusto
Hubstaff
| Feature | Gusto | Hubstaff |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $40/mo | From $4.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, accountants, us-companies | remote-team-managers, field-service-companies, agencies, construction-teams |
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✓ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Gps Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screenshots | ✗ | ✓ |
| Activity Levels | ✗ | ✓ |
| Geofencing | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Gusto Pros
- Easiest payroll software to set up and run
- Automatic federal, state, and local tax filings
- Health insurance and 401(k) brokering built-in
- Excellent employee onboarding experience
✗ Gusto Cons
- US-only — no international payroll
- Gets expensive as headcount grows
- Limited HR features compared to BambooHR
✓ Hubstaff Pros
- GPS and location tracking for field teams
- Automated payroll from tracked hours
- Activity level monitoring
- Geofencing for job sites
✗ Hubstaff Cons
- Can feel invasive to employees
- Screenshot feature raises privacy concerns
- No free plan available
The Verdict
Gusto is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on payroll and benefits. Hubstaff targets remote team managers and field service companies and leads with time-tracking and gps-tracking.
On pricing, Hubstaff is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $4.99/mo compared to $40/mo for Gusto. That $35.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Neither tool offers a free plan, so factor the subscription cost into your decision from the start.
Feature-wise, Gusto offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Hubstaff takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.