Gusto
JazzHR
| Feature | Gusto | JazzHR |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $40/mo | From $75/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, accountants, us-companies | small-businesses, growing-companies, hr-generalists, startup-hiring |
| Founded | 2011 | 2009 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Applicant Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Job Posting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Interview Scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Offer Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reporting | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ JazzHR Pros
- Very affordable ATS
- Easy to set up and use
- Good job board integrations
- Customizable hiring workflows
✗ JazzHR Cons
- Limited reporting
- Basic onboarding features
- Not suitable for enterprise
The Verdict
Gusto is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on payroll and benefits. JazzHR targets small businesses and growing companies and leads with applicant-tracking and job-posting.
On pricing, Gusto is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $40/mo compared to $75/mo for JazzHR. That $35/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 JazzHR takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for small businesses — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
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.