Gusto
Kashoo
| Feature | Gusto | Kashoo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $40/mo | From $29.95/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, accountants, us-companies | solopreneurs, freelancers, micro-businesses, non-accountants |
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Invoicing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expense Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bank Feeds | ✗ | ✓ |
| Financial Reports | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tax Reports | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi Currency | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Kashoo Pros
- Very simple to use
- Flat monthly pricing
- Good for non-accountants
- AI-powered transaction categorization
✗ Kashoo Cons
- Limited advanced features
- No payroll included
- Fewer integrations than competitors
The Verdict
Gusto is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on payroll and benefits. Kashoo targets solopreneurs and freelancers and leads with invoicing and expense-tracking.
On pricing, Kashoo is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $29.95/mo compared to $40/mo for Gusto. That $10.05/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 Kashoo 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.