Gusto
Lattice
| Feature | Gusto | Lattice |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $40/mo | From $4/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, accountants, us-companies | hr-leaders, people-ops, managers, growing-companies |
| Founded | 2011 | 2015 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Performance Reviews | ✗ | ✓ |
| Engagement Surveys | ✗ | ✓ |
| Okrs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Compensation | ✗ | ✓ |
| 1 On 1s | ✗ | ✓ |
| Career Development | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Lattice Pros
- Excellent performance review workflows
- Engagement surveys with benchmarks
- OKR and goal tracking built in
- Clean modern interface
✗ Lattice Cons
- Modular pricing adds up quickly
- Not a full HRIS replacement
- Implementation requires HR expertise
The Verdict
Gusto is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on payroll and benefits. Lattice targets hr leaders and people ops and leads with performance-reviews and engagement-surveys.
On pricing, Lattice is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $4/mo compared to $40/mo for Gusto. That $36/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 Lattice 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.