Gusto
Remote.com
| Feature | Gusto | Remote.com |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $40/mo | Free / from $29/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, accountants, us-companies | distributed-teams, global-companies, startups-hiring-globally, remote-first-companies |
| Founded | 2011 | 2019 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Employer Of Record | ✗ | ✓ |
| Contractor Management | ✗ | ✓ |
| Global Payroll | ✗ | ✓ |
| Equity Management | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Remote.com Pros
- Employer of Record in 75+ countries
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Own legal entities (not third-party partners)
- Free contractor management plan available
✗ Remote.com Cons
- EOR pricing ($599/employee) is expensive
- Onboarding can take 2-4 weeks in some countries
- Benefits options limited in smaller markets
The Verdict
Gusto is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on payroll and benefits. Remote.com targets distributed teams and global companies and leads with employer-of-record and contractor-management.
On pricing, Remote.com is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $29/mo compared to $40/mo for Gusto. That $11/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Remote.com has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Gusto requires a paid subscription from day one.
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.