Gusto
Rent Manager
| Feature | Gusto | Rent Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $40/mo | From $1/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, accountants, us-companies | property-managers, landlords, real-estate-investors, multi-unit-owners |
| Founded | 2011 | 1982 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Accounting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Maintenance Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tenant Portal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screening | ✗ | ✓ |
| Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
| 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
✓ Rent Manager Pros
- Full double-entry accounting
- Customizable reports and dashboards
- Built-in tenant portal
- Scales from 10 to 10,000+ units
✗ Rent Manager Cons
- Dated interface compared to newer tools
- Steep learning curve
- Per-unit pricing adds up quickly
The Verdict
Gusto is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on payroll and benefits. Rent Manager targets property managers and landlords and leads with accounting and maintenance-tracking.
On pricing, Rent Manager is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $1/mo compared to $40/mo for Gusto. That $39/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.
Gusto edges out on user ratings (4.4 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Gusto offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Rent Manager takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Gusto has a slight overall edge — but if full double-entry accounting matters most to you, Rent Manager may still be the right call.