Gusto
Workable
| Feature | Gusto | Workable |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $40/mo | From $149/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | small-businesses, startups, accountants, us-companies | growing-companies, hr-teams, recruiters, startups |
| Founded | 2011 | 2012 |
| Payroll | ✓ | ✗ |
| Benefits | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Filing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Onboarding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Time Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hiring | ✓ | ✗ |
| Compliance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ats | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ai Sourcing | ✗ | ✓ |
| 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
✓ Workable Pros
- Great job board reach
- AI candidate sourcing
- Easy to use
- Good reporting
✗ Workable Cons
- Expensive
- Limited HR beyond recruiting
- Video interview extra
The Verdict
Gusto is built for small businesses and startups, with a focus on payroll and benefits. Workable targets growing companies and hr teams and leads with ats and ai-sourcing.
On pricing, Gusto is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $40/mo compared to $149/mo for Workable. That $109/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 Workable takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for startups — 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.