Gusto vs Rippling Comparison: Which HR & Payroll Processing Solution is Right For You?

Choosing between Rippling vs Gusto is a common crossroads for growing teams - especially when payroll starts getting a little more complicated, and the current system isn’t keeping up. 

Gusto is among the most popular payroll, tax filing, and benefits administration solutions for small businesses especially. It’s a great way to run your business without a dedicated HR department.

Rippling goes further, though, combining payroll with HR, IT access, and spend management. It’s a compelling candidate for companies managing devices, apps, and more complex workflows.

But what do user reviews say about Gusto vs Rippling? Which is more cost-effective? Is there a third option that could be a better fit for your business? We’ll answer all these questions and more in our Gusto vs Rippling comparison. 

Key Takeaways on Rippling vs Gusto

• Gusto provides simple US payroll processing with clear pricing and built-in benefits.
• Rippling expands beyond payroll into HR, IT, and global workforce management.
• Sunrise HCM combines payroll, HR, time, expenses, and billing in a Salesforce-native system with no per-payroll fees.

Gusto vs Rippling at a Glance (With Sunrise HCM)

Overview of Gusto

Gusto is a payroll-first solution with HR features built-in. It’s specifically designed for small and mid-sized businesses that want payroll, taxes, and benefits handled in one place and DON’T have a dedicated HR department. It’s simple to set up and easy to run day-to-day.

Plans and Pricing

• Simple ($49/month + $6/employee): Full-service payroll for one state, automated tax filing, W-2 and 1099 filing, employee self-service, and basic reports.
• Plus ($80/month + $12/employee): Adds multi-state payroll, next-day direct deposit, time tracking, PTO management, and basic team management tools.
• Premium ($180/month + $22/employee): Adds priority support, a dedicated support contact, expanded HR resources, and advanced hiring and onboarding tools.

There’s also a contractor-only plan that’s typically $35/month with a $6/contractor fee if you don’t have any W-2 employees. But right now, Gusto isn’t charging the typical $35/month fee, so it’s a really affordable option for businesses that only work with contractors. 

Keep in mind pricing can vary depending on add-ons and benefits elections.

Benefits

• Automated payroll and tax filing in all 50 U.S. states
• Integrated benefits administration, with Gusto acting as a broker in many states
• Clear, published pricing with unlimited payroll runs
• Employee self-service portal and mobile access
• Faster setup than most enterprise platforms

Drawbacks

• Designed only for US-based payroll
• Limited HR customization compared to full HRIS platforms
• Reporting and automation are basic for larger or complex teams
• No native billing, expense management, or IT management tools

Overview of Rippling

Rippling is brought up in comparisons with Gusto all the time, but it’s actually pretty different. This workforce management platform combines payroll, HR, IT, and finance tools in one system. 

It’s NOT a payroll-first solution. It’s designed to manage the full employee lifecycle, including onboarding, app access, devices, and compliance, alongside payroll. Companies go with Rippling when they want fewer vendors and more control over employee data.

Plans and Pricing

One thing you’ll probably find a little frustrating with Rippling is that you have to reach out to get a quote. There’s no transparency in pricing. So, expect to get on the phone with a Rippling representative and be sold to! That said, there are a few different plans:

• The Workforce Platform: This lets you manage/automate every workforce operation in a unified dashboard, from onboarding to exit. There are Core and Pro plans with varying levels of features.
• Rippling HCM: A tailored solution with US/global payroll, time & attendance tracking, benefits administration, scheduling for customers, recruiting capabilities, compliance & education management, headcount planning, performance management, surveys, HR services, global employer of record services, and chat functionality for internal team communication. 
• Rippling IT: Manage technology across your business, including employee apps, employee devices, and even inventory management. 
• Rippling Spend: Keep tight control of corporate cards, manage employees’ reimbursements, and pay vendors in whatever method your company prefers.

Each product can be purchased separately, but you NEED the core, required Rippling Platform. It’s hard to say what you can expect to pay for Rippling, but most products are billed on a simple per-employee, per-month basis. 

Benefits

• Payroll for US employees with multi-state tax handling
• Global payroll, EOR, and contractor support in 185+ countries
• Built-in IT tools for device management and app access
• 650+ integrations available
• Advanced automation and cross-module reporting
• One system for HR, payroll, IT, and spend management

Drawbacks

• Pricing is quote-based and can be hard to estimate upfront
• Feature depth can feel overwhelming for small teams
• Payroll and HR modules are not bundled by default
• Setup takes longer than simpler payroll platforms
• Many features require additional paid modules

Rippling vs Gusto: Side-by-Side Comparison of Features, Pricing, and More

The biggest takeaway from this Gusto vs Rippling comparison is that the two solutions fit different stages of business growth. Gusto keeps payroll and benefits simple for US teams. Rippling expands far beyond payroll into IT, access control, and global workforce management. 

We’ll take a closer look at Rippling vs Gusto below to help you make the right decision for your business. Then, we’ll introduce Sunrise HCM’s Salesforce HR software as a better option. 

Running Payroll

There’s quite a bit of overlap between Gusto vs Rippling in terms of payroll processing.  

Gusto is designed to make payroll fast and predictable. You can run unlimited payrolls, automate federal, state, and local tax filings, and handle W-2 and 1099 forms inside the same workflow. It supports multiple pay schedules and all 50 U.S. states, with features like next-day direct deposit available on higher plans.

Rippling also supports US payroll with multi-state taxation. However, it’s capable of handling far more complex scenarios. Payroll connects directly to HR data, benefits eligibility, and even role-based changes. It also supports international payroll, contractors, and employer-of-record services in over 185 countries. Gusto doesn’t offer that natively.

So while you can run payroll either way, Gusto is the go-to for simplicity. Rippling is better for multi-state and global complexity. It just comes down to how and where you process payroll.

HR and Benefits Administration

You’ll get core HR tools with gusto, including: 

• Employee records
• Onboarding documents
• Benefits enrollment
• Compliance reminders

One of the major strengths Gusto brings to your team, though, is benefits administration. It can act as a licensed broker in a lot of states. You can offer health, dental, vision, 401(k), workers’ comp, and commuter benefits through the platform.

Rippling’s HR tools are part of a broader HRIS platform. You can handle all the same things listed above and then some, with strict eligibility rules and policy enforcement. The difference is that benefits are usually configured as modules and may involve additional fees.

Rippling’s strength lies in tying HR changes to downstream systems like payroll, IT access, and reporting. Meanwhile, Gusto bundles benefits for simplicity. That’s a common theme you’ll see across our Gusto vs Rippling comparison - one is simple, the other handles more complexity. 

Handling New Hires

Either platform streamlines your onboarding process for new hires. But as you might be starting to pick up on, Rippling takes things a little further.

Gusto onboarding covers offer letters, I-9 and W-4 collection, e-signatures, and employee self-service access. It’s a quick process that works just fine for small teams hiring within the US.

On the other hand, Rippling’s new-hire workflows can trigger app provisioning, device shipping, permissions, and payroll enrollment automatically in addition to standard HR paperwork. 

This aspect of Rippling is a huge bonus for remote/distributed teams. But, it won’t be worth the extra cost and complexity if you don’t anticipate using it. Gusto will be a better fit for straightforward onboarding scenarios. 

IT Access and Equipment Setup

This is where you’ll see a pretty major distinction between Rippling vs Gusto, because only one side of our comparison actually supports IT access and equipment setup. That’s Rippling. 

You get access to a full IT suite with identity and access management, device inventory, and app provisioning. From there, it’s easy to assign laptops, control software access, and automate offboarding in one place.

Gusto does not include native IT or device management. If this is something that matters to you, you’ll have to work outside the platform using third-party tools. But, most small businesses don’t necessarily need this level of control over IT, so be realistic about what your business will use.

Compliance and Tax Handling

Both systems will keep you compliant when it comes to tax handling and reporting. There are subtle differences in terms of security, though. 

Gusto automatically files payroll taxes, handles new-hire reporting, and supports ACA, COBRA, and state-level requirements through built-in workflows and add-ons. It also supports payroll compliance across states and countries, with rule-based alerts tied to employee activity.

Learning Curve and Implementation Speed

There’s a correlation between complexity and learning curve. So while all the extra functionality and breadth you get with Rippling sounds appealing at first glance, you need to think about how much of it your team will actually use.

The implementation process will often take longer with rippling because of all the different modules and configurations. Most companies run parallel payrolls during setup. Timelines are totally dependent on which products are enabled.

But Gusto is the polar opposite - quick and easy. A lot of teams can go live in days, while simple payroll setups can be migrated in under a week. The learning curve is far shorter, which is exactly what you need if you don’t have a dedicated HR team in place to oversee this process and day-to-day operation.

How Do Gusto and Rippling Compare on Pricing?

This is another really important difference in our Gusto vs Rippling comparison - pricing transparency. You can more or less calculate your cost per month right now with Gusto since the company publishes pricing for each of its plans. It starts at $49/month + $6/employee.

Rippling is a little more complicated. We know it starts around $8 per month, per user, for core modules. What we don’t know is what you’ll actually end up paying when you factor in payroll, benefits, IT, and global features. The company doesn’t disclose pricing publicly.

But given all the technical depth that comes with Rippling, it’s safe to say you can expect to pay more on a monthly basis. It’s worth it if you’ve outgrown Gusto or similar solutions and don’t want any more silos in your business. 

That said, it can be too much functionality for some smaller businesses that just want a simpler way to process payroll and handle basic HR tasks. It’s also worth noting that just about everything Rippling offers is tied to an extra fee. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it adds up.

Comparing Customer Support 

Both platforms back up their systems with exceptional customer service, or so they say. Reviews paint a different picture to some extent.

Still, you’ll have access to phone, chat, and email support during business hours with Gusto. Higher tiers get more premium support. Ripplings offers chat-based support with escalation to live video and screen sharing.

Which is Better For Your Business Now (and in the Future)?

You’re probably starting to get a sense of which is the stronger fit by this point in our Gusto vs Rippling comparison. Go with Gusto for US payroll and predictable costs if you don’t need IT or global workforce tools. It’s easy to adopt and hard to misuse.

Rippling might be a better choice when payroll is only one piece of the puzzle, though. It replaces several systems at once if your team manages devices, apps, multiple states, or international workers.

What if you’re outgrowing payroll-only tools but don’t want the overhead of stitching systems together, though? That’s where Sunrise HCM could make more sense. It offers:

• Salesforce payroll software
• Salesforce time and expense
• Salesforce billing software

All native with transparent pricing and zero payroll fees. We’ll take a closer look at Sunrise HCM in a moment, but what do user reviews say about Gusto vs Rippling?

What Do User Reviews Say About Gusto vs Rippling?

There’s a tangible difference in real user experiences when you look at Rippling vs Gusto on Trustpilot, the #1 independent review site in the world:

• Gusto: 2.8/5 across 2,300+ reviews
• Rippling: 4.6/5 across 1,700+ reviews

It’s worth taking reviews with a grain of salt, but that divide between Gusto vs Rippling is hard to look past. Our blog has similar comparisons of Gusto vs QuickBooks and ADP vs Paychex if you’re interested in learning more. 

How Does Sunrise HCM Compare to Gusto and Rippling?

Gusto and Rippling both solve real problems, and one of them could be the ideal fit for you. But Sunrise HCM fills a lot of the gaps. It consolidates payroll, HR, time, expenses, and billing into one Salesforce-native system, without middleware or per-payroll fees. Here’s what you get:

• Built 100% on Salesforce: Sunrise runs directly on the Salesforce platform, using the same security, uptime, and data model trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
• No payroll processing fees: Unlike Gusto and Rippling, there are no per-run, per-check, or transaction-based payroll fees. What you see is what you pay.
• One system, one data source: Payroll, HR, time tracking, expenses, and billing all live in the same database. No sync delays or third-party connectors.
• Real-time visibility: Changes to employees, time, or roles update instantly across payroll and reporting (no batch processing).
• Purpose-built for growing teams: Especially strong for professional services and finance teams that need payroll tied directly to time and billing.
• Transparent pricing: Flat, predictable pricing with everything included. No bundling games or surprise add-ons.

Sunrise HCM is the third option that makes sense when Gusto feels too limited and Rippling feels overly complex or expensive. You can connect with our team today for one-on-one guidance choosing between Gusto vs Rippling vs Sunrise HCM.

Bringing Our Gusto vs Rippling Comparison to a Close

We hope this comparison of Gusto vs Rippling has left you clear on which is the right fit for you - be it one of these solutions or another, like Sunrise HCM.

Gusto works well for straightforward U.S. payroll, while Rippling fits teams managing layered HR, IT, and global requirements. But, companies that want fewer systems, real-time data, and predictable costs go with Sunrise HCM.

See how Sunrise HCM replaces payroll, HR, time, expenses, and billing with one Salesforce-native platform - schedule a demo and get clarity on your next move!

Frequently asked questions

Is Gusto the best payroll software?

For a very specific business, it could be. Gusto makes sense for small US teams that want simple payroll, tax filing, and benefits in one place. But it’s not necessarily the ideal fit when you want more flexibility, extra HR functionality, or a native Salesforce system.

What makes Rippling a good HR software?

It combines HR with IT access, devices, and global workforce tools for larger or distributed teams that need more than just payroll management. Just know it can be confusing and expensive at a certain point. 

What’s a good alternative to Rippling?

Sunrise HCM could be the perfect fit if you don’t need IT device management but do want payroll, HR, time, expenses, and billing in one real-time system.

What’s a good alternative to Gusto?

Consider Sunrise HCM if you’ve outgrown basic payroll and want deeper reporting, tighter workflows, and no per-payroll processing fees.

Can I switch from Gusto or Rippling to Sunrise?

Yes, and our team will hold your hand as we walk through the onboarding process. It’s quick and stress-free, and we even support structured implementations with parallel payroll runs so teams can validate results before fully switching over.

Which solution offers the best value for your money? 

It depends on what exactly you need out of your solution. Gusto is great for payroll simplicity. Rippling saves you money if you need tons of capabilities ranging from payroll to HR to IT management. Sunrise HCM provides the most predictable value when you want fewer systems and transparent pricing.

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