Gusto is the better fit for most U.S. small businesses that want full-service payroll, included year-end W-2 and 1099 filing, and HR tools on a published monthly price. SurePayroll, a Paychex company, is often cheaper for a small single-state team that only needs payroll, and it is the one of the two with a dedicated nanny and household plan. Both can run unlimited U.S. payrolls and file taxes. If you mainly need payday and tax filing, total SurePayroll Full Service, add its annual form fee, and set that number next to Gusto Simple.
Research note: Gusto list prices were checked on Gusto’s pricing page on November 12, 2026. SurePayroll prices were checked the same day on SurePayroll’s pricing page, plus the compare-switch and one-employee pages. Gusto’s compare page still lists older SurePayroll figures ($19.99 + $4 and $29.99 + $5) from October 2026; those are Gusto’s claims and do not match SurePayroll’s current official pages. Confirm live prices before you buy. This guide is educational, not tax or legal advice.
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Quick answer: Gusto or SurePayroll?
Takeaway: Pick Gusto when you want payroll, year-end forms, and HR tools in one published plan. Pick SurePayroll when you want a lower payroll-only bill, a household employer plan, or a cheap add-on for a second state.
For a first-time employer or a team that will later add benefits and time tracking, Gusto is the more complete starting point. For an owner who only needs pay calculated, deposited, and taxes filed, SurePayroll is built for that narrower job. See cheapest payroll for one employee, best payroll software for 1 to 5 employees, and Gusto vs Paylocity.
What is Gusto?
Takeaway: Gusto is a payroll-led small-business platform with published Simple, Plus, and Premium plans that already include unlimited payroll runs and tax filing.
Gusto is cloud payroll and HR software for U.S. small businesses. It runs employee and contractor pay, withholds and files federal, state, and local payroll taxes, collects new-hire forms, offers benefits tools, tracks PTO, and produces year-end W-2 and 1099 forms.
Published plan list prices on Gusto’s pricing page, checked November 12, 2026:
- Simple: $49/month + $6 per person — single-state payroll, unlimited payroll runs, tax filings and payments, basic PTO and holiday pay
- Plus: $80/month + $12 per person — multi-state payroll, unlimited next-day pay, time tracking and scheduling, contractor invoice management
- Premium: $180/month + $22 per person — Premium Account Support, HR guidance, Gusto Business Compliance, unlimited same-day and instant pay, and project-based costing
Gusto bills month-to-month. Every plan includes unlimited payroll runs, including off-cycle runs. U.S. contractors are billed at the plan’s per-person rate only in months you pay them; see how to pay contractors with Gusto.
A standalone contractor-only plan used to sit below Simple. Gusto’s Help Center says it closed on October 1, 2026; new customers cannot sign up. You can still pay contractors on Simple, Plus, or Premium. The $35/month plus $6 figure on Gusto’s compare page is a legacy price. Owners paying themselves as an S corporation can also see our payroll software for S corp guide.
What is SurePayroll?
Takeaway: SurePayroll is a Paychex payroll service with published small-business and household plans, a low multi-state add-on, and a separate annual fee for year-end forms.
SurePayroll sells online payroll under the brand SurePayroll By Paychex. Its official pricing page, checked November 12, 2026, includes unlimited payroll runs, live phone and chat support, federal and state tax filing and deposits on Full Service, free onboarding, and free 2-day direct deposit. It supports W-2 employees and 1099 contractors.
The official pricing page is not consistent on the base fee. The Full Service card shows $29/month plus $7 per employee, and the page also prints “Starting at $29/month” and “Starting at $39/month.” SurePayroll’s own Gusto comparison article (updated October 1, 2026) uses $29 + $7. Confirm the live checkout total because the $39 headline is still on the same page.
Other official SurePayroll pages also list a No Tax Filing plan at $20/month plus $4 per employee, for owners who will file and deposit payroll taxes themselves. It is spelled out on the one-employee and compare-switch pages; the main pricing page we checked led with Full Service.
Year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms are billed annually at $50 plus $5 per form. Multi-state payroll is $9.99/month after the first state. Accounting integration is $4.99/month, timeclock integrations start at $5/month plus $3 per employee, and employment-law plans start at $30/month. A Nanny & Household plan starts at $39/month including one employee (the same page also shows $45 marked down to $39).
The pricing page also says that during the first 12 months, every alternating month will be free, and that you can cancel anytime. Do not bake that promotion into a list-price comparison.
Gusto vs SurePayroll at a glance
Takeaway: Both publish prices. The split is scope (payroll-plus-HR vs payroll-first), year-end form fees, and how a second state is priced.
| Category | Gusto | SurePayroll |
|---|---|---|
| Primary strength | Full-service U.S. payroll plus HR and time tools on published tiers | Payroll-first service for small teams and household employers (Paychex) |
| Entry list price (Nov 12, 2026) | Simple $49/mo + $6/person | Full Service $29/mo + $7/employee; same page also headlines $39/mo |
| Higher plans | Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22 | Add-ons rather than named higher tiers; No Tax Filing $20 + $4 on other official pages |
| Contract / setup | Month-to-month; compare page lists setup as free | Billed monthly, cancel anytime; onboarding listed as free |
| Payroll tax filing | Included on Simple, Plus, and Premium | Included on Full Service (federal and state); local tax $9.99/mo on compare-switch |
| W-2 and 1099 filing | Included (Gusto pricing FAQ) | $50 base + $5 per form, billed annually |
| Multi-state payroll | Included starting on Plus | $9.99/month after the first state |
| Household / nanny payroll | Gusto’s compare page says no | Yes: Nanny & Household plan, $39/month including one employee |
| HR tools | Onboarding and offer letters on plans; deeper HR on Plus and Premium | Payroll-focused; employment-law add-ons from $30/month |
| Best starting fit | Teams that want payroll, forms, and HR on a public price | Small single-state teams, payroll-only buyers, and household employers |
How does Gusto vs SurePayroll pricing compare?
Takeaway: At 10 employees in one state, Gusto Simple and SurePayroll Full Service land close together once you include SurePayroll’s year-end form fee. The gap widens when you add a second state.
Illustrative monthly list-price totals for one state, using official base plus per-person fees only. These figures assume active W-2 employees, exclude add-ons and promotions, and use prices checked November 12, 2026:
| Headcount | Gusto Simple ($49 + $6) | SurePayroll at $29 + $7 | SurePayroll at $39 + $7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 employees | $79/mo | $64/mo | $74/mo |
| 10 employees | $109/mo | $99/mo | $109/mo |
| 25 employees | $199/mo | $204/mo | $214/mo |
For 10 employees, the monthly bills are close. Add year-end forms before you call one option cheaper. SurePayroll bills W-2 and 1099-NEC forms at $50 plus $5 per form, so ten W-2s cost $100. Gusto’s pricing FAQ says those forms are included, with no separate form fee listed.
| 10 employees, one state, one year | Gusto Simple | SurePayroll ($29 base) | SurePayroll ($39 base) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fees × 12 | $1,308 | $1,188 | $1,308 |
| Year-end forms (10 W-2s) | $0 listed | $100 | $100 |
| Illustrative annual total | $1,308 | $1,288 | $1,408 |
At the $29 Full Service card, SurePayroll is slightly cheaper over a year for 10 people in one state. At the $39 headline, Gusto Simple is cheaper once forms are included. At 25 employees, Gusto Simple ($199/month) undercuts both SurePayroll bases ($204 or $214).
A second state changes the math because multi-state starts on Gusto Plus. For 10 employees in two states, Plus is $80 + (10 × $12) = $200/month. SurePayroll adds $9.99/month, so $108.99 or $118.99 per month depending on the base, plus about $100 for year-end forms. SurePayroll is cheaper in that payroll-only scenario. Plus also includes time tracking and unlimited next-day pay, which SurePayroll prices as add-ons, so compare the same scope.
Other Gusto fees to price if you need them include next-day pay on Simple ($15/month plus $3 per person), Business Compliance ($85/month per state on an annual contract, included in Premium), and Priority Support ($30/month plus $3 per person). SurePayroll charges $4.99/month for accounting integration; Gusto states that integrations are included.
Payroll, tax filing, and W-2 / 1099 fees
Takeaway: Full-service tax filing is included on Gusto’s published plans and on SurePayroll Full Service. The practical difference is SurePayroll’s annual form bill and a local-tax add-on on SurePayroll’s compare-switch page.
Gusto’s pricing FAQ says every plan includes unlimited payroll runs and that Gusto files federal, state, and local payroll tax forms, including Forms W-2, 1099, 940, 941, and 8974. SurePayroll Full Service files and deposits federal and state payroll taxes, and prepares W-2 and 1099-NEC forms for the annual $50 + $5-per-form fee.
SurePayroll’s compare-switch page lists local tax filing as a $9.99/month add-on on Full Service, and multi-state tax filing as a separate $9.99/month add-on. If you have local income tax withholding, confirm that line on checkout rather than assuming it is bundled.
If you want software to calculate pay but will file taxes yourself, SurePayroll’s No Tax Filing plan ($20 + $4 on official one-employee and compare pages) is the self-file option. The compare-switch page describes 4-day processing on that plan, with a 2-day upgrade at $7.99/month. Gusto does not publish a no-tax-filing tier.
Both companies advertise tax-penalty language. SurePayroll’s compare-switch page says “No IRS penalties — guaranteed” on Full Service. We did not independently review the full legal terms of either guarantee in this update, so ask for the written terms, including interest, notice deadlines, and what happens when the error came from data you entered.
Multi-state payroll and household employers
Takeaway: SurePayroll is cheaper when you only need a second state added to payroll. Gusto is the better path when you also want multi-state HR tools or help with new-state tax registration. Household payroll is a SurePayroll feature, not a Gusto one.
Gusto Simple is single-state payroll. Multi-state starts on Plus. Gusto also sells state tax registration help (pricing varies by state) and Gusto Business Compliance at $85/month per state on an annual contract, included in Premium.
SurePayroll includes the first state and prices additional states at a flat $9.99/month, “no matter how many states you need,” according to its October 2026 compare article and the official pricing page. That is a strong cost argument for a lean two- or three-state payroll setup. Confirm whether local tax jurisdictions are extra.
Household employers are a clean fork. Gusto’s official compare page says Gusto does not currently support household employer payroll. SurePayroll’s Nanny & Household plan starts at $39/month, includes one employee, and describes tax filing as automated. If you pay a nanny, home-health aide, or housekeeper, start on SurePayroll’s household pages rather than Gusto’s small-business plans.
HR tools, time tracking, benefits, and contractors
Takeaway: Gusto bundles more hiring, time, and benefits software in the monthly plan. SurePayroll stays payroll-first and sells time, accounting, and employment-law tools as add-ons.
Gusto includes basic PTO tools on Simple. Plus and Premium add time tracking and scheduling; Time & Attendance Plus is a $6/month-per-person add-on on Simple after a trial. Offer letters, a document vault, and employee self-service come with the platform; applicant tracking and deeper HR guidance show up on higher tiers. Health benefits administration has no Gusto fee when Gusto is the broker (you pay premiums). An outside broker is $6/month per eligible employee. HSA, FSA, and commuter accounts have a $200 annual service charge plus the per-participant fees on the pricing page.
SurePayroll’s official compare article describes the product as payroll only, by design. Employment-law plans start at $30/month, timeclock integration starts at $5/month plus $3 per employee, and accounting integration is $4.99/month. If you want applicant tracking, performance reviews, and benefits enrollment in the same login as payroll, Gusto is the closer match. See also Gusto vs Rippling and Gusto vs BambooHR.
Both products pay 1099 contractors in the United States. Gusto bills contractors at the plan’s per-person rate only in months you pay them, and offers global contractor payments as a $5-per-payment add-on to U.S. bank accounts. SurePayroll contractor payments are not global, according to both official compare pages. See how to pay contractors with Gusto and the new-hire payroll checklist.
Who should choose Gusto vs SurePayroll?
Takeaway: Choose Gusto for a public-priced payroll-and-HR platform with forms included. Choose SurePayroll for payroll-only cost, a second state at $9.99/month, or household payroll.
Choose Gusto if you want a public monthly price that already includes W-2 and 1099 filing, and if you expect to add time tracking, benefits, or onboarding in the same system. It is also the more natural pick once you reach the mid-20s in headcount on Simple, where the per-person math already undercuts SurePayroll Full Service.
Choose SurePayroll if payroll is the only job and you want the lower base-plus-per-employee card for a small single-state team, if a second state should cost $9.99/month rather than a jump to Gusto Plus, or if you employ a nanny or other household worker. It may also be a later path into other Paychex services, but SurePayroll and Paychex Flex are sold differently.
If you are still standing up payroll, start with how to run payroll for your first employee and do I need payroll for my LLC. Other published-price options are in OnPay pricing, leading payroll providers, and Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll.
A short decision checklist
Takeaway: Fill the same ten items for Gusto and SurePayroll. The better fit is usually obvious once the blanks are filled.
- How many W-2 employees and 1099 contractors will you pay this year?
- Are you a household employer, or a small business?
- Will anyone work in a second state this year?
- Do you need the provider to file federal, state, and local payroll taxes?
- What will 10 W-2s cost at year-end: $0 listed on Gusto, or $50 + $5 per form on SurePayroll?
- Do you need time tracking, offer letters, or benefits administration in the same login?
- Will you integrate QuickBooks or Xero, and is that fee $0 or $4.99/month?
- What live checkout price does SurePayroll show today, $29 + $7 or the $39 headline?
- Is a first-year promotion in effect, and what happens if you cancel early?
- Can you live with month-to-month billing on either product?
FAQs
Is SurePayroll cheaper than Gusto?
Often, for a small single-state team, if the $29 Full Service card applies. At November 12, 2026 list prices, five employees cost $64/month versus $79 on Gusto Simple. Ten employees cost $99 versus $109 per month, or about $1,288 versus $1,308 over a year after SurePayroll’s form fee. If you are charged the $39 headline, or you have 25 employees, Gusto Simple is cheaper.
Why does SurePayroll’s pricing page show both $29 and $39?
On November 12, 2026, the official pricing page showed a Full Service card at $29/month plus $7 per employee and a “Starting at $39/month” headline on the same URL. Use the checkout total, not a single headline, when you compare.
Does SurePayroll charge for W-2s and 1099s?
Yes. The official pricing page bills year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC forms annually at $50 plus $5 per form. Gusto’s pricing FAQ lists those forms among the returns it files with the plan, with no separate form fee on the public pricing page.
Which is better for multi-state payroll?
SurePayroll is cheaper if you only need payroll in a second state: $9.99/month after the first state. Gusto requires Plus ($80 plus $12 per person). Gusto fits better if you also want time tracking, next-day pay, and state-registration help. Confirm local-tax add-ons before you treat $9.99 as the all-in fee.
Does Gusto still offer a contractor-only plan in 2026?
Not to new customers. Gusto’s Help Center says the plan closed on October 1, 2026. You can still pay contractors on Simple, Plus, or Premium, billed only in months you pay them. The $35/month plus $6 figure on Gusto’s compare page is a legacy price. Existing customers on the old plan keep it.
Can SurePayroll run household or nanny payroll?
Yes. SurePayroll’s official pricing page advertises a Nanny & Household plan starting at $39/month, including one employee, with automated tax filing. Gusto’s official compare page says Gusto does not currently support household employer payroll.
Does SurePayroll include HR tools like onboarding or offer letters?
Not as a core platform. SurePayroll’s October 2026 compare article describes the product as payroll only by design. Employment-law add-ons start at $30/month. Gusto includes more hiring and HR software in its published plans, especially Plus and Premium.
Is SurePayroll the same thing as Paychex?
SurePayroll is a Paychex company and brands itself as SurePayroll By Paychex. It remains a separate product with posted prices and cancel-anytime language. Do not assume a SurePayroll plan uses the same offer or cancellation rule as Paychex Flex.
Next step
If payroll, included year-end forms, and a published path into HR and time tools are what you need now, start with Gusto and map Simple versus Plus against your state count and time-tracking needs. If you want a lean payroll-only bill, a household plan, or a $9.99/month second state, total SurePayroll on the official pricing page, including the annual form fee, and confirm the live $29 or $39 base before you switch.
For more side-by-sides, browse the payroll and comparisons hubs, or continue with Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll and leading payroll providers.
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