Deel and Gusto both offer payroll and HR services, providing solutions designed to streamline the way you pay and manage employees. While these two companies may have a few similar functionalities, comparing Deel vs Gusto is a bit difficult because they target different business types. Deel’s services are geared toward companies with international employees, whereas Gusto is more ideal for those who employ US-based workers. To help you determine whether Gusto vs Deel is best for your business, here are our recommendations. Gusto: Best for managing payroll, benefits, and basic HR of US-based workers Deel: Best for providing international payroll and HR support to global companies Both companies appear in many of our buyer’s guides given their solid solutions for paying workers compliantly and accurately. Deel is on our lists of best international payroll services and top employer of record (EOR) solutions, which helps you to hire and pay global employees and contractors. Gusto, on the other hand, ranks high in our best small business payroll software and best payroll services guides. Want to learn more about EOR services? Check out our EOR guide to understand how it works and when you may need one. Deel vs Gusto Compared Starter Pricing ($/Month) US payroll: $40 base fee plus $6 per employee EOR: $699 per employee (services offered via partner solution, Remote) Global payroll: Call for a quote EOR: $599 employee Contractor Payroll Plan ($/Month) US contractors: $35 base fee plus $6 per worker Global contractors: Call for a quote Starts at $49 per worker (covers global contractors) Payroll Coverage 120+ countries (for international contractor payments only) 150+ countries Standout Payroll Features Standout HR Features Customer Support For More Information Consider using Deel if: You’re planning to expand globally but don’t want to set up local entities: Deel’s EOR service can help you recruit and pay workers across more than 150 countries. You need solid compliance support: Deel provides localized employment contracts, IP protection, and access to in-country compliance experts. It will also help collect all the tax, permit, and compliance documents to ensure that your team has the required documentation to legally work in the country where your business operates. You’re looking for flexible contractor payments: Deel can pay workers in 150 currencies and has more than 15 payment methods—from bank transfers to crypto payouts. It even offers a Deel pay card specifically for contractors. You require immigration support for your global distributed teams: Deel can handle immigration processes and sponsor visas in more than 30 countries. To know more about Deel’s pros and cons, check out the box below: Pros Free online account sign-up (you can explore its features at no cost); you will only be charged when you hire and pay global workers Has dedicated customer success managers (CSM) Free-to-use HR platform (via Deel HR) for global businesses with up to 200 workers Multiple payment options (bank transfer, crypto, bitcoin, digital payment processors, and contractor card) Cons Payroll and HR solutions are designed for global companies (not the best fit for US-based businesses) Dedicated CSM is not provided to small business (only available to enterprises) Background checks, localized benefits, and company device management tools are paid add-ons Consider using Gusto if: You’re a small to midsize business (SMB) needing a reasonably-priced payroll service: For a starter monthly fee of $40 + $6 per employee, Gusto can pay employees across 50 US states and even offers payroll tax filings, benefits plans, and garnishment services. You only need to pay contract workers: Gusto has a contractor-only payroll plan that includes four-day direct deposits and new hire state reporting. Plus, it will prepare and file 1099 year-end tax reports. You require global contractor payouts: While its payroll and HR solutions are designed for US-based companies, it does offer international contractor payment services in more than 120 countries—although, this costs extra. You want one platform to handle payroll and basic HR processes: Gusto has a feature-rich solution suite for managing the entire employee lifecycle. Aside from pay processing, it can help you post jobs, track applicants, onboard new hires, capture employee attendance, monitor performance reviews, and run employee surveys. Check out the box below to learn more about the advantages and drawbacks of using Gusto’s payroll solutions and services. Pros Reasonably priced plans with a contractor-only payroll option Unlimited and automatic pay runs with payroll tax payment/filing services Has hiring, time tracking, and performance review tools Supports international contractor payments in more than 120 countries Cons Health insurance doesn’t cover all US states (at the time of writing this) HR tools and HR advisory services are available in higher tiers Lacks in-house EOR services (Gusto offers this via its partner solution, Remote) Top Alternatives There may be times when neither Deel nor Gusto’s HR and payroll functionalities fit your requirements. We recommend the following options: Best For Companies looking for an all-in-one HR, payroll, and IT solution Growing businesses that want flexible payroll tools SMBs that use QuickBooks and need fast payments US & Global Payroll Tools ✓ ✓ US payroll only Starter Pricing ($/Month) US payroll*: $35 base fee plus $8 per employee EOR*: $599 per employee Call for a quote $45 base fee plus $6 per employee Contractor Payments Plan ($/Month) US contractors: included in US payroll plan Global contractors*: $20 per worker Included in payroll plan $15 for 20 workers; plus $2 for each additional contractor For More Information *Pricing is based on a quote we received Need help deciding which provider to choose? Check out our guide on how to select a payroll service. Best for Value: Tie Free Trial One month ✕ Free Plan ✕ EOR Services ($/Month) $699 per employee (services are via its partner solution, Remote) Starts at $599 per employee Payroll Only ($/Month) US payroll plans: Call for a quote (global payroll) Contractor Payments ($/Month) Starts at 49 per worker (international contractors) Add-ons In terms of pricing transparency, Gusto and Deel are generally straightforward with the cost of their online tools and services. However, it’s difficult to assess which one offers the best value for money because it depends on the functionalities and solutions you want. When to Use Gusto Gusto is an ideal choice if you don’t have plans to expand globally and primarily need US payroll tools. If your business is located in just one state, Gusto’s Simple plan ($40 plus $6 per employee monthly) has all the functionalities to calculate and process employee salaries, deductions, and taxes. For multi-state pay processing, you can upgrade to at least its Plus tier, which comes with additional time tracking, workforce costing, and basic HR tools. It even has a contractor-only plan ($35 plus $6 per employee monthly), which is great for US businesses that only hire and pay contract workers. If you need to pay global contractors, Gusto can help you send payments to more than 120 countries (but this costs extra). When to Use Deel If you require global hiring and pay processing tools, Deel’s solutions are a better fit than Gusto’s. Its in-house EOR service is slightly cheaper than Gusto, which costs $699 per employee monthly (and offered through its partner solution, Remote). With Deel EOR, monthly fees start at $599 per employee monthly. Plus, its Deel HR plan grants you free access to a global HR system for storing staff data and documents, tracking expense claims and time off, and managing workflows—provided you don’t exceed its 200-employee limit. Gusto, on the other hand, only offers a one-month free trial to new clients. Best for Payroll Features: Deel Handles Payroll & Payroll Taxes ✓ ✓ Multiple Pay Schedules ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕ Payroll Coverage US states for both employees and contractors 120+ countries for global contractor payments 150+ countries for both employee and contractors Wage Garnishment Services South Carolina excluded ✕ Expenses and Reimbursements ✓ ✓ Time Off Requests & Approvals ✓ ✓ Time Tracking ✓ Via online timesheets Payment Options Pay card, manual check, and direct deposits with four-, two-, and next-day options Bank transfers, cryptocurrency payouts, digital payment processors (like Wise), and via the Deel contractor card The main difference between Gusto and Deel is the coverage of their payroll services. Deel has a wider reach given its EOR and contractor payment services that are available in more than 150 countries. It also has flexible payment methods, which even include cryptocurrency payouts and a Deel pay card for international contractors. While Gusto may also have international payroll solutions, it lacks the in-house EOR service that Deel offers. With Gusto, you get this service via Remote. Plus, its global contractor payments only cover 120+ countries. However, Gusto is a strong payroll partner for US SMBs. It can pay employees across US states, handles payroll payments and tax filings for you, and can even capture worker clock ins/outs through its time tracking solution (Deel only offers an online time sheet). Four- and two-day direct deposits are available through its Simple plan, but if you upgrade to its higher tiers, you get a next-day option. Best for HR Features: Gusto Online Employee Profiles ✓ ✓ Onboarding and Offboarding Tools ✓ ✓ Health Insurance and Retirement Benefits ✓ ✓ Health Insurance Coverage US benefits only; available in 37 states Localized benefits across 150+ countries Job Postings and Applicant Tracking ✓ Deel will handle hiring for you Background Checks Via Checkr (run background checks directly from its platform) ✓ Performance Reviews ✓ ✕ Employee Surveys ✓ ✓ Self Service Portal for Managers & Employees ✓ ✓ Visa and Immigration Services ✕ ✓ IT Tools In the battle between Deel vs Gusto for HR functionality, Gusto wins with its wide range of HR solutions. Its hiring tools allow you to post jobs, track applicants, prepare offer letters, set up email accounts, and run background checks through its partner system, Checkr. New hires can complete and submit requirements online, and you don’t have to worry about state new hire reporting—Gusto will handle it for you. You can even manage employee surveys and performance reviews (Deel doesn’t offer this) through its platform. Gusto also grants access to different types of employee benefits, such as retirement plans, workers’ compensation, health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and commuter benefits. However, its health insurance is unavailable in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming (as of writing this). Deel, on the other hand, may lack new hire reporting, email and business software account provisioning, and performance review tools but it’s an ideal solution for compliantly hiring qualified candidates. Competitive benefits plans are also tailored to each country. Plus, you get contractor misclassification tools to help you avoid potential issues when hiring international employees vs recruiting international contractors. Deel can even assist in visa and immigration processes if you have employees moving to different countries for work (Gusto doesn’t offer this). And while Gusto can help create and manage email and software accounts for your employees, it can’t send company-assigned devices, such as computers and laptops, to workers outside of the US like Deel can. Best for Ease of Use & Customer Support: Gusto Learning Curve Relatively easy Relatively easy Ease of Use Good Good Setup Help ✓ ✓ Dedicated CSM Included in the Premium plan Only available to enterprises Customer Support Via chat, email, and phone Via chat Access to HR Advisers Included in Premium plan (costs extra for the Plus tier) ✓ Third-Party Software Integrations Online Guides & Tools While Gusto and Deel both have user-friendly and intuitive solutions, Gusto provides more customer support and integration options. You can contact its support team on weekdays, although those on the Premium plan get priority support with extended weekday hours. Live phone support is available, but you can also request assistance via email and chat. In terms of third-party software integrations, Gusto has a wider network of partner systems than Deel. You can integrate its platform with Xero, QuickBooks, Freshbooks, ApplicantPro, Breezy HR, Greenhouse, Traliant, Expensify, 7shifts, Deputy, Shopify, Clover, Asana, Slack, and more. On the other hand, Deel’s integration options are limited to QuickBooks, Xero, BambooHR, Greenhouse, Hibob, Slack, and Expensify. You need to use API tools if you want it to connect to other software like Zapier. Customer support may be limited to chat but Deel’s representatives are available 24/7. This is unlike Gusto’s support hours, which are primarily during weekdays. Best for Popularity Among Users: Tie User Feedback Mostly positive Mostly positive Average User Ratings* 4.55 out of 5 4.7 out of 5 Average Number of Reviews* Nearly 3,000 More than 1,000 *Data from third-party review sites (such as G2 and Capterra) as of this writing To evaluate Gusto vs Deel, we looked at each providers’ average number of user reviews and average overall ratings on third-party review sites. Gusto has more user reviews than Deel, but the latter’s average rating is higher than the former. What Users Think Users who left reviews on G2 and Capterra commended Deel for its solid EOR services, efficient employee payments, and general ease of use. Others appreciate its online time sheets and multiple payment options, including its automated invoicing tool that takes the stress out of generating invoices for billing contractor services. However, some reviewers said that its monthly fees are a bit expensive. A few others complained about having experienced occasional software glitches and login errors. Many of the positive Gusto reviews on G2 and Capterra are about its user-friendly interface that makes running payroll easy for users. Reviewers also like its reasonably-priced plans and feature-rich HR platform. While some users mentioned that they received excellent support, others said that they experienced long wait times. A few reviewers also wished for more advanced reporting options and less glitchy software. How We Evaluated Deel vs Gusto To evaluate Deel versus Gusto, we compared the HR and payroll features of both providers, including the global payment options that they offer. We also checked both platforms’ popularity among users, ease of use, third-party software integrations, and customer support options. Lastly, we considered pricing transparency and monthly costs. Bottom Line In assessing whether Deel vs Gusto is the best payroll and HR solution for you, it’s important to take stock of the features you want. For small businesses that need a full-service payroll that’s reasonably priced, Gusto is a great option. For companies with a global workforce, Deel is a better fit given its in-house EOR services and international payroll solutions.
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