Gusto HR vs OnPay Payroll: Complete Comparison
Discover which HR platform is the perfect fit for your business needs. Compare features, pricing, and user experiences to make an informed decision.
Platform Overview
Gusto HR
Gusto HR is a cloud-based human resources (HR) management platform that facilitates payroll, employee health benefits, time tracking, hiring, and compliance. This all-in-one HR software empowers businesses to handle operations efficiently, saving time and reducing the risk of human errors. Whether you’re a startup or a larger enterprise, the Gusto platform adapts to your needs and grows with your business, all while offering top-tier support and features that make it a valuable tool.
OnPay Payroll
OnPay is a cloud-based payroll and human resource management software designed primarily for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers payroll processing, workforce acquisition and onboarding, benefits administration, and more. The software resolves common challenges that businesses face, such as complex tax compliance and inefficient payroll workflows, which can hinder operational HR efficiency.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gusto HR | OnPay Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Core Functionality & Automation | ||
| Automated Payroll Processing | Full automation | Unlimited runs |
| Tax Calculation & Filing | Federal/state/local | Federal/state/local |
| Benefits & Deductions | Auto benefits | Auto deductions |
| Off-cycle Payroll | Supported | Supported |
| Direct Deposit | Direct deposit | 2-4 day deposits |
| Payroll Frequency | All frequencies | All frequencies |
| Multi-rate Pay | Multiple rates | Multiple rates |
| Retroactive Pay | Auto calculations | Manual adjustments |
| Compliance & Legal Management | ||
| Multi-jurisdiction Support | All 50 states | Multi-state + agriculture |
| Statutory Compliance | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Audit Trail | Built-in | Basic tracking |
| Form Generation | W-2, 1099 | W-2, 1099, Form 943 |
| Penalty Protection | Tax guarantee | Tax guarantee |
| Real-time Monitoring | Compliance alerts | Basic alerts |
| Compliance Certifications | Standard compliance | Standard compliance |
| Integration & Scalability | ||
| HRMS Integration | HR platform | All-in-one platform |
| Accounting Connectivity | Accounting integrations | Basic integrations |
| Time & Attendance | Time tracking | Partner apps |
| API Support | Available | Limited |
| Employee Growth | Small to medium | Small to medium |
| Multi-entity Management | Limited | Limited |
| Third-party Apps | Good integrations | Basic integrations |
| User Experience & Accessibility | ||
| Admin Interface | Very user-friendly | Easy to use |
| Employee Self-service | Employee portal | Employee portal |
| Mobile Compatibility | Mobile app | Mobile access |
| Multi-language Support | Limited | Limited |
| Customization Options | Good | Basic |
| Setup Complexity | Easy setup | Easy setup |
| Training Requirements | Minimal | Minimal |
| Security & Data Protection | ||
| Data Encryption | Standard | Standard encryption |
| Access Controls | Role-based | Role-based |
| Security Certifications | Standard security | Standard security |
| Backup & Recovery | Standard backup | Cloud backup |
| Privacy Compliance | GDPR, CCPA | Standard compliance |
| Audit Logging | Standard logging | Basic logging |
| Cost Structure & Support | ||
| Base Pricing | $54 + $7/employee | $49 + $6/employee |
| Payroll Add-on | Included | Included |
| Implementation Cost | Low to moderate | Free migration |
| Hidden Fees | Transparent | Transparent |
| Customer Support | Business hours + chat | Business hours |
| Service Guarantees | Tax filing | Tax filing |
| Global Payroll Cost | Not available | Not available |
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Gusto HR vs OnPay Payroll: Complete Comparison
Gusto HR
Who We Recommend Gusto HR For
Gusto HR brings payroll, benefits, hiring, and compliance together in one easy-to-use platform. It’s ideal for small to mid-sized businesses expanding across states or borders without needing multiple systems. While customization depth may not match enterprise tools, its simplicity and flexibility make it a smart choice for growing teams that want hassle-free HR management in one place.
Major Pros Based on Community Feedback:
- Managing time-tracking is simple
- Bringing new employees on board is quick and easy
- It automatically handles tax filings and ensures withholding taxes are paid
OnPay Payroll
Who We Recommend OnPay Payroll For
OnPay Payroll offers unlimited pay runs, automated tax handling, and a smooth self-service experience, making it a favorite for growing small businesses. While reporting could offer even deeper insights, it covers essentials well. If you’re after a no-fuss payroll solution that keeps you compliant and lets your team self-manage key tasks, OnPay fits the bill perfectly.
Major Pros Based on Community Feedback:
- Self-generating reports and checklists makes tax compliance simple
- Employee self-service portal enhances convenience
- Supports both W-2 and 1099 payments
- Streamlined employee onboarding process
- Unlimited monthly payroll runs included
Detailed Feature Comparison
Core Functionality & Automation
Gusto HR
Gusto delivers comprehensive automated payroll processing with advanced features including benefits integration, time tracking, and PTO management. It excels at combining payroll automation with HR functionality, offering seamless benefits administration and employee self-service capabilities.
Best use cases: Growing businesses needing integrated HR and payroll, companies prioritizing benefits administration, organizations where employee experience and comprehensive automation justify higher per-employee costs compared to basic payroll solutions.
OnPay Payroll
OnPay delivers comprehensive automated payroll processing with benefits administration, time tracking integration, and multistate support all included in single pricing tier. It excels at providing full-service capabilities typically found in premium tiers while maintaining straightforward implementation and operation.
Best use cases: Small businesses needing comprehensive payroll features without pricing complexity, companies with multistate operations requiring consistent service levels, organizations where transparent pricing and feature completeness outweigh advanced customization and enterprise-level capabilities.
Compliance & Legal Management
Gusto HR
Gusto provides comprehensive US-focused compliance with automated tax filing, multi-state support, and proactive regulatory monitoring. It offers reliable compliance management with built-in benefits compliance and comprehensive audit trail capabilities.
Best use cases: US businesses requiring comprehensive compliance support, companies with multi-state operations, and organizations needing integrated benefits compliance where comprehensive regulatory management and proactive support justify premium pricing.
OnPay Payroll
OnPay provides comprehensive compliance management with automated tax calculations, multistate filing support, and proactive regulatory monitoring all included in base pricing. It offers reliable compliance infrastructure with transparent cost structure and comprehensive audit capabilities.
Best use cases: Small to medium businesses requiring comprehensive compliance support with predictable costs, multistate operations needing consistent compliance coverage, and organizations where transparent compliance pricing and reliable service outweigh advanced enterprise compliance features.
Integration & Scalability
Gusto HR
Gusto offers solid integration capabilities with popular business applications and comprehensive API access for custom workflows. It scales effectively for small to medium businesses with architecture supporting growing teams and increasing HR complexity.
Best use cases: Small to medium businesses needing HR-focused integrations, companies prioritizing payroll-benefits connectivity, and organizations where integrated HR functionality and employee-centric features outweigh extensive third-party integration depth.
OnPay Payroll
OnPay offers solid integration capabilities with popular business applications while maintaining pricing simplicity and feature inclusiveness. It scales effectively for small to medium businesses with architecture supporting growth while preserving transparent pricing and comprehensive feature access.
Best use cases: Small businesses needing essential integrations with transparent pricing, companies prioritizing feature completeness over extensive connectivity, and organizations where pricing predictability and comprehensive capabilities outweigh extensive integration ecosystem depth.
User Experience & Accessibility
Gusto HR
Gusto excels in user experience design with consistently high ratings for interface intuitiveness and ease of use. Its clean, modern design minimizes training requirements while providing comprehensive functionality for both administrators and employees.
Best use cases: Businesses prioritizing ease of use, companies with limited HR resources, and organizations where quick implementation, minimal training requirements, and superior user experience justify premium pricing over basic payroll alternatives.
OnPay Payroll
OnPay prioritizes straightforward design with intuitive interface emphasizing ease of use and comprehensive functionality access without feature restrictions. Its user-friendly approach provides full-service capabilities while minimizing complexity and training requirements.
Best use cases: Small businesses prioritizing ease of use with comprehensive feature access, companies with limited HR resources requiring straightforward operations, and organizations where intuitive design and transparent functionality justify investment in full-service solution over basic alternatives.
Security & Data Protection
Gusto HR
Gusto provides robust security infrastructure with SOC 2 compliance, comprehensive data encryption, and HIPAA compliance for benefits administration. Security approach balances comprehensive protection with user-friendly access and employee self-service capabilities.
Best use cases: Small to medium businesses requiring comprehensive security with benefits compliance, companies handling sensitive employee data, and organizations needing robust protection without complex security management overhead.
OnPay Payroll
OnPay provides reliable security infrastructure with standard data protection suitable for small business requirements while maintaining transparent pricing and comprehensive feature access. Security approach emphasizes proven protection standards without complex pricing or feature restrictions.
Best use cases: Small businesses requiring reliable security with transparent costs, companies needing comprehensive data protection without complex security management, and organizations where straightforward security implementation and predictable costs outweigh advanced enterprise security features.
Cost Structure & Support Quality
Gusto HR
Gusto offers transparent pricing starting at $40 base plus $6 per employee with higher tiers reaching $180 base plus $22 per employee. Pricing reflects comprehensive HR features, benefits administration, and premium support quality.
Best use cases: Companies valuing comprehensive HR functionality, businesses prioritizing employee benefits and experience, and organizations where integrated payroll-HR platform and superior support justify higher costs compared to basic payroll-only solutions.
OnPay Payroll
OnPay offers simple, transparent pricing at $49 base monthly plus $6 per employee with all features included and no hidden fees or pricing tiers. Straightforward cost structure provides comprehensive payroll and benefits capabilities with predictable, all-inclusive pricing.
Best use cases: Small businesses prioritizing cost predictability with comprehensive features, companies requiring transparent pricing without hidden fees or restrictions, and organizations where straightforward cost structure and feature completeness provide clear value over tiered pricing models.
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