The short answerSquare Payroll's published price is $14 a month lower than Gusto's cheapest plan at every headcount, which is $168 a year. Gusto's next plan up costs $45 a month more than Square plus $6 per person.
Square lists $35 a month plus $6 per person paid. Gusto Simple lists $49 plus $6 per person, so the $6 cancels out and the gap stays $14 whether you pay 3 people or 30. Gusto Plus is $80 plus $12 per person. Whether Plus is worth it depends on what it adds, and Gusto's price page is where that is spelled out.
Per monthMonthly cost for 3, 5 and 8 people paid
| People paid | Square Payroll | Gusto Simple | Gusto Plus | Gusto Premium |
|---|
| 3 people | $53 | $67 | $116 | $246 |
|---|
| 5 people | $65 | $79 | $140 | $290 |
|---|
| 8 people | $83 | $97 | $176 | $356 |
|---|
Worthd arithmetic from the published base fee plus per-person fee, before any promotion, tax or add-on. Square: $35 + $6 per person. Gusto Simple $49 + $6, Plus $80 + $12, Premium $180 + $22. Count the owner if you pay yourself through payroll.
Per yearSquare against Gusto Simple over 12 months
| People paid | Square Payroll | Gusto Simple | Difference |
|---|
| 3 people | $636 | $804 | $168 |
|---|
| 5 people | $780 | $948 | $168 |
|---|
| 8 people | $996 | $1,164 | $168 |
|---|
Paying contractors only
Square lists contractor-only payroll at $6 a month per person paid, with no base fee. Four subs you pay every month would cost $24 a month, $288 a year. The page states no volume limit. Contractors must complete onboarding and give personal information before you can pay them.
Gusto's pricing page, as Worthd read it on Oct 8, showed no contractor-only price apart from $5 per contractor for global contractor payments. Some third-party sites list a Gusto contractor-only plan at $35 a month plus $6 per contractor; Worthd could not confirm that on Gusto's own page, so confirm it there before comparing. Square's contractor price is the one Worthd read directly.
What the extras cost at GustoAdd-ons that change the bill
| Gusto add-on | Listed price |
|---|
| Next-Day Pay | $15 a month + $3 per person |
|---|
| Same-day pay | $90 per payroll |
|---|
| Instant pay | $100 per payroll |
|---|
| Time & Attendance Plus | $6 per person |
|---|
| Priority Support | $30 a month + $3 per person |
|---|
| Business Compliance | $85 a month per state, annual contract |
|---|
Same-day pay on a weekly payroll is about $390 a month in listed fees ($90 x 52 / 12), more than the base plan. Square lists Two-Day Payroll and Instant Payments as included options and does not show a separate price for them on the pages Worthd read; check Square's pricing page before relying on that. Square's optional add-ons (workers' compensation, health insurance, 401(k), QuickBooks Online sync) are priced separately and Worthd did not compare them.
What Square says is includedSquare Payroll, in its own words
- Unlimited monthly runs and off-cycle payments at no extra cost.
- Federal and state tax filings, including quarterly and annual, and automated W-2 and 1099-NEC at year end.
- Multistate setup, including remote employees.
- Multiple pay rates, commissions, bonuses and tips.
- Direct deposit, manual check or Cash App.
- No long-term contracts; cancel any time.
- To pay by direct deposit on payday, process payroll by 8 p.m. Pacific.
Not in the tableWhy QuickBooks Payroll is missing
QuickBooks' payroll pricing page, as fetched Oct 10, shows payroll bundled with a QuickBooks Online plan (for example $88 + $6.50 per employee with Simple Start, marked 50% off for 3 months). It does not say which figure is billed monthly or annually, and it lists no standalone payroll price or contractor price. Worthd will not print a number it cannot read clearly. If you already pay for QuickBooks Online, ask QuickBooks for the monthly total in writing.
Who this is wrong forIf you need workers' comp, health insurance or HR support in the same place, price Gusto Plus or Premium against your own list rather than the base fee. If an accountant already runs payroll for you inside your books, ask what they charge before switching.
What was not verifiedGusto's page returned an access error on Oct 10, so its prices are from the two checks on Oct 8, not from today. What Gusto Simple includes against Plus was not read and is not stated here. Third-party sites disagree on Gusto Premium (some show custom pricing), so treat the Premium column as the least certain. Promotions on either side are not counted.
Also compareHiring changes your software bill too. See Jobber for 5 technicians, Housecall Pro for 3 technicians and what it costs to leave your field service software.
SourcesVendor pages
Payroll prices change: check the vendor's current page before you sign up. Report a correction.
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How Worthd compares: Product fit, cost, setup work, and clear reasons to rule out an option shape the recommendation. Some links may earn Worthd a commission. Rankings are not for sale.
