AI Tools category just launched — 10 new guides for 2026 Explore →
Affiliate disclosure: Stackmap may earn a commission when you click links on this page. Our reviews are independent — we test tools ourselves and editorial decisions are never influenced by affiliate relationships. Learn more.
Gusto
HRUpdated 2026

Why people leave Gusto
×US-only payroll — not useful for global teams
×$40/mo base + $6/employee adds up quickly
×Limited HR features on Simple plan
×No built-in time tracking on entry plan
Quick verdict
🏆 Best Overall
Rippling
Rippling
From $8/mo per user
Try Rippling →
🆓 Best Free
Notion
Notion
Free / from $10/mo
Try Notion Free →
💰 Best Value
Deel
Deel
Free HRIS / from $49/mo per contractor
Try Deel Free →

All Gusto Alternatives Reviewed

Deel
Deel HR TOP PICK
★★★★½ 4.5 · Free HRIS / from $49/mo per contractor · Free plan
Try Deel Free →

Global payroll and contractor management platform. Hire, onboard, and pay anyone in 150+ countries with full compliance.

✓ Pros
Best for global hiring
Compliance in 150+ countries
Fast contractor payments
✗ Cons
Expensive for full EOR
Support can be slow
Best for: Companies hiring globally
View site →
Rippling
Rippling HR
★★★★½ 4.6 · From $8/mo per user · Free plan
Try Rippling →

Unified HR, IT, and finance platform. Automates onboarding, payroll, device management, and app provisioning from one place.

✓ Pros
All-in-one HR and IT
Fastest onboarding automation
Strong payroll
✗ Cons
Complex pricing
Overkill for small teams
Best for: Fast-growing companies wanting unified HR+IT
View site →
Notion
Notion Project Management
★★★★½ 4.7 · Free / from $10/mo · Free plan
Try Notion Free →

All-in-one workspace combining notes, wikis, databases, and project tracking. Highly flexible and beloved by knowledge workers.

✓ Pros
Incredibly flexible
Great for knowledge management
Beautiful interface
✗ Cons
Can be overwhelming to set up
Offline mode limited
Best for: Teams wanting a flexible all-in-one workspace
View site →
Airtable
Airtable Database
★★★★½ 4.5 · Free / from $20/mo · Free plan
Try Airtable Free →

Spreadsheet-database hybrid. Build apps, track projects, and organize anything in a visual, flexible interface.

✓ Pros
Extremely flexible
Great views (gallery, kanban, calendar)
Good automations
✗ Cons
Expensive on paid plans
Record limits on free plan
Best for: Teams needing flexible data management
View site →
Slack
Slack Communication
★★★★½ 4.5 · Free / from $8.75/mo · Free plan
Try Slack Free →

The dominant team messaging platform. Channels, threads, huddles, and 2,400+ integrations make it the hub of modern team communication.

✓ Pros
Best team messaging UX
Huge integration library
Great mobile app
✗ Cons
Message history limited on free plan
Can become noisy
Best for: Remote and hybrid teams
View site →
Google Drive
Google Drive Cloud Storage
★★★★½ 4.6 · Free 15GB / from $3/mo · Free plan
Try Google Drive Free →

Google's cloud storage with Docs, Sheets, and Slides built in. 15GB free and deeply integrated with Gmail and Google Workspace.

✓ Pros
Best value storage
Docs/Sheets/Slides included
Excellent collaboration
✗ Cons
Privacy concerns
15GB shared with Gmail
Best for: Anyone in the Google ecosystem
View site →

Side-by-Side Comparison

Tool Price Free Plan Rating Best For Try
Gusto
Gusto (current)
From $46/mo + $6/mo per person ✓ Yes ★★★★★ 4.5 Small businesses needing payroll and HR
Deel
Deel
Free HRIS / from $49/mo per contractor ✓ Yes ★★★★★ 4.5 Companies hiring globally Try Deel →
Rippling
Rippling
From $8/mo per user ✓ Yes ★★★★★ 4.6 Fast-growing companies wanting unified HR+IT Try Rippling →
Notion
Notion
Free / from $10/mo ✓ Yes ★★★★★ 4.7 Teams wanting a flexible all-in-one workspace Try Notion →
Airtable
Airtable
Free / from $20/mo ✓ Yes ★★★★★ 4.5 Teams needing flexible data management Try Airtable →
Slack
Slack
Free / from $8.75/mo ✓ Yes ★★★★★ 4.5 Remote and hybrid teams Try Slack →
Google Drive
Google Drive
Free 15GB / from $3/mo ✓ Yes ★★★★★ 4.6 Anyone in the Google ecosystem Try Google Drive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rippling better than Gusto?+
Rippling handles global payroll, device management, and HR in one platform. Gusto is simpler and better for US-only small businesses.
What is the best Gusto alternative for global teams?+
Deel — it handles contractor payments and full-time payroll in 150+ countries, making it the go-to for international teams.