Gusto and Zenefits (now TriNet Zenefits) are cloud-based HR software that manage employee data, run payroll, and provide employer-sponsored benefits. Gusto includes payroll in its base plans and has hiring tools that work well for scaling steadily. Meanwhile, TriNet Zenefits’ payroll is only included as a paid add-on, but it offers more robust HR features, including performance and compensation management.
Comparing the strengths of these two providers, we’ve determined their best use cases:
- Gusto: Best for small businesses looking for payroll software that can run essential HR processes
- TriNet Zenefits: Best for growing businesses needing HR management tools (with payroll as an optional solution)
There are instances where neither Gusto nor TriNet Zenefits is the best option. If you’re looking for HR payroll software with solid support services, we recommend:
- Paychex: Best for solopreneurs and small to large businesses that want flexible HR solutions with dedicated payroll support
Gusto vs TriNet Zenefits Compared
Both Gusto and TriNet Zenefits offer new hire onboarding, digital offer letters, and document management solutions. Employee self-service tools allow workers to view and access payslips, tax forms, and personal information online.
Both providers’ payroll solutions can handle unlimited pay runs, tip reporting, multiple pay rates and schedules, wage garnishments, and automatic payroll tax calculations (as well as tax payment and filing services). Below are some of the standout features.
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4.53 out of 5 | 4.01 out of 5 | |
Starter Monthly Pricing | $6 per employee plus a $40 base fee | $10 per employee (all plans and add-ons have a minimum five employee requirement) |
Contractor Payroll Pricing ($/Month) | $6 per contractor plus a $35 base fee | $6 per contractor with any TriNet Zenefits plan |
Annual Plans with Discounted Pricing* | ✕ | ✓ |
Full-service Payroll | Included in all plans | Paid add-on; costs $6 per employee monthly |
Employee Payment Options | Direct deposits, pay cards, and manual checks | Direct deposits and manual checks |
Direct Deposit Timelines | Two and four days; Next-day available with in higher tiers | Four days |
Time Tracking | Available in higher tiers | Available in all plans |
Employee Scheduling | Via third-party integration | Available in all plans |
Health Insurance Coverage | 37 states | Hawaii isn’t covered |
Other HR Tools** | Hiring, job postings, employee surveys, and performance reviews | Recruiting (paid add-on), employee surveys, performance reviews, and compensation management |
Access to HR Experts | Free for Premium plan holders; Plus subscribers can get this for $8 per employee monthly | Paid add-on; costs $10 per employee monthly |
Customer Support | Via phone, chat, and email; limited phone support hours for lowest plan; extended support hours available in higher tiers | Via email and chat (ZenBot); also offers phone support, but you have to schedule a call through the TriNet Zenefits dashboard |
*Annual plans are billed on a yearly basis and require lump sum payment
**Some HR tools are available only in Zenefits and Gusto’s higher tiers
Unsure whether Gusto or TriNet Zenefits is a good fit? Check out our guide to the best HR software to see how both providers compare with our recommended HR systems for small businesses.
When to Choose Gusto vs Zenefits
Choosing the best HR payroll software for your business requires considering several factors—from pricing to features and ease of use. If you want more information about which options to look at, check our guide to finding the right payroll service. If you’ve already made your decision, read our how to switch payroll solutions guide to help you manage the transition better.
Best for Value: Gusto
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Pricing Score | 5 out of 5 | 4 out of 5 |
Plan Limits | None | All plans and add-ons require at least five employees |
Monthly Pricing* | Simple: $6 per employee plus $40 base fee Plus: $12 per employee plus $80 base fee Premium: Custom priced | Essentials: $10 per employee Growth: $20 per employee Zen: $27 per employee |
Contractor Payroll Pricing ($/Month) | $6 per contractor plus a $35 base fee | $6 per contractor with any TriNet Zenefits plan |
Payroll | Included in all plans | $6 per employee monthly |
Benefits Administration via Own Broker | $6 per employee monthly | $5 per employee monthly |
Recruiting | Included in higher tiers | Starts at $62 monthly ($35 monthly if on an annual-billed plan) |
HR Advisory Services | Free for Premium plan holders; Plus subscribers can get this for $8 per employee monthly | $10 per employee monthly ($8 per employee monthly if on an annual billed-plan) |
Other Add-ons ($/Month) | 401(k) retirement: Pricing varies by provider 529 college savings: $6 per participant (with an $18 monthly minimum) State tax registration: Pricing varies by state International contractor payroll: Custom priced Commuter benefits: $4 per participant (with a $20 monthly minimum) HSA: $2.50 per participant FSA: $4 per participant | Benefits plan building services: Custom-priced EDI tool for automated enrollment changes to health insurance carriers: Custom priced Carrier management: Custom-priced |
*Of the two providers, only TriNet Zenefits offers pricing plans with an annual billed option and slightly lower rates. However, this option requires a lump sum payment.
For small businesses, Gusto provides the best value, as you’ll receive HR functions, an employee database, payroll processing, and benefits administration for a reasonable price (monthly fees start at $40 plus $6 per employee). TriNet Zenefits does not charge a monthly base fee, but its per-employee pricing is more expensive than Gusto’s, and its five-employee minimum and extra cost for payroll also play a part.
Let’s calculate: If you need to process the payroll of three employees, and you’re on Gusto’s starter Simple plan, you only have to pay $58 monthly (computed as $6 X 3 employees + $40 base fee).
If you subscribe to TriNet Zenefits’ starter Essentials plan, you have to get its payroll add-on. Also, your monthly bill will be adjusted to cover five workers instead of three, as it requires at least five employees for all plans and add-ons. With TriNet Zenefits, expect to receive a billing of $80 per month for three employees—computed as $16 ($10 for the Essentials plan + $6 for the payroll add-on) X 5 employees (because of the minimum five-employee requirement).
If you only need starter HR, time tracking, and scheduling features, consider TriNet Zenefits, since its Essentials plan has all of these features. Besides that, if your business is growing fast past 100 employees, and you want an HR tool that includes compensation and performance management, TriNet Zenefits is a good option and may save you from having to upgrade or purchase additional software later on (Gusto doesn’t have compensation management tools).
Best for Payroll Features: Gusto
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|---|---|---|
Payroll Features Score | 4.75 out of 5 | 3.75 out of 5 |
Unlimited Pay Runs | ✓ | ✓ |
Payroll Tax Payments and Filings (including W-2 and 1099 Reporting) | ✓ | ✓ |
Multistate Payroll (Pay Employees in Different States) | Upgrade to at least the Plus plan | ✓ |
Contractor Payments | Includes payments to international contract workers | US-based contractors only |
Employee Payment Options | Direct deposits, pay cards, and checks you print yourself | Direct deposits and manual checks you prepare yourself |
Direct Deposit Timelines | Two and four days; Next-day available in higher tiers | Four days |
Wage Garnishment Payment Services | Not available in South Carolina | ✓ |
Payroll is the feature where Gusto really shines. In addition to unlimited and automatic pay runs, Gusto can manage payroll in all 50 states and includes automatic tax filings and year-end W-2/1099 reporting in its payroll services. While TriNet Zenefits has pay processing tools similar to Gusto’s, its payroll module is a paid add-on. TriNet Zenefits also doesn’t let you pay employees through pay cards as Gusto does, nor does it support payments for global contract workers.
You can run Gusto payroll in four easy steps. (Source: Gusto)
If you’re looking primarily for a feature-rich HR system and would like easy access to a pay processing solution in case you need it, then TriNet Zenefits is for you. The functionalities of its payroll module may be similar to Gusto, but TriNet Zenefits has better wage garnishment payment services as it covers all states (Gusto doesn’t handle garnishment payments to South Carolina). It also has dynamic pay stubs, providing your employees with clearer information about their deductions and payments.
With TriNet Zenefits, you can manually input additional payments, such as reimbursements and commissions, while running payroll. (Source: TriNet Zenefits)
If you’re looking for something else, then check out our best payroll services guide to find more options.
Best for HR & Employee Benefits: TriNet Zenefits
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|---|---|---|
HR Features Score | 4.38 out of 5 | 4.5 out of 5 |
Job Postings and Applicant Tracking | Available in higher tiers | Paid add-on |
Offer Letters, Onboarding, and New Hire Reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
Employee Information Management | ✓ | ✓ |
Time and Time-Off Tracking | Available in higher tiers | Included in all plans |
Staff Scheduling | Via integration | ✓ |
Compensation and Performance Management | Performance reviews only | ✓ |
Access to HR Experts | Included in the Premium tier; costs extra for Plus plan holders | Paid add-on |
Health, Retirement, and Commuter Benefits | ✓ | ✓ |
Health Insurance Coverage | 37 states | Hawaii isn’t covered |
Other Benefits Plans | HSA, FSA, life and disability, 529 college savings, and free access to Gusto Wallet (a financial wellness app) | HSA, FSA, life and disability, and supplemental benefits |
Although Gusto and TriNet Zenefits have similar HR features, TriNet Zenefits is a better choice, especially if you need time tracking and scheduling. It includes the two features in all of its plans—Gusto only offers time tracking in its higher tiers and lacks employee scheduling capabilities.
Another reason TriNet Zenefits offers better HR tools than Gusto is because of its extensive health benefits coverage, which covers nearly all states (except Hawaii) versus Gusto’s 37 states. In addition, TriNet Zenefits’ platform has more HR-centric tools, like performance management, compensation planning, salary benchmark reporting, and employee engagement surveys.
Gusto scheduling tools may be missing from its platform, but its integration options allow you to connect it with third-party scheduling software, like Homebase, Sling, and 7Shifts. Plus, if offering employee benefits is important to you, the Gusto benefits plans are more robust than TriNet Zenefits’ plans.
Aside from standard options (like Gusto FSA, HSA, and health insurance), it has non-standard benefits, like college savings plans and financial wellness tools (via the Gusto Wallet app). If your business isn’t located in one of the 13 states where its health insurance isn’t available (Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, South Dakota, Nebraska, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alaska, and Hawaii), then Gusto is a great option for you.
Gusto not only offers access to employee benefits but also provides access to an online tool for tracking enrollment and plans. (Source: Gusto)
Best for Reporting: Tie
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HR Features Score | 5 out of 5 | 5 out of 5 |
Basic Reports | ✓ | ✓ |
Report Customizations | ✓ | ✓ |
In our evaluation of Zenefits vs Gusto on reporting functionalities, we found that both have efficient reporting capabilities that include standard reports and customization options. You can even create new reports directly from their systems. You can run basic reports with details about each employee and create your own using special fields or parameters.
Best for Ease of Use & Customer Support: Gusto
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Ease of Use Score | 4 out of 5 | 3.25 out of 5 |
Learning Curve | Relatively easy | Relatively easy |
Ease of Use | Good | Good |
How-to Guides | ✓ | ✓ |
Access to a Dedicated Support Team | Available in the highest tier; includes access to a direct line for priority support | ✕ |
Third-Party Software Integrations | 100+ | 40+ |
Support Type | Phone, email, and chat | Email and chat (via ZenBot); phone support is available but requires scheduling a call via the TriNet Zenefits dashboard |
Support Hours | Basic support (for the Simple plan): 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Pacific time, from Mondays to Fridays Full support (for Plus and Premium plans): 7 a.m.–4 p.m. PT, from Mondays to Fridays | 6 a.m.–4 p.m. PT, from Mondays to Fridays |
Gusto and TriNet Zenefits both have intuitive interfaces with online tools that are easy to learn and use. They also have how-to guides and FAQ resources that you can access online. Where Gusto wins in this criteria is through its robust integration options with more than 100 solutions (TriNet Zenefits has only 40+ integration partners) and its email, chat, and phone support.
Upgrading to Gusto’s Premium option even comes with an exclusive number to contact if you have questions or require assistance accessing its features. TriNet Zenefits doesn’t offer a dedicated phone line to contact support for its Zen plan subscribers, plus you have to schedule a call back from its customer team through the TriNet Zenefits dashboard.
If you don’t require robust integrations, TriNet Zenefits is a great option. And while it doesn’t provide access to a dedicated support team, its support hours are slightly longer than Gusto’s hours. The TriNet Zenefits support team is available to contact beginning at 6:00 a.m. PT—with Gusto, its basic support hours begin at 9:00 a.m. PT (7:00 a.m. PT if you get at least its Plus plan).
Best for Popularity Among Users: Gusto
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Popularity Score | 5 out of 5 | 3.75 out of 5 |
User Feedback | Mostly positive | Mostly positive |
Average User Ratings* | 4.3 out of 5 | 4.1 out of 5 |
Average Number of Reviews* | 2,200+ | 600+ |
*Data from third-party review sites, such as G2 and Capterra, as of this writing
To compare Gusto vs Zenefits on user popularity, we considered each provider’s average overall ratings and the number of reviews on third-party review sites like G2 and Capterra. For average user ratings, Gusto’s score is slightly higher than TriNet Zenefits (4.3 vs 4.1, as of this writing). Gusto also has a larger number of reviews online, with an average count of 2,200+ (TriNet Zenefits only has 600+ reviews).
In terms of user feedback, many reviewers like how user-friendly and intuitive both software are. On the flip side, the common complaint that both Gusto and TriNet Zenefits received is the slow response times of their support teams.
At the time of publication, Gusto reviews and TriNet Zenefits reviews have the following scores on popular review sites:
Gusto
- G2: 4 out of 5 based on 700+ reviews
- Capterra: 4.6 out of 5 based on more than 3,700 reviews
TriNet Zenefits
- G2: 4 out of 5 based on 450+ reviews
- Capterra: 4.2 out of 5 based on 800+ reviews
How We Evaluated Gusto vs TriNet Zenefits
We evaluated Gusto vs Zenefits using a 5-star scale with six criteria that include payroll and HR functionalities in addition to pricing, ease of use, and reporting tools. We also considered user reviews and customer support options.
To view our full evaluation criteria, click through the tabs in the box below.
15% of Overall Score
We checked to see if the provider has transparent pricing, zero setup fees, and multiple plan options with unlimited pay runs. We also gave additional points to those with plans that cost $1,200 or less per year for 10 employees.
20% of Overall Score
We gave the most credit to solutions that process direct deposits in two days or less, have multiple payment options, handle year-end tax reporting, manage tax payments and filings (federal, state, and local taxes), and offer a penalty-free guarantee.
20% of Overall Score
We looked for features that make the software easy to use, such as having an interface that’s intuitive and customizable. Extra points were given to providers that offer integration options, set-up assistance, live phone support, and a dedicated representative.
35% of Overall Score
We looked for HR services and functions like online onboarding, state new hire reporting, self-service portals, and a staff of expert advisors. We also gave additional points to software providers offering health insurance available in all 50 states and advanced HR solutions like hiring, compensation, learning, and performance management.
5% of Overall Score
We considered online user reviews—including those of our competitors like G2 and Capterra—based on a 5-star scale, wherein any option with an average of 4+ stars is ideal. Also, software with 1,000 or more reviews on third-party sites is preferred.
5% of Overall Score
Preference was given to software with built-in basic payroll reports and customization options.
Bottom Line
Gusto and TriNet Zenefits are both solid small business software products that can provide HR, payroll, and employee benefits in a self-service, cloud-based software. TriNet Zenefits is a good choice if you’re looking for an HRIS option that can grow with your business. But if you want an affordable way to pay employees while providing your workers with full benefits, onboarding tools, and basic time tracking, Gusto is the HR and payroll software we recommend.
