Compare Gusto, Rippling, and Justworks for companies with 10-100 employees. Payroll, benefits, HR features, and pricing comparison.
Gusto vs Rippling vs Justworks: Payroll & HR for Growing Companies
Choosing payroll and HR software for your growing company is about more than processing paychecks. It's about compliance, benefits administration, employee experience, and operational efficiency. The wrong choice costs you time, creates compliance risk, and frustrates employees during onboarding and benefits enrollment.
After implementing payroll systems for 30+ growing companies, I've learned that payroll software selection needs to match your growth trajectory, compliance complexity, and HR sophistication. Moving too fast to an enterprise solution creates unnecessary complexity. Moving too slow leaves you manually administering benefits and drowning in compliance paperwork.
This guide compares Gusto, Rippling, and Justworks for growing companies with 10-100 employees. We'll cut through vendor marketing to focus on payroll accuracy, benefits administration, compliance support, and real-world operational workflows.
Quick Comparison Overview
| Feature |
Gusto |
Rippling |
Justworks |
| Best For |
Small businesses wanting simple, reliable payroll |
Tech companies wanting unified HR/IT platform |
Companies wanting PEO benefits and compliance outsourcing |
| Starting Price |
$40/month + $6/person |
$35/month + $8/person |
$59/person/month (all-inclusive) |
| Service Model |
Software |
Software |
PEO (Professional Employer Organization) |
| Learning Curve |
Easy |
Moderate |
Very Easy |
| Benefits Admin |
Good |
Excellent |
Excellent (PEO benefits) |
| Compliance Support |
Good |
Good |
Excellent (PEO model) |
| IT Management |
No |
Excellent |
No |
| Multi-State |
Good |
Excellent |
Excellent |
| International Payroll |
No |
Yes (90+ countries) |
Limited |
| Customization |
Moderate |
High |
Limited (PEO constraints) |
Gusto: The People Platform
Gusto started as simple, delightful payroll software and evolved into a comprehensive people platform. It prioritizes ease of use and employee experience without overwhelming small businesses with enterprise features.
What Gusto Does Best
Intuitive Payroll Processing
Gusto makes payroll almost enjoyable. The interface is clean, the workflow is logical, and processing payroll takes 5-10 minutes once set up. Automatic tax calculations, filings, and payments happen in the background.
Employee Self-Service
Employees access a beautiful portal to view paystubs, update direct deposit, change tax withholdings, and manage benefits. The UX is consumer-grade, not enterprise software. Employees actually like using Gusto.
Benefits Administration
Gusto administers health insurance, 401(k), commuter benefits, and flexible spending accounts. The benefits shopping experience is excellent. During open enrollment, employees compare plans and make selections in one streamlined workflow.
Automated Compliance
New hire reporting, tax filings, W-2s, and 1099s are automated. Gusto handles federal, state, and local compliance without you thinking about it. For small businesses without HR expertise, this is invaluable.
Time Tracking Integration
Built-in time tracking for hourly employees. Employees clock in/out via mobile app, managers approve timesheets, and hours flow directly into payroll. No separate time tracking system needed.
Hiring and Onboarding
Offer letters, background checks, I-9 verification, and new hire paperwork all happen in Gusto. New employees complete onboarding online before day one, arriving with direct deposit and benefits already configured.
Transparent Pricing
Gusto's pricing is straightforward: base fee plus per-employee fee. No surprise charges. You know exactly what you'll pay as you grow.
Excellent Customer Support
Gusto's support team is knowledgeable and responsive. Phone, email, and chat support included. They answer questions about compliance, tax issues, and platform functionality quickly.
Accountant Access
Free accountant access for CPAs and bookkeepers. Accountants can run payroll reports, access tax documents, and support clients without separate login fees.
Where Gusto Falls Short
Limited IT Management
Gusto doesn't provision software accounts, manage devices, or handle IT onboarding. If you want unified IT/HR onboarding, Rippling's approach is superior.
International Payroll
Gusto is US-only. If you hire internationally or plan to, you'll need separate solutions like Deel or Remote.com.
Advanced HR Features
Performance management, org charts, and workforce analytics exist but are basic. Companies needing sophisticated HR tools outgrow Gusto's HR features (though payroll remains excellent).
Customization Limitations
You can't extensively customize workflows or build complex approval hierarchies. Gusto is opinionated about how things should work.
Multi-State Complexity
Gusto handles multi-state payroll fine for small teams. Companies with employees in 20+ states sometimes find Rippling's multi-state tax handling more robust.
Best Use Cases for Gusto
Small Businesses (10-50 employees)
Gusto's sweet spot. Large enough to justify real payroll software but small enough that simplicity drives adoption.
Companies Prioritizing Employee Experience
If employee happiness with payroll and benefits matters, Gusto's consumer-grade UX is unmatched.
Businesses Without Dedicated HR
Companies where the founder, office manager, or operations person handles HR benefit from Gusto's simplicity and compliance automation.
Remote Teams (US-based)
Distributed teams across multiple states work well in Gusto. Multi-state compliance is automated.
Companies Wanting Affordable, Reliable Payroll
If you want excellent payroll and benefits without paying for enterprise features you won't use, Gusto offers the best value.
Rippling: The Unified Workforce Platform
Rippling takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of just payroll and HR, Rippling is a unified platform managing HR, IT, and operations. When someone joins, Rippling provisions their laptop, software accounts, and payroll in one workflow.
What Rippling Does Best
Unified IT and HR
Rippling's killer feature: when you hire someone, Rippling can provision their laptop, create their Google Workspace account, grant Slack access, add them to payroll, enroll in benefits, and assign them to their manager in one workflow. This integration is unmatched.
Global Payroll
Rippling supports payroll in 90+ countries. Hire contractors or employees internationally, pay them in local currency, and manage everything in one platform. For companies going global, this is transformative.
Sophisticated Device Management
Rippling is a full MDM (Mobile Device Management) platform. Manage company laptops, enforce security policies, remotely wipe devices, and track inventory. IT and HR unified genuinely.
App Management
Rippling provisions and manages software subscriptions. When someone leaves, Rippling can automatically revoke access to Slack, GitHub, Notion, and 500+ other apps. This security automation is powerful.
Customization and Automation
Rippling's workflow builder enables sophisticated automation. "When employee reaches 90 days, enroll in 401(k), trigger performance review, grant additional app access" type workflows are easy to build.
Advanced Reporting and Analytics
Rippling's reporting is sophisticated. Custom reports, scheduled exports, and workforce analytics. Data nerds love the query builder and API access.
Equity Management
Built-in cap table management and equity grants. For startups offering stock options, having equity in the same system as payroll simplifies administration.
Applicant Tracking
Integrated ATS for recruiting. Post jobs, manage candidates, and hire in one platform. The handoff from recruiting to onboarding is seamless.
Where Rippling Falls Short
Complexity and Learning Curve
Rippling is powerful but complex. Setup takes 4-8 weeks. The admin interface has dozens of settings. Small teams can feel overwhelmed.
Implementation Required
Rippling isn't "turn on and go." You need proper implementation, configuration, and training. Budget 20-40 hours for initial setup.
Pricing Can Escalate
Rippling's modular pricing means costs add up. Payroll + Benefits + IT Management + Time Tracking + ATS can reach $15-20/employee/month.
Support Is Self-Service First
Rippling emphasizes self-service documentation over phone support. For companies wanting white-glove support, Gusto or Justworks feel more hands-on.
Over-Engineering Risk
Teams can spend weeks building elaborate workflows that could be simpler. Rippling's power tempts over-customization.
Not PEO
Rippling is software, not a PEO. You're the employer of record. For companies wanting to outsource employer liability and compliance, Justworks' PEO model offers different risk mitigation.
Best Use Cases for Rippling
Tech Companies (15-100 employees)
SaaS companies, tech startups, and software teams benefit from Rippling's IT/HR integration. The technical learning curve doesn't scare them.
Companies Going Global
If you're hiring internationally or plan to soon, Rippling's global payroll eliminates the need for multiple country-specific solutions.
Remote-First Organizations
Distributed companies needing to provision equipment, manage software access, and run payroll across states and countries thrive with Rippling's unified approach.
Companies with Complex IT Needs
If you're managing 50+ software subscriptions, distributing laptops, and enforcing security policies, Rippling's IT management justifies the platform cost.
Data-Driven Operations Teams
Companies that want to analyze workforce data, build custom automation, and integrate HR deeply with other systems appreciate Rippling's technical capabilities.
Justworks: The PEO Solution
Justworks is fundamentally different from Gusto and Rippling. It's a PEO (Professional Employer Organization), meaning Justworks becomes the co-employer of your team. You manage day-to-day work, Justworks handles employer responsibilities, compliance, and benefits.
What Justworks Does Best
Enterprise Benefits for Small Companies
As a PEO, Justworks pools employees across hundreds of companies, giving small businesses access to enterprise-quality health insurance, dental, vision, and 401(k) plans at better rates than you could negotiate alone.
Compliance Outsourcing
Justworks assumes compliance risk. They handle COBRA administration, ACA reporting, workers' comp, and multi-state compliance. For founders afraid of compliance mistakes, this peace of mind is valuable.
Simplified Benefits Administration
Justworks manages the entire benefits lifecycle: shopping, enrollment, billing, and ongoing administration. You don't deal with insurance brokers or carrier portals.
Workers' Compensation Included
Workers' comp is bundled into the PEO fee. No separate insurance shopping, no audits, no surprise bills. Pay-as-you-go workers' comp based on actual payroll.
HR Support and Consultation
Access to Justworks HR consultants for questions about terminations, employee issues, compliance requirements, and HR best practices. This advisory support is valuable for companies without internal HR.
Simple, All-Inclusive Pricing
One price per employee includes payroll, benefits administration, compliance, workers' comp, HR support, and platform access. No hidden fees or module add-ons.
Fast Implementation
Justworks onboarding is straightforward. Most companies are running payroll within 2 weeks. The simplicity enables quick deployment.
Multi-State Made Easy
Because Justworks is the employer of record, they handle all state registrations, tax filings, and compliance across all 50 states seamlessly.
Where Justworks Falls Short
Higher Base Cost
Justworks starts at $59/employee/month. For small teams (10-15 people), this is $700-900/month vs. $150-250 for Gusto or Rippling.
Less Customization
PEO model means you work within Justworks' framework. You can't build custom workflows or integrate deeply with other systems. What you see is what you get.
Limited IT Features
Justworks doesn't provision software, manage devices, or handle IT onboarding. It's pure HR and payroll.
PEO Constraints
Some contracts (especially government or large enterprise) prohibit working with PEOs. Some states have PEO restrictions. Legal and insurance situations sometimes conflict with PEO arrangements.
International Limitations
Justworks is primarily US-focused. Limited international contractor payment. No global payroll capability.
Exit Complexity
Leaving a PEO is more complex than canceling software. You're changing employer of record, which impacts benefits continuation, unemployment insurance, and tax filings.
Benefits Plan Limitations
While benefits are good, you don't have unlimited choice. You select from Justworks' negotiated plans. Some companies want more control over benefits selection.
Best Use Cases for Justworks
First-Time Employers (10-30 employees)
Founders hiring their first employees appreciate Justworks' compliance safety net and HR consultation. The PEO model reduces anxiety about employer responsibilities.
Companies in Heavily Regulated Industries
Businesses worried about compliance fines, audits, or legal issues benefit from Justworks assuming employer liability.
Multi-State Operations Without HR Team
Companies with employees in 10+ states but no dedicated HR staff benefit from Justworks handling state-level compliance complexity.
Companies Prioritizing Employee Benefits
If offering competitive health insurance is critical for recruiting but you're too small to negotiate good rates, Justworks' enterprise-quality benefits are appealing.
Businesses Wanting Predictable Costs
The all-inclusive per-employee pricing makes budgeting straightforward. No surprise bills for workers' comp audits or additional compliance modules.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Payroll Processing
Gusto: Excellent. Intuitive interface, automatic tax calculations, flexible pay schedules, unlimited payroll runs. Best-in-class for ease of use.
Rippling: Very good. Sophisticated payroll with multi-state and international capability. More complex interface but powerful features.
Justworks: Good. Payroll works reliably but interface is less polished than Gusto. PEO handles all compliance automatically.
Winner: Gusto for ease of use, Rippling for multi-country.
Benefits Administration
Gusto: Good benefits admin. Partners with insurance brokers, administers enrollment, handles deductions. You choose your insurance carriers.
Rippling: Good benefits admin. Flexible integration with brokers and carriers. Benefits shopping integrated into platform.
Justworks: Excellent. PEO benefits with enterprise-quality plans. Simplified shopping and enrollment. Justworks handles carrier relationships entirely.
Winner: Justworks for benefits quality, Gusto for flexibility.
Compliance and Tax Filing
Gusto: Automated tax filing, new hire reporting, W-2s, 1099s, state registrations. Strong compliance support with tax guarantee.
Rippling: Automated compliance with multi-state sophistication. Excellent for companies with distributed teams.
Justworks: PEO assumes compliance responsibility. They're the employer of record for tax purposes. Maximum compliance safety.
Winner: Justworks for risk mitigation, Rippling for multi-state complexity.
Time Tracking
Gusto: Built-in time tracking for hourly employees. Mobile clock in/out, timesheet approval, overtime calculations, PTO tracking.
Rippling: Built-in time tracking with sophisticated policies, approval workflows, and scheduling. More advanced than Gusto.
Justworks: Basic time tracking. Functional but not sophisticated. Many companies integrate with external time tracking tools.
Winner: Rippling for features, Gusto for simplicity.
Onboarding
Gusto: Excellent onboarding. Offer letters, background checks, I-9, tax forms, direct deposit, and benefits enrollment all digital.
Rippling: Best-in-class onboarding. HR paperwork plus IT provisioning (laptop, software accounts, access permissions) in unified workflow.
Justworks: Good onboarding. Digital paperwork, benefits enrollment, compliance forms. Straightforward but not innovative.
Winner: Rippling for IT integration, Gusto for HR simplicity.
IT and Device Management
Gusto: No IT management features.
Rippling: Excellent. Full MDM, app provisioning, software license management, device tracking, security policies.
Justworks: No IT management features.
Winner: Rippling exclusively.
International Payroll
Gusto: US-only. No international payroll.
Rippling: Excellent. Payroll in 90+ countries. Hire employees and contractors globally. Manage in one platform.
Justworks: Limited. Can pay international contractors but not full international payroll.
Winner: Rippling significantly.
HR Tools
Gusto: Basic HR tools. Document storage, org charts, performance reviews, employee directory. Functional but not sophisticated.
Rippling: Advanced HR features. Custom workflows, performance management, analytics, org chart visualization.
Justworks: Basic platform with access to HR consultants. Software is simple but you get human HR expertise.
Winner: Rippling for software, Justworks for human support.
Reporting
Gusto: Good reporting. Standard payroll reports, tax summaries, benefits enrollment, PTO balances. Clean, simple reports.
Rippling: Excellent reporting. Custom report builder, scheduled reports, API access, workforce analytics. Data-rich platform.
Justworks: Basic reporting. Standard payroll and benefits reports. Adequate but not sophisticated.
Winner: Rippling for depth.
Customer Support
Gusto: Excellent support. Phone, email, chat. Fast response times. Knowledgeable team.
Rippling: Good but self-service first. Extensive documentation and help center. Support available but emphasizes self-service.
Justworks: Excellent support. Dedicated support team plus HR consultation. White-glove service feel.
Winner: Gusto and Justworks tied.
Pricing Deep Dive
Gusto Pricing
Simple: $40/month + $6/employee - Basic payroll, direct deposit, employee self-service, tax filing.
Plus: $80/month + $12/employee - Everything in Simple plus hiring tools, org charts, time tracking, next-day direct deposit, benefits administration.
Premium: $180/month + $12/employee - Everything in Plus plus HR resource center, compliance alerts, dedicated support.
Real Cost Examples:
- 15 employees: Simple: $130/month ($1,560/year), Plus: $260/month ($3,120/year)
- 30 employees: Simple: $220/month ($2,640/year), Plus: $440/month ($5,280/year)
- 50 employees: Simple: $340/month ($4,080/year), Plus: $680/month ($8,160/year)
Hidden Costs: Health insurance broker fees (if not using Gusto's brokerage), background check fees ($30-40/check), potential state tax filing fees in some states.
Rippling Pricing
Rippling uses modular pricing. Base platform plus modules:
Base (HR & Payroll): ~$35/month + $8/employee
Modules (each adds cost):
- Benefits Administration: $6/employee/month
- Time Tracking: $6/employee/month
- IT Management (device + app): $8/employee/month
- Global Payroll: Custom pricing per country
- Applicant Tracking: $250/month
Real Cost Examples (varies significantly based on modules):
- 15 employees (Base + Benefits + Time): $35 + $330 = $365/month ($4,380/year)
- 30 employees (Base + Benefits + Time + IT): $35 + $840 = $875/month ($10,500/year)
- 50 employees (Base + Benefits + Time + IT): $35 + $1,400 = $1,435/month ($17,220/year)
Hidden Costs: Implementation fees (often $1,500-5,000), international payroll can add significant costs, add-on modules accumulate.
Justworks Pricing
Basic: $59/employee/month - Payroll, benefits, compliance, workers' comp, HR support. All-inclusive.
Plus: $99/employee/month - Everything in Basic plus 24/7 support, compliance counseling, state tax registration, unlimited background checks.
Real Cost Examples:
- 15 employees: Basic: $885/month ($10,620/year)
- 30 employees: Basic: $1,770/month ($21,240/year)
- 50 employees: Basic: $2,950/month ($35,400/year)
Hidden Costs: Minimal. Pricing is all-inclusive. However, total cost is higher than software-only alternatives.
Cost Comparison Summary (30 employees)
| Platform |
Monthly Cost |
Annual Cost |
What's Included |
| Gusto Plus |
$440 |
$5,280 |
Payroll, benefits admin, time tracking, onboarding |
| Rippling (Base+Benefits+Time) |
$875 |
$10,500 |
Payroll, benefits admin, time tracking, IT management |
| Justworks Basic |
$1,770 |
$21,240 |
Everything + workers' comp + PEO benefits + HR support |
Implementation Timeline
Gusto Implementation
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Week 1: Account setup, employee data import, tax setup, bank account connection, benefits selection.
Week 2: Test payroll run, employee onboarding portal, training.
Internal Time: 8-15 hours for operations/finance lead.
External Help: Gusto onboarding team guides setup. No additional cost.
Success Factors: Clean employee data before import, connect bank accounts early, schedule first payroll 1 week after setup for buffer.
Rippling Implementation
Timeline: 4-8 weeks
Week 1-2: Data gathering, employee information, current benefits plans, software audit (for IT integration).
Week 3-4: Platform configuration, custom workflows, IT device setup, app integrations.
Week 5-6: Testing and refinement. Test payroll, onboarding workflow, app provisioning.
Week 7-8: Training and rollout.
Internal Time: 30-50 hours for operations/IT lead.
External Help: Rippling implementation specialist included. Some companies hire consultants ($3k-10k) for complex setups.
Success Factors: Dedicate someone to own implementation, start with core HR/payroll before adding IT modules, document workflows before building them.
Justworks Implementation
Timeline: 2-3 weeks
Week 1: Enrollment call with Justworks, employee data collection, benefits selection from Justworks plans.
Week 2: Employee onboarding, direct deposit setup, tax withholding.
Week 3: First payroll run, troubleshooting, benefits enrollment.
Internal Time: 10-20 hours for operations lead.
External Help: Justworks onboarding specialist handles heavy lifting. High-touch support.
Success Factors: Prepare employee data in advance, schedule benefits overview calls for team, plan for 2-week overlap with previous payroll system.
Migration Considerations
Moving from Basic Payroll Services (ADP, Paychex)
To Gusto: Straightforward 2-week migration. Export employee data, import to Gusto, verify tax setup. Most companies run parallel payroll for 1 cycle then switch fully.
To Rippling: 4-6 week migration. Data migration plus platform configuration. Rippling team provides migration support.
To Justworks: 2-3 week migration. PEO transition requires employer change paperwork. Justworks handles state registrations, tax setup, benefits transition.
Moving Between Modern Platforms
Gusto to Rippling: Common upgrade path for companies going global or needing IT management. 4-6 weeks. Data export/import is clean.
Rippling to Gusto: Rare (usually downgrade for simplicity). 2-3 weeks. Some data loss on custom workflows.
Either to Justworks: 3-4 weeks. Switching to PEO requires employer of record change, state filings, benefits re-enrollment.
Key Migration Challenges
Benefits Continuation: Open enrollment or qualifying life events needed to change health insurance. Plan migration timing carefully.
Tax Mid-Year Changes: Switching payroll mid-year creates reconciliation complexity. Year-end strongly preferred. If mid-year required, involve accountant.
Employee Communication: Payroll changes create anxiety. Over-communicate: new pay dates, new portal access, benefits changes, what stays the same.
Parallel Running: Always run 1-2 payroll cycles in parallel. Verify calculations match before switching employees to new portal for paystubs.
Real-World Examples
SaaS Startup (22 employees, fully remote) - Chose Rippling
A Series A SaaS company with employees across 8 states and contractors in 3 countries chose Rippling.
Why Rippling Won: Engineering team needed Google Workspace, GitHub, Notion, Slack, and AWS access on day one. Rippling's IT provisioning automated the entire process. Global contractor payment in one platform eliminated multiple services.
Implementation: 6 weeks. Engineering operations lead spent 35 hours on setup. Hired Rippling consultant for $4,500 to optimize workflows.
Results:
- New engineer onboarding reduced from 2 days to 2 hours (automated provisioning)
- Replaced Deel ($120/contractor/month) for international contractors
- Consolidated BambooHR ($5,400/year), saving total of $8,000/year despite higher per-employee cost
Annual Cost: $10,500 (30 total people including contractors). Net savings $8,000 after consolidation.
Marketing Agency (18 employees) - Chose Gusto
A boutique marketing agency with employees in 4 states chose Gusto Plus.
Why Gusto Won: Previous payroll (ADP) was clunky and employees hated the portal. Gusto's employee experience and benefits administration matched agency's brand values. Cost was 40% lower than Justworks PEO pricing.
Implementation: 10 days. Operations manager spent 12 hours on setup and migration.
Results:
- Employee satisfaction with payroll process increased dramatically
- Benefits enrollment time reduced from 3 weeks to 5 days (streamlined shopping)
- Saved $4,200/year vs. previous ADP contract
Annual Cost: $3,120/year. Replaced ADP ($7,320/year).
Professional Services Firm (35 employees, multi-state) - Chose Justworks
A consulting firm with employees in 12 states chose Justworks Basic PEO.
Why Justworks Won: Firm had faced compliance issues with previous payroll provider (late state tax filings, workers' comp audit mess). Partners wanted compliance risk off their plate. PEO model provided liability protection and enterprise benefits attractive for recruiting senior consultants.
Implementation: 3 weeks. HR coordinator spent 18 hours. Justworks handled state registrations and carrier setup.
Results:
- Zero compliance issues in 18 months (vs. quarterly problems with previous provider)
- Recruited senior consultant who cited health insurance as decision factor
- Workers' comp cost reduced 25% (PEO pay-as-you-go vs. estimated premium with annual audit)
Annual Cost: $24,780 for 35 people. Higher than software alternatives but justified by compliance peace of mind and benefits quality.
Note: Firm considered Gusto ($5,280/year) but chose Justworks despite 4.7x cost for PEO liability protection and benefits.
Decision Framework
Choose Gusto If:
- You're a small to mid-size business (10-75 employees)
- You're US-based with no immediate international plans
- You want excellent payroll and benefits without complexity
- Employee experience with payroll/benefits matters
- You want affordable, transparent pricing
- You don't need IT provisioning or device management
- You value responsive customer support
Choose Rippling If:
- You're a tech company comfortable with complex software
- You're hiring globally or plan to soon (contractors or employees)
- You want unified IT and HR (device provisioning, app management)
- You value automation and want to build custom workflows
- You're scaling quickly (15 to 100+ employees trajectory)
- You want sophisticated reporting and analytics
- You have operational resources to implement and maintain the platform
Choose Justworks If:
- You're a first-time employer wanting compliance safety
- You operate in multiple states without dedicated HR
- You want enterprise-quality benefits for small company
- You prefer outsourcing employer responsibilities via PEO
- You want predictable, all-inclusive pricing
- You value access to HR consultants for advice
- You're in a regulated industry with compliance concerns
- Budget allows for premium pricing ($59-99/employee/month)
The Verdict
For most growing companies (15-50 employees), Gusto offers the best balance of features, ease of use, and cost. The payroll experience is excellent, benefits administration works well, and the platform doesn't overwhelm small teams.
For tech companies with global teams or sophisticated IT needs, Rippling justifies the complexity and cost. The IT/HR integration is genuinely transformative for remote-first organizations provisioning equipment and software to distributed teams.
For companies prioritizing compliance safety and willing to pay premium pricing, Justworks provides peace of mind through the PEO model. The enterprise benefits and liability protection are valuable for risk-averse organizations.
The biggest mistake: Choosing based on feature checklists rather than your operational maturity. Rippling's power is wasted if you don't have resources to implement and maintain it. Justworks' PEO benefits don't matter if you have strong internal HR. Gusto's simplicity becomes a limitation if you're scaling internationally.
Try before you buy:
- Request demos of all three
- Have 3-5 employees (if possible) test the employee portal
- Run a mock payroll with your actual employee data
- Evaluate implementation timeline realistically
- Calculate 3-year total cost of ownership
The best payroll platform is the one that reliably pays your team, handles compliance automatically, and doesn't create operational burden for your team. Choose accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch payroll providers mid-year?
Yes, but it's complex. Year-end is strongly preferred to avoid tax reconciliation headaches. If you must switch mid-year, involve your accountant and run parallel payroll for 1-2 cycles.
Do any of these handle contractor payments?
Yes. Gusto: US contractors only. Rippling: Global contractors in 90+ countries. Justworks: Limited contractor support, primarily focused on W-2 employees.
Which is best for a company planning international expansion?
Rippling exclusively. It's the only platform with true global payroll. Gusto and Justworks are US-focused.
Can I leave a PEO (Justworks) easily?
It's more complex than canceling software because you're changing employer of record. Plan for 4-8 weeks transition. Benefits typically need to be re-enrolled. Justworks supports offboarding but it's involved.
Do these integrate with QuickBooks/Xero?
Yes. Gusto: Excellent integration with both. Rippling: Good integration, primarily QuickBooks. Justworks: Basic integration, primarily QuickBooks.
What's the real cost difference for 25 employees?
- Gusto Plus: ~$380/month ($4,560/year)
- Rippling (Base+modules): ~$650-750/month ($7,800-9,000/year)
- Justworks Basic: ~$1,475/month ($17,700/year)
Justworks is 3-4x more expensive but includes PEO benefits, workers' comp, and compliance protection that others don't.
Which has the best mobile app for employees?
Gusto has the best employee mobile experience. Clean interface, easy to view paystubs, update information, and manage benefits.
CEDAR OPERATIONS