Gusto vs OnPay Payroll

(April 2025)

Gusto-vs-OnPay-Payroll

Table of Contents

Our Verdict
Gusto vs OnPay Payroll Our Verdict

Gusto and OnPay Payroll are two powerful tools that streamline payroll management, yet cater to different needs. Gusto, known for its comprehensive suite, offers you payroll processing, benefits administration, and HR tools in one seamless package.

You benefit from features like automated tax filing, employee self-service portals, and time tracking integration. Gusto’s interface is intuitive, making it easy for you to navigate and manage payroll efficiently.

Additionally, Gusto provides extensive support for health benefits, 401(k) plans, and even financial wellness tools for your employees, positioning itself as a holistic solution for your payroll and HR needs.

On the other hand, OnPay shines with its straightforward approach and exceptional customer service. You appreciate its transparent pricing and the ability to handle complex payroll scenarios, including multi-state tax filings and agricultural payrolls.

OnPay ensures you comply with tax regulations by automatically calculating and filing taxes, providing you with peace of mind. You also benefit from OnPay’s flexibility in managing benefits, from health insurance to workers’ compensation, making it a reliable choice for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an efficient payroll solution.

While Gusto offers you a broader range of HR tools and benefits management, OnPay excels in providing a focused and robust payroll experience with outstanding support.

Your decision between the two depends on whether you prioritize comprehensive HR capabilities or a streamlined, cost-effective payroll service. Both platforms ensure you have the tools you need to manage payroll with confidence and ease.

Why Choose Gusto
Why-Choose-Gusto-_1

Who Gusto Is Best For

You should choose Gusto over OnPay Payroll if you require advanced features like performance reviews, employee surveys, and personalized onboarding tools. Gusto offers you extensive integration options with various software, enhancing your workflow efficiency.

With Gusto, you gain access to dedicated support for state tax registrations and international contractor payments, ensuring you manage a global workforce seamlessly. Additionally, Gusto’s detailed reporting capabilities allow you to analyze payroll data comprehensively, aiding in strategic decision-making.

If you aim for a platform that not only manages payroll but also enhances your overall HR management, Gusto is the superior choice for you.

MORE >>> ADP Payroll Review

Who Gusto Is Not Right For

Don’t choose Gusto over OnPay Payroll if you operate on a tight budget and need a more cost-effective solution. OnPay offers you a lower price point with transparent fees, making it suitable if you seek affordability without sacrificing essential payroll features.

If your business requires specialized payroll services for industries like agriculture or needs dedicated customer support that addresses complex payroll scenarios, OnPay provides you with tailored solutions.

Additionally, if you prioritize straightforward payroll functionality without extensive HR add-ons, OnPay meets your needs more efficiently, ensuring you manage payroll with focused and effective tools.

Why Choose OnPay Payroll
Why-Choose-OnPay-Payroll

Who OnPay Payroll Is Best For

If your business requires seamless integration with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero, OnPay Payroll provides you with this functionality.

You will find OnPay’s dedicated payroll solutions for hourly and seasonal workers especially beneficial, offering you tailored features that meet your specific needs.

Additionally, OnPay excels in providing specialized payroll services for nonprofits, agriculture, and restaurants, including support for tax-exempt statuses and grant tracking.

You also benefit from OnPay’s flexible payment options, allowing you to choose between direct deposit, prepaid debit cards, or paper checks, ensuring you have the versatility to manage payroll in a way that best suits your business.

Who OnPay Payroll Is Not Right For

If you prioritize extensive HR features such as performance management, hiring, and onboarding tools, OnPay Payroll may not meet your needs as effectively as Gusto.

You might find OnPay less suitable if your business requires advanced employee benefit options like commuter benefits or health savings accounts, which Gusto provides comprehensively. Additionally, if you need a platform with a mobile app for on-the-go payroll management, Gusto’s mobile capabilities surpass those of OnPay.

For businesses seeking a more holistic HR and payroll solution with extensive integrations and advanced reporting capabilities, Gusto is the better choice to fulfill your requirements.

Main Differences
Main Differences Gusto OnPay Payroll
Pricing Structure
Higher cost with extensive HR features
Lower cost with essential payroll features
Benefits Administration
Extensive options including 401(k), HSA
Basic benefits administration
HR Tools
Comprehensive HR management
Limited HR tools
Tax Filing
Automated federal, state, and local
Automated federal, state, and local
Employee Self-Service
Robust self-service portal
Basic self-service features
Customer Support
Strong support with HR advisory services
Exceptional customer support
Integration Options
Wide range of integrations
Integration with QuickBooks and Xero
Mobile App
Full-featured mobile app
Limited mobile functionality
User Interface
Intuitive and user-friendly
Simple and straightforward
Industry-Specific Solutions
General business focus
Tailored solutions for specific industries
Performance Management
Includes performance reviews
No performance management tools
Onboarding Tools
Comprehensive onboarding tools
Basic onboarding features
Payroll Flexibility
Strong payroll flexibility
Excellent for hourly and seasonal workers
Employee Surveys
Available
Not available
Time Tracking Integration
Integrated time tracking
Basic time tracking
Reporting Capabilities
Advanced reporting and analytics
Basic reporting tools
Global Contractor Payments
Supports international contractors
Limited to U.S.-based employees
State Tax Registration Support
Extensive support
Limited support
Standout Features

Gusto

Pros-and-Cons-of-Gusto-HR-_2

Gusto outshines OnPay Payroll with its:

  • Comprehensive international payroll capabilities
  • Extensive employee directory and organizational charts
  • Advanced PTO policies and accrual tracking
  • Robust garnishment handling and administration
  • Detailed job and salary history tracking
  • Flexible contractor management and payment options
  • Innovative compliance alerts and notifications
  • Thorough labor law compliance assistance
  • Enhanced document management and e-signature capabilities
  • Sophisticated payroll scheduling and custom workflows
  • Dynamic compensation planning and budgeting tools
  • Integrated wellness programs and employee assistance
  • Customizable payroll reports and dashboards
  • Secure multi-factor authentication for user access
  • Efficient rehire workflows and tracking

OnPay Payroll

OnPay-Payroll-standout-features

OnPay Payroll offers you unique features that distinguish it from Gusto:

  • Affordable multi-state payroll services
  • Streamlined nonprofit payroll processing
  • Simple agricultural payroll solutions
  • User-friendly seasonal worker management
  • Straightforward 1099 contractor payments
  • Clear cost breakdowns and transparent pricing
  • Fast setup and implementation
  • Reliable garnishment calculations and handling
  • Efficient employee tax credit processing
  • Flexible check printing options
  • Timely tax filing reminders and notifications
  • Responsive phone and email support
  • Easy-to-use financial reporting tools
  • Accessible employee expense management
  • Seamless integration with point-of-sale systems
Payroll Processing

Gusto and OnPay Payroll offer you distinct approaches to processing payroll, each with unique features designed to streamline your payroll management. Gusto delivers a comprehensive, automated payroll system, while OnPay provides a streamlined and straightforward process. Here’s how each platform operates.

Gusto processes payroll through a detailed and user-friendly workflow designed to simplify your tasks. First, you input employee data, including salaries, hours worked, and deductions. Gusto then calculates your payroll, considering federal, state, and local taxes.

You review and approve the payroll, ensuring all details are accurate. Gusto handles automatic tax filings and payments, relieving you from this burden. After payroll is processed, you can issue direct deposits or print checks for employees. Gusto provides you with detailed payroll reports and compliance documents, keeping your records up-to-date and accessible.

OnPay Payroll follows a streamlined process to manage your payroll efficiently. Initially, you enter employee information, such as pay rates and work hours, into the system. OnPay calculates payroll, including taxes and deductions, and generates a preview for your review.

Once you approve the payroll, OnPay takes care of tax payments and filings, ensuring timely compliance with regulations. You can then choose to pay employees via direct deposit, prepaid debit cards, or paper checks.

OnPay also offers you straightforward reporting tools and a transparent breakdown of payroll costs. The platform’s user-friendly design allows you to manage payroll tasks with ease and confidence.

Garnishment Handling & Pay Schedules

Both Gusto and OnPay Payroll excel in garnishment handling and pay scheduling, but Gusto offers you more advanced features and customization, while OnPay provides a more streamlined and accessible approach.

With Gusto, you can easily manage various types of garnishments, including child support, tax levies, and wage assignments. Gusto automates the calculation and deduction of garnishments from employee paychecks, ensuring compliance with legal requirements.

You receive detailed reports on garnishment activity, helping you track and manage these deductions effectively. Gusto also integrates garnishment management into its broader payroll system, making it convenient for you to handle garnishments alongside regular payroll tasks.

Regarding pay schedules, Gusto offers you flexibility by supporting various pay frequencies such as weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly. You can customize pay schedules to match your business needs and ensure timely payments.

OnPay Payroll also manages garnishments effectively but with a more streamlined approach. You input garnishment orders into the system, and OnPay calculates and deducts the amounts from employee wages.

The platform ensures compliance with garnishment regulations and provides you with the necessary reports for accurate tracking. OnPay supports multiple types of garnishments, though it may offer you fewer customization options compared to Gusto.

For pay schedules, OnPay allows you to set up various frequencies including weekly, bi-weekly, and semi-monthly. You benefit from its straightforward setup, making it easy to manage payroll according to your preferred schedule. You can also manage and process payroll for employees who are paid hourly, with the system calculating wages based on the hours worked.

Pros and Cons of Gusto
Pros-and-Cons-of-Gusto-_1

Pros

You should choose Gusto over OnPay for your employee payroll management due to its:

  • Comprehensive HR management tools
  • Intuitive interface and design
  • Automated tax filings and payments
  • Extensive benefits administration options
  • Advanced reporting and analytics
  • Seamless integration with various software

Cons

Gusto may not meet your needs completely like OnPay Payroll due to its:

  • Higher pricing
  • Complex setup for some users
  • Additional fees for some features
  • Occasional issues with customer support
Pros and Cons of OnPay Payroll
Pros-and-Cons-of-OnPay-Payroll

Pros

Go for OnPay Payroll instead of Gusto due to its:

  • Affordable pricing structure
  • Efficient multi-state payroll processing
  • Simple setup and implementation
  • Responsive customer support team
  • Transparent cost breakdowns
  • Effective for industry-specific needs

Cons

Before you consider OnPay Payroll over Gusto, take note of its:

  • Limited HR management features
  • Fewer integration options
  • Basic benefits administration capabilities
  • Limited or no international contractor support
  • Basic reporting and analytics
Customer Reviews

Customer reviews of Gusto HR and Paycor reveal distinct experiences and preferences. Gusto HR receives high praise for its user-friendly interface and responsive customer support. Users appreciate the simplicity of payroll processing and the predictable pricing.

Positive reviews highlight the efficiency of the onboarding process and the ease of managing employee benefits. However, some reviews express dissatisfaction with the limited advanced reporting features and scalability issues for rapidly growing businesses. Gusto HR generally garners a rating of around 4.2 stars.

In contrast, Paycor is praised for its advanced analytics, customizable workflows, and extensive integrations. Reviews commend the platform’s ability to handle complex HR needs and its scalability for larger organizations.

Positive comments focus on the robustness of performance management and compliance tools. Negative reviews often cite the complexity of the interface, which can require significant training. Some users find the pricing expensive and the implementation process slow. Paycor typically receives a rating of approximately 4.0 stars.

Competitors

In terms of competitors of Gusto and OnPay Payroll, you will find notable alternatives like ADP and Paychex for Gusto, and Paycor and TriNet for OnPay Payroll.

ADP emerges as a major competitor to Gusto, especially if you require an extensive range of payroll and HR solutions. With ADP, you gain access to advanced HR tools, comprehensive compliance support, and scalable payroll services that cater to businesses of all sizes.

ADP’s global payroll capabilities and wide array of integrations offer you a more extensive solution compared to Gusto’s offerings, making it ideal for larger organizations with complex needs.

Similarly, Paychex presents a strong alternative to Gusto. Paychex provides a broad spectrum of payroll and HR services, including advanced compliance resources, flexible payroll options, and additional HR features such as employee benefits management and retirement services.

If your business seeks robust solutions and personalized support, Paychex delivers a level of service that can exceed what Gusto offers.

For OnPay Payroll, Paycor stands out as a significant competitor. You benefit from Paycor’s advanced HR management and workforce analytics. Paycor’s platform includes performance management, recruitment tools, and detailed reporting capabilities, offering you a richer feature set compared to OnPay’s more basic services.

TriNet also competes with OnPay Payroll by providing an integrated HR and payroll solution. With TriNet, you access extensive HR features, including benefits administration, compliance support, and employee management tools.

TriNet delivers a broader HR suite than OnPay, making it a compelling choice if you seek comprehensive functionalities alongside payroll services.

Pro Tips

To choose between Gusto and OnPay Payroll, consider these pro tips:

  • Evaluate feature set thoroughly
  • Compare pricing and cost-effectiveness
  • Assess integration capabilities carefully
  • Review customer support responsiveness
  • Check scalability for future growth
  • Analyze compliance and reporting tools
Recap

Evaluating Gusto vs OnPay Payroll requires considering each platform’s strengths. Gusto excels in comprehensive HR tools and intuitive design, offering you advanced features and integration options. OnPay stands out for its affordable pricing and efficient multi-state payroll processing. It’s important you assess which platform aligns with your business needs and priorities for payroll management to make an informed decision.

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