How much does Gusto cost for 10 employees? (2026)

The number

As of September 21, 2026, Gusto Simple is $49 per month plus $6 per person. Ten W-2s, one state: $49 + $60 = $109/month. That is the default napkin for a US shop that wants full-service filings and a Tuesday-night setup. Confirm gusto.com/product/pricing. List prices move. Your renewal may disagree with a 2025 post.

This is a cost guide, not a ranking. Is Gusto worth it is the skip-if page. How to choose payroll for your first employee is the process. Best payroll software for small business is the short list. We are not your accountant.

The plans

• Simple $49 + $6: $109/month at ten people. Single-state.
• Plus $80 + $12: $80 + $120 = $200/month at ten people. The usual second-state plan.
• Premium $180 + $22: $180 + $220 = $400/month at ten people. Do not buy this to look like an HRIS.
• Contractor Only $35 + $6: $35 + $60 = $95/month for ten contractors. Classification is counsel, not a savings plan.

If eight of the ten are W-2s and two are contractors paid in the same product family, model the live mix. Do not assume Contractor Only plus Simple is cheaper until you read both SKUs. Seasonal people still hit the per-person line in months you pay them.

A year

Simple at $109 × 12 = $1,308/year before sales tax on the SaaS bill, workers’ comp, benefits admin extras, and your time. Plus at $200 × 12 = $2,400/year. Premium at $400 × 12 = $4,800/year. Implementation on Gusto is not an ADP-class project; the second price is setup honesty (work states, pay types, tip codes) not a professional-services invoice.

Compare it

• Square Payroll $35 + $6: $35 + $60 = $95/month if the register is already Square. See Is Square Payroll worth it.
• OnPay $49 + $6: $109/month with multi-state included on their published card. See Gusto vs OnPay.
• Workforce: $50 + $7 and up plus a QBO subscription. Ten people on the cheaper Workforce rung is $50 + $70 = $120 plus the ledger. See Gusto vs QuickBooks payroll.
• Homebase payroll $39 + $6: $39 + $60 = $99 plus scheduling. See time clocks and gym or retail payroll.
• Paychex and ADP RUN: quotes. See Paychex vs ADP. If the written year-two total does not beat Plus after implementation, stay on the napkin.
• Rippling: quote plus modules. See Gusto vs Rippling payroll. Do not buy it for payday alone.

What is not in the sticker

• Workers’ compensation premiums.
• Health benefits. Gusto sells admin next to payday; the carrier bill is separate.
• Your time if setup is dirty.
• Penalties if you configured the wrong state. See payroll-tax mistakes for new employers.
• A PEO. Justworks is a different contract.