Gusto

I've been using Gusto to run payroll for 10 years now, and I've never been tempted to switch. From the start, Gusto has been incredibly easy to use for someone without a business/finance/accounting background. I love that forms get filed automatically for me, new employees are able to onboard their own paperwork online, and everyone has online access to all of their forms and paystubs. Direct deposit works beautifully; I'm able to have benefits deducted with one setup and never have to think about it again; Gusto integrates with our time tracking app, so I just upload an employee time report and run payroll within a couple of minutes. I even get reminders when it's time to run. Over the years, they've expanded functionality without affecting the quality of the basics (unlike some other apps). I absolutely recommend Gusto!

• Gusto has saved me plenty of time and headaches trying to calculate payroll on my own and file the proper taxes/forms on time
• Saved money by running payroll myself instead having my accountant or bookkeeper handle it
• Onboarding employees and out-of-state contractors has been a breeze

QuickBooks Online, Homebase, Squarespace, Adobe Illustrator CC

Recently, I hired my first employee. There are a lot of changes with that especially dealing with government agencies. Gusto was so wonderful helping me understand and get everything setup correctly. One gal emailed me proactively to ask if I needed help, which I did. I was so appreciative of her help. I am so thankful for Gusto. I could not do this without you. Your help staff are so kind and patient. They do a good job of helping when I need it.

• Its made payroll so much easier

I really appreciate the accessibility of my pay information in Gusto, especially how easy it is to view and even make edits when a new pay period comes up. It gives me a sense of control and keeps everything transparent. I also like that I can track my work schedule within Gusto—it’s convenient to have everything in one place, from my hours to my pay. It makes staying organized so much easier.

• Having all accounts in one platform than having different accounts and apps

This is a set-it-and-forget-it program that helps us run payroll affordably and accurately. Our company CPA has access and receives quarterly tax information, which helps us stay on track as a small LLC. I still need to figure out how to add benefits using the platform—it’s not super intuitive. When the IRS sends a cryptic note, I just forward it along, and a Gusto rep either explains what to do or takes care of it for me. That kind of support is amazing. Great!

• Saved ~10+ hours/month on payroll and tax coordination
• By automating payroll and giving our CPA direct access to quarterly reports, Gusto reduced the need for manual follow-ups and document sharing—saving me at least 10 hours per month as a founder.
• Reduced legal/accounting risk during launch
• Having a platform that handles state/federal tax filings and compliance helped us avoid potential fines or filing errors in our first year—critical peace of mind as we scaled.
• Enabled growth without hiring admin staff
• We’ve onboarded part-time employees and contractors without needing to hire a dedicated HR/payroll role. That’s thousands in annual savings while still operating professionally.

Hubstaff, Snagit, Discord

As a solo freelancer, I never thought I’d need a payroll service—but Gusto changed that. I run a one-person business and don’t offer benefits, so I assumed payroll software would be overkill or too expensive. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Gusto makes it incredibly easy to pay myself as an S-Corp owner. Setting everything up—payroll, tax filings, and direct deposit—was straightforward and surprisingly fast. The interface is clean and intuitive, and I love how automated everything is. No more scrambling with quarterly tax payments or W-2s at the end of the year. Gusto handles it all behind the scenes, which gives me peace of mind and frees up my time to focus on actual client work.

Even though I don’t offer benefits, I still get access to all the core payroll features I need, and the pricing is fair for what you get. Plus, their customer service has been responsive and helpful any time I’ve had a question.

If you’re a solo freelancer running your business as an S-Corp and want a no-fuss, professional way to pay yourself and stay compliant, Gusto is 100% worth it. I wish I had signed up sooner.

• Gusto has simplified the payroll process. I'm glad I chose it over ADP.
• My accountant recommended Gusto and uses it seamlessly with QuickBooks to do my accounting.

ADP Workforce Now

QuickBooks Online