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Deel vs Gusto: Which Payroll Solution is Best for Your Business?

Ana Maria Stanciuc

Are you struggling to find an appropriate payroll solution for your business? Choosing an ideal payroll system is critical for making accurate, on-time payments to employees. It is also essential to stay in compliance with regulations, whether operating domestically or globally. Deel and Gusto are two leading payroll and HR tools. They were developed to streamline business operations and simplify payroll administration.

Deel is a global payroll solution that helps organizations worldwide. On the other hand, Gusto offers comprehensive payroll and HR functionality designed specifically to support U.S.-based enterprises. Here, we will present an in-depth comparison between Deel and Gusto. We will focus on their features, pricing, use cases, and suitability for different businesses. Whether you aim to expand your organization in the international market or are looking for domestic growth, this comparison will assist in choosing the best payroll solution.

Overview of Deel and Gusto

Deel

Let us first discuss Deel. It provides businesses with an efficient global payroll solution. Deel’s key role is to ease international workforce management. Not only that, it stands out as an EOR service that enables hiring employees in 150+ countries without needing to form local entities. This ultimately makes Deel an excellent solution for expanding globally quickly while staying compliant.

Deel offers a plethora of payment options – bank transfers, cryptocurrency as well as the Deel card is among them. This gives flexibility to both employers and employees alike when it comes to crediting salary. Furthermore, Deel ensures compliance with local labor regulations in many countries through comprehensive compliance management tools. This feature helps mitigate risks related to misclassification or other regulatory concerns.

Apart from the above pros, this platform also comes equipped with comprehensive contractor management features. These tools include onboarding, payment processing, and compliance management to make managing contingent workforce easier—particularly useful for tech firms, remote first organizations, and international expansion initiatives.

Gusto

Gusto is a comprehensive payroll and HR platform developed specifically to serve U.S.-based businesses. Renowned for its user-friendliness and comprehensive features, Gusto makes payroll processing, benefits administration, and compliance management much simpler for small- to mid-sized companies – even those without extensive HR or payroll expertise!

Gusto HR management software features automated payroll runs, direct deposits, and checks. In addition to these, it also offers essential HR tools like onboarding/self-service portals/performance monitoring/talent tracking. All these make Gusto an attractive choice for businesses aiming to streamline HR processes while increasing employee engagement.

One of Gusto’s key advantages is its transparent pricing structure. It offers plans tailored specifically to different businesses’ needs, ranging from Simple for basic payroll needs to Plus with more robust HR and payroll features. Gusto even provides an affordable contractor plan designed specifically to serve businesses working with freelancers or independent contractors.
Gusto’s focus on U.S. businesses makes it an excellent option for industries including retail, startups, and domestic service firms. Its strong HR features and intuitive design help manage payroll efficiently for these types of organizations while leaving managers free to focus on growth and development initiatives.

Deel vs Gusto: Head-to-head feature comparison

Payroll Management

  • Coverage

Deel and Gusto cater to distinct market segments when it comes to payroll management solutions. Deel HR management software stands out with its global coverage – offering payroll solutions in over 150 countries all over the world. This makes Deel an invaluable asset for international operations. Deel also provides EOR services that ensure compliance with local labor laws. On the other hand, Gusto excels at catering specifically to small to mid-sized enterprises in America by offering comprehensive payroll solutions designed specifically to their needs.

  • Pay options

Deel offers a wide array of payment methods to cater to the various needs of global employees. These include traditional bank transfers, cryptocurrency payments, and the Deel card. This flexibility ensures that employees worldwide can receive payments using their preferred method. Gusto, while limited to the U.S., provides reliable payment options, including direct deposits and paper checks.

  • Automated Payroll Runs

Gusto stands alone when it comes to automating payroll runs. It was created to streamline this process with features like automated tax filings, deductions, and direct deposits, all designed to eliminate administrative hassle for businesses while guaranteeing timely and accurate pay runs. Deel offers comprehensive payroll services; however, they still don’t match Gusto in terms of automation, especially among companies operating within one country.

HR Tools

  • Onboarding And Self-Service Portals

Deel and Gusto both offer powerful HR tools designed to streamline employee onboarding processes. Deel offers tailored onboarding solutions for global workforces while Gusto offers user-friendly onboarding portals that enable employees to manage their information and benefits easily. This ease of use is particularly advantageous when used by small to midsize businesses looking to enhance their HR processes.

  • Performance Management And Talent Tracking

Gusto HR management software excels in performance monitoring and talent tracking for businesses. It offers features to companies with employee growth and engagement, such as goal setting, performance reviews, and feedback mechanisms. Deel, on the other hand, tends to focus more on payroll compliance issues while offering some HR tools. However, it doesn’t match the comprehensive performance tracking capabilities of Deel.

  • Compliance And Document Management

Deel and Gusto both provide robust compliance and document management features. Deel serves over 150 countries with local labor law compliance. At the same time, Gusto provides U.S. businesses with robust compliance tools that adhere to both federal and state regulations- including automated tax filing capabilities as well as document management features to facilitate their compliance tasks.

Contractor Management

  • Deel’s Comprehensive Contractor Management – Deel offers an innovative contractor management solution with features like misclassification protection to ensure contractors are classified according to local regulations. This eventually makes it an invaluable solution for global enterprises relying heavily on contingent labor forces. Furthermore, Deel simplifies onboarding, payment, and compliance processes for contractors, making it an efficient tool for overseeing diverse contingent workforces.
  • Gusto’s Affordable Contractor Plan – Gusto offers an affordable contractor plan designed specifically to address the needs of U.S.-based businesses working with freelancers and independent contractors. This Plan features payment management as well as 1099 form generation for tax compliance with US regulations. While not as comprehensive as Deel’s global solution, Gusto provides businesses with an efficient yet cost-effective method of overseeing domestic contractors.

Unique features for Deel & Gusto

Unique Features for Deel

  • Global compliance with local labor laws in over 150 countries
  • Misclassification protection for contractors
  • Comprehensive document management tools
  • EOR services ensure legal hiring practices internationally

Unique Features for Gusto

  • Automated tax filings and compliance with U.S. federal and state regulations
  • Transparent and straightforward pricing for compliance features
  • Document management and compliance tools tailored for U.S.-based businesses
  • User-friendly interface for managing compliance tasks

Head-to-Head Pricing Comparison

Pricing is an integral factor when considering payroll solutions and can play an instrumental part in shaping your decision-making. Both Deel and Gusto offer unique pricing structures designed to address different business requirements and sizes. Let’s compare their structures in more depth.

Deel’s Pricing

  • Free HR Tools for Companies—Deel offers free access to HR tools for all its customers. This is an attractive option not only for startups and small businesses looking to streamline their HR procedures without incurring additional costs but also for all kinds of businesses.
  • Contractor Management – Deel charges $49 per month for contractor management. This fee includes access to comprehensive features such as misclassification protection, global payment options, and compliance management, making this contractor management tool worldwide.
  • Employer of Record (EOR) Services – Deel offers EOR services starting at $599 a month. These are designed for companies hiring employees in countries without legal entities. Deel covers compliance costs associated with local labor regulations for your convenience when managing international employees.

Gusto’s Pricing

  • Simple Plan – Gusto’s Simple Plan starts at a $40 base fee plus $6 per employee per month. This Plan includes basic payroll processing, employee self-service tools, and automated tax filings, making it suitable for small businesses with straightforward payroll needs.
  • Plus Plan – The Plus Plan costs $80 base fee plus $12 per employee per month. This Plan offers additional features such as next-day direct deposit, advanced hiring and onboarding tools, and workforce costing reports. It is ideal for growing businesses that require more comprehensive HR and payroll capabilities.
  • Contractor Plan – Gusto’s Contractor Plan is priced at a $35 base fee plus $6 per contractor per month. This Plan provides payroll processing for contractors, including automated tax filings and contractor self-service tools. It is an affordable contractor management tool option for businesses that rely heavily on third-party pros.

When evaluating value for money between Deel and Gusto, consider your business needs. Deel’s higher pricing reflects its extensive global compliance and Employer of Record (EOR) services, which are ideal for international businesses. The $599 per month EOR service ensures compliance across multiple countries, while $49 per month covers comprehensive contractor management. Gusto offers more affordable plans for U.S.-based businesses, starting at a $40 base fee plus $6 per employee per month, with the Contractor Plan at a $35 base fee plus $6 per contractor. Deel is best for global operations, while Gusto is perfect for domestic payroll and HR needs.

Use Cases and Industry Suitability

  • Deel – Ideal for companies operating on a global scale, making it particularly suitable for industries such as technology, remote-first businesses, and organizations pursuing international growth. It offers extensive global payroll solutions and compliance capabilities to support a diverse, international workforce effectively.
  • Gusto – It was designed specifically to meet the needs of U.S.-based small to medium-sized businesses focusing on domestic operations – retail stores, startups, and domestic services are sectors in which its software excels. Its HR tools and payroll features are tailored specifically for these sectors.

Types of Teams and Businesses

  • Deel – It offers comprehensive international payroll for small businesses and large enterprises with complex payroll needs, from global payroll and compliance through EOR services and more. Their innovative platform is purposefully created to manage multinational workforces seamlessly – an asset for organizations expanding globally or with significant international operations.
  • Gusto –  Serves small to medium-sized businesses that prioritize simplicity and efficient HR management. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive domestic payroll solutions cater to companies needing strong HR tools within the U.S. Gusto is well-suited for businesses focusing on straightforward payroll processing and employee benefits management without the need for international features.

Pros and Cons

Deel Pros

  • Wide global coverage for international payroll and compliance.
  • Flexible payment options, including bank transfers, cryptocurrency, and Deel card.
  • Strong Employer of Record (EOR) services for managing global hires.

Deel Cons

  • Higher cost for managing contractors.
  • No mobile app, limiting on-the-go accessibility.

Gusto Pros

  • User-friendly interface for ease of use.
  • Transparent pricing structure.
  • Strong HR features for comprehensive domestic payroll management.

Gusto Cons

  • Limited to U.S. businesses, lacking international support.
  • Premium plans are needed to unlock some advanced features, potentially increasing costs.

Conclusion

In summary, Deel and Gusto each offer distinct advantages tailored to different business needs. Deel excels with its global reach and comprehensive EOR services, making it ideal for companies with international operations and complex payroll needs. It supports a plethora of payment options but comes with higher costs for contractors and lacks a mobile app. Conversely, Gusto shines with its user-friendly interface, transparent pricing, and strong HR features, making it well-suited for small to medium-sized U.S.-based businesses. However, it is limited to domestic operations and may require higher-tier plans for advanced features.

For businesses with a global presence or those requiring extensive international payroll solutions, Deel is the clear choice. Meanwhile, for U.S.-based companies seeking an intuitive platform with robust HR capabilities and straightforward pricing, Gusto is an excellent option.

I hope you find this article on Deel vs. Gusto helpful. Evaluate your specific business requirements and select the platform that best aligns with your operational needs and goals. Whether you need global coverage or robust domestic support, making an informed choice will help streamline your payroll and HR processes effectively.

Authors

Ana Maria Stanciuc

Writer

Ana Maria Stanciuc

Head of Content & Editor-in-Chief @ Tekpon
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Creative Content Chief

Ana Maria Stanciuc is a highly skilled writer and content strategist with 10+ years of experience. She has experience in technical and creative writing across a variety of industries. She also has a background in journalism.

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