15Five vs Gusto: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of 15Five and Gusto. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: 15Five starts at $4/mo, making it $45/mo cheaper than Gusto ($49/mo). Gusto offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
15Five vs Gusto: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | 15Five | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $4/mo | $49/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free Tier | No | Yes |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
15Five is the more affordable option, starting at $4/mo compared to Gusto's $49/mo. Both are HR & People tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 29 features compared.
Gusto stands out with a free plan for getting started.
Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your HR & People needs.
| Pricing Plans |  15Five Try it free |  Gusto Try it freeAffiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Engage $4/month Includes
| Contractor Only $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 2 | Perform $11/monthCheapest Includes
| Simple $49/month $4 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Total Platform $16/monthCheapest Includes
| |
| Tier 4 | — | Premium $180/monthCheapest $15 / year Includes
|
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Gusto
Gusto offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 3.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Gusto
Try Gusto freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose 15Five if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—15Five starts at $4/mo, saving $45/mo compared to Gusto at $49/mo
- •You want more features built-in—15Five offers 1 additional features across its plans
- •15Five's 3-tier per-seat structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
Choose Gusto if:
- •You need a free plan with Contractor payments, No W-2 employees required—Gusto offers no-cost access with no credit card required
- •You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •You want Gusto's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 4 pricing tiers
Gusto offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while 15Five requires paid subscription from the start. This gives Gusto a significant advantage for teams with budget constraints or extended trial periods. Once you outgrow Gusto's free tier, upgrading to a paid plan at approximately $49/mo provides substantial additional functionality. Compare this pricing path against 15Five's tiering starting at $4/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Gusto's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while 15Five's 3 tiers structure may force you into higher-cost plans than necessary for your use case. If evaluation cost matters to your decision, Gusto is the obvious starting point with zero financial commitment. Use the free tier to validate core functionality before committing to paid plans from either tool.
Best choice: Gusto
Try Gusto freeFrequently Asked Questions: 15Five vs Gusto
Which is cheaper, 15Five or Gusto?
How many pricing plans does 15Five have vs Gusto?
Does 15Five or Gusto offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for 15Five or Gusto?
How do 15Five and Gusto compare for HR & People?
Sources
- 15Five Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Gusto Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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