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HR & People

Bonusly vs Gusto: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Bonusly and Gusto. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Bonusly starts at $3/mo, making it $46/mo cheaper than Gusto ($49/mo). Bonusly offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Bonusly vs Gusto: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureBonuslyGusto
Starting Price$3/mo$49/mo
Number of Plans34
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Bonusly is the more affordable option, starting at $3/mo compared to Gusto's $49/mo. Both are HR & People tools with 7 combined pricing plans and 36 features compared.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.

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
Gusto
Gusto
Try it freeAffiliate
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Up to 8 users
  • Peer recognition and guidance
  • 1:1s and pulse checks
  • Performance recaps
  • Slack and Teams integrations
  • iOS and Android apps
Start with Free
Contractor Only
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Contractor payments
  • No W-2 employees required
Start with Contractor Only
Tier 2
TeamPopular
$3/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Unlimited seats
  • Enhanced 1:1s with smart agendas
  • Unlimited performance recaps
  • Automated manager alerts
  • Advanced pulse check analytics
  • Automated milestone celebrations
  • HRIS Integrations and provisioning
  • 24/7 chat support
Start with Team
Simple
$49/month
$4 / year
Includes
  • Single-state payroll
  • Unlimited payrolls per month
  • Tax filings and payments
  • Basic PTO policies and holiday pay
Start with Simple
Tier 3
Organization
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Company announcements
  • Awards and Incentives
  • Company-wide analytics and insights
  • Recognition quality reporting
  • SAML SSO Integrations
  • Dedicated CSM
  • Training library
  • Onboarding assistance
Start with Organization
Plus
$80/monthCheapest
$7 / year
Includes
  • Multi-state payroll
  • Next-day pay
  • Time Tracking
Start with Plus
Tier 4
Premium
$180/monthCheapest
$15 / year
Includes
  • Dedicated Service Advisor
  • Access to certified HR experts
  • Performance & compensation management
  • Custom reports
  • Priority support
Start with Premium

Swipe to compare plans →

Bonusly

Employee recognition and rewards platform for teams

View all Bonusly plans

Gusto

Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses

View all Gusto plans
Our Pick

Bonusly

Bonusly offers a free plan, starts at $46/mo lower ($3/mo vs $49/mo).

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Bonusly

Try Bonusly free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Bonusly if:

  • You want lower per-user costs—Bonusly starts at $3/mo, saving $46/mo compared to Gusto at $49/mo
  • You prefer Bonusly's free tier features—Up to 8 users, Peer recognition and guidance
  • You want more features built-in—Bonusly offers 8 additional features across its plans
  • Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Bonusly offers negotiated terms for large deployments

Choose Gusto if:

  • You prefer Gusto's free tier features—Contractor payments, No W-2 employees required
  • You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You prefer Gusto's per-seat model with its 4-tier structure

Both Bonusly and Gusto offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: Bonusly includes 6 features, while Gusto includes 2 features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.

Best choice: Gusto

Try Gusto free
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Frequently Asked Questions: Bonusly vs Gusto

Which is cheaper, Bonusly or Gusto?
As of March 2026, Bonusly starts at a lower price point. Bonusly starts at $3/mo while Gusto starts at $49/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Bonusly have vs Gusto?
Bonusly offers 3 pricing plans, while Gusto offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Bonusly or Gusto offer a free plan?
Yes, both Bonusly and Gusto offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Can I save money by paying annually for Bonusly or Gusto?
Both Bonusly and Gusto offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular Bonusly plan?
The Team plan is Bonusly's most popular tier, priced at $3/mo. Key features include Unlimited seats, Enhanced 1:1s with smart agendas, Unlimited performance recaps.
Does Bonusly or Gusto offer custom enterprise pricing?
Bonusly offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Gusto lists all its pricing publicly.
How do Bonusly and Gusto compare for HR & People?
Both Bonusly and Gusto are HR & People tools. Bonusly offers 3 plans starting at $3/mo, while Gusto offers 4 plans starting at $49/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your HR & People needs.

Sources

  1. Bonusly Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Gusto Official PricingVendor pricing page

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