Gusto vs Namely: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Gusto and Namely. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Namely starts at $9/mo, making it $40/mo cheaper than Gusto ($49/mo). Gusto offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Gusto vs Namely: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Gusto | Namely |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $9/mo |
| Number of Plans | 4 | 4 |
| Free Tier | Yes | No |
| Pricing Model | per-seat | per-seat |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Namely is the more affordable option, starting at $9/mo compared to Gusto's $49/mo. Both are HR & People tools with 8 combined pricing plans and 31 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 |  Gusto Try it freeAffiliate |  Namely Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Contractor Only $0/monthCheapest Includes
| |
| Tier 2 | Simple $49/monthCheapest $4 / year Includes
| Namely Plus Custom pricing Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Namely Plus People Custom pricing Includes
| |
| Tier 4 | Premium $180/monthCheapest $15 / year Includes
| Namely Complete Custom pricing Includes
|
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Which Should You Choose?
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 predictable billing — Gusto's per-seat model avoids surprise overages
- •You value Gusto's specific feature progression from free to advanced tier levels
Choose Namely if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Namely starts at $9/mo, saving $40/mo compared to Gusto at $49/mo
- •You want more features built-in—Namely offers 3 additional features across its plans
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Namely offers negotiated terms for large deployments
Gusto offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Namely 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 Namely's tiering starting at $9/mo to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Gusto's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Namely's 4 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: Gusto vs Namely
Which is cheaper, Gusto or Namely?
How many pricing plans does Gusto have vs Namely?
Does Gusto or Namely offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Gusto or Namely?
Does Gusto or Namely offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do Gusto and Namely compare for HR & People?
Sources
- Gusto Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Namely Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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