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HR & People

Gusto vs Personio: Pricing Comparison 2026

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

Bottom line: Gusto starts at $49/mo and Personio starts at Custom pricing. Compare all 6 pricing tiers side by side.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Gusto vs Personio: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureGustoPersonio
Starting Price$49/moCustom pricing
Number of Plans42
Free TierYesNo
Pricing Modelper-seatper-seat
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Gusto and Personio are both priced at $49/mo, making them equally accessible HR & People tools. Together they offer 6 pricing plans with 26 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.

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
Gusto
Try it freeAffiliate
Personio
Personio
Try it free
Tier 1
Contractor Only
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Contractor payments
  • No W-2 employees required
Start with Contractor Only
Core
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Employee Profiles
  • Documents and eSignatures (with limits)
  • Analytics and Reporting
  • Workflow Automation
  • Time Tracking
  • Preliminary Payroll
Start with Core
Tier 2
Simple
$49/monthCheapest
$4 / year
Includes
  • Single-state payroll
  • Unlimited payrolls per month
  • Tax filings and payments
  • Basic PTO policies and holiday pay
Start with Simple
Core ProPopular
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Position Management
  • Unlimited Documents and eSignatures
  • Unlimited Legal Entity Management
  • API access for custom integrations
  • Unlimited Access and Permissions
  • Workforce Planning
Start with Core Pro
Tier 3
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 →

Gusto

Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses

View all Gusto plans

Personio

HR management software for small and mid-sized companies

View all Personio plans
Our Pick

Gusto

Gusto offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 2.

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

Best value: Gusto

Try Gusto free

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 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Gusto offers 2 additional features across its plans

Choose Personio if:

  • Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Personio offers negotiated terms for large deployments
  • You prioritize Personio's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • You need predictable billing — Personio's per-seat model avoids surprise overages

Gusto offers a free plan [1], eliminating the cost barrier for evaluation, while Personio 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 Personio's tiering starting at Custom pricing to assess total cost of ownership over 12 months. Gusto's 4 tiers provide flexibility at different budgets, while Personio's 2 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 free
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Frequently Asked Questions: Gusto vs Personio

How many pricing plans does Gusto have vs Personio?
Gusto offers 4 pricing plans, while Personio offers 2 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Gusto or Personio offer a free plan?
Gusto offers a free plan, while Personio does not. If budget is a concern, Gusto lets you get started at no cost.
Can I save money by paying annually for Gusto or Personio?
Both Gusto and Personio offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular Personio plan?
The Core Pro plan is Personio's most popular tier, priced at Custom pricing. Key features include Position Management, Unlimited Documents and eSignatures, Unlimited Legal Entity Management.
Does Gusto or Personio offer custom enterprise pricing?
Personio offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Gusto lists all its pricing publicly.
How do Gusto and Personio compare for HR & People?
Both Gusto and Personio are HR & People tools. Gusto offers 4 plans starting at $49/mo, while Personio offers 2 plans starting at Custom pricing. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your HR & People needs.

Sources

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

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