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  1. Home
  2. Compare
  3. Gusto vs Namely

GustovsNamely

Saas
vs
Saas
ScoresSignalsPricingFeatures

Score Comparison

58
Overall
52
55
Pricing
55
65
Usability
62
60
Performance
50
35
Support
45
55
Reliability
52
80
Onboarding
48
65
Mobile
35
70
Security
70
75
Integrations
55
GustoNamely

Signals Comparison

Support

Gusto

  • Customer support extremely slow - takes days to weeks for replies(9/10)
  • Support staff cannot answer questions or transfer to someone who can(8/10)
  • Support tickets disappear and online tickets not taken(8/10)

Namely

  • Slow customer support response times(8/10)
Reliability

Gusto

  • Payroll errors and missing payments to employees(10/10)
  • Tax filing errors and incorrect EIN handling(9/10)
  • Unexpected withdrawals and billing errors(8/10)

Namely

  • Bugs and glitches disrupt daily workflows(7/10)
  • Payroll tax filing failures(9/10)
Usability

Gusto

  • Making corrections is nearly impossible(8/10)
  • Off-cycle payroll breaks overtime calculations(7/10)
  • Employee UI is clunky and software becomes sluggish(5/10)

Namely

  • Portal navigation is not intuitive(6/10)
  • Performance review functionality is basic(5/10)
  • Reporting and analytics are cumbersome(6/10)
  • Terrible search functionality(5/10)
Pricing

Gusto

  • Constant price increases - Simple plan jumped from $40 to $49(7/10)
  • Charged full month fee even when canceling without running payroll(6/10)
  • Expensive for growing teams - costs escalate quickly(6/10)

Namely

  • Hidden fees and inconsistent pricing(6/10)
  • Three-year contract lock-in with no free trial(6/10)
Customization

Gusto

  • Difficult to customize employee withholdings(5/10)

Namely

  • Employees cannot update their own information(6/10)
  • No applicant tracking system (ATS)(6/10)
  • Task management lacks automation(5/10)
Integrations

Gusto

  • Contractor payment limits cause delays(5/10)

Namely

  • Integration issues between modules(7/10)
Mobile

Gusto

No signals

Namely

  • Mobile app is severely limited and buggy(7/10)
Onboarding

Gusto

No signals

Namely

  • Poor implementation and onboarding support(7/10)

Pricing Comparison

Gusto

Simple
$49/mo

Users: Per employee: $6/month

Storage: N/A

Limits: Single state only, No next-day direct deposit, No time tracking, No PTO management, Limited HR tools

Price increased from $40 to $49 in March 2026, Multi-state requires Plus plan, Add-ons can add $10-30/employee
Plus
Popular
$80/mo

Users: Per employee: $12/month

Storage: N/A

Limits: No dedicated CSM, No priority support, No compliance alerts, No HR expert access

Employee costs add up fast - 20 employees = $320/month minimum, Benefits brokerage fees separate
Premium
$180/mo

Users: Per employee: $22/month

Storage: N/A

Limits: Requires larger budget, May be overkill for simple payroll needs

Expensive for small businesses - 20 employees = $620/month ($7,440/year)
Contractor Only
$35/mo

Users: Per contractor: $6/month

Storage: N/A

Limits: No W-2 employee support, Contractor payment frequency limits, No benefits

$35 base fee waived for first 6 months only, Payment limits per contractor per month
Global (EOR)
$599/mo

Users: Per international employee

Storage: N/A

Limits: Only available through Gusto Global, Additional setup requirements

Increases to $699/employee after January 2026 promotional period

Namely

Namely Now
$9/mo

Users: Per employee

Limits: Basic plan without advanced talent management. No managed services. Limited customization options.

Additional modules (time tracking, performance management) cost extra. Implementation fees not included. No ATS included - requires third-party integration.
Namely Plus
Popular
Free

Users: Per employee

Limits: Self-service benefits and payroll - no managed services. Must manage compliance internally.

Custom pricing requires sales call. Implementation and training fees additional. Benefits administration may be extra module.
Namely Plus People
Free

Users: Per employee

Limits: Still not a full PEO solution. Complex compliance issues may need additional support. No ATS included.

Significant price increase over Plus for managed services. Custom pricing only. May require multi-year commitment.
Namely Complete
Free

Users: Per employee

Limits: Less control over HR processes. May not suit companies wanting hands-on HR management. Dependent on Namely's processes.

Premium pricing - significantly more expensive than other tiers. Long-term contract typically required. Exit fees may apply.

Feature Comparison

FeatureGustoNamely
Payroll
Full-Service Payroll

Core feature, works well for basic runs

Automatic Tax Filing

Federal, state, local - but errors reported

Payroll Processing

Reliability issues reported

Direct Deposit

Next-day on Plus plan only

Multi-State Payroll

Plus plan required

Contractor Payments

Separate plan or add-on

HR
Core HR Management
Employee Self-Onboarding

Strength - very easy for new hires

Benefits Administration

Health, dental, vision, 401k options

PTO Management

Plus plan required

Time Tracking

Plus plan required, basic functionality

Talent
Performance Management

Basic functionality

Compliance
1099 Filing

End of year filing included

W-2 Filing

Automatic year-end filing

Compliance Tools
Compliance Alerts

Premium plan only

Recruiting
Applicant Tracking (ATS)

Requires third-party integration

Self-Service
Employee Self-Service

Some limitations on what employees can update

Engagement
Social Newsfeed

Company announcements, recognition

Analytics
Reporting & Analytics

Basic, cumbersome navigation

Integrations
QuickBooks Integration

Well supported

Xero Integration

Well supported

Services
PEO Option

Namely Complete tier only

Onboarding
Onboarding Workflows
Support
Dedicated CSM

Premium plan only

Access
Offline Mode

Cloud-only, requires internet

Platforms
Mobile App

iOS and Android

Developer
API Access

Available for integrations