hrlite vs Gusto: Which Is Right for Your Small Team?
Gusto is a strong, well-known payroll platform built to serve businesses from solo founders up to several hundred employees. hrlite is built specifically for one segment: teams of 5–50 people who want core HR, time tracking, leave, payroll, and e-signatures in one simple, affordably-priced tool — without paying for benefits brokering, multi-state complexity, or enterprise HR features most small teams don't need yet.
Pricing comparison
| Pricing | hrlite | Gusto (Simple plan) |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | $19/mo — includes 3 team members | $49/mo |
| Per additional employee | +$3/mo | +$6/mo |
| 10 employees | $40/mo | $109/mo |
| 20 employees | $70/mo | $169/mo |
| 50 employees | $160/mo | $349/mo |
| Free trial | 14 days, no credit card | Varies by promotion |
| Contract | Month-to-month, cancel anytime | Month-to-month, cancel anytime |
Gusto pricing current as of early 2026; confirm against gusto.com before publishing, since payroll vendors update pricing often.
Feature comparison
| Feature | hrlite | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| People/employee records | Included | Included |
| Time tracking (clock in/out) | Included | Add-on on higher tiers |
| Leave / PTO management | Included | Included |
| Payroll runs | Included | Included |
| Automatic tax filing (federal/state/local) | Not currently automated — hrlite calculates deductions and taxes and generates payslips; filing is handled by you | Included, fully automated |
| PDF payslips | Included, auto-emailed | Included |
| E-signature contracts | Included | Not standard |
| Announcements / company updates | Included | Not standard |
| Benefits administration/brokering | Not offered | Available (add-on) |
| Third-party integrations | Growing | 650+ integrations |
| Best for | Teams of 5–50 wanting one simple flat-priced tool | Businesses needing full-service tax compliance and benefits |
Which one should you pick?
Choose Gusto if…
- You need automated, multi-state payroll tax filing handled entirely for you
- You want to offer brokered health insurance/benefits through the same platform
- You need deep third-party integrations (accounting, ATS, etc.)
Choose hrlite if…
- You want predictable, low, flat pricing that doesn't jump as you grow
- You want time tracking, leave, payroll, e-signatures, and announcements bundled — not sold as separate add-ons
- Your team is in the 5–50 range and you want to be fully set up in minutes, not days
$19/mo · 3 seats included · No credit card required
hrlite vs Gusto: FAQ
Is hrlite cheaper than Gusto?
Yes, at every team size. A 20-person team pays $70/month on hrlite versus $169/month on Gusto's Simple plan — largely because Gusto's per-employee fee is roughly double hrlite's.
Does hrlite file payroll taxes automatically like Gusto?
Currently, hrlite calculates deductions and taxes and generates payslips, but does not automatically file with tax agencies the way Gusto's full-service payroll does. If your business needs fully automated tax filing today, Gusto may be the better fit; check hrlite.work for the latest on this.
Can I switch from Gusto to hrlite?
Yes — you can add your team, set up pay schedules, and start running payroll in hrlite in a few minutes, with no credit card required for the 14-day trial.
Does hrlite offer benefits administration like Gusto?
Not currently. hrlite focuses on core HR: people management, time tracking, leave, payroll, e-signatures, and announcements.
Also comparing other tools? hrlite vs Gusto · hrlite vs BambooHR
See if hrlite fits your team
Set up your workspace in minutes and try every feature free for 14 days. No sales call, no credit card.