Gusto vs Rippling: Full Comparison (2026)
Quick Answer
Gusto is focused payroll + HR for small businesses. Rippling is a unified HR + IT + Finance platform for growing companies. Gusto is simpler and more affordable for payroll-only needs. Rippling is more powerful but complex and expensive as you add modules.
Gusto vs Rippling at a Glance
| Dimension | Gusto | Rippling | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease Of Use | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 | Gusto |
| Features | 7.0/10 | 9.0/10 | Rippling |
| Overall | 7.5/10 | 8.0/10 | Rippling |
| Pricing | 7.0/10 | 6.0/10 | Gusto |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Gusto | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| Premium / Core Platform | $Custom/quote | $8/monthly per user |
| Simple | $40/monthly | |
| Plus | $80/monthly |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt scanning | No | No |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes |
| Tax preparation | Yes | Yes |
| Accountant access | No | No |
| Bank reconciliation | No | No |
| Bill pay | No | No |
| Double-entry accounting | No | No |
| Expense tracking | No | Yes |
| Inventory tracking | No | No |
| Invoicing | No | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-currency | No | No |
| Multi-entity | No | Yes |
| Role-based permissions | Yes | Yes |
| Time tracking | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Bank feeds | No | No |
| Payroll integration | Yes | Yes |
| Budgeting | No | No |
| Custom reports | No | Yes |
| Financial reports (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) | No | No |
| Project profitability | No | No |
Ease Of Use: Gusto vs Rippling
Gusto's UI is focused and intuitive. Running payroll takes minutes. Rippling is powerful but has a steeper learning curve due to the platform's breadth.
Features: Gusto vs Rippling
Rippling is a full platform: payroll, benefits, IT device management, app provisioning, expense management, time tracking. Gusto does payroll, benefits, and basic HR well but can't match Rippling's breadth.
Overall: Gusto vs Rippling
Rippling is the more capable platform. Gusto is the better payroll product. If you just need payroll, Gusto wins. If you want to consolidate HR, IT, and finance, Rippling is worth the complexity.
Pricing: Gusto vs Rippling
Gusto Simple: $40/mo + $6/person. Rippling: $8/user/mo base but modules add up. For a 20-person team, Gusto is ~$160/mo. Rippling's full stack could be $300-$500/mo depending on modules.
Our Recommendation
Gusto for small businesses (under 50 employees) that primarily need payroll and basic HR. Rippling for growing companies that want to unify HR, IT, and finance — especially those managing remote employees with device provisioning needs. Gusto's $40/mo + $6/person is easier to budget than Rippling's modular pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Rippling replace multiple HR tools?
Yes. Rippling is designed to replace separate payroll, benefits, IT, and expense management tools. Most companies using Rippling consolidate 3-5 tools into one platform.