Best HR & Payroll Software · head-to-head

Deel vs Gusto

A sourced, side-by-side comparison for hr & payroll software. Deel has the lower entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it.

Deel has the lower entry price — Deel starts at $5/mo, Gusto at $35/mo. Free tier: Deel No, Gusto No. HIPAA: Deel —, Gusto —.

As of 2026-06-13 · figures link to their source below

Side by side

Deel

$5/mo entry
Entry price$5/mo (Deel HR (Core HR))
Free tierNo
HIPAA (BAA)
SOC 2Yes
GDPRYes
Best forCompanies hiring internationally across 110+ countries

Gusto

$35/mo entry
Entry price$35/mo (Contractor Only)
Free tierNo
HIPAA (BAA)
SOC 2
GDPR
Best forUS-based SMBs running their first payroll

Sources — Deel: deel.com (verified 2026-06-13) · Gusto: gusto.com (verified 2026-06-13)

Key features

Deel: Employer of Record in 110+ countries (full legal employment); Global payroll with multi-currency payments in 120+ currencies; Contractor of Record to reduce worker misclassification risk; Modular HRIS (Core HR, Recruit, Develop bundles); US PEO for all-50-state HR and compliance

Gusto: Full-service multi-state payroll; Automated federal/state/local tax filing; Employee self-service portal; Benefits administration (health, dental, vision, 401k); Contractor payments and 1099 filings

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