Gusto vs Rippling: The All-in-One SMB Showdown

The Battle of Modern SMB Platforms

Gusto and Rippling are both modern, all-in-one platforms built for small and medium businesses. But they approach the problem from completely different angles.

Gusto is the friendly, approachable payroll platform that added HR features. It's built for small business owners who want beautiful, simple software that "just works."

Rippling is the automation powerhouse that unifies HR and IT. It's built for tech-forward companies who want one platform to manage employees, apps, and devices with unprecedented automation.

This isn't "which is better"—it's "which philosophy fits your business?"

What Both Platforms Offer

Both are modern, cloud-based platforms that include:

• Payroll: Full-service processing, tax filing, direct deposit, contractor payments
• Benefits: Health, dental, vision, 401(k), FSA, commuter
• Core HR: Employee database, documents, org charts, PTO tracking
• Onboarding: Digital paperwork, I-9, W-4, direct deposit setup
• Time tracking: Clock in/out, PTO requests, approvals
• Compliance: State labor law posters, new hire reporting, tax forms

The differences emerge in how they execute and what else they offer.

When Gusto Wins

Unmatched Ease of Use

Gusto is the most user-friendly HR platform on the market:

• Gorgeous, intuitive interface (no training required)
• Guided setup walks you through every step
• Clean, uncluttered design
• Employees love using it (seriously—check reviews)
• Mobile app is exceptional

Rippling is powerful but has a learning curve. Gusto is instant.

Best-in-Class Payroll Experience

Payroll is Gusto's DNA. It shows:

• AutoPilot for fully automated payroll runs (zero clicks)
• Tax filing guaranteed (they cover penalties if errors occur)
• Beautiful paystubs employees can actually understand
• Instant year-end tax forms (W-2s, 1099s)
• Same-day direct deposit (on Plus plan)

Rippling's payroll is excellent, but Gusto's is slightly more polished—it's their core competency.

Superior Benefits Administration

Gusto excels at benefits:

• Integrated marketplace (compare plans, enroll seamlessly)
• Direct carrier integrations (no manual uploads)
• 401(k) via Guideline partnership (seamless setup)
• Commuter benefits, HSA/FSA, life insurance
• Benefits cost calculator (employees see total comp)

Rippling has benefits, but Gusto's marketplace and carrier integrations are more mature.

Better for Non-Technical Teams

If your team isn't tech-savvy, Gusto is the clear choice:

• HR managers can run it without IT help
• No complex workflows to configure
• Support is friendly and helpful (no jargon)
• Implementation is fast (days, not weeks)

Rippling's power comes with complexity. Gusto keeps it simple.

Lower Total Cost (for Smaller Teams)

For teams under 50 employees, Gusto is typically cheaper:

• Transparent pricing (no hidden modules)
• $40 base + $6/employee on Simple plan
• Everything you need is included

Rippling's modular pricing can add up quickly when you add features.

Better Customer Support

Gusto's support is consistently rated higher:

• US-based phone and chat support
• Dedicated Payroll Specialist on Premium plan
• Fast response times
• They genuinely care (it shows in reviews)

Rippling's support is good but more tier-based and transactional.

When Rippling Wins

Unmatched Automation & Workflows

Rippling's automation is in a league of its own:

• Hire someone → auto-create email, Slack, apps, laptop order
• Promote someone → auto-update permissions across all apps
• Terminate someone → auto-revoke all access instantly
• Custom workflows for any HR/IT process
• No-code workflow builder (visual, powerful)

Gusto has basic automation. Rippling automates everything.

IT Management (Device & App Control)

This is Rippling's killer differentiator:

• Device management: Deploy, configure, secure laptops/phones (MDM)
• App provisioning: Auto-provision/deprovision 500+ apps (Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, etc.)
• SSO: Single sign-on for all apps
• Access control: Role-based permissions across your entire tech stack
• Inventory tracking: Know who has what device

Gusto doesn't touch IT. If you manage SaaS apps and devices, Rippling is a game-changer.

Superior HRIS & Reporting

Rippling's HRIS is more robust:

• Custom fields (unlimited)
• Advanced reporting (drag-and-drop builder)
• Org charts (auto-generated, visual)
• Performance management (goals, reviews, 1-on-1s)
• Document management (e-signatures, templates)

Gusto's HRIS is solid for basics. Rippling is built for scale and complexity.

Global Payroll (90+ Countries)

Rippling runs payroll in 90+ countries—all in one platform:

• Hire internationally without setting up entities
• One unified payroll system (US + global)
• Compliance handled (taxes, labor laws)
• Pay contractors and employees anywhere

Gusto is US-only. If you have international employees, Rippling is the only option.

Better Time & Attendance

Rippling's time tracking is more powerful:

• Time clock kiosks (tablet mode for retail/manufacturing)
• GPS tracking (field employees)
• Integrates with scheduling
• Automatic overtime alerts
• Biometric clock-in (fingerprint, face ID)

Gusto has time tracking, but it's basic. Rippling is built for complex needs.

Better for Scaling Companies

Rippling scales seamlessly from 10 to 10,000 employees:

• Modular (add features as you grow)
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance
• API for custom integrations
• Multi-entity management

Gusto works up to ~200 employees, then companies typically outgrow it.

500+ App Integrations

Rippling integrates with 500+ apps out of the box:

• Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Zoom, Salesforce, GitHub, etc.
• Auto-sync employee data across your entire stack
• Single source of truth for employee info

Gusto has ~50 integrations. Rippling is the central nervous system of your tech stack.

Pricing Deep Dive

Gusto Costs

• Simple: $40/mo base + $6/employee (payroll, basic HR, benefits)
• Plus: $80/mo base + $12/employee (adds time tracking, PTO management, org chart)
• Premium: Custom (adds dedicated support, multiple admins, HR resource center)

50 employees on Plus: $80 + $600 = $680/month = $8,160/year

Rippling Costs (Estimated)

Rippling's pricing is modular and less transparent:

• Payroll: ~$8/employee/month
• + Benefits: ~$4-6/employee
• + Time & Attendance: ~$4/employee
• + IT Management: ~$8/employee
• Full suite: ~$15-25/employee/month (depending on modules)

50 employees, full suite: ~$750-1,250/month = $9,000-15,000/year

Cost Comparison

For 50 employees:

• Gusto Plus: ~$8,160/year (payroll, HR, benefits, time tracking)
• Rippling (HR + IT): ~$12,000/year (payroll, HR, benefits, time, IT management)

Gusto is cheaper if you only need HR/payroll. Rippling costs more but replaces multiple tools (Okta, Jamf, Google Workspace admin, etc.).

Real Customer Feedback

Gusto

Pros: Easiest to use, beautiful design, excellent support, employees love it, best benefits admin
Cons: Limited HRIS features, no IT management, basic reporting, US-only

G2 Rating: 4.4/5 | Capterra: 4.6/5

Rippling

Pros: Unmatched automation, IT + HR unified, global payroll, scales well, powerful workflows
Cons: Steeper learning curve, pricing complexity, implementation takes longer, support is tier-based

G2 Rating: 4.8/5 | Capterra: 4.9/5

The Hidden Difference: Philosophy

Gusto's philosophy: "HR software should be delightful." They prioritize simplicity, beauty, and human experience. It's designed for small business owners who want payroll to be painless.

Rippling's philosophy: "Unify HR and IT, automate everything." They prioritize power, efficiency, and integration. It's designed for scaling companies who want to eliminate manual work.

Both philosophies are valid. The question is: which fits your business?

Decision Framework

Choose Gusto if you:

• Are under 100 employees (and likely staying there)
• Want the simplest, most beautiful payroll experience
• Don't have complex IT needs
• Value ease of use over power features
• Need exceptional benefits administration
• Are US-based only
• Want to set it up yourself (no IT team needed)

Choose Rippling if you:

• Are scaling fast (or plan to)
• Manage SaaS apps and devices (or want to centralize them)
• Want maximum automation and workflows
• Have international employees or contractors
• Need advanced HRIS features
• Value power over simplicity
• Have technical resources to handle setup/management

Can You Switch Later?

Yes, but it's painful. Both platforms are sticky because:

• Payroll data needs migration (tax history, W-2s)
• Benefits enrollments need re-enrollment
• Employees need new logins and training

Choose carefully. Most companies stay with their choice for 3-5+ years.

What About Alternatives?

BambooHR: Better HRIS than Gusto, but payroll is weaker. No IT management.
Zenefits: Similar to Gusto but less polished. Not recommended.
Workday/ADP: Enterprise platforms. Overkill (and expensive) for SMBs.

The Bottom Line

Our honest take: For 95% of small businesses under 50 people, Gusto is the better choice—simpler, cheaper, more delightful. But if you're a tech company scaling fast or managing complex IT infrastructure, Rippling's unified platform is transformative.