Independent AI audit · 25 parameters across 5 domains · equal weight
Software development lifecycle
5 parameters · awaiting evidence
Product management
5 parameters · awaiting evidence
Organization
5 parameters · awaiting evidence
Security & privacy
5 parameters · awaiting evidence
Implementation & support
5 parameters · awaiting evidence
No audit on record yet. No score is not a low score.
Gusto is a payroll, benefits and HR platform for small and mid-sized businesses in the United States. Founded in 2011 as ZenPayroll out of Y Combinator, it now serves several hundred thousand employers and passed a billion dollars in annual revenue in 2026, having been cash-flow positive for several years.
The core is full-service payroll: unlimited payroll runs at no extra charge, automatic calculation, filing and payment of federal, state and local taxes, direct deposit, and year-end W-2 and 1099 handling. Multi-state payroll, time tracking and shift scheduling arrive on higher plans. The design goal throughout has been that a business owner with no payroll background can run it unaided, which is the main reason Gusto displaced spreadsheets and legacy bureaus in the small-business segment rather than competing on feature count.
Around payroll sits a benefits layer that is also a business in its own right. Gusto operates as a licensed health insurance broker, administering medical, dental and vision plans, and offers 401(k) retirement plans, workers' compensation, HSA, FSA and commuter benefits. Gusto Wallet gives employees savings tools and early access to earned wages.
The HR layer covers employee self-onboarding with e-signature, offer letters, I-9 and new-hire state reporting, org charts, document storage, and — on the top plan — performance reviews, surveys and a dedicated advisor.
Contractor payments extend to more than 120 countries, though payroll, tax filing and benefits administration remain United States only. Global employment is offered through a partner rather than built in-house.
Screenshots and product photos shared by Gusto.
San Francisco, California, United States
A world where running payroll for a five-person business is as simple as it is for a five-thousand-person one, and where the people being paid can actually understand what happened to their money.
We create a world where work empowers a better life — building payroll, benefits and HR that a small business can run itself, without a specialist, an implementation project or a phone call.
Meet the leaders shaping our vision, product, and growth.
Our certifications and compliance frameworks that keep your data safe.
All plans include core features. Per month, billed annually.
Single-state payrollUnlimited payrolls per monthTax filings and paymentsBasic PTO policies and holiday payMulti-state payrollNext-day payTime TrackingDedicated Service AdvisorAccess to certified HR expertsPerformance & compensation managementCustom reportsPriority supportAll capabilities grouped by category.