Compare FreshBooks and Gusto 
Featured Products
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (86.6% of reviews)
Small-Business (83.9% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $2.30 Per Month
Starting at $49.00 Per Month
FreshBooks
Star Rating
(962)4.5 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (86.6% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $2.30 Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 4 pricing plansGusto
Star Rating
(9,287)4.6 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (83.9% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $49.00 Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Gusto excels in providing a user-friendly experience, particularly for payroll and HR management. Users appreciate its organized pathways for onboarding and offboarding employees, which simplifies compliance with tax agencies.
- According to verified reviews, FreshBooks is praised for its simplicity and effectiveness in managing small business finances. Users highlight its ease of use for bookkeeping and invoicing, making it a great choice for non-accountants.
- Reviewers mention that Gusto's pricing is perceived as reasonable given the comprehensive features it offers, including payroll processing and benefits tracking. This value proposition is often noted as a significant advantage over FreshBooks, which has a lower entry price but fewer payroll capabilities.
- Users say that FreshBooks provides excellent control over invoicing and administration, making it a solid option for small business owners who need straightforward financial management tools.
- G2 reviewers highlight that while both platforms are easy to set up, Gusto's implementation process is particularly smooth, with many users noting quick updates and responsive support, which enhances their overall experience.
- According to recent feedback, FreshBooks users appreciate its focus on bookkeeping, but some feel it may not fully meet their payroll needs compared to Gusto, which is specifically designed for comprehensive payroll and HR functionalities.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
FreshBooks
Lite
Starting at $2.30
Per Month
For professionals with basic needs
- Send unlimited invoices to up to 5 clients
- Track unlimited expenses
- Send unlimited estimates
Gusto
Simple Plan
Starting at $49.00
Per Month
For small businesses or s-corps needing basic payroll.
- Full-service single-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s
- Basic support
- Employee profiles and self-service
Free Trial
FreshBooks
Free Trial is available
Gusto
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
8.8
766
9.4
6,814
Ease of Use
9.1
864
9.5
7,031
Ease of Setup
9.2
466
9.3
5,644
Ease of Admin
9.2
336
9.3
2,363
Quality of Support
9.2
715
9.0
5,668
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
9.2
331
9.1
2,360
Product Direction (% positive)
8.7
762
9.2
6,885
Features by Category
Core HR
Not enough data
8.8
906
Not enough data
9.0
939
Not enough data
8.1
797
Not enough data
8.6
846
Not enough data
8.8
872
Not enough data
8.7
877
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.2
473
Platform
Not enough data
8.2
2246
Not enough data
8.0
2048
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.9
2288
Not enough data
9.2
2287
Not enough data
8.9
2193
Not enough data
8.8
2253
Not enough data
9.1
2273
Expense Reports
8.6
106
Not enough data
8.0
100
Not enough data
7.6
99
Not enough data
8.1
98
Not enough data
7.1
80
Not enough data
7.2
87
Not enough data
7.9
90
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Expense Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Travel Management
6.8
79
Not enough data
6.5
76
Not enough data
6.1
71
Not enough data
6.5
72
Not enough data
Client Invoicing
9.0
136
Not enough data
8.4
119
Not enough data
8.2
124
Not enough data
Mobile
8.2
84
Not enough data
6.9
81
Not enough data
5.6
73
Not enough data
Platform
6.2
63
Not enough data
6.3
66
Not enough data
Administration
7.0
63
Not enough data
Administration
7.2
105
Not enough data
7.8
106
Not enough data
7.6
113
Not enough data
7.2
103
Not enough data
7.9
111
Not enough data
Platform
8.3
128
Not enough data
7.2
97
Not enough data
7.0
94
Not enough data
9.0
126
Not enough data
8.3
115
Not enough data
7.0
99
Not enough data
General Ledger
8.1
233
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.8
228
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
224
|
Verified
Not enough data
Accounts Receivable
8.7
398
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
308
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
275
|
Verified
Not enough data
Accounts Payable
8.2
271
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
327
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
142
Not enough data
Other Functionality
7.1
125
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
7.5
156
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.0
128
Not enough data
7.2
132
Not enough data
7.5
144
Not enough data
7.6
154
Not enough data
8.6
316
|
Verified
Not enough data
Reporting & Analytics
8.7
362
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
200
Not enough data
7.6
191
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
386
|
Verified
Not enough data
Platform
7.9
164
Not enough data
7.6
150
Not enough data
8.4
288
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.4
137
Not enough data
9.1
379
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
153
Not enough data
Integration
8.2
270
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
194
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
216
Not enough data
Cash Flow
8.3
201
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
288
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
244
|
Verified
Not enough data
Budgeting & Forecasting
7.6
191
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
165
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.6
136
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
203
|
Verified
Not enough data
Revenue
8.4
227
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.8
169
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.0
163
Not enough data
Payroll
7.8
112
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.4
105
|
Verified
Not enough data
7.7
114
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
124
|
Verified
Not enough data
AI
7.6
38
Not enough data
7.5
35
Not enough data
7.8
35
Not enough data
7.5
36
Not enough data
7.4
35
Not enough data
7.0
38
Not enough data
7.3
45
Not enough data
7.6
39
Not enough data
7.0
42
Not enough data
7.4
37
Not enough data
Mobile Applications - Accounting
9.1
11
Not enough data
8.9
11
Not enough data
8.8
11
Not enough data
7.8
10
Not enough data
8.5
12
Not enough data
8.3
12
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Accounting
Not enough data
Not enough data
Employee Self Service
Feature Not Available
9.5
5280
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
8.9
4733
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
9.0
4775
|
Verified
Administration
8.6
15
9.4
5128
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
9.1
4678
|
Verified
9.3
16
9.6
5130
|
Verified
8.3
11
8.9
4467
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
9.2
4680
|
Verified
7.6
14
8.8
4168
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
9.1
4378
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
9.2
4558
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
9.2
4551
|
Verified
Taxes
8.0
17
9.3
4937
|
Verified
7.7
14
9.2
4790
|
Verified
7.9
14
Feature Not Available
Integration
Feature Not Available
8.6
4135
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
8.8
4125
|
Verified
7.9
13
8.8
4177
|
Verified
Feature Not Available
8.6
3903
|
Verified
Platform
8.1
14
9.0
4642
|
Verified
8.7
15
9.2
4595
|
Verified
8.7
13
9.3
4952
|
Verified
8.6
14
9.2
4496
|
Verified
Benefits Administration Platform Features
Not enough data
9.0
1361
Not enough data
8.9
1315
Not enough data
8.4
1220
Not enough data
9.0
1335
Not enough data
9.1
1308
Not enough data
9.2
1349
Not enough data
9.0
1277
Not enough data
8.8
1253
Benefits Administration Platform Features
Not enough data
9.0
1361
Not enough data
8.9
1315
Not enough data
8.4
1220
Not enough data
9.0
1335
Not enough data
9.1
1308
Not enough data
9.2
1349
Not enough data
9.0
1277
Not enough data
9.1
930
Not enough data
8.8
1253
Not enough data
8.5
1059
Not enough data
8.3
976
Not enough data
8.9
1042
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.2
839
Not enough data
7.2
836
Not enough data
7.1
831
Platform
Not enough data
8.2
2246
Not enough data
8.0
2048
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.9
2288
Not enough data
9.2
2287
Not enough data
8.9
2193
Not enough data
8.8
2253
Not enough data
9.1
2273
Automation
Not enough data
Not enough data
Logistics
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
9.3
7
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
10.0
7
Not enough data
Not enough data
Monitoring
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Basics
Not enough data
8.5
183
Not enough data
9.2
192
Not enough data
8.9
183
Platform Performance
Not enough data
8.8
190
Not enough data
8.5
177
Platform Functionality
Not enough data
9.0
185
Not enough data
8.5
180
Not enough data
8.8
177
Platform Additional Functionality
Not enough data
8.8
180
Not enough data
8.4
174
Not enough data
8.1
171
Generative AI
Not enough data
7.3
157
Payment Processing
8.3
80
Not enough data
8.5
87
Not enough data
8.2
79
Not enough data
7.3
67
Not enough data
Administration
8.3
84
Not enough data
6.8
68
Not enough data
6.6
84
Not enough data
7.0
64
Not enough data
7.1
66
Not enough data
6.8
67
Not enough data
7.0
67
Not enough data
Payment Options
7.3
64
Not enough data
8.4
75
Not enough data
Security
7.4
62
Not enough data
Platform
7.6
67
Not enough data
7.1
64
Not enough data
Performance reviews
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Goals
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Feedback
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Performance Management
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Bill Generation
8.4
143
Not enough data
8.6
146
Not enough data
8.3
134
Not enough data
Bill Processing
7.6
128
Not enough data
7.8
124
Not enough data
8.3
127
Not enough data
Integration
7.9
131
Not enough data
8.4
133
Not enough data
7.1
102
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Billing
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Basics
Not enough data
9.2
772
Not enough data
9.2
777
Platform Administration
Not enough data
8.6
710
Not enough data
9.1
756
Not enough data
9.0
762
Platform Payment Content
Not enough data
9.0
759
Not enough data
8.4
651
Not enough data
9.1
736
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Onboarding
Not enough data
7.7
242
Not enough data
7.9
242
Not enough data
7.8
244
Not enough data
7.9
245
Not enough data
8.0
246
Platform Content
Not enough data
8.7
1152
Not enough data
9.1
1176
Not enough data
9.2
1177
Not enough data
8.4
1088
Not enough data
8.8
1101
Not enough data
8.6
1094
Platform Additional Functionality
Not enough data
9.2
1155
Not enough data
8.7
1092
Not enough data
8.5
1066
Not enough data
8.9
1112
Not enough data
9.1
1136
Platform Data
Not enough data
8.4
1018
Not enough data
8.7
1058
Not enough data
8.8
1041
Platform
Not enough data
8.2
2246
Not enough data
8.0
2048
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.9
2288
Not enough data
9.2
2287
Not enough data
8.9
2193
Not enough data
8.8
2253
Not enough data
9.1
2273
Recruiting and Onboarding
Not enough data
8.0
992
Not enough data
9.0
1106
Agentic AI - Accounting & Finance
Not enough data
Not enough data
Time Tracking
8.8
71
Not enough data
8.9
76
Not enough data
8.9
77
Not enough data
Client Invoicing
9.0
136
Not enough data
8.4
119
Not enough data
8.2
124
Not enough data
Mobile Time Tracking
8.6
76
Not enough data
Administration
7.2
105
Not enough data
7.8
106
Not enough data
7.6
113
Not enough data
7.2
103
Not enough data
7.9
111
Not enough data
Platform
8.3
128
Not enough data
7.2
97
Not enough data
7.0
94
Not enough data
9.0
126
Not enough data
8.3
115
Not enough data
7.0
99
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
FreshBooks and Gusto are categorized as Payroll
Unique Categories
FreshBooks is categorized as Time Tracking, Expense Management, Billing, Accounting, and Payment Processing
Gusto is categorized as Contractor Payments, Contractor Management, Time & Attendance, Onboarding, Benefits Administration, Core HR, HCM Software, and Performance Management
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
FreshBooks
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Gusto
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Small-Business
(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market
(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise
(> 1000 emp.)
Reviewers' Industry
Marketing and Advertising
17.2%
Information Technology and Services
6.4%
Graphic Design
4.6%
Accounting
4.6%
Computer Software
4.2%
Other
63.0%
Non-Profit Organization Management
5.7%
Accounting
5.1%
Computer Software
5.1%
Health, Wellness and Fitness
4.7%
Hospital & Health Care
4.6%
Other
74.8%
Discussions
Does FreshBooks support recurring billing?
3 Comments
Official Response from FreshBooks
The FreshBooks employee time tracking feature allows employees to log and track time easily to their own time sheet. Account administrators get the final say...Read more
What is the best way to manage deposits against future work as a consultant?
2 Comments
DL
Hi Mark,
You most likely would benefit from the retainer feature in FB which allows you to track time against a retainer payment....Read more
How do you like using Freshbooks
2 Comments
ZB
Hi Rodney,
We have used Freshbooks since 2013, and are in no way affiliated with them.
For the most part, our experience overall has been positive,...Read more
Is there an app for Gusto payroll?
4 Comments
TC
No, only for employees. You can only run payroll using a browser.Read more
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