# FreshBooks vs Gusto Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Gusto excels in user experience, with many praising its intuitive interface and ease of navigation. Users appreciate how the platform feels low-pressure to use, making it a great choice for those who may be new to payroll systems.
- **According to verified reviews** , FreshBooks shines in its invoicing and expense tracking capabilities. Users highlight features like the ability to add bank entries directly into the system and access to clear, easy-to-understand reports, which help them stay organized and get paid faster.
- **Users say** that Gusto's time tracking options are a standout feature, making it easier for businesses to manage employee hours effectively. This functionality is particularly beneficial for small businesses looking to streamline their payroll processes.
- **Reviewers mention** that FreshBooks offers a solid experience for small businesses, with features like automatic recurring payments and clearly laid out line items. However, some users feel it may not fully meet their specific workflow needs, indicating potential configuration challenges.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** that Gusto has a strong market presence and a wealth of user feedback, which contributes to its high satisfaction ratings. This extensive user base suggests that Gusto is a reliable choice for businesses seeking a well-supported payroll solution.
- **According to recent feedback** , while FreshBooks has a commendable quality of support, Gusto's overall support experience is slightly less favorable, with users noting that Gusto's support could be improved despite its robust platform capabilities.



| | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 974 | 10,509 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Small-Business (86.4% of reviews) | Small-Business (84.0% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Starting at $2.30 Per Month | Starting at $49.00 Per Month | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### FreshBooks

Pros:
- Ease of Use (208 reviews)
- Customer Support (113 reviews)

Cons:
- Invoicing Issues (40 reviews)
- Limited Features (34 reviews)

### Gusto

Pros:
- Ease of Use (5642 reviews)
- Payroll Ease (2984 reviews)

Cons:
- Missing Features (614 reviews)
- Poor Customer Support (601 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.8 (774 reviews) | 9.4 (7534 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 9.1 (876 reviews) | 9.5 (7769 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 9.2 (474 reviews) | 9.3 (6345 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 9.2 (337 reviews) | 9.3 (2380 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 9.2 (721 reviews) | 9.0 (6266 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 9.2 (332 reviews) | 9.1 (2377 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.7 (768 reviews) | 9.2 (7506 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### FreshBooks

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Lite

Price: Starting at $2.30 Per Month

Description: For professionals with basic needs

Key Features:
- Send unlimited invoices to up to 5 clients
- Track unlimited expenses
- Send unlimited estimates

[Browse all 4 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/freshbooks/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Gusto

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Simple Plan

Price: Starting at $49.00 Per Month

Description: For small businesses or s-corps needing basic payroll.

Key Features:
- Full-service single-state payroll including W-2s and 1099s
- Basic support
-  Employee profiles and self-service

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/gusto/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Core HR

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | 8.6/10 | 2851 |

#### Core HR

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Organization Management** | Not enough data | 8.8 (915 reviews) | 
| **Time, Attendance, and PTO** | Not enough data | 9.0 (961 reviews) | 
| **Expense Management** | Not enough data | 8.1 (804 reviews) | 
| **Salary Structures** | Not enough data | 8.6 (852 reviews) | 
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | 8.8 (881 reviews) | 
| **Benefits Administration** | Not enough data | 8.8 (889 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | 7.2 (474 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Customization ** | Not enough data | 8.2 (2276 reviews) | 
| **Integration APIs** | Not enough data | 8.0 (2077 reviews) | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | 8.9 (2320 reviews) | 
| **Performance** | Not enough data | 9.2 (2379 reviews) | 
| **Mobility** | Not enough data | 8.9 (2263 reviews) | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.7 (2311 reviews) | 
| **Dashboards** | Not enough data | 9.1 (2294 reviews) | 

### Expense Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | 7.4/10 | 150 |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Expense Reports

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Creating Expense Reports** | 8.6 (106 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Bank / Credit Card Integration** | 8.0 (100 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Smart Categorization** | 7.6 (99 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Receipt Management** | 8.1 (98 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Employee Reimbursement** | 7.1 (80 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Currency Conversions** | 7.2 (87 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Credit Card Integration** | 7.9 (90 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Expense Management

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cross-system Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Travel Management

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Booking** | 6.8 (79 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Itinerary Management** | 6.5 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Trip Notifications** | 6.1 (71 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Advanced Integrations** | 6.5 (72 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Client Invoicing

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Invoice Creation and Delivery** | 9.0 (136 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Electronic Payments** | 8.4 (119 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Project Accounting / Revenue Recognition** | 8.2 (124 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Generative AI - Expense Management

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Image-to-Text** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Mobile

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Receipt Capture** | 8.2 (84 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Mileage Tracking** | 6.9 (81 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Travel Itinerary and Flight Status Updates** | 5.6 (73 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Embedded AI / Machine Learning** | 6.2 (63 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Complex Approval Workflow** | 6.3 (66 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **PCI Regulation Compliant** | 7.0 (63 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Business Tool Integration** | 7.2 (105 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow** | 7.8 (106 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Automated Reminders** | 7.6 (113 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Compliance Management** | 7.2 (103 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | 7.9 (111 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reporting** | 8.3 (128 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **APIs / Integration** | 7.2 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Internationalization** | 7.0 (94 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | 9.0 (126 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile User Support** | 8.3 (115 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Offline** | 7.0 (99 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Accounting

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | 8.0/10 | 451 |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### General Ledger

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Journal Entries** | 8.1 (234 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Tags / Dimensions** | 7.8 (228 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Trail** | 8.1 (224 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Accounts Receivable

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Invoice Customization** | 8.7 (398 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **AR Automation** | 8.5 (310 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Collections Automation** | 8.2 (275 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Accounts Payable

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AP Automation** | 8.2 (271 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Payment Processing** | 8.7 (328 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Purchase Orders** | 7.6 (142 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Other Functionality

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Inventory Tracking / Ordering** | 7.1 (125 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Inventory Pricing and Costing** | Feature Not Available | Not enough data | 
| **Inventory Reporting** | 7.5 (157 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Entity / Consolidation** | 7.0 (128 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Recognition Rules** | 7.2 (132 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Reconciliations** | 7.5 (144 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Payroll** | 7.6 (154 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Time and Expense** | 8.6 (319 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Reporting & Analytics

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Financial Statements** | 8.7 (365 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Custom Reporting** | 8.1 (201 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Budgeting / Forecasting** | 7.6 (191 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Dashboards** | 8.8 (387 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Customization** | 7.9 (164 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow Capability** | 7.6 (151 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | 8.4 (288 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Internationalization** | 7.4 (137 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | 9.0 (380 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Output Document Generation** | 8.3 (153 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Import and Export Tools** | 8.2 (271 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Integration APIs** | 8.0 (194 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Breadth of Partner Applications** | 7.6 (217 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Cash Flow

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Track Cash Flow** | 8.3 (202 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Income and Expenses** | 8.8 (288 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **File Exports** | 8.4 (244 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Budgeting & Forecasting

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Budgeting / Forecasting** | 7.6 (191 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Data Import** | 8.1 (165 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Versioning** | 7.6 (136 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Historical Data** | 8.2 (203 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### Revenue

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Revenue Types** | 8.4 (227 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Revenue Allocation** | 7.8 (169 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Scheduling** | 8.0 (163 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Payroll

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Direct Deposit** | 7.8 (112 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Check/W-2 Printing** | 7.4 (105 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Tax Calculation** | 7.7 (114 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 
| **Reporting and Dashboards** | 8.2 (124 reviews) ✓ Verified | Not enough data | 

#### AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Data Extraction** | 7.6 (38 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Invoice Processing** | 7.5 (35 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Expense Management** | 7.8 (35 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Fraud Detection** | 7.5 (36 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Tax Compliance** | 7.4 (35 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Support Chatbots** | 7.0 (38 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Bank Reconciliations** | 7.3 (45 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Report Generation** | 7.6 (39 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Alerts** | 7.0 (42 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Predictive Analytics** | 7.4 (37 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Mobile Applications - Accounting

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Cloud Integration** | 9.2 (12 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Notifications** | 8.9 (11 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **UI** | 9.0 (13 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Offline** | 7.8 (10 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Expense Tracking** | 8.5 (12 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Invoice Management** | 8.6 (15 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Accounting

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Payroll

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | 8.3/10 | 17 |
| **Gusto** | 9.1/10 | 6783 |

#### Employee Self Service

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Web Portal** | Feature Not Available | 9.5 (5486 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Benefits Manager** | Feature Not Available | 8.9 (4830 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Mobile** | Feature Not Available | 9.0 (4875 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Payroll Entry** | 8.6 (15 reviews) | 9.4 (5313 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Time Off Accrual** | Feature Not Available | 9.1 (4805 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Direct Deposit** | 9.3 (16 reviews) | 9.6 (5238 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Expense Reimbursement** | 8.3 (11 reviews) | 8.9 (4500 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Pre-tax Deductions** | Feature Not Available | 9.2 (4716 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Wage Garnishment** | 7.6 (14 reviews) | 8.8 (4176 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Approvals** | Feature Not Available | 9.1 (4392 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Check/W-2 Printing** | Feature Not Available | 9.2 (4572 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Check/W-2 Delivery** | Feature Not Available | 9.2 (4563 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Taxes

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Tax Calculation** | 8.0 (17 reviews) | 9.3 (5068 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Tax Filing** | 7.7 (14 reviews) | 9.2 (4881 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Automatic Tax Payment** | 7.9 (14 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 

#### Integration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **API / Integration** | Feature Not Available | 8.6 (4216 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Time Tracking Integration** | Feature Not Available | 8.8 (4147 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Accounting Integration** | 7.9 (13 reviews) | 8.8 (4209 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Core HR Integration** | Feature Not Available | 8.6 (3908 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reporting and Dashboards** | 8.1 (14 reviews) | 9.0 (4690 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | 8.7 (15 reviews) | 9.2 (4620 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | 8.7 (13 reviews) | 9.3 (5194 reviews) ✓ Verified | 
| **Scalability** | 8.6 (14 reviews) | 9.2 (4533 reviews) ✓ Verified | 

### Benefits Administration

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | 8.7/10 | 2853 |

#### Benefits Administration Platform Features

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Benefits Record Management** | Not enough data | 9.0 (1365 reviews) | 
| **Enrollment Planning** | Not enough data | 8.9 (1317 reviews) | 
| **Third-Party Carrier Integration** | Not enough data | 8.4 (1223 reviews) | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | 9.0 (1342 reviews) | 
| **Total Compensation Statements** | Not enough data | 9.1 (1311 reviews) | 
| **Self-Service Portal** | Not enough data | 9.2 (1357 reviews) | 
| **Regulatory Compliance** | Not enough data | 9.0 (1279 reviews) | 
| **Mobile Benefits Access** | Not enough data | 8.8 (1256 reviews) | 

#### Benefits Administration Platform Features

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Benefits Record Management** | Not enough data | 9.0 (1365 reviews) | 
| **Enrollment Planning** | Not enough data | 8.9 (1317 reviews) | 
| **Third-Party Carrier Integration** | Not enough data | 8.4 (1223 reviews) | 
| **Document Management** | Not enough data | 9.0 (1342 reviews) | 
| **Total Compensation Statements** | Not enough data | 9.1 (1311 reviews) | 
| **Self-Service Portal** | Not enough data | 9.2 (1357 reviews) | 
| **Regulatory Compliance** | Not enough data | 9.0 (1279 reviews) | 
| **Benefits Dashboards** | Not enough data | 9.1 (932 reviews) | 
| **Mobile Benefits Access** | Not enough data | 8.8 (1256 reviews) | 
| **Integrations / APIs** | Not enough data | 8.5 (1061 reviews) | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | 8.3 (977 reviews) | 
| **Mobility** | Not enough data | 8.9 (1043 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | 7.2 (840 reviews) | 
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | 7.2 (837 reviews) | 
| **AI Image-to-Text** | Not enough data | 7.1 (832 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Customization ** | Not enough data | 8.2 (2276 reviews) | 
| **Integration APIs** | Not enough data | 8.0 (2077 reviews) | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | 8.9 (2320 reviews) | 
| **Performance** | Not enough data | 9.2 (2379 reviews) | 
| **Mobility** | Not enough data | 8.9 (2263 reviews) | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.7 (2311 reviews) | 
| **Dashboards** | Not enough data | 9.1 (2294 reviews) | 

### Time & Attendance

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | 9.3/10 | 117 |

#### Automation

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Process Automation** | Not enough data | 9.2 (36 reviews) | 

#### Logistics

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Dashboards & Reporting** | Not enough data | 9.1 (9 reviews) | 
| **Data Collection** | Not enough data | 8.8 (27 reviews) | 
| **Lanuguage Options** | Not enough data | 10.0 (5 reviews) | 

#### Management

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Schedule Creation Tools** | Not enough data | 7.9 (18 reviews) | 
| **Schedule Management** | Not enough data | 9.3 (32 reviews) | 
| **Employee Leave Management** | Not enough data | 9.6 (12 reviews) | 
| **User Access** | Not enough data | 9.0 (12 reviews) | 
| **User Role Access** | Not enough data | 9.1 (15 reviews) | 
| **Employee Information** | Not enough data | 10.0 (28 reviews) | 
| **Employee Information Automation** | Not enough data | 7.5 (6 reviews) | 

#### Monitoring

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Regulations Enforcement** | Not enough data | 10.0 (9 reviews) | 
| **Compliance Monitoring** | Not enough data | 10.0 (9 reviews) | 
| **Integration** | Not enough data | 10.0 (10 reviews) | 

### Contractor Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | 8.6/10 | 203 |

#### Platform Basics

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Interoperability** | Not enough data | 8.5 (186 reviews) | 
| **Performance** | Not enough data | 9.2 (195 reviews) | 
| **Portal** | Not enough data | 8.9 (186 reviews) | 

#### Platform Performance

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.8 (193 reviews) | 
| **Application Monitoring** | Not enough data | 8.5 (179 reviews) | 

#### Platform Functionality

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Document management** | Not enough data | 9.1 (189 reviews) | 
| **Requalification** | Not enough data | 8.5 (182 reviews) | 
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | 8.8 (180 reviews) | 

#### Platform Additional Functionality

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Onboarding** | Not enough data | 8.9 (184 reviews) | 
| **Pre-qualifiation** | Not enough data | 8.4 (176 reviews) | 
| **Onsite Monitoring** | Not enough data | 8.1 (173 reviews) | 

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | 7.3 (159 reviews) | 

### Payment Processing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | 7.5/10 | 100 |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Payment Processing

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Encryption** | 8.3 (80 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Credit Card Processing** | 8.5 (87 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile Payments** | 8.2 (79 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Wallet Integration** | 7.3 (67 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reporting & Analytics** | 8.3 (84 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **E-commerce Integration** | 6.8 (68 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Processing Fees** | 6.6 (84 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **POS Integration** | 7.0 (64 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Omnichannel** | 7.1 (66 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Levels 1 & 2** | 6.8 (67 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Level 3** | 7.0 (67 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Payment Options

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-Currency** | 7.3 (64 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Online payment portal** | 8.4 (75 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Security

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **POS Verification** | 7.4 (62 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Accounting integration** | 7.6 (67 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **E-commerce Integration** | 7.1 (64 reviews) | Not enough data | 

### Performance Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | 10.0/10 | 6 |

#### Performance reviews

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **360 Reviews** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Customizable Forms** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Review Status Tracking** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Goals

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Goal-Setting** | Not enough data | 10.0 (5 reviews) | 
| **Company Goals And OKRs** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Feedback

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Continuous Feedback** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Requesting Feedback** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **1-On-1 Meetings** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Public Praise** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Data

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Dashboards And Reports** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Historical Data** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Performance Management

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Multi-step Planning** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Billing

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | 8.0/10 | 161 |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Bill Generation

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Templates** | 8.4 (143 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Digital Billing** | 8.6 (146 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Recurring Billing** | 8.3 (134 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Bill Processing

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Consolidation** | 7.6 (128 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Batch Invoicing** | 7.8 (124 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Management** | 8.3 (127 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Integration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Accounting** | 7.9 (131 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Payments** | 8.4 (133 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **ERP** | 7.1 (102 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Agentic AI - Billing

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Contractor Payments

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | 8.9/10 | 837 |

#### Platform Basics

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Performance** | Not enough data | 9.2 (773 reviews) | 
| **Portal** | Not enough data | 9.2 (778 reviews) | 

#### Platform Administration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Integrations** | Not enough data | 8.6 (711 reviews) | 
| **Compliance** | Not enough data | 9.1 (758 reviews) | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.9 (763 reviews) | 

#### Platform Payment Content

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Document management** | Not enough data | 9.0 (761 reviews) | 
| **Invoicing Tool** | Not enough data | 8.4 (652 reviews) | 
| **Wage access** | Not enough data | 9.1 (737 reviews) | 

### HCM Software

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Talent Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Recruiting

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Generation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Talent Acquisition Suites

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Generative AI

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **AI Text Summarization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Onboarding

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | 8.6/10 | 2823 |

#### Agentic AI - Onboarding

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | 7.7 (246 reviews) | 
| **Adaptive Learning** | Not enough data | 7.9 (246 reviews) | 
| **Natural Language Interaction** | Not enough data | 7.8 (250 reviews) | 
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | 8.0 (252 reviews) | 
| **Decision Making** | Not enough data | 8.0 (249 reviews) | 

#### Platform Content

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Forms Library** | Not enough data | 8.7 (1162 reviews) | 
| **E-Forms** | Not enough data | 9.1 (1191 reviews) | 
| **E-Signature** | Not enough data | 9.3 (1198 reviews) | 
| **Background Checks** | Not enough data | 8.4 (1098 reviews) | 
| **Offer Letter Approvals** | Not enough data | 8.8 (1108 reviews) | 
| **Offer Letter Templates** | Not enough data | 8.6 (1100 reviews) | 

#### Platform Additional Functionality

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Self-Service Portal** | Not enough data | 9.3 (1172 reviews) | 
| **Automated Team Introductions** | Not enough data | 8.8 (1095 reviews) | 
| **Compliance Training** | Not enough data | 8.5 (1072 reviews) | 
| **Automated Onboarding Workflows** | Not enough data | 8.9 (1124 reviews) | 
| **Onboarding Notifications** | Not enough data | 9.1 (1149 reviews) | 

#### Platform Data

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Time-to-Productivity Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.4 (1021 reviews) | 
| **Onboarding Process Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.7 (1063 reviews) | 
| **Visualization** | Not enough data | 8.8 (1044 reviews) | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Customization ** | Not enough data | 8.2 (2276 reviews) | 
| **Integration APIs** | Not enough data | 8.0 (2077 reviews) | 
| **Internationalization** | Not enough data | Feature Not Available | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | Not enough data | 8.9 (2320 reviews) | 
| **Performance** | Not enough data | 9.2 (2379 reviews) | 
| **Mobility** | Not enough data | 8.9 (2263 reviews) | 
| **Reporting** | Not enough data | 8.7 (2311 reviews) | 
| **Dashboards** | Not enough data | 9.1 (2294 reviews) | 

#### Recruiting and Onboarding

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Interview Scheduling** | Not enough data | 8.0 (995 reviews) | 
| **Onboarding** | Not enough data | 9.0 (1182 reviews) | 

### Accounting & Finance

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | N/A | N/A |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Agentic AI - Accounting & Finance

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Autonomous Task Execution** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Time Tracking

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **FreshBooks** | 8.1/10 | 145 |
| **Gusto** | N/A | N/A |

#### Time Tracking

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Ease of Completing Timesheets** | 8.8 (71 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Tracking Time to Project/Task** | 8.9 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Billable Time Rate Management** | 8.9 (77 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Client Invoicing

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Invoice Creation and Delivery** | 9.0 (136 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Electronic Payments** | 8.4 (119 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Project Accounting / Revenue Recognition** | 8.2 (124 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Mobile Time Tracking

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Time Tracking** | 8.6 (76 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Administration

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Business Tool Integration** | 7.2 (105 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Workflow** | 7.8 (106 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Automated Reminders** | 7.6 (113 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Policy Compliance Management** | 7.2 (103 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **User, Role, and Access Management** | 7.9 (111 reviews) | Not enough data | 

#### Platform

| Feature | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Reporting** | 8.3 (128 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **APIs / Integration** | 7.2 (97 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Internationalization** | 7.0 (94 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Reliability** | 9.0 (126 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Mobile User Support** | 8.3 (115 reviews) | Not enough data | 
| **Offline** | 7.0 (99 reviews) | Not enough data | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (1):** [Payroll Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/payroll)

**Unique to FreshBooks (5):** [Time Tracking Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/time-tracking-software), [Expense Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/expense-management), [Billing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/billing), [Accounting Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/accounting), [Payment Processing Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/payment-processing)

**Unique to Gusto (8):** [ Contractor Payment Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/contractor-payments), [Contractor Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/contractor-management), [Time & Attendance Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/time-attendance), [Onboarding Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/onboarding-software), [Benefits Administration Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/benefits-administration), [Core HR Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/core-hr), [HCM Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/hcm-software), [Performance Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/performance-management)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | FreshBooks | Gusto | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 86.4% | 84.0% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 8.9% | 15.6% | 
| **Enterprise** | 4.6% | 0.5% | 

### By Industry

#### FreshBooks

- **Marketing and Advertising:** 17.2%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 6.3%
- **Accounting:** 5.0%
- **Graphic Design:** 4.6%
- **Computer Software:** 4.1%
- **Consulting:** 3.9%
- **Design:** 3.8%
- **Management Consulting:** 3.7%
- **Internet:** 3.5%
- **Construction:** 3.3%
- **Other:** 44.6%

#### Gusto

- **Non-Profit Organization Management:** 5.7%
- **Health, Wellness and Fitness:** 4.9%
- **Computer Software:** 4.9%
- **Accounting:** 4.8%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 4.8%
- **Mental Health Care:** 4.7%
- **Marketing and Advertising:** 4.4%
- **Medical Practice:** 3.7%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 3.7%
- **Construction:** 2.9%
- **Other:** 55.7%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to FreshBooks

- [QuickBooks Desktop Pro](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-desktop-pro/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1765 reviews)
- [Xero](https://www.g2.com/products/xero/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1594 reviews)
- [NetSuite](https://www.g2.com/products/netsuite/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (4775 reviews)
- [Zoho Books](https://www.g2.com/products/zoho-books/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (327 reviews)
- [Wave](https://www.g2.com/products/wave/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (323 reviews)
- [BILL AP/AR](https://www.g2.com/products/bill-ap-ar/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (1805 reviews)
- [BigTime](https://www.g2.com/products/bigtime/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (1692 reviews)
- [QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise](https://www.g2.com/products/quickbooks-desktop-enterprise/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (1056 reviews)
- [BQE CORE](https://www.g2.com/products/core-bqe-software-inc/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (449 reviews)
- [HoneyBook](https://www.g2.com/products/honeybook/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (212 reviews)

### Alternatives to Gusto

- [Rippling](https://www.g2.com/products/rippling/reviews) — 4.8/5 stars (12742 reviews)
- [Paycor](https://www.g2.com/products/paycor/reviews) — 3.9/5 stars (1333 reviews)
- [Paycom](https://www.g2.com/products/paycom/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (6389 reviews)
- [Paylocity](https://www.g2.com/products/paylocity/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (5319 reviews)
- [Paychex](https://www.g2.com/products/paychex/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (1699 reviews)
- [Namely](https://www.g2.com/products/namely/reviews) — 3.9/5 stars (331 reviews)
- [Dayforce](https://www.g2.com/products/dayforce/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (957 reviews)
- [ADP Workforce Now](https://www.g2.com/products/adp-workforce-now/reviews) — 4.2/5 stars (4219 reviews)
- [Workday HCM](https://www.g2.com/products/workday-hcm/reviews) — 4.1/5 stars (1627 reviews)
- [APS](https://www.g2.com/products/aps-aps/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (826 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### FreshBooks

- Title: [Does FreshBooks support recurring billing?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/does-freshbooks-support-recurring-billing) — 3 comments, 1 upvote *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "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..."
- Title: [What is the best way to manage deposits against future work as a consultant?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/25036-what-is-the-best-way-to-manage-deposits-against-future-work-as-a-consultant) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Hi Mark,

You most likely would benefit from the retainer feature in FB which allows you to track time against a retainer payment...."
- Title: [How do you like using Freshbooks](https://www.g2.com/discussions/24969-how-do-you-like-using-freshbooks) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "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,..."
- Title: [What is FreshBooks?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-freshbooks) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Freshbooks is an online accounting system for service based businesses and is especially useful for creating invoices and tracking expenses. "
- Title: [What is FreshBooks used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-freshbooks-used-for) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** " "What is FreshBooks used for" is easily answered when you Google - the description that is posted there: The best cloud based small business accounting..."

### Gusto

- Title: [Is there an app for Gusto payroll?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-there-an-app-for-gusto-payroll) — 4 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "No, only for employees. You can only run payroll using a browser."
- Title: [Is gusto payroll safe?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-gusto-payroll-safe) — 3 comments, 6 upvotes
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, it is secure"
- Title: [What is Gusto used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-gusto-used-for) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "payroll"
- Title: [What is gusto payroll?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-gusto-payroll) — 2 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Gusto payroll is a web client platform where you can perform payment for an employees or contractor for your owned business. Simply it is your accounting..."
- Title: [Why doesn't Gusto take responsibility and rectify the pay problems that they have caused?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/25111-why-doesn-t-gusto-take-responsibility-and-rectify-the-pay-problems-that-they-have-caused) — 2 comments, 3 upvotes *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Hi there, we see you've been in touch with several customer support advocates and managers to help go through the situation as well as provide options for..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/freshbooks-vs-gusto)