Compare Gusto and QuickBooks Desktop Pro 
At a Glance
Market Segments
Small-Business (84.0% of reviews)
Small-Business (81.2% of reviews)
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $49.00 Per Month
$499.95
Gusto
Star Rating
(9,051)4.6 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (84.0% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
Starting at $49.00 Per Month
Free Trial is available
Browse all 3 pricing plansQuickBooks Desktop Pro
Star Rating
(1,754)4.3 out of 5
Market Segments
Small-Business (81.2% of reviews)
Pros & Cons
Entry-Level Pricing
$499.95
Browse all 5 pricing plansSummary
AI Generated Summary
AI-generated. Powered by real user reviews.
- G2 reviewers report that Gusto excels in user-friendliness, with many users appreciating its intuitive design that simplifies payroll and HR tasks. One user noted, "I like Gusto because it’s simple in the best way: it’s easy to use without feeling stripped down."
- Users say QuickBooks Desktop Pro offers robust accounting features, making it a strong choice for financial management. Reviewers highlighted its efficiency in managing invoicing, expenses, and financial reporting, stating, "I use QuickBooks Desktop Pro for managing accounting, invoicing, expenses, and financial reporting efficiently."
- According to verified reviews, Gusto's implementation process is notably quick and straightforward, with users mentioning that it provides a "user-friendly and organized pathway for many of our HR systems," which helps streamline onboarding and offboarding processes.
- Reviewers mention that QuickBooks Desktop Pro has a solid reputation for reliable reporting and powerful features, with one user appreciating its "ease of use" and the clarity of its tools, which are tailored for specific tasks.
- G2 reviewers highlight that Gusto's customer support is highly rated, with users noting the responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team, which contributes to a smoother experience when addressing issues or questions.
- Users report that while QuickBooks Desktop Pro is effective for payroll, it can sometimes lead to confusion during administrative tasks, whereas Gusto's streamlined approach helps avoid such pitfalls, making payroll management more efficient and less stressful.
Pricing
Entry-Level Pricing
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
QuickBooks Desktop Pro
QuickBooks Premier 2017
$499.95
Skip the high cost networking with QuickBooks Plus Hosting Service powered by Right Networks.
- One-time payment
- 60-day money-back guarantee
Free Trial
Gusto
Free Trial is available
QuickBooks Desktop Pro
Free Trial is available
Ratings
Meets Requirements
9.4
6,704
8.9
1,492
Ease of Use
9.5
6,918
8.6
1,499
Ease of Setup
9.3
5,542
8.3
635
Ease of Admin
9.3
2,346
8.6
626
Quality of Support
9.0
5,576
7.7
1,321
Has the product been a good partner in doing business?
9.1
2,342
8.2
609
Product Direction (% positive)
9.2
6,777
7.5
1,482
Features by Category
Core HR
8.8
906
Not enough data
9.0
936
Not enough data
8.1
796
Not enough data
8.6
846
Not enough data
8.8
869
Not enough data
8.7
876
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.2
473
Not enough data
Platform
8.2
2246
Not enough data
8.0
2048
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.9
2284
Not enough data
9.2
2287
Not enough data
8.9
2191
Not enough data
8.8
2251
Not enough data
9.1
2270
Not enough data
General Ledger
Not enough data
8.7
947
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
610
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
764
|
Verified
Accounts Receivable
Not enough data
8.6
940
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
730
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.1
599
|
Verified
Accounts Payable
Not enough data
8.6
755
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
852
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
659
|
Verified
Other Functionality
Not enough data
8.2
453
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.2
474
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
461
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
580
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
580
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.9
910
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
651
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
649
Reporting & Analytics
Not enough data
9.0
1000
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
970
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
740
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
874
|
Verified
Platform
Not enough data
8.0
823
|
Verified
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.5
884
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.5
531
Not enough data
8.6
954
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
862
|
Verified
Integration
Not enough data
8.2
835
|
Verified
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Cash Flow
Not enough data
8.9
126
|
Verified
Not enough data
9.1
141
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.9
131
|
Verified
Budgeting & Forecasting
Not enough data
8.4
740
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.4
115
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.3
90
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.7
115
|
Verified
Revenue
Not enough data
8.9
122
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.8
105
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.6
91
Payroll
Not enough data
8.7
96
Not enough data
8.8
108
Not enough data
8.7
108
|
Verified
Not enough data
8.9
121
|
Verified
AI
Not enough data
6.1
15
Not enough data
7.0
15
Not enough data
6.4
15
Not enough data
6.6
15
Not enough data
6.7
15
Not enough data
5.3
15
Not enough data
8.2
15
Not enough data
8.0
16
Not enough data
7.1
15
Not enough data
7.3
15
Mobile Applications - Accounting
Not enough data
8.1
12
Not enough data
7.5
10
Not enough data
7.8
10
Not enough data
5.0
11
Not enough data
6.7
11
Not enough data
7.6
11
Agentic AI - Accounting
Not enough data
4.6
8
Employee Self Service
9.5
5245
|
Verified
8.4
230
|
Verified
8.9
4720
|
Verified
8.4
193
|
Verified
9.0
4761
|
Verified
8.2
170
|
Verified
Administration
9.4
5095
|
Verified
9.0
462
|
Verified
9.1
4654
|
Verified
8.5
333
|
Verified
9.6
5115
|
Verified
9.0
331
|
Verified
8.9
4463
|
Verified
8.7
353
|
Verified
9.2
4675
|
Verified
8.7
386
|
Verified
8.8
4166
|
Verified
8.7
310
|
Verified
9.1
4375
|
Verified
8.8
276
|
Verified
9.2
4552
|
Verified
9.1
415
|
Verified
9.2
4550
|
Verified
9.0
344
|
Verified
Taxes
9.3
4916
|
Verified
9.1
430
|
Verified
9.2
4772
|
Verified
8.9
114
Feature Not Available
8.8
335
|
Verified
Integration
8.6
4120
|
Verified
8.4
255
|
Verified
8.8
4123
|
Verified
8.2
89
8.8
4177
|
Verified
8.6
293
|
Verified
8.6
3903
|
Verified
8.3
72
Platform
9.0
4628
|
Verified
8.7
445
|
Verified
9.2
4593
|
Verified
8.9
437
|
Verified
9.3
4914
|
Verified
8.7
464
|
Verified
9.2
4483
|
Verified
8.7
410
|
Verified
Benefits Administration Platform Features
9.0
1361
Not enough data
8.9
1314
Not enough data
8.4
1219
Not enough data
9.0
1333
Not enough data
9.1
1308
Not enough data
9.2
1347
Not enough data
9.0
1277
Not enough data
8.8
1253
Not enough data
Benefits Administration Platform Features
9.0
1361
Not enough data
8.9
1314
Not enough data
8.4
1219
Not enough data
9.0
1333
Not enough data
9.1
1308
Not enough data
9.2
1347
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
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.2
839
Not enough data
7.2
836
Not enough data
7.1
831
Not enough data
Platform
8.2
2246
Not enough data
8.0
2048
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.9
2284
Not enough data
9.2
2287
Not enough data
8.9
2191
Not enough data
8.8
2251
Not enough data
9.1
2270
Not enough data
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
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
Not enough data
Monitoring
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Not enough data
Platform Basics
8.5
183
Not enough data
9.2
192
Not enough data
8.9
183
Not enough data
Platform Performance
8.8
190
Not enough data
8.5
177
Not enough data
Platform Functionality
9.0
185
Not enough data
8.5
180
Not enough data
8.8
177
Not enough data
Platform Additional Functionality
8.8
180
Not enough data
8.4
174
Not enough data
8.1
171
Not enough data
Generative AI
7.3
157
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
Not enough data
8.9
84
Not enough data
9.2
75
Not enough data
9.1
71
Bill Processing
Not enough data
8.7
70
Not enough data
8.8
75
Not enough data
9.1
81
Integration
Not enough data
9.0
89
Not enough data
9.0
85
Not enough data
8.6
61
Agentic AI - Billing
Not enough data
4.0
5
Platform Basics
9.2
772
Not enough data
9.2
777
Not enough data
Platform Administration
8.6
710
Not enough data
9.1
756
Not enough data
9.0
762
Not enough data
Platform Payment Content
9.0
759
Not enough data
8.4
651
Not enough data
9.1
736
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
Not enough data
Not enough data
Generative AI
Not enough data
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Onboarding
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
Not enough data
Platform Content
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
Not enough data
Platform Additional Functionality
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
Not enough data
Platform Data
8.4
1018
Not enough data
8.7
1058
Not enough data
8.8
1041
Not enough data
Platform
8.2
2246
Not enough data
8.0
2048
Not enough data
Feature Not Available
Not enough data
8.9
2284
Not enough data
9.2
2287
Not enough data
8.9
2191
Not enough data
8.8
2251
Not enough data
9.1
2270
Not enough data
Recruiting and Onboarding
8.0
992
Not enough data
9.0
1106
Not enough data
Agentic AI - Accounting & Finance
Not enough data
Not enough data
Categories
Categories
Shared Categories
Gusto and QuickBooks Desktop Pro are categorized as Payroll
Unique Categories
Gusto is categorized as Contractor Payments, Contractor Management, Time & Attendance, Onboarding, Benefits Administration, Core HR, HCM Software, and Performance Management
QuickBooks Desktop Pro is categorized as Billing and Accounting
Reviews
Reviewers' Company Size
Gusto
Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
QuickBooks Desktop Pro
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
Non-Profit Organization Management
5.6%
Computer Software
5.1%
Accounting
5.1%
Health, Wellness and Fitness
4.7%
Hospital & Health Care
4.6%
Other
74.9%
Accounting
17.0%
Construction
6.8%
Non-Profit Organization Management
5.5%
Marketing and Advertising
3.4%
Information Technology and Services
3.2%
Other
64.0%
Discussions
Is there an app for Gusto payroll?
4 Comments
DL
Yes there is just look for GUSTO app to download to your phone doesnt matter if you have OS or Android its available for bothRead more
Why doesn't Gusto take responsibility and rectify the pay problems that they have caused?
2 Comments
Official Response from Gusto
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...Read more
Does Quickbooks allow you to charge customers on a recurring basis?
I know that quickbooks is kind of the gold standard when it comes to accounting software, but does it have an online payment gateway?
2 Comments
EM
It can be set up in a few easy steps. Check out this guide: http://www.qbexpress.com/how-to-setup-recurring-charges-for-customers-in-quickbooks/Read more
Best unique feature ?
2 Comments
MA
User interface is simply fantastic. It has got a beautiful interface with excel. Like anything and everything in software can be exported and imported...Read more
What plans are there to migrate the features from quick books online?
2 Comments
BL
My understanding is that QuickBooks Desktop is more in "Maintenance Mode" right now. I would not expect big new features added to desktop.
As an example,...Read more
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