Gusto Demo: How to Try Before You Buy (And What You'll Actually See)

Looking for a Gusto demo? Good news: you don't need to sit through a sales pitch or wait for a callback. Gusto offers multiple ways to explore their payroll platform before committing a dime.

Here's exactly how to access a Gusto demo, what you'll see inside, and whether the platform is worth your time.

How to Access the Gusto Demo

Gusto offers two main options for trying out their platform:

Option 1: Instant Demo (No Sign-Up Required)

Gusto has an instant demo available at gusto.com/instant-demo. This lets you explore the payroll interface and see how the platform works without creating an account. It's a quick walkthrough that shows you the basics of running payroll.

Option 2: Free Account Setup (The Better Option)

Here's what most people don't realize: Gusto lets you create a full account for free. You can set up your account, explore all the features, onboard employees, and test everything out—without paying anything.

You only start paying when you actually run payroll. No credit card required upfront. No contracts. Cancel anytime.

This means you can spend a week (or a month) getting comfortable with the platform before deciding if it's right for you. That's a much better test than any canned demo could provide.

Try Gusto Free →

What You'll See in the Gusto Demo

Whether you use the instant demo or set up a free account, here's what Gusto's platform includes:

Payroll Processing

The core of Gusto is payroll, and it's genuinely easy to use. You can run payroll in just a few clicks, and the platform handles all the tax calculations automatically. They file federal, state, and local payroll taxes on your behalf—including W-2s, 1099s, Form 940, and Form 941.

All plans include unlimited payroll runs, so you won't get hit with extra fees for off-cycle payments or bonus runs.

Employee Self-Service

New hires enter their own information through a paperless onboarding flow. They can complete tax forms, set up direct deposit, access company policies, and sign documents before their first day. After that, employees can view paystubs and W-2s anytime through the self-service portal.

Benefits Administration

Gusto offers health insurance, 401(k), HSAs, FSAs, commuter benefits, and workers' comp. The demo shows how employees can self-enroll, compare options, and manage their benefits while you track enrollment and automate deductions.

Time Tracking

Built-in time tracking with geolocation is available on Plus and Premium plans (or as an add-on for Simple). Hours sync directly with payroll, so you don't have to manually enter anything.

Integrations

Gusto integrates with over 180 apps including QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Expensify, Slack, and more. The demo shows how payroll data automatically syncs with your accounting software.

Gusto Pricing: What You'll Pay After the Demo

Once you're done exploring, here's what Gusto will cost. For a deeper dive, check out our Gusto pricing breakdown.

Quick math: A 10-person team on the Simple plan pays $109/month ($49 + $60). On the Plus plan, that jumps to $200/month ($80 + $120).

What's Good About Gusto

• Actually easy to use: The interface is clean and intuitive. Most users can set up payroll in under 30 minutes, even without prior experience.
• Automatic tax filing: Gusto calculates, withholds, and files payroll taxes in all 50 states. This alone saves hours of headaches.
• No contracts: Month-to-month billing. Cancel anytime with no penalties.
• Unlimited payroll runs: No extra charges for off-cycle payments, which is huge if you have bonuses or corrections.
• Solid integrations: Works with most accounting software without manual data entry.

What's Not So Great

• Customer support limitations: Phone and chat support is available Monday-Friday, 6am-6pm MST. That's it. Priority support costs extra ($30/month + $3 per person) unless you're on Premium.
• No same-day deposits: Even on higher tiers, you're looking at next-day direct deposit at best. Some competitors offer same-day.
• Multi-state gets expensive: Multi-state payroll is only available on Plus and Premium. If you have employees in multiple states, the Simple plan won't work.
• Add-on costs add up: Benefits like 401(k), workers' comp, and FSAs are all paid add-ons. The base price doesn't include everything.

Gusto vs. the Competition

If you're evaluating Gusto against other payroll providers, here's how it stacks up:

Gusto vs. ADP: Gusto is significantly cheaper and easier to use for small businesses under 50 employees. ADP makes more sense for larger companies with complex needs. See our full Gusto vs ADP comparison.

Gusto vs. Paychex: Paychex bundles more benefits into their plans, but pricing is less transparent. Gusto wins on ease of use and pricing clarity. Read our Gusto vs Paychex comparison.

Gusto vs. QuickBooks Payroll: If you're already using QuickBooks for accounting, QuickBooks Payroll might integrate more seamlessly. But Gusto offers better HR tools and employee experience. Check out Gusto vs QuickBooks Payroll.

Who Should Use Gusto?

Gusto is ideal for:

• Small to mid-sized businesses (2-100 employees)
• Companies that want payroll + basic HR in one platform
• Businesses without dedicated HR staff
• Teams that value a modern, clean user experience
• Companies hiring W-2 employees and/or 1099 contractors

Gusto probably isn't the right fit if:

• You need same-day direct deposit
• You have 100+ employees (look at more enterprise solutions)
• You need extensive customization or complex payroll configurations
• You're on a very tight budget and only need basic payroll (check out other payroll options)

How to Get Started

Skip the demo video—just sign up for a free account and poke around yourself. You'll get a much better sense of whether Gusto works for your business by actually using it.

Set up takes about 10 minutes. Add your company info, invite an employee or two, and explore the payroll flow. You won't be charged until you actually run your first payroll.

Start Your Free Gusto Account →

Bottom Line

Gusto's demo approach is actually better than most: instead of watching a sales video, you can use the real product for free until you're ready to run payroll. That's a more honest trial than most competitors offer.

The platform delivers on its promise of easy payroll with built-in HR tools. It's not the cheapest option and it's not the most feature-rich, but for most small businesses, it hits the sweet spot between simplicity and capability.

For more details on what you'll actually pay, read our complete Gusto cost breakdown or Gusto reviews from real users.