Gusto Free Trial: What You Actually Get Before Paying

Let's cut to the chase: Gusto doesn't offer a traditional time-limited free trial. Instead, they use a "free until you run payroll" model. You can set up your account, explore every feature, onboard employees, and poke around the entire platform without paying anything. The moment you hit that "Run Payroll" button? That's when billing starts.

If you're comparing this to competitors who give you 30 days and then cut you off, Gusto's approach is actually more useful. You get unlimited time to set everything up properly rather than rushing through a trial period. Want to check it out? Create a free Gusto account here and see how it works.

How Gusto's Free Setup Actually Works

Here's what you can do without paying:

Create your account - No credit card required to sign up
Set up your company details - Enter your business info, tax details, and payroll schedule
Explore all features - Time tracking, reporting, benefits administration, integrations
Add employees and contractors - Enter their information and let them self-onboard
Test the interface - Run through the motions of how payroll would work
Connect integrations - Link QuickBooks, Xero, time tracking tools, etc.

Gusto states clearly: "You won't pay a cent until you're ready to run payroll." The free setup period has no time limit. You could technically keep an account set up for months before deciding to pull the trigger on your first payroll run.

What Happens After You Run Your First Payroll

Once you actually run payroll, you're on a paid plan. Here's Gusto's current pricing structure:

Plan	Base Price	Per Employee	Best For
Simple	$49/month	$6/month	Single-state payroll, small teams
Plus	$80/month	$12/month	Multi-state, growing businesses
Premium	$180/month	$22/month	Complex needs, dedicated support
Contractor Only	$35/month	$6/contractor	Only paying 1099 workers

For a 10-person company on the Simple plan, you're looking at $49 + (10 × $6) = $109/month. On Plus, that same team costs $200/month. Not cheap, but you get unlimited payroll runs and no surprise fees for things like off-cycle payments or tax filings.

For a detailed breakdown, check out our Gusto pricing guide or Gusto cost analysis.

Understanding What "Free Setup" Really Means

During your free period, you get full access to explore Gusto's interface and see how features work. You can add employee profiles, set up pay schedules, configure tax withholdings, and even invite employees to complete their onboarding paperwork-all without entering payment information.

The platform allows you to simulate the payroll process without actually processing payments. You can see exactly how much each payroll would cost, review tax calculations, and understand the timing of direct deposits. This gives you a realistic preview of what running payroll will look like once you start paying.

One major advantage: employee self-onboarding. Your team members can log in, enter their bank details, upload tax documents, and complete I-9 verification during the free period. When you're ready to run your first payroll, all this information is already in the system.

Ways to Extend Your Free Period

There are a few legitimate ways to get more free time with Gusto:

Time & Attendance Plus Trial

If you're on the Simple plan and want to test time tracking features, Gusto offers their Time & Attendance Plus add-on free for up to 2 billing cycles. After the trial, it costs $6 per user per month. This isn't a full Gusto trial-it's specifically for the time tracking upgrade.

Partner Promotions

Through certain partners like Synder Perks, you can sometimes find promotional offers for extended free trials (up to 3 months on some deals). These partnerships come and go, so it's worth checking if any current promotions exist when you sign up.

Contractor Only Plan Discount

If you only need to pay contractors, Gusto has offered promotional pricing of $0/month base fee for the first 6 months (you'd still pay the $6 per contractor). This effectively makes it a 6-month free trial for the base fee, though it may not always be available.

What Gusto Doesn't Give You for Free

Be realistic about limitations:

No demo payroll runs - You can't test running actual payroll without triggering billing
No free plan exists - Unlike some competitors, there's no permanently free tier
Benefits require setup - Health insurance administration is free through Gusto as broker, but you still pay premiums
Add-ons cost extra - R&D tax credits, state tax registration, priority support (on lower plans) are additional fees

Breaking Down Gusto's Features You Can Test for Free

Payroll Setup and Processing

During the free period, you can configure your entire payroll system. Set up multiple pay schedules for different employee types-weekly for hourly workers, bi-weekly for salaried staff, monthly for executives. You'll see how Gusto handles multi-state payroll if you have employees in different locations.

The platform shows you exactly what the payroll review process looks like. You'll go through the steps of approving hours, reviewing deductions, and seeing the final payroll summary before submission. While you can't actually submit without paying, you get a complete understanding of the workflow.

Time Tracking and Scheduling

On Plus and Premium plans, time tracking is built in. During your free trial setup, you can enable this feature and test how employees clock in and out. The Time Kiosk feature lets you turn any tablet into a time clock-perfect for retail or restaurant environments.

Project tracking is also available during setup. You can create projects, assign employees to them, and see how hours get allocated across different clients or jobs. This is especially valuable for professional services firms that bill by the hour.

Benefits Administration

You can explore Gusto's benefits marketplace during setup. Browse health insurance plans from major carriers, compare costs, and see how employee contributions work. The system shows you 401(k) options, HSA and FSA accounts, commuter benefits, and other perks you can offer.

If you use Gusto as your health insurance broker, administration is free. If you want to keep your existing broker, there's a $6 per employee per month fee (waived on the Premium plan).

Reporting and Analytics

Access Gusto's reporting dashboard during your free period. You'll see templates for payroll summaries, tax liability reports, workers' comp reports, and custom reports. For Plus and Premium users, workforce costing reports show exactly how much each employee costs including taxes and benefits.

Integrations

Connect your accounting software during setup. Gusto integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, and FreshBooks. Set up the connection so that when you run your first payroll, the journal entries automatically sync to your books.

You can also connect time tracking tools like TSheets (now QuickBooks Time), When I Work, or Deputy. HR integrations include BambooHR, Namely, and others. Point of sale integrations work with Square, Clover, and Toast for importing tips and sales data.

Customer Support During Your Free Trial

Gusto's customer support is available Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM Mountain Standard Time. You can reach them by phone at (800) 936-0383, through live chat when signed into your account, or via email at [email protected].

During your free setup period, you have full access to support. The sales team can help you get started with your first payroll. If you have technical questions about features or setup, the support team is there to assist.

Chat support is the fastest option-Gusto reports solving most issues up to nine times faster through chat than email. For after-hours support, email is available, and responses typically come within one business day.

Is Gusto's Free Setup Better Than a Traditional Trial?

It depends on your situation.

It's better if:

You want to take your time setting up properly
You're not ready to commit to a specific payroll start date
You want your employees to self-onboard before you start paying
You need time to compare features across multiple providers
You're switching providers and need time to migrate data without time pressure
You have a complex payroll situation requiring extensive setup

A traditional trial would be better if:

You want to test actual payroll processing before committing
You need to evaluate the end-to-end experience (including how direct deposits work)
You're switching providers and want to run parallel payrolls temporarily
You need to verify tax filing accuracy with real submissions

How Gusto Compares to Competitor Free Trials

Here's what other payroll providers offer:

Square Payroll - One-month free trial included where you can run actual payroll
ADP Run - 30 days for contractor setup, no full free trial for employee payroll
Paychex - No free trial, but often has promotional discounts for new customers
QuickBooks Payroll - No traditional free trial; has a limited free plan for up to 10 employees with core features only
Rippling - Free demo available but no trial period; must commit to start billing
OnPay - One-month free trial after setup, can run real payroll

Gusto's approach of unlimited free setup actually compares favorably since you're not racing against a clock. But competitors like Square Payroll and OnPay let you actually run test payrolls during their trial, which gives you more confidence in the end-to-end process.

If you're choosing between payroll providers, we've compared Gusto head-to-head with major competitors:

Step-by-Step: Getting Started with Gusto Free

Ready to explore Gusto without paying? Here's the process:

Create your account - Visit Gusto's signup page and enter your email. No credit card needed.
Enter company information - Business name, EIN, address, banking details, payroll schedule
Add team members - Input employee/contractor information or invite them to self-onboard
Set up tax info - Federal and state tax details for your business
Configure pay rates and schedules - Hourly vs salary, pay periods, overtime rules
Explore features - Check out time tracking, benefits, reporting, integrations
Choose a plan when ready - Only then do you start paying

The entire setup can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on how complex your payroll situation is. Take your time-there's no rush during the free period.

Hidden Costs to Know About

While Gusto's pricing is transparent, some additional costs can add up:

Add-On Features

Priority Support - $30/month + $3 per person on Simple plan; $8 per person on Plus (includes HR resources)
State Tax Registration - Varies by state; Gusto helps with paperwork but charges setup fees
R&D Tax Credits - 15% of identified tax credits (discounted for Premium customers)
Health Insurance Broker Integration - $6 per eligible employee per month (free on Premium)
HSA Accounts - $2.50 per participant per month
FSA Accounts - $4 per participant per month ($20 monthly minimum)
Commuter Benefits - $4 per participant per month ($20 monthly minimum)

Premium Processing Options

Instant Pay - Funds land in employee accounts within minutes; pricing varies
Same-Day Pay - Submit during business hours, employees get paid same day; additional fee applies

International Contractor Payments

Gusto Global allows you to pay contractors in over 120 countries with no monthly per-contractor fee. However, foreign exchange rates apply, and there may be transfer fees depending on the country and payment method.

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Your Free Trial

Not Testing All Relevant Features

Many businesses sign up, poke around for 20 minutes, and then forget about it. Make a checklist of what you need to test: payroll setup, time tracking (if relevant), benefits options, reporting capabilities, and integrations with your existing tools.

Skipping Employee Onboarding

One of Gusto's best features is employee self-service. Invite your team members to complete their profiles during the free period. They can enter bank details, upload documents, and set up direct deposit-all before you pay anything.

Not Connecting Your Accounting Software

Set up the QuickBooks or Xero integration during your trial. Test how the sync works and verify that the chart of accounts mapping is correct. This prevents headaches later when you're running real payroll.

Ignoring Support Resources

Gusto has an extensive Help Center with step-by-step guides. Use your free period to watch tutorial videos, read documentation, and chat with support about any questions. This reduces the learning curve when you start paying.

What Happens When You're Ready to Run Payroll

When you submit your first payroll, here's what happens:

Plan Selection - You'll choose between Simple, Plus, or Premium based on your needs
Payment Method - Enter your company bank account for debits
Verification - Gusto may make two small test deposits to verify your account (takes 1-2 business days)
Processing Speed Selection - Choose between 4-day, 2-day, or next-day direct deposit (availability depends on plan)
First Payroll Submission - Review everything carefully, then submit
Billing Starts - Your monthly subscription begins, charged on the first day of each month

Your bank account must have sufficient funds by 4 PM Pacific Time on the debit date. If funds aren't available, Gusto charges a $100 processing fee and temporarily suspends faster payroll speeds.

Special Considerations for Different Business Types

Restaurants and Retail

Test the tip reporting features during your free period. Gusto handles both cash tips and paycheck tips, ensuring proper tax withholding. The Time Kiosk feature works well for shift workers who need to clock in at a physical location.

Professional Services

Project tracking is crucial if you bill clients by the hour. Set up projects during your trial and see how Gusto allocates employee hours across different clients. Workforce costing reports (available on Plus and Premium) show exactly how profitable each project is.

Construction and Field Services

Time tracking with geolocation helps verify that employees are at job sites when they clock in. Gusto's mobile app lets workers track time from anywhere, and managers can approve timesheets on the go.

Seasonal Businesses

You only pay for active employees each month. During your free trial, test how easy it is to deactivate seasonal workers and reactivate them later. Gusto doesn't charge for deactivated employees, making it cost-effective for businesses with fluctuating headcount.

Is Gusto Worth It After the Free Period?

After using Gusto through the free setup and running payroll, here's the verdict:

Gusto is worth it if:

You're a small to mid-sized business (under 100 employees)
You want an all-in-one platform for payroll + HR + benefits
You value an intuitive interface over enterprise features
You're okay paying a premium for a smooth experience
You need automated tax filing and compliance support
You want employees to have self-service access
You appreciate transparent pricing with no hidden fees

Look elsewhere if:

You have complex global payroll needs (Gusto Global is still limited)
You need deep integrations with enterprise systems like SAP or Oracle
You're extremely price-sensitive and have very simple payroll
You need 24/7 phone support (Gusto is weekdays only, 6 AM - 6 PM MST)
You require advanced performance management and compensation planning
You need geo-tracking for field employees (limited functionality)

Gusto holds the top spot for payroll on G2 and reports a 4.5/5 average rating from customers. Users praise the interface and time savings-one testimonial mentioned reducing monthly payroll time from a full day to under an hour.

For more details on actual user experiences, read our Gusto reviews and in-depth Gusto review.

Alternatives to Consider

While you're in research mode, also check out these payroll alternatives:

Square Payroll - Best for retail/restaurant businesses already using Square POS
OnPay - Great value for small businesses; includes HR tools at lower price point
Rippling - More robust for tech companies needing extensive IT/app management
Paychex - Better for larger teams (50+ employees) with complex needs
QuickBooks Payroll - Ideal if you're already deep in the QuickBooks ecosystem

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel Gusto anytime?

Yes. Gusto has no long-term contracts. You can cancel anytime, and you'll stop being charged at the end of your current billing cycle. There are no cancellation fees.

What if I need to change plans?

You can upgrade immediately (takes effect right away) or downgrade at the beginning of your next billing cycle (first of the month). This flexibility lets you scale up or down as your business needs change.

How long does it take to switch to Gusto?

Most businesses are ready to run payroll within one week. If you're on the Premium plan, Gusto provides full-service migration support to move your historical data and employee information.

Does Gusto work in all states?

Yes, Gusto handles payroll in all 50 states. However, health insurance through Gusto is only available in 38 states plus Washington D.C.

Can contractors use Gusto?

Yes. The Contractor Only plan is $35/month + $6 per contractor. You can also pay contractors on any employee plan at the same per-person rate.

Bottom Line

Gusto's "free until you run payroll" model is actually pretty generous for getting set up and exploring the platform. You can take as long as you need without a ticking clock. The downside is you can't test actual payroll processing before committing to a paid plan.

For most small businesses, the free setup period provides enough time to evaluate whether Gusto is the right fit. The platform is intuitive, support is accessible, and pricing is transparent. At $49/month + $6/employee for the Simple plan, it's competitively priced for what you get.

The unlimited time to set up means you're not rushed. You can properly configure everything, get employees onboarded, connect your accounting software, and understand exactly how the platform works before spending a dime. Once you're confident, your first payroll run is straightforward.

Try Gusto Free →

Remember: no credit card, no contract, cancel anytime after you start paying. Set it up, explore the features, and only commit when you're ready to actually run payroll.