Choose Gusto if…
- You prefer Gusto’s published plan structure and self-service experience.
- A specific Gusto tier matches the state coverage, time tools and support you want.
Back to Merchant Hero Payroll
THE PAYROLL SHORTLIST / 03Merchant Hero
Merchant Hero
vs. Gusto.
Great payroll serves the people behind every pay run. Merchant Hero pairs payroll and tax filing with direct human help, employee tools and a monthly package built around your team—not just a software subscription.
PAYROLL · TAX FILING · HR · TIME & ATTENDANCE
Get your payroll quotePAYROLL, WITH PEOPLE BEHIND ITYour team is more
Your team is more
than a headcount.
Hourly shifts, salaried staff, new hires and changing schedules all shape the work of payroll. Merchant Hero combines the core payroll service with the employee and timekeeping tools you choose, supported by people who help you put it to work.
This comparison covers Gusto’s standard U.S. Simple, Plus and Premium plans, not Gusto Embedded.
COMPARE THE SERVICESee what comes
See what comes
with the relationship.
Compare payroll features and the service behind them. Merchant Hero brings payroll, workforce tools and direct human help into one relationship.
| Feature & service | Gusto | Merchant Hero Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Plans & pricing | Gusto publishes Simple, Plus and Premium plans with monthly base and per-person pricing. | Monthly service with unlimited payroll runs for the covered scope. Your employee count and selected services shape a clear written quote. |
| Single-state payroll | Simple describes single-state payroll, unlimited payroll runs and tax filings and payments. | Payroll processing, automated tax payments and filing, and employee W-2s, with covered states and pay schedules defined in your service package. |
| Multi-state & time | Plus adds multistate payroll, time tracking and scheduling. | Time capture, scheduling and PTO tools connect the work of managing hours with payroll. Modules are matched to your selected services. |
| Support choices | Premium advertises a named advisor. Priority phone and chat support is also offered as an add-on for Simple and Plus. | A direct payroll contact, with phone and email help for setup, payday questions and account follow-up. |
| Total service scope | Additional services and eligibility conditions can affect Gusto’s total cost. | Payroll, employee records, onboarding and HR tools can be coordinated in one service relationship, with selected modules and additional work clearly priced. |
FIND THE RELEVANT FIT
Find your kind of payroll experience.
Choose Merchant Hero if…
- You want payroll technology with a direct, people-first service relationship behind it.
- You want a monthly package that brings payroll, employee tools and timekeeping together around your workforce.
THE MERCHANT HERO APPROACHMore than a pay run.
More than a pay run.
A service relationship.
Practical tools, human help and clear pricing—built around the work your business does every day.
- Paydays without a per-run mindset. Your covered monthly service includes unlimited payroll runs, so the package is not built around counting each payday.
- One place to start when you need help. A direct payroll contact connects your questions with the team behind your service.
- Tools for the employee lifecycle. From onboarding and employee records to timekeeping, your chosen modules help the work around payroll stay organized.
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWEREDA clearer path
A clearer path
to your next payday.
Does Gusto offer personal support?
Yes. Gusto publishes a named advisor on Premium and priority-support options. Merchant Hero’s offer centers on a direct payroll relationship alongside the services in your monthly package.
Does a stable recurring rate mean the invoice can never change?
No. Your written quote defines the recurring rate for covered services. Changes in employee count, added services, third-party tools or separately scoped work can change the total invoice.
Put your people
at the center of payroll.
Tell us how your team works. We’ll build a payroll quote around the service, support and tools that fit your business.
Gusto and other provider names are trademarks of their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied. Features, pricing and service arrangements vary by selected services and written terms. Please do not send employee records, Social Security numbers, bank information or payroll files through this site.