Gusto vs UKG Pro
payroll head-to-head for ERP teams: evidenced capabilities, published pricing, and which ERPs each actually integrates with.
| Starting price | From $6/user/mo (published) | Quote-based |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| Company size | SMB, Mid-market | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Stated ERP integrations | QuickBooks, Xero | NetSuite |
| Vendor | Gusto, Inc. | UKG |
Our take
Where Gusto leads
- Stronger evidenced coverage on 8 of the 14 capabilities where they differ (led by new-hire reporting and direct deposit / local bank transfers).
- Published pricing where the alternative quotes.
- Stated QuickBooks, Xero integration the alternative doesn't list.
Where UKG Pro leads
- Stronger evidenced coverage on 6 of the 14 capabilities where they differ (led by hris employee data sync and off-cycle and correction runs).
- Stated NetSuite integration the alternative doesn't list.
Where they differ
The 14 capabilities (of 36 in the payroll taxonomy) where the evidence separates them, biggest gaps first. “Not evidenced” means our research found no public documentation of this capability — the vendor may still offer it. Confirm on a demo.
| Capability | ||
|---|---|---|
| New-hire reportingTax Filing & Compliance | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| Direct deposit / local bank transfersPayments & Disbursement | Core strength | Not evidenced |
| HRIS employee data syncTime & Data Inputs | Not evidenced Gusto is the primary HR system of record, not a sync target | Core strength Core HR system of record |
| Contractor paymentsTime & Data Inputs | Core strength Contractor payments and 1099 handling | Not evidenced |
| Off-cycle and correction runsGross-to-Net Processing | Partial Unlimited payroll runs; off-cycle not explicitly documented | Core strength |
| Local statutory complianceTax Filing & Compliance | Not evidenced | Supported |
| Digital payslipsEmployee Experience & Benefits | Supported | Not evidenced |
| Payroll cost analyticsReporting & General Ledger | Not evidenced | Supported People analytics and reporting |
| Public API & webhooksPlatform & Integrations | Supported Public API and partner marketplace | Not evidenced |
| Audit trails & role-based accessPlatform & Integrations | Not evidenced | Supported |
| Year-end forms (W-2/1099 or local equivalents)Tax Filing & Compliance | Core strength W-2/1099 preparation and filing | Supported Tax and statutory reporting |
| Time and attendance importTime & Data Inputs | Supported Native time tracking and PTO management | Core strength Native time & attendance, scheduling, mobile time |
| Self-service portal / mobile appEmployee Experience & Benefits | Core strength | Supported |
| Benefits deduction handlingEmployee Experience & Benefits | Core strength Automatic benefit deductions synced to payroll | Supported |
Both grade identically on the other 22 capabilities — see each product's full profile: Gusto, UKG Pro.
Gusto vs UKG Pro — FAQs
Is Gusto or UKG Pro better for ERP integration?
They state different ERP coverage: Gusto lists QuickBooks, Xero; UKG Pro lists NetSuite.
Which is cheaper, Gusto or UKG Pro?
Gusto publishes a starting rate ($6/user/mo); UKG Pro prices by quote, so a like-for-like number requires asking both.
Get pricing for both
Tell us your ERP, seat count and must-haves and we'll come back with an independent view of what Gusto and UKG Pro should each cost you — and whether a third option belongs on your shortlist.