Human Interest vs Gusto
Choose Human Interest if your main purchase is a retirement plan that can work with your existing payroll provider; choose Gusto if you also need payroll and HR software with a connected 401(k) option. This comparison is worth publishing because both offer 401(k) plans, although Gusto also offers Human Interest as an integrated retirement provider. The deciding question is whether you are selecting a retirement provider, a payroll platform, or both.
Last updated October 26, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Human Interest | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Primary offering | 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans | Payroll, HR, benefits, and 401(k) options |
| Retirement plans | 401(k) and 403(b) | Gusto 401(k) powered by Guideline; integrated partners |
| Payroll and HR | Retirement plan administration with payroll integrations | Full-service payroll and HR tools |
| Employer retirement pricing | From $80/month plus $5/month per eligible employee | Not published |
| Payroll subscription pricing | Not published | From $49/month plus $6/month per person |
| Retirement service tiers | Essentials, Complete, Concierge | Not published |
| Payroll connections | 600+ payroll integrations, including Gusto | Gusto payroll integration; Human Interest also available |
| Retirement administration | 3(16) fiduciary services on Complete and Concierge | Compliance testing and government filings for Gusto 401(k) |
| Participant fees | Asset-based advisory and recordkeeping fees; fund fees separate | Annual account fee typically 0.15%–0.35%; fund fees separate |
| Transaction fees | $0 transaction fees, subject to stated exceptions | Gusto 401(k) advertises no transaction fees |
| Support | U.S.-based support; named account manager on Concierge | 401(k) phone and email support; payroll support |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Human Interest if
- Businesses keeping their current payroll provider
- Organizations seeking a 403(b) plan
- Teams comparing published retirement service tiers and employer fees
- Gusto payroll customers considering Human Interest for their 401(k)
Choose Gusto if
- Businesses buying payroll and HR software alongside retirement benefits
- Teams wanting 401(k) contributions connected to Gusto payroll
- Employers comparing single-state and multi-state payroll plans
- Businesses that want to choose among Gusto’s integrated 401(k) options
The verdict
Pick Human Interest when retirement plan design, a 403(b) option, or compatibility with payroll outside Gusto drives the decision. Pick Gusto when you need to buy payroll and HR software and want a 401(k) connected to that system. If you already use Gusto payroll, this need not be an either-or choice: Human Interest can integrate with it. Compare the retirement plan fees separately from Gusto’s published payroll subscription price.
Human Interest vs Gusto: common questions
- Are Human Interest and Gusto alternatives for a 401(k)?
- Yes, but they can also work together. Human Interest provides 401(k) plans and integrates with Gusto payroll. Gusto offers its own 401(k) powered by Guideline and lists Human Interest among its integrated retirement partners.
- Do I need Gusto payroll to use Human Interest?
- No. Human Interest publishes integrations with more than 600 payroll providers, including Gusto.
- Does Human Interest run payroll like Gusto?
- Human Interest publishes retirement plan administration and payroll integrations. Gusto publishes full-service payroll, tax filings, and HR tools.
- How much does a Human Interest retirement plan cost?
- Human Interest publishes Essentials at $80 per month plus $5 per eligible employee per month, Complete at $180 plus $7, and Concierge at $280 plus $9. A setup fee and participant asset-based fees may also apply.
- Is Gusto’s 401(k) included in its payroll subscription price?
- Gusto lists 401(k) as an offering whose pricing varies by integration. Its published payroll plans start at $49 per month plus $6 per person per month; that is not a published price for a 401(k) plan.
- Can I use Human Interest with Gusto payroll?
- Yes. Human Interest and Gusto publish an integration that syncs employee information and 401(k) contributions with Gusto payroll. Human Interest says there is no additional integration fee.
- Which should I consider for a 403(b) plan?
- Human Interest publishes 403(b) plans for eligible organizations. Gusto’s published retirement offering in this comparison is a 401(k).
- What is the main deciding factor between Human Interest and Gusto?
- Choose based on what you need to purchase: Human Interest is a retirement plan provider that connects to payroll, while Gusto is a payroll and HR platform with 401(k) options. A business can use both together.