Thera vs Gusto
Choose Thera if you need US payroll alongside international hiring and contractor payments; choose Gusto if your priority is US payroll with published plan prices and HR tools. Both offer payroll, benefits, contractor payments, invoicing, and bill pay. The main differences are how they handle international employees, where their contractor payments reach, and whether you can price a plan before contacting sales.
Last updated October 26, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Thera | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| International employees | EOR hiring in 150+ countries | New EOR customers referred to Remote |
| International contractors | Payments in 150+ countries; 130+ currencies | Payments in 120+ countries; add-on |
| Payroll pricing | Custom quote | Simple: $49/mo + $6/person; Plus: $80 + $12; Premium: $180 + $22 |
| US payroll coverage | Full-service payroll in all 50 states | Simple: one state; Plus and Premium: multiple states |
| Payroll plans | US Payroll, Contractor Management, EOR | Simple, Plus, Premium |
| HR and benefits | Medical, dental, vision; 401(k) integrations | Health benefits, retirement, and plan-dependent HR tools |
| Invoicing and bill pay | Client invoicing and Thera Spend bill pay | Gusto Money invoicing and bill pay |
| Integrations | QuickBooks Online; API | QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, and others |
| Platforms | Web app | Web app; iOS and Android mobile app |
| Support | Dedicated Slack channel; 24/7 questions | Business-hours call or chat; Premium account support |
| Payroll-run limit | Unlimited US payroll runs | Unlimited payroll runs on every plan |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Thera if
- Teams hiring international employees through EOR
- Businesses paying contractors across 150+ countries
- Buyers wanting a custom quote for payroll and global hiring
- Teams wanting dedicated Slack support
Choose Gusto if
- US employers wanting published payroll plan prices
- Businesses needing multi-state payroll on Plus or Premium
- Teams seeking payroll, benefits, and HR tools
- Buyers wanting an iOS or Android employee app
The verdict
Pick Thera if hiring employees abroad through an employer-of-record service is central to your plans: Thera offers EOR hiring in 150+ countries, while Gusto directs new EOR customers to Remote. Pick Gusto if you chiefly employ people in the US and want to compare published monthly payroll prices, benefits, and HR features before signing up. Thera requires a custom quote, so neither vendor's total cost can be assumed to be lower for your team.
Thera vs Gusto: common questions
- Is Thera vs Gusto a useful comparison for a US employer?
- Yes. Both sell US payroll and contractor-payment services. Thera also offers EOR hiring in 150+ countries, while Gusto emphasizes priced US payroll plans and refers new EOR customers to Remote.
- Which is better for hiring employees outside the US?
- Thera is the more direct fit if you want EOR hiring within your payroll provider: it advertises hiring in 150+ countries. Since May 1, 2026, Gusto has directed new EOR customers to Remote for onboarding, payroll, and support.
- Can both pay international contractors?
- Yes. Thera advertises contractor hiring and payments in 150+ countries and payments in 130+ currencies. Gusto offers global contractor payments in more than 120 countries as an add-on.
- How do Thera and Gusto prices compare?
- Thera asks buyers to request a custom quote. Gusto publishes monthly US payroll prices: Simple costs $49 plus $6 per person, Plus costs $80 plus $12 per person, and Premium costs $180 plus $22 per person. A Thera quote is needed to compare total costs.
- Which supports multi-state US payroll?
- Both do. Thera advertises full-service payroll in all 50 states. Gusto includes single-state payroll on Simple and multi-state payroll on Plus and Premium.
- Does Gusto still sell a contractor-only plan?
- No. Gusto says new customers could no longer sign up for its contractor-only plan as of October 1, 2026. Businesses can pay contractors on its other plans.
- Do both offer invoicing and bill pay?
- Yes. Thera publishes client invoicing and Thera Spend bill pay. Gusto lists invoicing and bill pay under Gusto Money. Check the applicable plan, fees, and eligibility before choosing either.
- Which offers more direct support?
- Thera advertises a dedicated Slack channel and 24/7 availability for questions. Gusto offers call and chat support during business hours on its basic support tier, with premium account support on Premium.