Warp vs Gusto
Choose Warp if automated state tax registration and tax-notice resolution are worth a higher starting price; choose Gusto if you want lower-cost entry to payroll, benefits, and HR. Both sell payroll plans with tax filing, contractor payments, and employee benefits. The clearest differences are how they handle expansion into new states, what their base plans include, and how they price time tracking.
Last updated October 26, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Warp | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Starter: $89/month + $35/person/month | Simple: $49/month + $6/person/month |
| State tax registration | Automatic setup included | Add-on; price varies by state |
| Tax-notice tools | AI auto-resolution on Pro and Enterprise | Agency-mail tracking via Business Compliance |
| Multi-state payroll | Up to 3 states on Starter; all 50 on Pro | Included on Plus and Premium |
| Time tracking | $5/month per tracked person add-on | Included on Plus and Premium; Simple add-on |
| Global contractors | 200+ countries on Starter and Pro | 120+ countries via add-on |
| Platforms | Cloud-based; mobile and web time clock | Web; iOS and Android mobile app |
| Developer access | REST API, CLI, and MCP on Starter and Pro | Partner API; no direct customer API access |
| Accounting integrations | QuickBooks and Xero; NetSuite on Enterprise | QuickBooks and Xero integrations |
| Health benefits | Medical, dental, and vision on all plans | Medical, dental, and vision; pay premiums |
| Support | Standard on Starter; dedicated on Pro | Basic on Simple and Plus; premium on Premium |
| Billing terms | Monthly or annual on Starter and Pro; annual Enterprise | No annual contract; cancel any time |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Warp if
- Teams hiring in up to three states that want state tax registration included
- Multi-state teams seeking AI tax-notice auto-resolution on Pro
- Teams that want customer access to a REST API, CLI, and MCP integration
- Businesses paying contractors in 200+ countries
Choose Gusto if
- Small businesses starting with single-state payroll
- Multi-state teams that want time tracking included with their plan
- Employers that want an iOS or Android payroll app
- Businesses that prefer monthly plans they can cancel at any time
The verdict
Pick Warp when your team is expanding across states and you want state tax account setup included, with AI tax-notice auto-resolution available on Pro. Pick Gusto when you need an inexpensive single-state starting plan or want time tracking included with a multi-state plan. Compare the plan you would actually buy: Warp Starter covers up to three states, while Gusto requires Plus or Premium for multi-state payroll.
Warp vs Gusto: common questions
- Is Warp or Gusto cheaper to start with?
- Gusto has the lower published starting price: Simple costs $49 per month plus $6 per person per month. Warp Starter costs $89 per month plus $35 per person per month. Add-ons and benefits premiums can change the total.
- Which handles payroll across multiple states?
- Warp Starter covers payroll and compliance in up to three states; Warp Pro covers all 50. Gusto offers multi-state payroll on Plus and Premium, not Simple.
- Will either service register my business for state payroll taxes?
- Warp includes automatic state tax account setup in its payroll plans. Gusto offers state tax registration as an add-on with pricing that varies by state.
- How do Warp and Gusto handle tax notices?
- Warp lists AI tax-notice auto-resolution on Pro and Enterprise. Gusto lists agency-mail tracking through Gusto Business Compliance, which is included with Premium and offered as an add-on for Simple and Plus.
- Is time tracking included?
- Warp sells time tracking for $5 per month per tracked person. Gusto includes time tracking with Plus and Premium and offers it as an add-on for Simple.
- Can I pay international contractors?
- Warp lists contractor payments in more than 200 countries on Starter and Pro. Gusto offers payments to contractors in more than 120 countries as an add-on.
- Can my team use a mobile app?
- Gusto offers an iOS and Android app for employees and employers. Warp publishes mobile and web access for its time clock; its pricing page does not specify a mobile payroll app.
- Can I connect my own software through an API?
- Warp includes REST API, CLI, and MCP access on Starter and Pro. Gusto offers an API for integration partners but says customers cannot currently use it to connect their own company systems directly to their Gusto account.