Softwr

HR · head to head

Freshteam vs Gusto

Freshteam logo

Freshteam

HR

Smart HR software for growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Gusto logo

Gusto

Payroll

The people platform for small businesses

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Freshteam has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Freshteam no pricing information published on the website; Gusto customer service can be slow and unresponsive to issues
  • They diverge on capability: Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking, Gusto covers Automated payroll.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Freshteam and Gusto actually diverge.

Attributes where Freshteam and Gusto differ
AttributeFreshteamGusto
Starting priceFree$49/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
CategoryHRPayroll
Founded20102011

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Freshteam

  • Applicant Tracking
  • Onboarding
  • Time Off
  • Employee Directory
  • Time Tracking
  • Documents
  • Org Chart
  • Freshdesk

Only in Gusto

  • Automated payroll
  • Tax filing
  • Benefits administration
  • Time tracking
  • Employee onboarding
  • HR compliance
  • Workers' comp
  • 401(k) management

Both cover

  • Slack

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Freshteam

  • Onboarding new hires through automated employee lifecycle workflowsnot Gusto
  • Processing expense and procurement approvals without manual email routingnot Gusto
  • Managing maintenance requests with centralized tracking and approval trailsnot Gusto
  • Automating contract reviews and document request handlingnot Gusto
  • Routing HR, Finance, Facilities, Legal requests through structured catalogsnot Gusto

Gusto

  • Payroll processingnot Freshteam
  • Benefits administrationnot Freshteam
  • Tax compliancenot Freshteam
  • Employee onboardingnot Freshteam
  • Time trackingnot Freshteam

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Freshteam

  • No pricing information published on the website
  • Requires contacting sales or requesting a demo for pricing details

Gusto

  • Customer service can be slow and unresponsive to issues
  • Weak reporting capabilities, cannot export data to spreadsheets for analysis
  • Support staff lacks deep payroll expertise and knowledge
  • Rehired employees do not have settings reset, causing manual cleanup work
  • City tax handling requires additional monitoring and monitoring
  • Onboarding can have issues with bank account verification and tax registration

Pricing, plan by plan

Freshteam

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 Employees
    • Basic ATS
    • Time Off
  • Growth$1.2/month
    • All Free features
    • Onboarding
    • Time Tracking
  • Pro$2.4/month
    • All Growth features
    • Custom Reports
    • Advanced Workflows

Gusto

$49/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Gusto review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Freshteam if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want onboarding.
Freshteam review

Choose Gusto if

  • You need automated payroll.
  • You also want tax filing.
Gusto review

Questions people ask

Is Freshteam or Gusto better?
Neither clearly leads. Freshteam starts at Free and Gusto at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Freshteam or Gusto?
Freshteam has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Freshteam and $49/month for Gusto.
Does Freshteam or Gusto run on more platforms?
Freshteam runs on Web, Ios, Android. Gusto runs on Web.
Can I use Freshteam for free?
Yes. Freshteam has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Gusto starts at $49/month.
What is Freshteam best used for?
Freshteam is most often used for onboarding new hires through automated employee lifecycle workflows, processing expense and procurement approvals without manual email routing, managing maintenance requests with centralized tracking and approval trails, automating contract reviews and document request handling. Of those, onboarding new hires through automated employee lifecycle workflows and processing expense and procurement approvals without manual email routing are not what Gusto is typically brought in for.
What can Freshteam do that Gusto cannot?
Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking, Onboarding, Time Off, Employee Directory. Gusto covers Automated payroll, Tax filing, Benefits administration, Time tracking. Both handle Slack.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Freshteam: How much does Freshteam cost?

Freshteam (formerly Freshservice HRMS) does not publish specific pricing information. The vendor focuses on describing product features and benefits across HR, Finance, Facilities, and Legal departments on their public website.

Source
Gusto: What is Gusto's starting price?

Gusto starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person. The company also offers a Contractor-only plan for $35 per month plus $6 per contractor.

Source
Freshteam: Does Freshteam offer a free version?

Freshteam includes a 'Start for free' call-to-action on their website, suggesting a freemium model or free trial option. However, specific details about free tier capabilities or duration are not published.

Source
Gusto: Does Gusto include unlimited payroll runs?

Yes, all Gusto plans include unlimited payroll runs at no extra charge, including off-cycle payrolls.

Source
Gusto: What core features are included in Gusto?

All plans include payroll processing, tax administration, digital onboarding, benefits enrollment, time tracking, performance management, and next-day direct deposit for most plans.

Source
Gusto: Does Gusto support integrations?

Yes, Gusto integrates with accounting software, applicant tracking systems, benefits providers, time-tracking tools, and other business platforms to reduce data entry.

Source
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