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All industries · head to head

Google Workspace vs Gusto

Google Workspace logo

Google Workspace

All industries

Everything you need to get work done, all in one place

From
€3.4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Gusto logo

Gusto

All industries

The people platform for small businesses

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Workspace starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage; Gusto customer service can be slow and unresponsive to issues
  • They diverge on capability: Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Gusto covers Automated payroll.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Workspace and Gusto actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Workspace and Gusto differ
AttributeGoogle WorkspaceGusto
Starting price€3.4/month$49/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Founded20062011

Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (All industries).

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 Google Workspace

  • Gmail business email
  • Google Drive storage
  • Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
  • Google Meet video conferencing
  • Google Chat
  • Google Forms
  • Google Sites
  • Microsoft Office

Only in Gusto

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

Both cover

  • Google Calendar
  • Slack
  • 2FA

What people use each for

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

Google Workspace

  • Business email and calendar managementnot Gusto
  • Collaborative document editingnot Gusto
  • Video conferencing and meetingsnot Gusto
  • Secure document storage and sharingnot Gusto

Gusto

  • Payroll processingnot Google Workspace
  • Benefits administrationnot Google Workspace
  • Tax compliancenot Google Workspace
  • Employee onboardingnot Google Workspace
  • Time trackingnot Google Workspace

Where each one falls short

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

Google Workspace

  • Starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
  • Starter and Standard tiers both capped at maximum 300 users per organisation
  • Video meetings limited to 100 participants on Starter tier, 150 on Standard tier
  • Recording capabilities only available on Standard tier and above
  • eDiscovery, Vault, and advanced security features only available on Plus and Enterprise tiers

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

Google Workspace

€3.4/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Workspace review.

Gusto

$49/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Gusto review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Workspace if

  • You need gmail business email.
  • You also want google drive storage.
Google Workspace review

Choose Gusto if

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

Questions people ask

Is Google Workspace or Gusto better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month and Gusto at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Gusto?
Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month and Gusto at $49/month.
Does Google Workspace or Gusto run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Google Workspace best used for?
Google Workspace is most often used for business email and calendar management, collaborative document editing, video conferencing and meetings, secure document storage and sharing. Of those, business email and calendar management and collaborative document editing are not what Gusto is typically brought in for.
What can Google Workspace do that Gusto cannot?
Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Google Drive storage, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Meet video conferencing. Gusto covers Automated payroll, Tax filing, Benefits administration, Time tracking. Both handle Google Calendar, Slack, 2FA.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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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Related pages

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