Softwr

Software · head to head

Gusto vs SEMrush

Gusto logo

Gusto

Software

The people platform for small businesses

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SEMrush logo

SEMrush

Software

Do SEO, content marketing, competitor research, PPC and social media marketing from just one platfor

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only SEMrush has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Gusto customer service can be slow and unresponsive to issues; SEMrush free tier limited to 10 reports per day across all tools
  • They diverge on capability: Gusto covers Automated payroll, SEMrush covers Keyword research.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Gusto and SEMrush actually diverge.

Attributes where Gusto and SEMrush differ
AttributeGustoSEMrush
Starting price$49/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile app
Founded20112008

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

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 Gusto

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

Only in SEMrush

  • Keyword research
  • Site audit
  • Competitor analysis
  • Backlink analytics
  • Rank tracking
  • Content marketing
  • PPC research
  • Social media tools

Both cover

  • SOC2

What people use each for

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

Gusto

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

SEMrush

  • SEO keyword research and competitor analysisnot Gusto
  • Website performance tracking and auditingnot Gusto
  • Content marketing optimizationnot Gusto
  • PPC advertising researchnot Gusto

Where each one falls short

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

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

SEMrush

  • Free tier limited to 10 reports per day across all tools
  • Keyword tracking capped at 500 per month on entry tiers (SEO and Starter plans)
  • Additional users cost £45/month per user above base subscription
  • Most advanced features require Advanced plan (£455.67/month), making entry cost significant for small teams

Pricing, plan by plan

Gusto

$49/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Gusto review.

SEMrush

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the SEMrush review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Gusto if

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

Choose SEMrush if

  • You need keyword research.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app.
  • You also want site audit.
SEMrush review

Questions people ask

Is Gusto or SEMrush better?
Neither clearly leads. Gusto starts at $49/month and SEMrush at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Gusto or SEMrush?
SEMrush has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49/month for Gusto and Free for SEMrush.
Does Gusto or SEMrush run on more platforms?
Gusto runs on Web. SEMrush runs on Web, Mobile app.
Can I use SEMrush for free?
Yes. SEMrush has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Gusto starts at $49/month.
What is Gusto best used for?
Gusto is most often used for payroll processing, benefits administration, tax compliance, employee onboarding. Of those, payroll processing and benefits administration are not what SEMrush is typically brought in for.
What can Gusto do that SEMrush cannot?
Gusto covers Automated payroll, Tax filing, Benefits administration, Time tracking. SEMrush covers Keyword research, Site audit, Competitor analysis, Backlink analytics. Both handle SOC2.

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
Share

Related pages

More on Gusto

More on SEMrush

Keep looking

Other head to heads