All industries · head to head
Zoom vs Gusto
Zoom
All industries
Video conferencing that's easy, reliable, and secure
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zoom has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Zoom cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features; Gusto customer service can be slow and unresponsive to issues
- They diverge on capability: Zoom covers HD video & audio, Gusto covers Automated payroll.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zoom and Gusto actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (All industries), founded (2011).
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 Zoom
- HD video & audio
- Screen sharing
- Recording & transcripts
- Virtual backgrounds
- Breakout rooms
- Polling & Q&A
- Chat
- Whiteboard
Only in Gusto
- Automated payroll
- Tax filing
- Benefits administration
- Time tracking
- Employee onboarding
- HR compliance
- Workers' comp
- 401(k) management
Both cover
- Slack
- Google Calendar
- SOC2
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zoom
- Team meetingsnot Gusto
- Webinarsnot Gusto
- Virtual eventsnot Gusto
- Online trainingnot Gusto
- Telehealthnot Gusto
Gusto
- Payroll processingnot Zoom
- Benefits administrationnot Zoom
- Tax compliancenot Zoom
- Employee onboardingnot Zoom
- Time trackingnot Zoom
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Zoom
- Cost creep from add-ons increases pricing from $14/user to $25+/user when including Phone and advanced features
- Feature set is overwhelming with complex navigation and too many options
- Limited analytics and coaching features compared to dedicated contact center platforms
- Call recording and admin oversight lack strict governance needed for regulated industries
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
Zoom
Free- BasicFree
- 100 participants
- 40-minute group meetings
- Unlimited 1-on-1 meetings
- Pro$14.99/month
- 100 participants
- 30-hour group meetings
- Cloud recording (5GB)
- Business$19.99/month
- 300 participants
- Single sign-on
- Recording transcripts
- Enterprise$25/month
- 500 participants
- Advanced admin features
- Executive business review
Gusto
$49/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Gusto review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Zoom if
- You need hd video & audio.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- You also want screen sharing.
Questions people ask
- Is Zoom or Gusto better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zoom 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, Zoom or Gusto?
- Zoom has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Zoom and $49/month for Gusto.
- Does Zoom or Gusto run on more platforms?
- Zoom runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS. Gusto runs on Web.
- Can I use Zoom for free?
- Yes. Zoom has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Gusto starts at $49/month.
- What is Zoom best used for?
- Zoom is most often used for team meetings, webinars, virtual events, online training. Of those, team meetings and webinars are not what Gusto is typically brought in for.
- What can Zoom do that Gusto cannot?
- Zoom covers HD video & audio, Screen sharing, Recording & transcripts, Virtual backgrounds. Gusto covers Automated payroll, Tax filing, Benefits administration, Time tracking. Both handle Slack, Google Calendar, SOC2.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Zoom: What are Zoom's main pricing tiers?
Zoom offers a free Basic plan with 40-minute limits for group meetings, Pro at $14.16/user/month, Business at $15.58/user/month with 300 participant capacity, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Additional costs apply for Phone ($10.50/user/month), Webinars, and Rooms.
SourceGusto: 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.
SourceZoom: What integrations does Zoom support?
Zoom integrates with Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Zendesk, and many other business applications, though integration depth varies by partner.
SourceGusto: Does Gusto include unlimited payroll runs?
Yes, all Gusto plans include unlimited payroll runs at no extra charge, including off-cycle payrolls.
SourceZoom: Can Zoom be used for webinars?
Yes, Zoom Webinars is available as a separate product starting at $66.67 per month, providing larger audience capabilities and specialized webinar features.
SourceGusto: 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.
SourceGusto: 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