Gusto vs. Deel: Which One is Better for You in 2025?
Gusto and Deel both aim to simplify HR, payroll, and compliance.
However, which one is a better fit if you focus more on the US market? Which one offers more global employment features? Which one is more pricey?
If you’re looking for answers to these questions, our Gusto vs. Deel blog is a must-read.
Read on to learn more about both platforms and get a clear picture of which platform can keep your operations compliant while helping you scale.
Also, we’ll provide an alternative that combines the best of both platforms.
Gusto vs. Deel: Quick overview and benefits
Before we cover Gusto and Deel in more detail, let’s see how both options stack against each other regarding the main features.
What is Gusto: Overview and benefits
Gusto is a cloud-based payroll and HR platform primarily for small to medium-sized businesses, especially in the US.
Its core feature set includes automated payroll processing, tax filing, benefits administration, onboarding, time tracking, and employee self-service.
The platform features a mobile app that enables both employers and employees to manage payroll, benefits, and financial wellness tools on the go.
What is Deel: Overview and benefits
Deel is a global payroll and HR platform enabling companies to hire, pay, and manage international employees and contractors with full compliance to local labour laws.
It acts as an EOR in over 150 countries, providing companies with:
- Legal hiring,
- Payroll processing,
- Tax compliance,
- Benefits administration,
- Immigration support, and
- Contract management through a single unified platform.
Deel focuses on strong automation, AI-powered tools, and a globally owned payroll infrastructure.
Read on to see the differences between Gusto and Deel in the aspects where they differ the most:
- EOR capabilities
- Tax and payroll compliance
- Integrations
- Pricing, as well as the pros and cons of both options.
Gusto vs.Deel: What are the differences in EOR capabilities?
EOR capabilities are perhaps the biggest area of difference between the two.
Gusto: EOR capabilities
Gusto remains primarily focused on serving the US market, with global coverage limited to approximately 12 countries through partnerships or 3rd-party integrations.
Its core Employer of Record (EOR) services include:
- Comprehensive US payroll processing,
- Automated payroll tax filing,
- Employee onboarding, and
- Benefits administration.
While Gusto offers an HRIS framework that supports employee self-service portals, paid time off (PTO) tracking, shift scheduling, and time tracking, its automation and compliance capabilities are largely US-centric.
For international compliance, Gusto relies on partnerships with local providers or requires manual intervention, resulting in limited automation in global labour law adherence, visa and work permit management, and localised contract drafting.
Deel: EOR capabilities
Deel heavily focuses on global international hiring and compliance, supporting EOR services in over 150 countries.
The capabilities include payroll, legal entity services, employee onboarding, benefits management, immigration support, such as visa processing, and contract management, tailored to the labour laws of each country.
Deel’s HRIS modules are integrated with its EOR and payroll features, providing onboarding workflows, document management with e-signatures, performance tracking, workforce analytics, and automated compliance monitoring.
Gusto vs. Deel: What are the payroll tax filing and global compliance differences?
Here’s a breakdown of payroll tax filing and global compliance differences between Gusto and Deel.
Gusto: Payroll tax filling and global compliance
Payroll automation in Gusto reliably covers federal, state, and local tax compliance within the US, including filing of W-2s, 1099s, and other essential tax documents.
The platform’s benefits management is robust for the US market, offering integration with health insurance plans, retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Gusto has limited or developing features for compliance in outside-US jurisdictions. Instead, it relies on partnerships or local providers for international labour law compliance.
Deel: Payroll tax filing and global compliance
Deel automates global tax compliance and filings, covering employment-related obligations such as employment taxes, social security contributions, and statutory employee benefits.
It also handles multi-jurisdictional payroll tax filings comprehensively, including income tax withholding, social contributions, and employer-specific payroll taxes.
The platform's automation includes the auto-generation and submission of payroll tax reports.
Deel’s built-in local legal teams and AI-driven compliance engine keep track of the latest statutory changes and integrate them into payroll processes.
It also supports multi-currency payroll, allowing payment in employees’ local currency.
Gusto vs. Deel: What are the integration differences?
Let’s check the side-by-side integration comparison for Gusto vs. Deel.
Gusto: What integrations does it offer?
Gusto integrates with a broad ecosystem of popular US-based business tools to streamline payroll and HR workflows, especially for small and medium businesses.
- Accounting software: Integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, ZarMoney, and Dext.
- Time-tracking tools: Supports integrations with platforms like Tsheets (QuickBooks Time), Workyard, and Homebase that feed employee hours and overtime data directly into payroll runs.
- HR software: Syncs employee onboarding and data updates with tools such as BambooHR and JazzHR, helping automate hiring and employee record-keeping.
- Benefits providers: Direct connections with health insurance providers, 401(k) plan administrators, dental, and vision plans.
- Communication and collaboration: Integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Gmail, and Google Workspace.
- Expense management: Syncs with expense management tools, such as Expensify for direct payroll reimbursement processing.
- Automation platforms: Supports Zapier and Make for custom workflow creation that can connect Gusto with other business apps, including project management tools, such as Monday.com.
Most integrations come included with Gusto plans, although some 3rd-party apps may have separate fees.
Deel: What integrations does it offer?
Deel provides an API and integrations ecosystem to support global HR, payroll, and compliance workflows.
- Global HR and payroll platforms integrate with major HRIS and Workforce Management tools, such as BambooHR, HiBob, Workday, and ADP, enabling enterprises to synchronise data across international teams.
- Accounting and finance: Connects with enterprise accounting systems for seamless financial reconciliation and reporting.
- IT asset management: Offers integrations to manage employee equipment provisioning and asset tracking.
- API access: Deel’s open APIs allow custom integrations and workflows tailored to specific enterprise operational needs.
- Local provider ecosystems: Integrates with localised benefits providers and tax authorities in supported countries to ensure up-to-date benefits administration and tax compliance.
Gusto vs. Deel: How do they differ regarding price?
Before you commit, here’s how Gusto and Deel’s pricing actually compares.
Gusto provides a transparent pricing structure ideal for US-based businesses with straightforward payroll and HR needs.
Deel’s higher pricing reflects its global coverage, automated compliance, and payroll and EOR services suitable for companies with complex international workforces.
Gusto vs. Deel: Weighing the pros and cons to help you choose
Every tool has strengths and weaknesses. Here’s where Gusto and Deel shine, and where they may fall short.
What are Deel’s pros & cons you should know about?
🟢 Strong global compliance tools for international hiring minimise legal risk.
🟢 Supports multi-currency payments.
🟢 Automation in payroll and HR workflows.
🔴 Higher cost for small teams or startups.
🔴 Certain capabilities are only available as add-ons.
🔴 Doesn’t have a mobile app.
What are Gusto’s pros & cons you should know about?
🟢 Easy to use with an intuitive, streamlined interface.
🟢 Comprehensive US-benefits management integrated with payroll.
🟢 Strong US market fit with effective domestic payroll and tax compliance.
🟢 Has a mobile app.
🔴 Limited international capabilities.
🔴 No built-in advanced reporting or workflow automation.
🔴 No native time tracking for international teams, but separate apps needed.
Gusto vs. Deel: Which one should you choose?
Gusto is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized US-based companies seeking a straightforward, user-friendly platform that handles day-to-day HR and payroll operations efficiently.
On the other hand, Deel’s broader compliance and payroll capabilities may be a better choice for larger companies planning an international workforce.
However, while both solutions include lots of features in their core packages, many extra features are available only as add-ons, which can quickly raise the total price.
Luckily, there is another solution that bridges the gap between Gusto and Deel, allowing both small and large teams to scale both in the US and internationally without complexities and additional hidden costs.
Native Teams: A robust alternative to Gusto and Deel
Native Teams combines EOR and PEO solutions and specialises in providing streamlined work payments, employment, tax management and mobility solutions in over 85 countries.
With legal entities in each country we operate, we ensure full legal, tax and regulatory compliance.
With our solutions, you can manage entity ownership, payroll, compliance, global payments, and employee experience effortlessly with one integrated platform.
Here’s how we deliver value:
✨ Global hiring, with or without entities
Hire confidently in over 85 countries using our EOR services, or establish your own entities for full ownership and long-term scalability, all within one platform.
✨ Contractor of Record services, where we handle compliance, worker classification, contracts, and all local legal obligations on your behalf in the contractor’s country.
✨ Complete PEO support, backed by local experts
Focus on your people while we take care of employment taxes, wage reporting, and legal compliance, streamlined into a single, hassle-free process.
✨ Seamless global payroll
Run payroll worldwide with total visibility. From gross-to-net calculations to taxes, benefits, and withholdings, we ensure accurate, on-time payments in local currencies.
✨ Payroll calculator for cost clarity
Get a transparent breakdown of salaries, contributions, and employer costs with our Payroll Calculator, so you always know the true cost of every hire.
✨ Cross-border transfers with minimal fees
Facilitate instant currency conversions and cross-border payments with minimal fees, improving cash flow management.
✨ Multi-currency wallet for smarter cash control
Send, receive, and convert funds instantly across currencies with our integrated wallet, cutting fees while giving you full financial control.
✨ Compliant contracts and rapid onboarding
Generate localized contracts automatically and onboard new hires in just 5–7 business days, complete with tax setup and local authority registration.
✨ Employee self-service hub
Empower your team with easy access to payslips, tax documents, leave balances, and benefits, all from a single dashboard.
✨ Expenses and benefits made simple
Track expenses with built-in tools, set spending limits, and access detailed reports. In addition, manage pensions, health coverage, and statutory leave.
✨ Relocation and visa services, offering support in over 30 countries. We handle the entire process, from preparing visa documents to coordinating with local authorities, while our legal experts perform eligibility checks and submit applications on your behalf.
✨ White-label ready platform
Expand your services with a fully brandable solution. Customize workflows and client-facing experiences to fit your business needs.
Searching for a solution that combines Deel’s automation and flexibility with Gusto's simplicity of use?
Book a free demo with Native Teams and discover smarter ways to manage your team worldwide regardless of its size.
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