Gusto vs TriNet
A detailed comparison of Gusto and TriNet. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Gusto | TriNet | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Starting Price | $40/mo | N/A |
| Free Trial | No | No |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 9 | 9 |
| Best For | SMB | SMB |
Gusto
Cloud-based payroll and HR platform for small businesses handling payroll processing, benefits administration, time tracking, hiring, and compliance in one system.
Rating
4.5/5
Best for
SMB
Free trial
No
Free plan
No
TriNet
Full-service PEO providing HR, payroll, benefits, risk management, and compliance for SMBs, with industry-specific expertise.
Rating
4.0/5
Best for
SMB
Free trial
No
Free plan
No
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | TriNet |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow Automation | ||
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| EEO/OFCCP Compliance | ||
| GDPR Compliance | ||
| API Access | ||
| HRIS Integration | ||
| Slack Integration | ||
| Zapier Integration | ||
| Mobile App |
Pricing Comparison
Gusto
Simple
$40/mo
Plus
$80/mo
Premium
Custom
TriNet
Custom
Custom
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Microsoft 365
Outlook
QuickBooks
Slack
Zapier
Only Gusto
Gmail
Google Calendar
Google Workspace
Outlook Calendar
Salesforce
Xero
Only TriNet
Azure AD
Greenhouse
Okta
Pros & Cons
Gusto
Pros
- +Best-in-class payroll for small businesses
- +Very easy to set up and use
- +Transparent, affordable pricing
- +Excellent employee self-service portal
Cons
- -Limited to US-based companies (mostly)
- -HR features less deep than dedicated HRIS tools
- -Reporting not as robust as enterprise solutions
- -Not ideal for companies over 200 employees
TriNet
Pros
- +Full-service HR outsourcing — payroll, benefits, compliance, risk management
- +Industry-specific packages (tech, finance, life sciences)
- +Access to Fortune 500-level benefits for small companies
- +Dedicated HR representative for ongoing support
Cons
- -Expensive compared to DIY HR software ($80-150/employee/month)
- -Less control over HR processes — you are outsourcing to TriNet
- -Contract terms can be inflexible
- -User interface is functional but not modern
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Gusto if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.5 vs 4.0)
- • Best-in-class payroll for small businesses
Choose TriNet if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • Full-service HR outsourcing — payroll, benefits, compliance, risk management
How we evaluate tools
Our ratings combine verified user reviews from G2 and Capterra with hands-on feature analysis. Pricing is checked against official sources. We may earn a commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our rankings or recommendations. Read our full methodology.