True cost comparison — not just what the pricing page says
Quick Verdict
Linear saves you 100%
Best for Gusto
Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits
Best for Linear
Modern issue tracking for software teams. Free for up to 250 issues, then $8-$14/user/mo. Clean and
Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/per...
Advertised
$40
/month
True Cost
$136
/month (typical)
Per-Person Fee Scaling
Simple plan: $40/mo + $6/person. Plus: $80/mo + $12/person. Premium: $180/mo + $22/person. A 25-pers...
Benefits Administration Add-On
Health insurance, 401(k), and benefits administration are not included in Simple. Plus plan ($80/mo ...
State Tax Registration Fees
Registering for state taxes in new states costs $35-$100 per state as a one-time fee. Multi-state re...
Modern issue tracking for software teams. Free for up to 250 issues, then $8-$14...
Advertised
$0
/month
True Cost
$12
/month (typical)
250 Active Issue Limit on Free
Free plan limits to 250 active issues. Fast-moving engineering teams hit this in weeks. Standard at ...
Guest Access Requires Plus
External guest access for contractors and clients requires Plus plan at $14/user/mo — 75% more than ...
Advanced Features on Plus Only
Triage responsibility, SLA tracking, and advanced GitHub/GitLab integrations require Plus at $14/use...
Gusto advertises $40/mo. Linear advertises $0/mo.
Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees. Linear has 3.
Gusto confidence: 76%. Linear confidence: 78%.
| Metric | Gusto | Linear | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $40/mo | $0/mo | Linear |
| True Monthly Cost | $136/mo | $12/mo | Linear |
| Hidden Fee Total | +$96/mo | +$12/mo | Linear |
| # Hidden Fees | 3 | 3 | Gusto |
| Confidence Score | 76% | 78% | Linear |
| Pricing Tiers | 3 | 3 | — |
| Affiliate Program | None | None | — |
Gusto advertises $40/mo and Linear advertises $0/mo. However, when you include hidden fees, Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees adding +$96/mo, while Linear has 3 hidden fees adding +$12/mo. Based on true cost, Linear is typically 100% cheaper.
Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees: Per-Person Fee Scaling, Benefits Administration Add-On, State Tax Registration Fees. These add approximately +$96/mo on top of the $40/mo advertised price.
Linear has 3 documented hidden fees: 250 Active Issue Limit on Free, Guest Access Requires Plus, Advanced Features on Plus Only. These add approximately +$12/mo on top of the $0/mo advertised price.
Choose Gusto if: Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits. Choose Linear if: Modern issue tracking for software teams. Free for up to 250 issues, then $8-$14/user/mo. Clean and . The right choice depends on your team size, usage volume, and which features you need most.
This comparison is based on manual research of official pricing pages, terms of service, and user reports. Gusto data has a 76% confidence score and Linear has 78%. Prices were last verified in April 2026. For the most accurate estimate, enter your specific usage in our calculator.
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