Estimated monthly cost comparison — not just the headline price
Gusto and Microsoft Teams do different jobs, so this is not a like-for-like comparison. The prices below are shown side by side for reference only; compare what each tool does before comparing cost.
Prices change often — confirm on the vendor's site before buying. Report incorrect pricing →
Quick Take
Different tools for different jobs — no cost winner
Based on advertised price plus documented recurring fees, not your exact usage.
Best for Gusto
Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits
Best for Microsoft Teams
Bundled with Microsoft 365. 'Free' for M365 subscribers, but standalone and add-ons (Rooms, Phone, W
Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/per...
Advertised
$40
/month
Estimated monthly cost
$86
/month (illustrative)
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...
Bundled with Microsoft 365. 'Free' for M365 subscribers, but standalone and add-...
Advertised
$4
/month
Estimated monthly cost
$74
/month (illustrative)
Teams Phone System
Voice calling requires Teams Phone at $8/user/mo + calling plan $12/user/mo. Total: $20/user/mo for ...
Teams Rooms
Conference room integration: $40/room/mo for Teams Rooms Pro. 10 rooms = $400/mo....
Teams Premium
AI meeting recap, custom branding, advanced webinars: $10/user/mo add-on. Not included in any M365 p...
Gusto advertises $40/mo. Microsoft Teams advertises $4/mo.
Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees. Microsoft Teams has 3.
Gusto confidence: 76%. Microsoft Teams confidence: 76%.
| Metric | Gusto | Microsoft Teams | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $40/mo | $4/mo | Microsoft Teams |
| Estimated Monthly Cost | $86/mo | $74/mo | — |
| Recurring Extra Fees | +$46/mo | +$70/mo | Gusto |
| One-Time Costs | $50 | $0 | Microsoft Teams |
| # Documented Fees | 3 | 3 | — |
| Pricing Tiers | 3 | 0 | — |
| Affiliate Program | None | None | — |
Gusto advertises $40/mo and Microsoft Teams advertises $4/mo. Gusto has 3 documented extra fees (recurring: +$46/mo, one-time: $50), while Microsoft Teams has 3 (recurring: +$70/mo). Gusto and Microsoft Teams do different jobs, so there is no like-for-like cost winner — compare what each one does before comparing price. Your real cost depends on seats and usage — use the calculator for your numbers.
Gusto has 3 documented extra fees: Per-Person Fee Scaling, Benefits Administration Add-On, State Tax Registration Fees. Recurring fees add roughly $46/mo on top of the $40/mo advertised price, plus about $50 in one-time costs.
Microsoft Teams has 3 documented extra fees: Teams Phone System, Teams Rooms, Teams Premium. Recurring fees add roughly $70/mo on top of the $4/mo advertised price.
Choose Gusto if: Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits. Choose Microsoft Teams if: Bundled with Microsoft 365. 'Free' for M365 subscribers, but standalone and add-ons (Rooms, Phone, W. The right choice depends on your team size, usage volume, and which features you need most.
This comparison is compiled from public vendor pricing pages and documentation. It uses illustrative assumptions (see "Cost Comparison Summary"), not your exact seats or usage, and vendor prices change often. Confirm current prices on each vendor's site, and use our calculator with your own usage for a closer estimate. Spotted an error? Email hello@trulycritic.com.
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