Estimated monthly cost comparison — not just the headline price
Gusto and Monday.com 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 Monday.com
Work management platform with customizable workflows. Minimum 3-seat requirement and per-seat pricin
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...
Work management platform with customizable workflows. Minimum 3-seat requirement...
Advertised
$12
/month
Estimated monthly cost
$72
/month (illustrative)
Minimum 3-Seat Requirement
Can't buy fewer than 3 seats on any paid plan. Basic at $9/seat/mo = $27/mo minimum, not $9/mo. Solo...
Zero Automations on Basic
Basic plan ($9/seat/mo) includes ZERO automation and ZERO integration actions. Any automation requir...
250 Actions/Month on Standard
Standard plan includes only 250 automation actions/mo — roughly 8 per day. Any meaningful workflow e...
Seat Increment Packaging
Seats sold in increments (3, 5, 10, 15, 20...). A 4-person team must buy 5 seats. A 6-person team bu...
$9/mo annual
$12/mo annual
$19/mo annual
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission
Gusto advertises $40/mo. Monday.com advertises $12/mo.
Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees. Monday.com has 4.
Gusto confidence: 76%. Monday.com confidence: 74%.
| Metric | Gusto | Monday.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $40/mo | $12/mo | Monday.com |
| Estimated Monthly Cost | $86/mo | $72/mo | — |
| Recurring Extra Fees | +$46/mo | +$60/mo | Gusto |
| One-Time Costs | $50 | $0 | Monday.com |
| # Documented Fees | 3 | 4 | — |
| Pricing Tiers | 3 | 5 | — |
| Affiliate Program | None | $100 per conversion | — |
Try the tool that fits your needs. Both offer free trials or free tiers.
Gusto advertises $40/mo and Monday.com advertises $12/mo. Gusto has 3 documented extra fees (recurring: +$46/mo, one-time: $50), while Monday.com has 4 (recurring: +$60/mo). Gusto and Monday.com 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.
Monday.com has 4 documented extra fees: Minimum 3-Seat Requirement, Zero Automations on Basic, 250 Actions/Month on Standard, Seat Increment Packaging. Recurring fees add roughly $60/mo on top of the $12/mo advertised price.
Choose Gusto if: Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits. Choose Monday.com if: Work management platform with customizable workflows. Minimum 3-seat requirement and per-seat pricin. 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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