Gusto vs Smartsheet

Estimated monthly cost comparison — not just the headline price

Gusto and Smartsheet 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 Smartsheet

Enterprise work management platform with spreadsheet-style UI. Per-user pricing from $9-$32/user/mo,

G

Gusto

Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/per...

Advertised

$40

/month

Estimated monthly cost

$86

/month (illustrative)

Documented Extra Fees (+$46/mo + $50 one-time)

Per-Person Fee Scaling

Simple plan: $40/mo + $6/person. Plus: $80/mo + $12/person. Premium: $180/mo + $22/person. A 25-pers...

+$6/mo

Benefits Administration Add-On

Health insurance, 401(k), and benefits administration are not included in Simple. Plus plan ($80/mo ...

+$40/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...

+$50 one-time

Pricing Tiers

SimplePopular
$40/mo
Plus
$80/mo
Premium
$180/mo
S

Smartsheet

Enterprise work management platform with spreadsheet-style UI. Per-user pricing ...

Advertised

$9

/month

Estimated monthly cost

$482

/month (illustrative)

Documented Extra Fees (+$473/mo)

Automation Action Limits

Pro: 250 automations/mo. Business: 10,000/mo. Enterprise: unlimited. Complex workflows with multiple...

+$23/mo

Premium Connectors Add-On

Connectors for Jira, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Microsoft Dynamics cost $4,200/year per connector. ...

+$350/mo

Dynamic View Add-On

Sharing filtered views with external stakeholders requires Dynamic View add-on, priced separately fr...

+$100/mo

Pricing Tiers

ProPopular(per user)
$12/mo

$9/mo annual

Business(per user)
$24/mo

$19/mo annual

Enterprise(per user)
$0/mo

Key Differences

1

Gusto advertises $40/mo. Smartsheet advertises $9/mo.

2

Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees. Smartsheet has 3.

3

Gusto confidence: 76%. Smartsheet confidence: 74%.

Cost Comparison Summary

MetricGustoSmartsheetWinner
Advertised Price$40/mo$9/moSmartsheet
Estimated Monthly Cost$86/mo$482/mo—
Recurring Extra Fees+$46/mo+$473/moGusto
One-Time Costs$50$0Smartsheet
# Documented Fees33—
Pricing Tiers33—
Affiliate ProgramNoneNone—

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gusto or Smartsheet cheaper?

Gusto advertises $40/mo and Smartsheet advertises $9/mo. Gusto has 3 documented extra fees (recurring: +$46/mo, one-time: $50), while Smartsheet has 3 (recurring: +$473/mo). Gusto and Smartsheet 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.

What extra fees does Gusto have?

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.

What extra fees does Smartsheet have?

Smartsheet has 3 documented extra fees: Automation Action Limits, Premium Connectors Add-On, Dynamic View Add-On. Recurring fees add roughly $473/mo on top of the $9/mo advertised price.

Should I choose Gusto or Smartsheet?

Choose Gusto if: Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits. Choose Smartsheet if: Enterprise work management platform with spreadsheet-style UI. Per-user pricing from $9-$32/user/mo,. The right choice depends on your team size, usage volume, and which features you need most.

How accurate is this Gusto vs Smartsheet comparison?

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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