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,
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...
Enterprise work management platform with spreadsheet-style UI. Per-user pricing ...
Advertised
$9
/month
Estimated monthly cost
$482
/month (illustrative)
Automation Action Limits
Pro: 250 automations/mo. Business: 10,000/mo. Enterprise: unlimited. Complex workflows with multiple...
Premium Connectors Add-On
Connectors for Jira, Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Microsoft Dynamics cost $4,200/year per connector. ...
Dynamic View Add-On
Sharing filtered views with external stakeholders requires Dynamic View add-on, priced separately fr...
$9/mo annual
$19/mo annual
Gusto advertises $40/mo. Smartsheet advertises $9/mo.
Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees. Smartsheet has 3.
Gusto confidence: 76%. Smartsheet confidence: 74%.
| Metric | Gusto | Smartsheet | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $40/mo | $9/mo | Smartsheet |
| Estimated Monthly Cost | $86/mo | $482/mo | — |
| Recurring Extra Fees | +$46/mo | +$473/mo | Gusto |
| One-Time Costs | $50 | $0 | Smartsheet |
| # Documented Fees | 3 | 3 | — |
| Pricing Tiers | 3 | 3 | — |
| Affiliate Program | None | None | — |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Enter your usage to see personalized pricing for both tools
Use Free Calculator