Estimated monthly cost comparison — not just the headline price
Gusto and Zoom 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 Zoom
Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit. Add-ons for
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...
Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting...
Advertised
$13.32
/month
Estimated monthly cost
$161.32
/month (illustrative)
40-Minute Free Meeting Limit
Free plan limits group meetings (3+ participants) to 40 minutes. Meetings cut off abruptly. Must res...
Zoom Phone Add-On
Zoom Phone (VOIP) is NOT included in any Workplace plan. Metered at $10/user/mo or Unlimited at $15/...
Zoom Rooms Add-On
Conference room hardware/software integration costs $49/room/mo. A 10-room office adds $490/mo. Hard...
Webinar & Events Add-On
Zoom Webinars start at $79/mo/license (500 attendees). Zoom Events at $99/mo. These are per-license,...
Cloud Recording Storage
Workplace Business includes limited cloud storage. Additional storage packs cost extra. Heavy record...
Gusto advertises $40/mo. Zoom advertises $13.32/mo.
Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees. Zoom has 5.
Gusto confidence: 76%. Zoom confidence: 83%.
| Metric | Gusto | Zoom | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised Price | $40/mo | $13.32/mo | Zoom |
| Estimated Monthly Cost | $86/mo | $161.32/mo | — |
| Recurring Extra Fees | +$46/mo | +$148/mo | Gusto |
| One-Time Costs | $50 | $0 | Zoom |
| # Documented Fees | 3 | 5 | — |
| Pricing Tiers | 3 | 4 | — |
| Affiliate Program | None | No public affiliate program | — |
Gusto advertises $40/mo and Zoom advertises $13.32/mo. Gusto has 3 documented extra fees (recurring: +$46/mo, one-time: $50), while Zoom has 5 (recurring: +$148/mo). Gusto and Zoom 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.
Zoom has 5 documented extra fees: 40-Minute Free Meeting Limit, Zoom Phone Add-On, Zoom Rooms Add-On, Webinar & Events Add-On, Cloud Recording Storage. Recurring fees add roughly $148/mo on top of the $13.32/mo advertised price.
Choose Gusto if: Payroll, benefits, and HR platform for small businesses. Base at $40/mo + $6/person/mo, but benefits. Choose Zoom if: Video conferencing and collaboration platform. Free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit. Add-ons for . 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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