True cost comparison — not just what the pricing page says
Quick Verdict
Zoom saves you 67%
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
True Cost
$136
/month (typical)
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
/month
True Cost
$161
/month (typical)
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 |
| True Monthly Cost | $136/mo | $161/mo | Gusto |
| Hidden Fee Total | +$96/mo | +$148/mo | Gusto |
| # Hidden Fees | 3 | 5 | Gusto |
| Confidence Score | 76% | 83% | Zoom |
| Pricing Tiers | 3 | 4 | — |
| Affiliate Program | None | No public affiliate program | — |
Gusto advertises $40/mo and Zoom advertises $13.32/mo. However, when you include hidden fees, Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees adding +$96/mo, while Zoom has 5 hidden fees adding +$148/mo. Based on true cost, Zoom is typically 67% cheaper.
Gusto has 3 documented hidden fees: Per-Person Fee Scaling, Benefits Administration Add-On, State Tax Registration Fees. These add approximately +$96/mo on top of the $40/mo advertised price.
Zoom has 5 documented hidden fees: 40-Minute Free Meeting Limit, Zoom Phone Add-On, Zoom Rooms Add-On, Webinar & Events Add-On, Cloud Recording Storage. These add approximately +$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 based on manual research of official pricing pages, terms of service, and user reports. Gusto data has a 76% confidence score and Zoom has 83%. Prices were last verified in April 2026. For the most accurate estimate, enter your specific usage in our calculator.
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