HRStak vs Gusto
Gusto is a payroll-first platform for small businesses. HRStak is an AI-powered HR platform with 47 tools that generate documents, manage compliance, and automate employee support - all without per-employee pricing.
| Feature | HRStak | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| AI Document Generation | ✓ 47 AI toolsGenerate any HR document instantly | ✗ Not availableBasic templates only |
| Pricing | Flat monthly pricingNo per-employee fees | $40-80/mo + $6-12/ee/moCosts scale with headcount |
| Payroll Processing | Coming soonEmbedded payroll integration | ✓ Full-service payrollAutomatic tax filing, direct deposit |
| Compliance Coverage | ✓ US, Canada, UKMulti-country compliance tools | US onlyState-level compliance alerts |
| Knowledge Base Chatbot | ✓ AI-poweredUpload docs, AI answers employee Qs | ✗ Not available |
| Benefits Administration | ✓ Benefits chatbot + comparison | ✓ Health, dental, vision, 401kIntegrated benefits broker |
| Hiring Tools | ✓ 10 AI hiring toolsJDs, scorecards, offer letters, comp benchmarks | Basic hiringOffer letters, onboarding checklists |
| Time Tracking | ✗ Not included | ✓ Built-inPTO, time tracking, scheduling |
| Contractor Payments | ✗ Not included | ✓ 1099 contractor paymentsContractor-only plan available |
| Training & Certification | ✓ 32-module programHR-AI certification with exams | ✗ Not available |
| Multi-Language Output | ✓ 7 languages | ✗ English + Spanish (limited) |
| Best For | HR teams that create content5-500+ employees | Small businesses needing payroll1-100 employees |
Where HRStak Wins
- AI content generation: Gusto helps you run payroll. HRStak helps you create everything else - job descriptions, policies, handbooks, performance reviews, offer letters, compliance docs, and 40+ more document types, all generated by AI.
- Scales without cost explosion: Gusto's pricing compounds fast. At 50 employees on the Plus plan, you're paying $680/month. At 200 employees, over $2,400/month. HRStak's flat pricing stays the same regardless of headcount.
- Deeper HR tools: Gusto gives you basic templates. HRStak gives you 47 specialized AI tools across hiring, compliance, employee management, communication, strategy, and policy.
- International compliance: Growing beyond the US? HRStak covers US, Canada, and UK. Gusto is US-only.
- Knowledge base chatbot: Your employees get instant answers to benefits and policy questions without bothering HR.
Where Gusto Wins
- Payroll is the core: Gusto was built for payroll first and it shows. Automatic tax filing, direct deposit, W-2s, 1099s - it's polished and reliable.
- Contractor payments: Gusto handles 1099 contractors natively. They even have a contractor-only plan.
- Benefits brokerage: Integrated health insurance, dental, vision, 401k, HSA, and commuter benefits. Gusto acts as the broker.
- Time tracking: Built-in PTO management, time tracking, and simple scheduling.
- Small business simplicity: For a 5-person company that just needs payroll and basic HR, Gusto's simplicity is a strength.
The Verdict
Choose HRStak if you need AI that creates HR content for you - documents, policies, reviews, handbooks, compliance materials - and you want a platform that scales without per-employee pricing. Best for growing companies with real HR needs beyond just payroll.
Choose Gusto if payroll is your primary need and you're a small business (under 100 employees) that wants a simple, all-in-one payroll + basic HR solution with benefits brokerage built in.
Best of both: Many companies use HRStak alongside their payroll provider. HRStak handles the AI-powered HR content and compliance, while Gusto handles payroll and benefits. They complement each other well.
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