isolved vs Gusto: Which HR and Payroll Platform Is Right for You?

When it comes to managing HR, payroll, and employee benefits, choosing the right software is critical. Two of the most popular platforms in this space are isolved and Gusto—but they cater to different types of businesses and offer very different experiences.

Whether you’re a small business owner or scaling fast, this comparison will help you determine which platform—isolved or Gusto—is the best fit for your company’s needs in 2025.

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Quick Snapshot

Feature	isolved	Gusto
All-in-one HCM	Yes	Partial (no LMS or deep performance tools)
Ideal Business Size	SMBs to mid-market & enterprise	Small businesses & startups
Industry Specialization	Construction, healthcare, retail, manufacturing	General small business
Advanced Compliance Tools	Yes (ACA, union, tip reporting)	Limited
Talent Management Suite	Recruiting, performance, learning	Basic (recruiting only)
Time & Attendance	Built-in	Add-on or limited
Mobile App for Employees	Yes	Yes
Price Transparency	Quote-based	Clear online pricing
Implementation Support	Guided onboarding	Limited for larger orgs

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Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Payroll and Taxes

Both isolved and Gusto offer full-service payroll with automatic tax filing and direct deposit.

• Gusto shines for startups needing simple, easy-to-launch payroll.
• isolved is better for complex payrolls involving union rules, multiple pay rates, multi-state employees, or tip reporting.

Winner for growing companies: isolved

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2. HR and Benefits Administration

Gusto includes essential HR tools and benefits administration for small teams. isolved, on the other hand, provides advanced HR workflows, including:

• Benefits enrollment with carrier feeds
• ACA compliance automation
• Open enrollment customization
• Document tracking and e-signatures

Winner for compliance-heavy businesses: isolved

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3. Time, Scheduling, and Attendance

Gusto doesn’t include a robust built-in time solution—it requires third-party integrations.

isolved offers:

• Time clocks
• Mobile punch-in with GPS
• Job and location tracking
• Schedule planning tools

Winner for shift-based teams: isolved

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4. Talent and Employee Experience

isolved delivers an end-to-end talent lifecycle, including:

• Applicant tracking
• Paperless onboarding
• Learning management (LMS)
• Performance reviews
• Employee recognition and surveys

Gusto offers onboarding and some hiring tools but lacks LMS and full performance management.

Winner for employee growth: isolved

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5. User Experience and Interface

Gusto is widely praised for its clean interface and simplicity—ideal for non-HR professionals.

isolved’s interface is more robust and customizable, which may require a slight learning curve but offers greater long-term flexibility.

Winner for simplicity: Gusto
Winner for functionality: isolved

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6. Scalability and Support

Gusto is ideal for businesses with under 50 employees. If you’re scaling rapidly or need industry-specific solutions, it may fall short.

isolved is built to scale—from startups to multi-location enterprises—and offers dedicated onboarding specialists and industry-specific configurations.

Winner for growing companies: isolved

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Use Case Examples

Hospitality Business with 5 Locations

• Needs: Tip tracking, shift scheduling, ACA compliance
• Winner: isolved

Tech Startup with 15 Remote Employees

• Needs: Simple payroll and benefits
• Winner: Gusto

Construction Firm with Union Payroll

• Needs: Job costing, certified payroll, mobile punch-in
• Winner: isolved

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Pricing Comparison

• Gusto: Transparent online pricing starting at $40/month + $6/user
• isolved: Custom pricing based on features and size (usually $10–$25/user/month)

While Gusto may be cheaper for very small teams, isolved offers significantly more value and automation for midsize or growing companies.

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Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

You Should Choose…	If You:
Gusto	Run a very small team (under 20–30 employees), need simple payroll and benefits, and want a DIY setup
isolved	Need scalable HR, advanced compliance, time tracking, talent tools, and industry-specific solutions

isolved is built for businesses that want more than just payroll—it’s a full workforce management platform designed for real operational complexity and growth.

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Final Thoughts

While Gusto is great for simple setups and early-stage teams, isolved wins when you need depth, flexibility, and long-term scalability. If your business is growing—or operating in a complex industry—isolved delivers the tools you’ll need today and tomorrow.

Plan smarter. Grow faster. Simplify everything—with isolved.