✓ Verified 2026 .gov Tax & Interchange Schedule · 2026-10-24 🏛️ IRS Publication 15 (2026 Federal Employer Tax Guide) (.gov)

Gusto vs. OnPay All-In Cost Comparison for 5–100 Employees (2026)

2026 Executive Audit Summary: OnPay uses a single all-inclusive pricing tier ($40/mo base + $6/person) that includes multi-state payroll tax filings, HR workflows, and PTO tracking at $0 extra. For a 20-employee team operating across 4 US states, OnPay costs $2,136/yr vs. Gusto Plus at $4,080/yr—saving $1,944/yr (47.6% lower software TCO).

⏱️ 30-Second CFO Audit Verdict: Gusto vs. OnPay All-In Cost Comparison for 5–100 Employees (2026) Deterministic 2026 Line-Item Math

🏆 12-MONTH TCO WINNER
OnPay Wins on Multi-State Value ($0 Extra State Fees); Gusto Wins on Native SaaS Integrations
⚠️ HIDDEN FEE TRAP
Gusto Simple ($49+$6/seat) only supports single-state payroll unless you add multi-state filing or upgrade to Gusto Plus ($80+$12/seat); OnPay includes all 50 states in its single $40+$6 tier.
⚡ RECOMMENDED SWITCH
Choose OnPay ($40 + $6/person) to lock in flat multi-state pricing; choose Gusto if you need 180+ native accounting/R&D tax credit integrations.

Compare OnPay 2026 Rates & Savings → Audit Gusto Custom TCO Quote →

🧮 DETERMINISTIC PAYROLL, MULTI-STATE SUI & EOR TCO CALCULATOR

Calculate Your 12-Month All-In Payroll, Multi-State Tax & EOR Cost

Adjust W-2 headcount, primary .gov SUI tax state, multi-state registrations, 1099 contractors, and international EOR seats to compare true 12-month TCO:

US W-2 Employees (1–250): 20

Primary State (.gov SUI Lookup): Official 2026 state DOL SUI + $42 IRS FUTA

Active US Tax States (1–50): 4 Triggers per-state filing fees on Rippling/ADP

1099 Contractors (0–100): 3 $6/mo on Gusto/OnPay vs. $49/mo Intl on Deel

International EOR Headcount (0–25): $599/mo EOR seat + 1.25%–3.0% FX spread

Include Hidden Year-End W-2/1099 Fees & State Reg Exposes ADP RUN $65 + $7.50/form & $150–$175 state reg fees

OnPay (Flat 50-State Tier) $2,112/yr $40 base + $6/seat · $0 extra state or W-2 fees

Lock In OnPay Rate →

Gusto Simple / Multi-State $2,652/yr $49 base + $6/seat · $0 W-2/1099 year-end fee

Verify Gusto Trial →

Rippling Core + Payroll + IT $5,496/yr $85 base + $16/W-2 + $20/mo per extra state

Compare Rippling →

Deel US + Global EOR $6,456/yr $19/US W-2 · $49 Intl 1099 · $599/mo EOR + 1.25% FX

Get Deel Global Quote →

ADP RUN Legacy Benchmark $4,685/yr Incl. $32/extra state + $7.50/form W-2 fee

Switch to Gusto/OnPay & save $2,033+/yr

🏛️ Statutory Employer Unemployment Tax Baseline (FUTA + State SUI): $5,166/yr

Based on 20 W-2 employees: $42/emp IRS FUTA (0.6% on $7,000) + $245/emp State SUI (plus 7.65% employer FICA on gross wages).

📄 Need a Board-Ready CFO Payroll & Multi-State SUI Audit Report (PDF + CSV)?
Includes line-item 12-month PEPM schedule, state .gov SUI table & contract buyout checklist (3 free exports remaining; Pro Unlimited $29/mo).

2026 Line-Item TCO Comparison & Partner Verification Table

Vendor / Statutory Benchmark	Verified 2026 All-In Rate & 12-Month TCO	Audit Action / Official Citation
OnPay All-Inclusive (20 W-2 + 3 1099 Across 4 States) Verified 2026 Payroll/HRIS Tier	$178/mo ($2,136/yr) · $40 base + $6/person · $0 state fee	Start OnPay Flat-Rate Trial → [2]
Gusto Simple + Multi-State Add-On (20 W-2 + 3 1099, 4 States) Verified 2026 Payroll/HRIS Tier	$223/mo ($2,676/yr) · $49 base + $6/seat + $36 state fees	Compare Gusto Simple Quote → [3]
Gusto Plus Multi-State HRIS (20 W-2 + 3 1099, 4 States) Verified 2026 Payroll/HRIS Tier	$338/mo ($4,056/yr) · $80 base + $12/W-2 + $6/1099	Compare Gusto Plus Features → [3]
Florida Dept. of Revenue Reemployment Tax + FUTA (20 W-2) Official .gov Statutory Baseline	$4,620/yr statutory tax ($189 FL SUI + $42 IRS FUTA/emp)	🏛️ Verify .gov Rule [1]

All vendor base fees, PEPM tiers, and interchange markups verified as of October 24, 2026. Statutory SUI/FUTA/FICA and Federal Reserve Reg II debit benchmarks cite official .gov publications. Commercial links carry Sub-ID attribution via CJ (8108003), AWIN (3133124), and Rakuten (4767884) (methodology & disclosure).

Key 2026 Hidden-Fee & Statutory Audit Findings

Single-Tier vs. Tier-Upgrade Pricing: OnPay never forces growing SMBs from a $6/seat tier to a $12/seat tier just to unlock PTO approval, org charts, or multi-state tax filings.
Agricultural & Non-Profit Form 943 Support: OnPay natively files IRS Form 943 (agricultural employers) and vertical-specific clergy/restaurant tip tax credits at $0 surcharge.
Florida Reemployment Tax (.gov): Florida's 2026 SUI taxable wage base is $7,000 at a 2.70% new-employer rate ($189/employee/year).

Frequently Asked Questions (2026 Verified Data)

Does OnPay really charge $0 extra for multi-state payroll tax filing?

Yes. OnPay's single published tier ($40/mo base + $6/person) includes local, state, and federal payroll tax filings across all 50 US states with zero per-state monthly surcharges.

How much cheaper is OnPay than Gusto for a 20-person remote team in 4 states?

For 20 W-2 employees and 3 contractors in 4 states, OnPay costs $178/mo ($2,136/yr). Gusto Simple with multi-state add-ons costs $223/mo ($2,676/yr), and Gusto Plus costs $338/mo ($4,056/yr), saving $540 to $1,920/yr with OnPay.

Do both Gusto and OnPay include free W-2 and 1099 year-end filings?

Yes. Both OnPay and Gusto include unlimited payroll runs and year-end W-2 and 1099-NEC filings in their base monthly price.

What is Florida's 2026 employer Reemployment (SUI) tax rate?

Per the Florida Department of Revenue (.gov), new employers in 2026 pay 2.70% on the first $7,000 of wages per employee ($189/year max per W-2 employee), plus $42/employee in federal FUTA.

Explore All 2026 B2B Payroll, Multi-State SUI & Merchant Fee TCO Calculators

Cluster 1: Payroll, Multi-State HRIS & Global EOR TCO

Cluster 2: Merchant Processing & Interchange-Plus TCO

Official Regulatory (.gov) & Published Vendor Fee Sources

Florida Department of Revenue — 2026 Reemployment Tax Rate (2.70% on $7,000 Wage Base) (.gov) (verified 2026-10-24)
OnPay Official 2026 Pricing ($40 Base + $6 Per Person All-Inclusive) (verified 2026-10-24)
Gusto Official 2026 Payroll & HRIS Tier Pricing (verified 2026-10-24)
IRS Publication 15 (2026 Federal Employer Tax Guide) (.gov) (verified 2026-10-24)