Harvest vs Gusto Comparison: Reviews, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2026

Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right solution for your team

Updated Apr 2026 8 min read

Harvest

0.0 (0 reviews)

Harvest is a cloud-based time tracking and invoicing software that helps you manage team capacity, track project expenses, and turn billable hours into professional invoices effortlessly.

Starting at Free
Free Trial 30 days
VS

Gusto

0.0 (0 reviews)

Gusto is an all-in-one HR platform that automates payroll, manages employee benefits, and streamlines hiring and onboarding processes for small to medium-sized businesses looking to simplify their people operations.

Starting at $40/mo
Free Trial NO FREE TRIAL

Quick Comparison

Feature Harvest Gusto
Website getharvest.com gusto.com
Pricing Model Freemium Subscription
Starting Price Free $40/month
FREE Trial ✓ 30 days free trial ✘ No free trial
Free Plan ✓ Has free plan ✘ No free plan
Product Demo ✓ Request demo here ✓ Request demo here
Deployment cloud mobile desktop saas mobile
Integrations Slack Asana Trello Basecamp QuickBooks Online Xero PayPal Stripe Google Calendar Outlook QuickBooks Online Xero FreshBooks TSheets When I Work Trainual Clover Expensify Asana Slack
Target Users freelancer solopreneur small-business mid-market small-business mid-market
Target Industries
Customer Count 0 0
Founded Year 2006 2011
Headquarters New York, USA San Francisco, USA

Overview

H

Harvest

Harvest helps you bridge the gap between tracking time and getting paid. You can capture every billable minute using simple timers on your desktop, phone, or through integrations with tools you already use like Asana or Slack. It transforms that raw data into visual reports so you can see exactly where your team’s time is going and which projects are hitting their budgets.

Beyond just tracking hours, you can manage your entire billing cycle in one place. You can create invoices based on tracked time, send them to clients automatically, and accept payments online. It is designed for agencies, freelancers, and professional service teams who need to stay profitable without spending hours on manual spreadsheets or complex administrative tasks.

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Gusto

Gusto simplifies how you manage your team by bringing payroll, benefits, and HR into one intuitive platform. You can run payroll in just a few clicks, with all local, state, and federal tax filings handled automatically. Beyond just payments, the platform helps you support your team with health insurance, 401(k) plans, and workers' compensation, all integrated directly into your payroll workflow to ensure compliance and accuracy.

You can also streamline your entire employee lifecycle from recruitment to offboarding. Use the platform to send offer letters, conduct digital onboarding, and track time and attendance without switching between different tools. Whether you are hiring your first employee or managing a growing team across multiple states, you get the tools you need to stay organized and compliant while focusing on growing your business.

Overview

H

Harvest Features

  • One-Click Timers Start and stop timers from your browser, desktop, or mobile device to capture every minute of work accurately.
  • Visual Reporting Monitor your project budgets and team capacity with easy-to-read graphs that show you exactly how much time remains.
  • Automated Invoicing Turn your tracked time and expenses into professional invoices and send them to your clients with just a few clicks.
  • Expense Tracking Snap photos of receipts and log project expenses on the go so you never miss a reimbursement again.
  • Team Capacity Monitoring See who is overbooked and who has room for more work to keep your team balanced and productive.
  • Online Payments Integrate with PayPal and Stripe so your clients can pay invoices instantly, helping you get paid much faster.
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Gusto Features

  • Automated Payroll. Run payroll in minutes with automatic tax calculations and filings for all 50 U.S. states.
  • Benefits Administration. Sync medical, dental, and vision plans directly with your payroll for seamless premium deductions and enrollment.
  • Digital Onboarding. Send offer letters and collect signed documents electronically so your new hires are ready on day one.
  • Time Tracking. Track employee hours and PTO requests that automatically sync with your payroll to eliminate manual data entry.
  • Compliance Alerts. Stay ahead of changing labor laws with automated notifications and access to certified HR experts for guidance.
  • Employee Self-Service. Give your team their own portal to download paystubs, view tax forms, and manage their personal information.

Pricing Comparison

H

Harvest Pricing

Free
$0
  • 1 seat
  • 2 active projects
  • Unlimited invoices
  • Desktop and mobile apps
  • Dozens of integrations
G

Gusto Pricing

Simple
$40
  • Full-service payroll for one state
  • Employee self-service profiles
  • Basic hiring and onboarding tools
  • Gusto wallet mobile app
  • Standard payroll reports
  • Workers' comp administration

Pros & Cons

M

Harvest

Pros

  • Extremely simple interface requires almost no training
  • Integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Asana
  • Mobile app makes tracking time on the go easy
  • Generous 30-day trial with no credit card required

Cons

  • Reporting filters can feel limited for complex needs
  • No built-in scheduling features without adding Forecast
  • Invoicing templates offer limited visual customization
A

Gusto

Pros

  • Extremely intuitive interface that requires almost no training
  • Automated tax filings save hours of manual work
  • Seamless integration between payroll and employee benefits
  • Helpful automated reminders for important compliance deadlines

Cons

  • Customer support response times can be slow during peak seasons
  • State tax registration assistance is limited for new businesses
  • Advanced HR features require the most expensive plan
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