Gusto
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.
Vacation Tracker
Vacation Tracker is a leave management solution that helps you request, approve, and track employee time off directly within Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | Vacation Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Website | gusto.com | vacationtracker.io |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $40/month | $1/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 7 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Montreal, Canada |
Overview
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.
Vacation Tracker
Vacation Tracker is a streamlined leave management tool designed to remove the friction from tracking employee time off. Instead of managing messy spreadsheets or complex HR portals, you can handle everything within the communication tools your team already uses every day. You can request leave, check remaining balances, and approve requests without ever leaving your chat interface.
The platform allows you to create custom leave types, set up automated accruals, and manage multiple offices or departments with unique holiday calendars. It provides clear visibility into who is away through automated daily and weekly notifications. Whether you are a small startup or a growing mid-sized company, it helps you maintain transparency and ensure adequate staffing levels across your entire organization.
Overview
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.
Vacation Tracker Features
- Chat Integrations. Request and approve leave directly within Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace without switching between different applications.
- Custom Leave Types. Create specific categories for sick leave, remote work, or jury duty to match your company's unique HR policies.
- Automated Accruals. Set up automated rules to calculate leave balances based on tenure or work hours so you never manually update totals.
- Wall Chart Visibility. View a centralized calendar of all upcoming absences to plan projects effectively and ensure your team is never understaffed.
- Multi-Office Support. Organize your team into different locations or departments, each with their own specific public holidays and approval flows.
- Scheduled Notifications. Receive automated daily or weekly summaries in your chat channels so everyone knows exactly who is out of the office.
Pricing Comparison
Gusto Pricing
- 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
- Everything in Simple, plus:
- Multi-state payroll capabilities
- Next-day direct deposit
- Time tracking and PTO management
- Advanced hiring and onboarding
- Performance management tools
Vacation Tracker Pricing
- Minimum $25 monthly fee
- Slack, Teams, & Google integration
- Unlimited leave types
- Daily/Weekly notifications
- User dashboard
- CSV exports
- Everything in Core, plus:
- Automated leave accruals
- Carry-over policies
- Labels for departments
- External calendar integration
- Priority support
Pros & Cons
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
Vacation Tracker
Pros
- Extremely easy setup within Slack and Teams
- Intuitive interface for employees to request leave
- Eliminates the need for manual spreadsheet tracking
- Helpful automated reminders about upcoming absences
- Responsive customer support team for technical issues
Cons
- Minimum monthly fee affects very small teams
- Mobile app functionality is somewhat limited
- Reporting features could be more customizable