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.
Harvest
Harvest is a cloud-based time tracking and invoicing software that helps teams manage projects, track billable hours, and monitor budgets to ensure profitability across all client engagements.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Gusto | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Website | gusto.com | harvestapp.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $40/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | New York, USA |
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.
Harvest
Harvest helps you bridge the gap between tracking time and getting paid. You can capture every billable minute through a simple interface that works across your desktop, browser, and mobile devices. Instead of chasing down timesheets, you get a clear view of where your team's effort is going and how it impacts your project budgets in real-time.
You can transform tracked hours into professional invoices with just a few clicks and send them directly to clients. The platform integrates with your existing workflow, allowing you to start timers inside tools like Asana or Slack. It is designed for agencies, freelancers, and professional service firms who need to maintain profitability without the administrative headache of manual spreadsheets.
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.
Harvest Features
- One-Click Time Tracking. Start a timer from your desktop, phone, or browser to capture every billable second without interrupting your workflow.
- Visual Project Reports. Monitor your project budgets and team capacity with live 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 for faster payment.
- Expense Tracking. Snap photos of receipts and log reimbursable expenses on the go to keep your project costs fully documented.
- Team Capacity Monitoring. View your team's bandwidth at a glance to ensure no one is overworked and projects stay on schedule.
- Integrated Payments. Connect with PayPal or Stripe so your clients can pay their invoices instantly online, speeding up your cash flow.
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
Harvest Pricing
- 1 seat
- 2 active projects
- Unlimited invoices
- Desktop and mobile apps
- Web browser extensions
- Bank-level security
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited seats
- Unlimited active projects
- Custom company branding
- Import data from CSV
- 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
Harvest
Pros
- Extremely simple interface requires almost no training
- Excellent mobile app for tracking time on the go
- Seamless integrations with popular project management tools
- Reliable reporting helps keep projects under budget
Cons
- Limited customization options for invoice templates
- Reporting can feel basic for complex enterprise needs
- No built-in scheduling features without separate Forecast integration