Gusto vs SimplePay

Gusto is a comprehensive platform designed to simplify payroll, benefits administration, and HR tasks for small and mid-sized businesses. It automates tax filings, offers health insurance and 401(k) benefits, and streamlines payroll runs, making it an ideal solution for businesses looking to streamline their HR operations.

SimplePay is a cloud-based payroll software company built specifically for South African businesses. It automates PAYE, UIF, and SDL calculations, generates SARS e@syFile-ready IRP5 and IT3(a) submissions, and keeps payroll aligned with South African Department of Labour requirements. The platform also includes leave management with custom leave policies, an employee self-service portal for leave requests and banking detail changes, and mobile apps for iOS and Android. SimplePay integrates with accounting software including Xero and QuickBooks, and offers a free 30-day trial with full feature access before billing begins.

• Streamlines payroll and HR operations
• Simplifies benefits administration
• Improves employee experience
• Enhances compliance and risk management

• Built specifically for South African payroll compliance (PAYE, UIF, SDL, SARS e@syFile), reducing manual tax calculation work.
• Free 30-day trial gives full access to features before committing to a paid subscription.
• Employee self-service portal reduces HR admin burden for routine requests like leave and banking updates.
• Direct integrations with Xero and QuickBooks simplify bookkeeping handoff.

• Limited customization options for larger businesses
• No free trial or free plan available
• Customer support can be slow to respond at times

• Pricing is not published as a flat rate; the on-site pricing calculator requires interaction to see a rate, and larger accounting firms/bureaus must contact sales directly.
• Purpose-built for South African tax and labour law, so it is not a fit for payroll outside South Africa.
• Feature set is payroll and leave-focused rather than a full HR suite (no broader recruitment or performance management modules mentioned on the site).