Gusto 401(k) review

Gusto 401(k) is the product formerly sold as Guideline, and the guideline.com pages now carry Gusto branding. Its pitch is a 401(k) built into payroll: automatic syncing between payroll and the plan, contributions and deductions handled for you, and compliance checks run daily with alerts and guided corrections when something is off. IRS form prep and filing is included, and Gusto says its automated tax credit forms can help reclaim up to 100% of plan costs. The company states that more than 40,000 businesses and 700,000 savers use the platform. Gusto's help center lists three plans, Starter, Core and Premium, but the plan prices did not load as text for our source checker, so we mark pricing as pending rather than repeat figures we could not verify. Its fee example also assumes an annual account fee of 0.25% on assets, so employees should expect an asset-based charge. It ranks fifth because the price could not be confirmed.

Who it is for

small businesses that run payroll on Gusto

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Automatic syncing between payroll and the 401(k)
• Daily compliance checks with alerts and guided corrections
• IRS form prep and filing included
• Automated tax credit forms to reclaim up to 100% of plan costs
• Three plans: Starter, Core and Premium

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Built into payroll, so contributions and deductions run without manual uploads
• Strength: Helps meet state retirement mandates
• Strength: Gusto says 40,000+ businesses use Gusto 401(k)
• Weakness: Plan prices were not readable on the pages our checker could load
• Weakness: Asset-based account fee applies to employee balances
• Weakness: Brand change from Guideline to Gusto means older guides use the old name

Key facts

• Plans: Starter, Core, Premium
• Businesses served: 40,000+ (Gusto)
• Compliance: Daily checks, IRS form prep and filing
• Price: USD check pending

Where it ranks

Gusto 401(k) is No. 4 in our Best 401K Providers verdict.