Central (YC S24)
Payroll, benefits & government bullsh*t for startups
Gusto
The all-in-one people platform for payroll, benefits, HR
Updated February 2026
| Central (YC S24) | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5.0★ | 5.0★ |
| Reviews | 10 | 10 |
| Pros | 9 | 12 |
| FactScore™ | 52.1 | 52.1 |
FactScore™ Comparison
FactScore™ weighs both quality (rating) and popularity (reviews) for a fairer ranking than stars alone.
Both tools score equally on FactScore™
Pros & Cons
Only in Central (YC S24) — Pros
Automated compliance Payroll management Excellent support Focus on startups Health benefits setup Streamlined back-office management Fast response time Personalized service Saves timeBoth tools — Pros
—Only in Gusto — Pros
Employee onboarding Intuitive navigation Simplifies HR processes User-friendly Support for small businesses AI insights All-in-one platform Detailed reports Easy onboarding flow Eliminates manual tasks Fast and clean API Simplifies payrollOnly in Central (YC S24) — Cons
—Both tools — Cons
—Only in Gusto — Cons
Complex document signing Limited customization Limited reporting featuresDetails
| Central (YC S24) | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Categories | AI Chatbots, Payroll software, Startup financial planning | Payroll software, Hiring software, Legal services |
| Platforms | Web | Web · iOS |
| Became Popular | August 19, 2024 | September 17, 2015 |
| Website | centralhq.com | www.gusto.com |
Who Should Pick Which?
Choose Central (YC S24) if...
- Automated compliance
- Payroll management
- Excellent support
Choose Gusto if...
- Employee onboarding
- Intuitive navigation
- Simplifies HR processes
With a FactScore™ of 52.1 vs 52.1, Central (YC S24) leads in community reception. Central (YC S24) uniquely offers Automated compliance and Payroll management, while Gusto stands out for Employee onboarding and Intuitive navigation.
What Users Say
Central (YC S24)
Hey Nilay, Josh, and Pranav! Central is reaally impressive!! the way you’re simplifying back-office management and compliance for startups is such a smart solution. As you said you’re making it so ...
Their AI bot is great for getting me random documents and answers about HR on a moments notice. And their team is super quick for anything more complicated.
All of our focus is purely on building our company because of Central. They do a really great job at abstracting all the company-stuff that we don't want to deal with right now.
Gusto
One of our favorite things about using Gusto is getting paid. But to take it one step further, their service for discovering and claiming R&D tax credits was a delight.
The all-in-one platform for payroll, benefits, and HR, designed to simplify people management. Perfect for startups, it handles everything from hiring to employee benefits in one intuitive system.
So far Gusto has been great for Payroll. It's confusing that paying employees is so confusing. Gusto makes it simple.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the pros of Central (YC S24) compared to Gusto?
Central (YC S24) uniquely offers: Automated compliance, Payroll management, Excellent support, Focus on startups, Health benefits setup.
What are the pros of Gusto compared to Central (YC S24)?
Gusto uniquely offers: Employee onboarding, Intuitive navigation, Simplifies HR processes, User-friendly, Support for small businesses.
Is Central (YC S24) better rated than Gusto?
Central (YC S24) is rated 5.0★ from 10 reviews. Gusto is rated 5.0★ from 10 reviews.
What is the FactScore™ of Central (YC S24) and Gusto?
FactScore™ weighs rating and review volume together. Central (YC S24) scores 52.1 and Gusto scores 52.1.
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