Gusto is built for US payroll. Toku is built for global payroll.
Gusto is a leading payroll and HR platform for US small and medium-sized businesses. Toku is a stablecoin payroll platform for global teams that need to pay in fiat, stablecoins, and tokens compliantly. These are largely different products for different buyers — but if you are on Gusto today and considering stablecoin payroll, this comparison will help.
Toku
Global stablecoin payroll platform
Purpose-built for stablecoin payroll: full compliance workflows, EOR in 100+ countries, token grants, and HRIS integration including Gusto itself as a connected system
Gusto
US payroll and HR for SMBs
Market-leading US payroll, benefits, and HR for small and medium-sized businesses. Global EOR available via Remote partnership in approximately 10 countries. Stablecoin payout (USDC) for international contractors currently in beta via Zerohash
What Toku offers
Toku's stablecoin payroll platform
Toku is built around stablecoin payroll from the ground up. Here is what that includes in practice.
Payroll in USDC, USDT, USDG, PYUSD, and fiat
Run payroll in major stablecoins or fiat, or a mix of both per worker. Tax withholding, compliant payslips, and reporting are part of every payroll cycle.
Instant on-chain settlement via any token network
Payments settle in minutes on Polygon, Sei, Solana, Ethereum and other networks. Sub-cent transaction fees replace correspondent bank markups. Settlement runs 24/7 with no bank cut-off windows.
Private stablecoin payroll via Aleo and Paxos Labs
For teams concerned about salary data on public ledgers, Toku offers private stablecoin payroll where transactions stay confidential on-chain.
Token grants, vesting schedules, and TGE management
Manage equity and token grants alongside regular payroll. Vesting, distributions, and jurisdiction-aware tax reporting in one platform.
Banking access
Stablecoin pay direct to UR accounts with Mastercard spend
Employees can receive stablecoin pay into a UR account, integrate into any wallet in any neobank, and spend via Mastercard anywhere in the world, or transfer via SEPA/SWIFT. No crypto knowledge required.
Connects to Gusto, ADP, Workday, UKG, and SAP
Toku can sit beneath Gusto as a stablecoin settlement layer. Your existing Gusto workflows stay intact — Toku upgrades how money moves without changing how payroll is managed.
How the two platforms differ in practice
Gusto and Toku are built for different problems. Understanding where each one excels makes the choice straightforward.
Stablecoin payroll built in, not bolted on
Toku's entire infrastructure is built around stablecoin settlement. That includes USDC, USDT, USDG, and PYUSD; instant on-chain settlement on Polygon, Sei, Ethereum, Solana and other networks; private payroll via Aleo and Paxos Labs; and funding via Mesh's network of 300+ exchanges and wallets. Stablecoin payroll is live and production-ready for both employees and contractors today.
Global EOR in 100+ countries
Toku operates EOR services in 100+ countries through its own infrastructure. Teams hiring full-time employees globally can manage stablecoin payroll and employment compliance in one platform, without a third-party EOR partnership adding a layer between them and their workers.
Toku can work alongside Gusto
Teams already using Gusto for US payroll do not need to switch to add stablecoin capabilities. Toku integrates with Gusto via API, sitting underneath as a stablecoin and global EOR layer. Your US payroll workflows stay in Gusto. Toku handles the global stablecoin layer, token grants, and international compliance.
Stablecoin in beta for contractors only
As of Q1 2026, Gusto's stablecoin capability is in beta, supports USDC only, and is available for international contractors only - not full-time employees. The feature is powered by a Zerohash partnership rather than native infrastructure. Gusto has signalled intent to expand, but the current capability is early stage. For teams that need stablecoin payroll today, this is an important distinction.
EOR in approximately 10 countries via Remote
Gusto's international EOR offering, called Gusto Global, is powered by a partnership with Remote. As of Q1 2026, it covers approximately 10 countries. For US-based teams with a small international footprint, this may be sufficient. For teams hiring across many markets, Gusto's global coverage is limited compared to purpose-built global platforms.
Strong US payroll and benefits foundation
Gusto serves 400,000+ US businesses with a well-regarded US payroll product, automated tax filing across all 50 states, and a comprehensive US benefits suite including health insurance, 401(k), FSA, and HSA. For teams whose primary payroll challenge is US compliance and benefits administration, Gusto is a strong, proven choice.
Toku vs Gusto: a side-by-side breakdown
Based on publicly available product information as of Q1 2026.
| Capability | Toku | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Stablecoin and Crypto Payments | ||
| Stablecoin payroll offering | Core product, built around stablecoin rails | USDC for international contractors, currently in beta via Zerohash |
| Stablecoins supported | USDC, USDT, USDG, PYUSD, and more | USDC only (beta) |
| Stablecoin payroll for full-time employees | Yes, all payroll jurisdictions | Contractors only (beta) |
| Fiat and stablecoin in the same payroll run | Per worker, per cycle | Not available |
| On-chain settlement networks | Polygon and Sei | Via Zerohash infrastructure (beta) |
| Private stablecoin payroll (confidential on-chain) | Via Aleo and Paxos Labs | Not available |
| Stablecoin pay connected to banking and spend card | Via UR Mastercard integration | Not available |
| Payroll Infrastructure | ||
| US payroll (all 50 states, automated tax filing) | Offered in all 50 states, US benefits included | Market-leading, all 50 states |
| Global payroll and EOR coverage | 100+ countries, Toku-owned infrastructure | ~10 countries via Remote partnership |
| International contractor payments | Supported alongside employee payroll | 120+ countries |
| Token and equity grant management | Vesting, grants, TGE, reporting | Not available |
| Finance team approval and reconciliation workflows | Built for finance teams | US-focused payroll approval workflows |
| HRIS integration (ADP, Workday, UKG, SAP) | Native API integrations | 150+ integrations; Gusto is itself the HRIS for most customers |
| US employee benefits (health, 401k, FSA, HSA) | Available | Comprehensive US benefits suite |
| Dedicated implementation lead | Named lead per customer | Dedicated support on Premium plan only |
| SOC 2 certification | SOC 2 certified | SOC 2 certified |
Based on publicly available product information as of Q1 2026. Toku makes no representations as to the completeness or accuracy of Gusto product information on this page.
| Toku | Gusto | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Pricing | ||
| US payroll / PEO pricing | Custom quote (per worker) PEO with stablecoin + token rails included | From $49/mo + $6/employee/mo Simple plan; Plus $80 + $12/emp; Premium $180 + $22/emp |
| Contractor-only plan | ✓ Contractor Management included No separate contractor-only pricing silo | $35/mo + $6/contractor Contractor Only plan; limited — no W-2 employees |
| Global EOR | Custom — 100+ countries Stablecoin included | $699/employee/mo EOR via Gusto Global (powered by Remote) — raised from $599 in March 2026 |
| Stablecoin & Crypto Support | ||
| Stablecoin payroll | ✓ Included — every plan No extra cost USDC, multi-chain, instant settlement | ✗ Not supported Gusto pays in USD only — no crypto or stablecoin payroll |
| Token grant administration | ✓ Native Unique capability Vesting, cliff logic, on-chain reporting — no additional cost | ✗ Not available No token equity or on-chain compensation tools |
| Invoice settlement in stablecoins | ✓ Included Bundled | ✗ Not available |
| Integrations & Flexibility | ||
| Works alongside ADP / Workday | ✓ Designed for it No migration Toku sits behind your existing stack — no change to HR workflows | ~ Limited 3rd-party HRIS support Gusto has its own payroll — limited native integration with ADP/Workday |
| Countries covered (payroll) | 100+ Full stablecoin payroll + compliance | ~120 (global contractors) International contractor payments in 120+ countries; EOR coverage narrower |
| Hidden Costs | ||
| Add-on fees for stablecoin features | ✓ Zero — all included No upsells | ✗ N/A — not offered Gusto raised base plan 23% in March 2026; add-ons (benefits, time, compliance) add $10–$30/employee/mo |
Making the Right Choice
Which platform fits your team?
Toku is likely the right fit if...
You need global stablecoin payroll today
- You need to pay full-time employees in stablecoins, not just contractors
- You need stablecoin payroll beyond USDC, including USDT, USDG, or PYUSD
- You issue token grants, manage vesting schedules, or run token generation events
- You are hiring employees across more than 10 countries and need global EOR
- You already use Gusto and want to add stablecoin rails without switching platforms
- Privacy of salary data on public ledgers is a concern for your team or CFO
Gusto may be the right fit if...
Your primary payroll challenge is US-based
- You are a US-based SMB with most or all employees in the United States
- Your international hiring is limited to contractors or a small number of countries
- You want stablecoin as an option for international contractors, not a core payroll rail
- You want automated US tax filing and compliance across all 50 states
Toku vs Gusto: common questions
Ready to Switch from Gusto?
Run compliant global payroll on stablecoin rails with Toku.
