# Guideline Reviews **Vendor:** Gusto **Category:** [401(k) Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/401-k) **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 1,152 ## About Guideline Guideline 401(k) is now part of Gusto. We provide a modern, integrated 401(k) experience for businesses and their teams. As part of the Gusto ecosystem, Guideline offers streamlined retirement solutions designed to simplify plan management, administration, and compliance. Employees receive a user-friendly experience to enroll and manage their financial future. Our mission is to help companies effortlessly offer a powerful retirement benefit their team can truly appreciate. For informational purposes only. Should not be considered investment or tax advice ## Guideline Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users find Guideline **easy to use** , appreciating its seamless integration and user-friendly design across platforms. (171 reviews) - Users find the **easy setup** of Guideline invaluable, simplifying retirement planning for teams and small businesses. (130 reviews) - Users commend the **excellent customer support** of Guideline, ensuring prompt and thorough assistance whenever needed. (88 reviews) - Users value the **easy integration with QuickBooks** , which simplifies deductions and enhances compliance for businesses. (78 reviews) - Users commend the **user-friendly 401k management** of Guideline, appreciating its efficiency, transparency, and cost-effectiveness. (77 reviews) - Payroll Integration (63 reviews) - Simple (59 reviews) - Affordable (52 reviews) - Integrations (51 reviews) - Automation (44 reviews) **What users dislike:** - Users feel there is **limited options** for investment choices, making customization difficult for employees seeking more variety. (20 reviews) - Users find Guideline has **limited investment options** , which may hinder employees seeking more diverse choices. (19 reviews) - Users find the **limited customization options** in Guideline restrictive, hindering flexibility for businesses and employees alike. (16 reviews) - Users experience **poor customer support** from Guideline, facing long waits and unhelpful responses during critical issues. (16 reviews) - Users find **difficulty understanding** Guideline's functionalities, especially regarding contribution limits and support responsiveness. (15 reviews) - High Fees (14 reviews) - Inadequate Guidance (13 reviews) - Users are frustrated by the **ongoing price increases** that significantly raise the monthly cost of Guideline. (13 reviews) - Users find the product **expensive** , considering the cost could be lower and is more than alternatives. (12 reviews) - Users find the **insufficient information** provided by Guideline complicates their understanding of contributions and benefits. (12 reviews) ## Guideline Reviews ### 1. User-Friendly App with Competitive Fees **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** George D. | Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2026 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I like Guideline for multiple reasons. Its mobile app is really simple and slick, allowing me to check balances and change allocations quickly and easily. The fees are relatively low as well, even though they are not as low as Vanguard's, they are just 10 basis points on top of Vanguard fees, which I find acceptable. Plus, the initial setup was very easy, and it's actually my second time using them, which speaks to how user-friendly it is. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** They integrated with Gusto and the two apps and logins kind of broke, and it's annoying I have to log in two times to get in now. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline is a one-stop shop for administering and planning my retirement benefits. Its mobile app is simple, allowing me to check balances and change allocations easily, and fees are reasonable. ### 2. Low fees and the platform is easy to use! **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Research | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 14, 2026 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I like that the web platform is easy to use! I can easily update my 401(k) contributions and portfolio. It also integrates with my payroll provider TriNet! Guideline also have low employer fees as well as employee fees. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** It is unfortunate that Guideline was acquired by Gusto in 2025. Plans not integrated with Gusto payroll were moved to a new entity, Accrue 401k. That is what happened to our 401k plan and now, Vestwell has completed its acquisition of Accrue 401k. Our 401k plan has to undergo a complete transition and will have a black out period. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline was providing our company with a great 401k retirement plan for our employees. The fees were low and the investment options were good. We hope things will stay the same once things transition over to Vestwell. ### 3. Effortless 401K Management, Perfect Choice for Small Teams **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Eleanor r. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 11, 2023 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I appreciate how Guideline integrates 401K deductions for both employees and owners. I find it valuable that they choose different portfolios for me because I don't understand stocks or bonds. Also, the initial setup of Guideline was easy. Overall, everything is working fine with the service. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Nothing **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline integrates 401K deductions for employees and owners, and helps me choose different portfolios, which is valuable because I don't understand stocks or bonds. ### 4. Effortless Retirement Plan Management with Transparent Pricing **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 08, 2026 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline streamlines retirement plans, making them easy to manage without introducing unnecessary complexity. The platform is user-friendly, with transparent pricing, and the setup process was much more straightforward than with other providers I’ve used. I also value how clearly all aspects are explained, from compliance requirements to employee enrollment. This has significantly reduced the administrative workload, allowing me to concentrate on running my business rather than getting bogged down in retirement plan details. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** There are some occasional limitations when it comes to customization and reporting, particularly if you need highly detailed or specialized plan configurations. Certain advanced features may require additional steps or assistance from support, and the reporting options could offer more flexibility for power users. However, these are relatively minor tradeoffs considering the overall ease of use the platform provides. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline addresses the challenge of establishing and managing a compliant retirement plan without requiring extensive expertise or continuous supervision. It takes care of compliance, employee onboarding, and ongoing administration all in a single platform. This approach saves a considerable amount of time, lowers risk, and provides reassurance to both myself and my employees that the plan is being managed properly with minimal effort. ### 5. Simple Interface and Excellent Investment Choices **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** John T. | Director of Research, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline has a simple interface and a great selection of investments from which to choose for long term gains. Setting up the account and making changes to holdings is easy and pain free with little to no need for customer support. The fees are also very reasonable. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Guideline does not offer advanced research or analysis in the basic plan we have. More advanced investors will likely have other resources for this research, but it would be nice for less experienced investors to have some investment guidance. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline is helping out small company compete more effectively by offering our employees an easy option to invest in their retirement. ### 6. Guideline...the new standard for modern retirement platforms **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nikki K. | Director of Accounting & Administration, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline has set a new standard for what a modern retirement platform should look like. Their system is intuitive, transparent, and designed with both employers and employees in mind. Unlike many traditional 401(k) providers, Guideline eliminates unnecessary complexity and provides clear, upfront pricing that makes retirement planning accessible to companies of all sizes. From the administrative side, the platform integrates seamlessly with payroll systems, dramatically reducing the workload for HR teams. Plan setup, ongoing management, and compliance are all handled with efficiency and clarity, which allows businesses to focus on their core work rather than paperwork. For employees, the user experience is equally strong. The platform makes it easy to understand investment options, monitor account performance, and adjust contributions. Guideline’s emphasis on low-cost index funds and fee transparency ensures that more of employees’ savings actually go toward retirement growth rather than administrative overhead. Perhaps most impressive is the customer support. The Guideline team is knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely committed to helping clients succeed. Whether it’s a new company launching their first retirement plan or a seasoned HR professional seeking optimization, the support staff consistently provide clear guidance and proactive solutions. Overall, Guideline is a standout provider in the retirement plan space. They combine cutting-edge technology, thoughtful design, and a mission-driven approach that prioritizes the financial well-being of employees. For businesses seeking a simple, affordable, and trustworthy retirement solution, Guideline is an excellent choice. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I have nothing negative to say about Guideline **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** One of the biggest challenges with offering a 401(k) is the heavy administrative lift — from compliance testing and reporting to coordinating with payroll and managing employee changes. Before Guideline, this process felt overwhelming and time-consuming. Guideline has completely taken that burden off my plate. Their system integrates seamlessly with payroll, which means contributions, updates, and adjustments happen automatically without me having to step in. They also handle compliance and filings in the background, so I don’t have to worry about missing deadlines or making costly mistakes. The result is peace of mind. What used to be a stressful, manual process is now streamlined and effortless. I can focus on running the business while knowing our retirement plan is managed correctly and efficiently. Guideline makes it easy to provide a great benefit without creating more work — and that’s been a game-changer. ### 7. Simple 401K administration **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** ANA R. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** As a small business owner serving small and micro businesses, I appreciate how Guideline simplifies 401(k) administration. The platform integrates smoothly with payroll, and the employee dashboard is intuitive—even for those new to retirement planning. I especially value the low-cost investment options and the ability to offer Safe Harbor plans. Starting the plan is easy and seamless. Our weekly payrolls fit right in with Guidelines processing of our contributions. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I’ve noticed some delays in customer support responses, long waiting time for a real person to help. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Complexity of 401(k) Setup and Compliance Guideline streamlines the process of launching and managing a retirement plan, especially for small businesses without dedicated HR teams. • Payroll Integration Hassles It connects directly with payroll providers, reducing manual data entry and minimizing errors. • High Costs of Traditional Plans Guideline offers low-cost investment options and transparent pricing, making retirement benefits more accessible for micro and small businesses. • Employee Education Gaps The platform provides user-friendly dashboards and resources that help employees understand and manage their retirement savings—even if they’re new to financial planning. ### 8. You get what you pay for **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tara R. | Office Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** The lower cost and ease of use are nice features for the company and employees while the ease of integration with payroll software makes it a good choice from a management standpoint. It doesn't require any effort for me to maintain. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I feel like the yields are very modest but that may be due to a lack of education on my part. I wish there were more built in educational tools to help people understand what they are actually investing versus the yield. I was looking for a report of that information and can't even find it laid out with investment vs yield, which feels like they're trying to hide low returns. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Being able to remain competitive as a small business by offering an affordable 401k service to our employees that doesn't require the business to match helps up keep our overhead from growing beyond what we consistently manage. **Official Response from Guideline Team:** > Hi Tara, Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re happy to hear you find our services easy to use! It sounds like you're looking for a clearer breakdown of your returns, however, and we'd love to help with that. We'd be happy to walk you through your dashboard and where to find this information. Feel free to reach out at support@guideline.com. ### 9. Great, straightforward 401(k) for small businesses. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bhanu J. | Official Member & Content Contributer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 28, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** As a small business owner, Guideline was incredibly easy to set up and integrate with our payroll. It pretty much runs on its own, which is a huge plus. The fee structure is transparent and fair, and it provides all the essential tools for my employees to manage their retirement savings without needing a lot of hands-on management from me. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The user interface gets the job done, but it could be more polished. Some of the administrative dashboards feel a bit clunky to navigate, and finding specific information can sometimes take a bit more digging than I'd like. A cleaner GUI would make the experience even better, but it's a minor complaint overall. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline solves the major problem of making a 401(k) plan accessible and manageable for a small business. Previously, the administrative burden and high costs were prohibitive. Guideline automates the entire process, from payroll deductions to compliance, which saves me a ton of time. The key benefit is that I can now offer a competitive retirement plan to my employees, which is crucial for attracting and retaining talent, without the typical management headaches. ### 10. Easy and Reliable 401(k) Solution **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kate S. | Human Resources Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 22, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** We’ve had a great experience with Guideline. The platform makes setting up and managing our 401(k) plan simple and straightforward, which has been a big help for both our HR/finance team and our employees. The onboarding process was smooth, and their customer support team is responsive and easy to work with. Employees appreciate how user-friendly the dashboard is—it’s clear, transparent, and makes it easy for them to track contributions and investment options. From an employer perspective, I especially value the automated administration, compliance support, and seamless payroll integration, which save us a lot of time and reduce the risk of errors. Overall, Guideline has given us a retirement benefit that feels modern, accessible, and valuable for our team. I’d definitely recommend it to other small and growing companies looking for an affordable, easy-to-use 401(k) solution. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The investment options are solid, but a little more variety would be nice for employees who want more customization. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Before Guideline, offering a 401(k) felt complicated, expensive, and time-consuming. Managing compliance, filing paperwork, and making sure contributions were processed correctly required a lot of manual work and outside expertise. How It’s Benefiting Us: Guideline takes all of that off our plate with automation and built-in compliance support. Payroll integration means contributions happen automatically, which saves hours of admin time and reduces errors. Employees benefit from a simple, transparent platform where they can easily enroll, adjust contributions, and track their retirement savings. For us, the biggest value is being able to provide a competitive benefit that supports employee retention and satisfaction—without creating a huge administrative burden. It allows us to focus on growing the business while knowing our team has access to a modern retirement plan. ### 11. Guideline takes the hassle out of setting up 401(k) plans for your employees **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** William S. | Managing Partner, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline takes all the hassle out of setting up 401(k) plans for your employees. For me as a sole proprietor, I was able to easily integrate Guideline into my payroll system (Quickbooks) and get a 401(k) up and running for myself. It was relatively simple to pick a type of investment strategy for my plans. Even when I adjust my salary, which I sometimes need to do monthly, Guideline always picks up the new numbers and pulls out my contribution (both employer and employee) easily. Customer support has also been quite responsive the few times I've needed to ask questions. I rest easy knowing that when I eventually do need to hire more people, it will be a piece of cake to get them set up with company 401(k) too, and I'll know that I'm following all regulations correctly. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I don't think quite all the information I needed to know about 401(k) plans was communicated to me effectively, such as only being able to modify the company contribution percentage when a new fiscal year begins. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** As an employer, I need to be offering 401(k) packages to attract new employees. As an employee, I need a 401(k) to help me save for the future, and to help me reduce my taxable income. At my company, I occupy both roles, and Guideline helps me fulfill my needs in both directions. ### 12. An excellent price **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Max G. | General Counsel, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** August 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** What I like best about Guideline is the ease and efficiency of their automated platform and seamless payroll integration. This saves me a lot of time by handling administrative tasks automatically , and with a direct payroll sync, I don't have to worry about manual errors. The transparent and affordable pricing is also a major plus, as it helps maximize my team's savings without hidden fees. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I haven't encountered any significant issues with Guideline so far. However, as a customer, I would be interested in seeing more specific details about the investment options available beyond the general mention of managed portfolios. While the company highlights its high customer satisfaction, the marketing materials don't give a clear picture of how they handle specific problems or what the resolution process is like if something goes wrong **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline is solving the problems of complexity, high costs, and time-consuming administration associated with traditional 401(k) plans. The benefits of these solutions are: Cost Savings: Guideline's transparent and predictable pricing helps me save money, with some customers saving as much as $400 a month. Time Savings: The service automates administrative tasks and seamlessly syncs with payroll, which saves me a significant amount of time. One customer saved 20 hours a month with a Guideline 401(k). Reduced Stress and Effort: The platform makes offering a 401(k) easy, which reduces stress and eliminates the need to untangle issues or deal with endless email threads. The company also handles compliance, ensuring my plan passes all tests. ### 13. Easy to Use **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Samantha B. | Chief of Staff, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 23, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline makes offering a 401(k) simple and affordable. The platform is easy to use, integrates smoothly with payroll, and gives employees a clear view of their retirement savings. Their support team is responsive, and the fees are straightforward. It’s a solid choice for small businesses that want to give staff quality retirement benefits without the headache. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Honestly, there isn’t anything negative to say about Guideline. The platform works smoothly, support is reliable, and the costs are transparent. It’s one of the few services I can recommend without a single real complaint. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline has eliminated the need for manual deductions, which used to be time-consuming and prone to errors. Now contributions are automated and synced with payroll, saving time and giving employees confidence that their retirement savings are handled accurately. ### 14. Smooth monthly transactions & Great Customer Service **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Sherry T. | Office Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 24, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I find Guideline a great tool for our company. Each employee is able to log in into their specific account and accesss all info. Access through an app on the phone is awesome too. From the companys side, its great to see everyones account all at once and integrating the program to work for us. No major issues thus far Great customer service when i need it Love it! **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Nothing to really dislike If i had to mention something, maybe it would be great to have an easier initial setup with our Quickbooks Desktop platform. I had issues connecting accounts on the back end. But i was able to get through that with customer service **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Automatic 401K without logging in. Great benefit and love the updates i get in my email ### 15. Effortless Setup with Seamless QuickBooks Integration **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Kelly G. **Reviewed Date:** October 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I appreciate the convenience that Guideline provides, which is evident in how seamlessly it integrates with QuickBooks, allowing me to set up my employee's 401(k) plan without needing to explore other vendors. The ease of getting started was particularly remarkable, as it required only a few minutes of my time to provide necessary information, after which everything was set up automatically, including a 5% match for my employee, which I determined to be appropriate. What stands out most is that once set up, it requires no further intervention from me, as my payroll company manages everything, greatly suiting my busy schedule as a business owner. The convenience of the product is the most valuable aspect to me, having decided my buying decision, and if I had to repurchase, it would be solely for this convenience. Additionally, the signup process was effortlessly facilitated through QuickBooks, where talking to an agent was easy, emphasizing the user-friendliness of Guideline. The overall experience is so satisfactory that I would rate my likelihood of recommending it a solid 10 out of 10. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I am not sure of the cost after the first year. Yhe first year was at no cost. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find the product offers convenience by automatically managing my employee's 401k plan through payroll, requiring minimal effort from me. ### 16. Effortless Integration with Gusto, Highly Effective **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Greg A. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 29, 2022 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I love that Guideline integrates directly with Gusto, which we use for payroll, making it easy for our team to sign up and monitor everything seamlessly. The setup process was really simple, and I appreciate how it allows our employees to manage their 401(k) contributions effortlessly. The platform has significantly helped our team save money, enhancing their financial health and morale, which benefits the company overall. I find the investment management tools intuitive and straightforward, allowing both users and administrators easy access to adjust contributions and manage accounts. The affordability and ease of use of the platform make it a compelling choice for us. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Nothing really. It’s a great product. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** I find the product simplifies 401(k) management, improving employee savings and morale, seamlessly integrating with Gusto, making setup and user management easy. **Official Response from Guideline Team:** > Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with us. If you ever have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out at clients@guideline.com ### 17. Guideline is Simple & Effective! **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mike G. | Dir. of Operations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2024 **What do you like best about Guideline?** The ease of use for both employees and the administration side of the platform. Guideline support is also top-tier! Whenever we've needed support or encountered issues, they are easy to reach (even via email) and always ensure we resolve the problem at hand. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** There really isn't anything I don't like about them - I used to want them to integrate more fully with Paycor and now they do! Thank you for listening to your customers! **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Offering a simple and effective 401(k) option for our employees. Creating an easy system for me as an admin to manage the system, from adding employees to closing out their accounts when they leave the organization. The onboarding and offboarding process is so clear and effective. **Official Response from Guideline Team:** > Thank you for the positive feedback! We’re committed to providing the best service possible. If there’s anything more we can do for you, please let us know at clients@guideline.com. ### 18. The Retirement Adventure Begins **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stacy T. | Financial Controller / Accountant / HR & Benefits Administrator, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 30, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Seamless integration - we use QBO for HR and Payroll and have found the ease with which we hooked it to our Guideline account amazing. No continual maintenance for our HR staff to stress over - everything is handled by the employees and Guideline takes care of the rest. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Inability to make additional personal investments to my account - this may be a federal investment law though, not Guideline in particular. But we have employees who want to add more to their account who can't do so unless it's through payroll. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Initially? Providing value to our employees by offering added benefits in lieu of pay raises. It's helping stabilize our workforce by offering them long term incentives to stay with the company and keep a solid eye on their financial future. Over 70% of our staff either opted in or decided to be auto-enrolled. ### 19. Streamlined, Affordable 401(k) Solution for Small Businesses **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Nicole B. | CEO/Consultant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline makes it incredibly easy to offer a 401(k) plan to my employees. The setup was straightforward, the platform is user-friendly, and the integration with our payroll provider is seamless. I especially appreciate the transparent, low-cost fee structure—there are no hidden surprises, and the pricing is clear for both the business and the employees. It feels like a modern, efficient solution tailored for small to mid-sized businesses. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The investment options are somewhat limited compared to traditional 401(k) providers—this may not matter for everyone, but more experienced investors might find it restrictive. Lastly, the platform is mostly self-service, so if you’re looking for a highly hands-on advisor experience, this may not be the best fit. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline takes the complexity out of offering a 401(k) plan as a small business owner. Before using Guideline, setting up retirement benefits felt overwhelming—too expensive, too complicated, and too time-consuming. Guideline simplifies the entire process with an intuitive platform, automated administration, and seamless payroll integration. This has saved me significant time and administrative burden, allowing me to focus on running my business while still offering a competitive benefit to my team. It’s also cost-effective, which makes it feasible to offer retirement savings without straining our budget. ### 20. Guideline Review **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Hospital & Health Care | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 11, 2022 **What do you like best about Guideline?** How much support I got in selecting my 401K plan. Representatives responded fast and answered all my questions. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Nothing. Everything was great, I don't have anything negative. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** The fact that it integrates with Gusto was one of the best features. Makes it easy to process with payroll and taxes. ### 21. Super simple to set up and maintain, reasonably priced **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jerika Z. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 23, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I started to use Guideline because this is the one my payroll provider (Gusto) recommended and linked up with, but it was a great choice. The setup was very easy to understand and quick to get through. Since it links up with my HR/Payroll system, I hardly ever have to log in to do anything, but when I do, it's a clear and easy-to-use customer interface. I only contacted customer service 1X at setup to better understand what I was doing, and the help was great. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I have not found a downside yet, we have been using for a bit over a year **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Its an easy to use solution to offer a 401k with employer match! ### 22. Great 401(k) Option for Startups and Growing Teams **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ayishah W. | Head of People Operations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 25, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** What I like best about Guideline is how user-friendly it is for both administrators and employees. The payroll integration makes managing contributions seamless, and the educational resources provided to employees are clear and practical. I also really appreciate the transparency of their pricing model, which gives peace of mind when budgeting as a smaller organization. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The one area where Guideline could improve is the reporting dashboard. While it works and provides the essentials, it doesn’t offer much flexibility for customization. More robust options for slicing and analyzing data would make it even more powerful. That said, it met our needs without issue while we were using it. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline was an excellent partner in helping us introduce a 401(k) program to our employees for the very first time. As a start-up, we needed a solution that was simple, cost-effective, and easy to manage without a dedicated internal benefits team. Guideline checked all of those boxes. The platform integrates smoothly with payroll, which reduced administrative burden and ensured contributions are handled accurately. Their onboarding process for employees is straightforward, with clear education materials that make it easy for first-time participants to understand their options. . From a company perspective, Guideline maked compliance and reporting stress-free. The transparent fee structure is predictable, which is ideal for smaller organizations watching expenses closely. ### 23. Simple and straightforward platform. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jesica A. | CEO, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline was easy to set up. Communications from the company are clear, and the Gusto integration makes administration simple. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** It works well for our use case, but if a more complex plan is needed or more investment choices are needed, Guideline may not be the best option. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is important to be able to offer 401k benefits to my employees (and for myself). Guideline made this easy. My employees can set their contribution percentages and mixes on their own without any action needed on my part. It's been a set it and forget it kind of service, which is fantastic as a busy business owner. We have simple needs, so the safe harbor plan is sufficient. ### 24. Seamless Gusto Integration, But Pricing Could Improve **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Level UP E. **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I love that Guideline is directly integrated with Gusto, making it seamless and hands-off to manage our 401k plan. The setup was easy with helpful support, and I haven't encountered any challenges since. It keeps us compliant with California's requirements and aids in retaining employees by offering a reliable retirement plan. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I find the cost of using Guideline to be a bit high, particularly since the billing is based on active users rather than contributions. This pricing structure can be disproportionately expensive for us because we work with part-time employees who may earn less than a thousand dollars in a year. This means we could be spending $80 to $100 per year just to keep them on Guideline, essentially giving them a 10% raise in management fees, which isn't reflected in their earnings at all. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline keeps us compliant with California's retirement plan requirements, helps retain employees, and integrates seamlessly with Gusto, making management easy and hands-off. ### 25. Effortless Retirement Planning for Nonprofits—So Far, So Good **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** James G. | Executive Director, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Super simple and seamless retirement planning solutions for small nonprofits. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Hmmm this is challenging since we haven't really had any negative experiences to date. We are still early in our use of their services, so perhaps there will be something we dislike that surfaces later. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** As a small nonprofit, there aren't a lot of options we found to support retirement planning for our employees. Guideline not only solved this for us, but did so with digital-age ease, from super simple setup, QuickBooks Online integration, and easy for our employees to choose options, auto-draft, etc. ### 26. User Friendly with Incredible Reports **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Amber P. | Administrator/Chief Executive Officer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** As a small business owner, finding a 401(k) provider that was affordable, easy to manage, and employee-friendly felt like a tall order—until we found Guideline. From the start, their platform was intuitive and required far less administrative time than I expected. The setup process was smooth, and their customer support team walked us through every step with clarity and patience. What I appreciate most is how transparent and automated everything is. Contributions, compliance, and reporting are all handled seamlessly, which gives me peace of mind and allows me to focus on growing the business. Our employees have also responded positively—they love how easy it is to log in, track their investments, and make changes without having to jump through hoops. Adding a retirement plan used to feel like something only larger companies could afford to do well, but Guideline made it accessible and modern. I genuinely feel like we’re offering a competitive benefit that aligns with our company values and helps take care of our team’s future. I’d highly recommend Guideline to any business looking for a 401(k) solution that works as hard as you do. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Overall, I’ve been really happy with Guideline for our company 401(k)—the platform is clean, the fees are transparent, and the automation has saved us so much time. If I had to nitpick one small downside, it would be that the dashboard could offer a few more customization options or visual reports for employers. Nothing critical, just a "nice to have" for data nerds like me who love digging into trends. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Problem: 401(k) plans traditionally come with a mountain of paperwork, confusing rules, and hours of manual work. Solution: Guideline automates contributions, compliance testing, reporting, and Form 5500 filing—saving you time, reducing errors, and keeping you compliant without needing a dedicated HR team. Problem: Many 401(k) providers charge layered fees—some of which fall on your employees—making it hard to offer a truly cost-effective benefit. Solution: Guideline offers flat, transparent pricing with low fees for both employers and employees. That makes it easier for your team to grow their savings without getting hit with confusing charges. Problem: Traditional 401(k) platforms often feel clunky and outdated, discouraging employees from actively participating. Solution: Guideline offers a clean, modern interface that makes it easy for employees to enroll, choose investment strategies, and track progress—all from their phones or desktops. Problem: Staying compliant with IRS and Department of Labor requirements can be overwhelming—and risky. Solution: Guideline acts as both a 3(16) and 3(38) fiduciary, meaning they handle plan administration and investment management. This reduces your liability and simplifies your role as the employer. ### 27. Effortless Payroll Integration and Automation with Guideline **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Tima M. | Office Manager, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I like that Guideline easily integrates with our payroll software. It automates the administrative tasks, such as compliance testing, government filings, and recordkeeping, which saves our company time and effort. The Guideline platform is user friendly and offers helpful links to resources for the employer and employees. And I have great experiences with customer service reps when I have encountered any issues. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** At this time, there is nothing not to like. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline offers a good 401(k) plan that fits the needs of our small business and employees. ### 28. Great 401(k) Service, Could Use More Investment Options **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ryan J. | Controller, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Overall, I’ve had a positive experience with Guideline. The platform is easy to use, with a clean and intuitive interface that makes navigation simple. I especially appreciate how seamless it is to manage my account. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I think there’s room for improvement. It would be helpful if the dashboard included more detailed metrics to give users deeper insights into their retirement progress. Additionally, expanding the range of investment options—particularly by including ETFs—would make the platform even stronger. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** “Guideline makes it easy to manage my 401(k) with minimal effort. The platform’s simplicity and automation save me time while ensuring my retirement savings stay on track. ### 29. Guideline a good product for a great price. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jeff C. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Of the 5 companies that I researched before setting up my company's 401k plan, guideline was the cheapest by far. While there were a couple of companies that offered plans with slightly lower fees for the employer, the monthly fees charged to the employees were significantly cheaper at guideline. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Limited investment options (currently only Vanguard Mutual funds). Getting to actually talk to a person on the phone is a chore (unfortunately that is becoming the norm everywhere). Accessing your funds was hard (401k loan), but it seems like they have updated the website in the last year and you can now do that without a bunch of phone calls or emails. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline set up and administers my company 401k plan. ### 30. Easy Contribution Adjustments and Excellent Customized Portfolios **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Networking | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 03, 2026 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I like how easy it is to adjust contribution amount, contribution limits and the customized portfolios are extremely nice. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The account fee but you will get that with most other options so it is not that big of a deal. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is helping me invest for my future extremely easily. ### 31. Guideline 401(k) Management Review **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Seo L. | Director, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline offers an exceptional 401(k) management solution that stands out in the financial services industry. The platform excels with its intuitive user interface, making retirement plan management straightforward and accessible for both employers and employees. The user experience is particularly impressive, with a clean, logical layout that simplifies navigation through complex retirement planning options. This thoughtful design approach eliminates the confusion typically associated with retirement account management. When I encountered a mortgage application process requiring specific documentation from my retirement accounts, Guideline's support team responded promptly and efficiently. They provided all necessary documentation in a timely manner, demonstrating their commitment to customer service excellence. Overall, Guideline delivers a comprehensive 401(k) management solution that combines technological sophistication with responsive human support, making it a valuable partner for retirement planning needs.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ **What do you dislike about Guideline?** - Monthly statements not available as early as preferred​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline effectively solves the complex challenge of 401(k) administration by: - Streamlining employee retirement plan management through an intuitive platform - Reducing administrative burden with automated compliance and reporting features - Providing responsive support for both employer and employee documentation needs - Simplifying fiduciary responsibilities with transparent fee structures and investment options This comprehensive solution benefits our organization by allowing us to offer competitive retirement benefits while minimizing the time and resources typically required for 401(k) administration. The efficiency gains enable our HR team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than getting bogged down in retirement plan paperwork and compliance concerns.​​​​​​​​​​​​ ### 32. Effortless 401(k) Management with Guideline and QuickBooks Integration **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Blair Z. | CEO, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** We have been using Guideline for our 401(k) plan, and the integration with QuickBooks has made the entire process incredibly efficient. From setup to ongoing management, the platform is intuitive and user-friendly for both administrators and employees. For administrators, syncing payroll is seamless. Contributions are automatically calculated and submitted, removing the need for manual uploads or constant oversight. The dashboard is clear, and reporting is simple but comprehensive. Everything just flows without disruption, which has saved us significant time. Employees also find it easy to navigate. Enrollment is straightforward, and users can view their contributions, investment options, and performance at a glance. The interface makes retirement planning feel accessible, even for those new to investing. Overall, Guideline’s streamlined connection with QuickBooks makes managing a 401(k) plan feel less like a chore and more like a built-in benefit. We highly recommend it for small businesses looking for a simple, modern retirement plan solution. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The investment options are somewhat limited compared to larger providers. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline solves the headache of managing a 401(k) plan by fully automating the process and integrating directly with QuickBooks. It eliminates the need for manual data entry, reduces the risk of errors in contributions, and handles compliance and filing behind the scenes. For us, that means less time spent on administrative tasks, no more chasing down paperwork, and peace of mind knowing the plan is being managed properly. It also makes it easier to offer a competitive benefit to our team without adding extra burden to our operations. ### 33. Guideline Makes 401(k) Investing Easy and Confident **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Insurance | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 15, 2026 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I love that guideline does the guessing for me in making sure my 401k funds are aggressively invested. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I wish there were more investment options available. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline makes investing feel simple and worry-free for me. That’s a big benefit, because I wouldn’t normally put much thought into investing for the future, and this helps me stay on track without overthinking it. ### 34. Guideline Review Administrator & Employee Viewpoint **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I have the administrative view as management which makes it easy to answer employee questions. It is an intuitive website and there isn't too many places to click on so it makes finding things easy. As an employee I have used the website to ask for a loan against my 401k in a hardship situation. Not having to submit forms or bring other people into the loop helped me make it more private and it was simple to submit. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** For the loan requests there is a path I had to take that wasn't easy to find so if there is something added to the drop down for that particular option that would be great. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** For employees, staff have the ease of changing their deductions and also looking at their portfolio. As an administrator, it is easy to pull reports for accounting and since implementing this software over a year ago almost two we have had zero complaints from staff about their ability to access or use the software. ### 35. Great for basic SMB plans **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Fran A. | Manager, People & Firm Operations, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** The support we have received has been amazing in transitioning, setting up, and maintaining our 401(k). The dashboard is very user friendly on both the sponsor and participant side of things. There is a seamless integration with our HRIS which makes managing and updating very easy. The investment options are also great and the help center makes navigating the platform and answering plan questions very easy, I like that I can easily refer employees to those help pages. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The 401(k) setups offered can be restrictive which may pose a difficulty for those who are wanting more flexibility with their 401(k). We are unable to restrict certain compensation types from being eligible (i.e., bonus) and employment types (i.e., interns), which leads to some manual adjustments. There are some features from the SECURE 2.0 act which are not available nor is there the option to have someone from Guideline present on the 401(k), which would be nice to have. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Lack of insight on the employer side and ease of use for employees. ### 36. Excellent retirement accounts for startups **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stephen R. | Founder, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** September 18, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** As both a founder and client of Guideline, I have been really pleased with how easy establishing our retirement account for our company. It was equally as easy to get started as a client, with simple and straightforward funds and allocations. My rollover was a breeze as wel. I've been pleased with the mobile app as well. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I haven't run into too much here yet. I know Gusto just bought them, so we should see more integration with payroll/hr system... **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Easy retirement plans for start up. ### 37. Hands off and easy to use **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jonathan M. | CEO and Dentist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I love how my employees can set their own contribution levels and customize their investments on their own. The service is so easy to use. Guideline takes care of regulatory compliance, so I can literally "set it and forget it." I love, too, how it integrates with Quickbooks. Contributions are auto-calculated and auto-deducted. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Integration with Quickbooks would be easier if the Roth and Traditional contributions would come through with different names, so we could set up a rule in Quickbooks to auto-categorize them. Under the current setup, we need to run a Quickbooks report and manually categorize them each time we run payroll. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are a very small business. Guideline allows us to offer a retirement plan that attracts talented employees, and helps keep us competitive. ### 38. Streamlined Claim Management with an Interactive, Easy Interface **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rajanikanth R. | Engineering Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 12, 2026 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Better claim management with a more streamlined process. It’s very interactive, and the interface is easy to use and navigate. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Wellness needs a little bit of polishing, but otherwise it’s pretty cool. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Dental and vision ### 39. Good User friendly 401k service **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Corey P. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 28, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** I really enjoyed how user friendly this is. It makes it easy to get the most out of the 401k begining to end. You are able to view on a sliding scale how much to put in compared to what the maxmimum the company will match. I use it with gusto and they both work well together and I have not encoutered any issues. I have not needed to use support so far. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** i have not found any issues so far with guideline. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is helping my company offer a 401k for myself and the employees. It is a streamlined process for all employees to use. **Official Response from Guideline Team:** > Thank you for the positive feedback! We’re committed to providing the best service possible. If there’s anything more we can do for you, please let us know at clients@guideline.com. ### 40. No Nonsense 401K Management **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Rob S. | President/CEO, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** As a small company, it is difficult to offer a 401K option as you are not large enough for most providers to even look at your account. Without offering a 401K, it is difficult to compete in hiring qualified employees to progress your business. With Guideline, we are able to offer all of our qualifying employees a 401K option without all the normal management and paperwork. We are competitive in our hiring and our employees use the online portal to manage their own risk strategy. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Guideline really is a simple solution for businesses small or large to be able to focus on their core competencies instead of managing and administering a 401K. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are too small for the large corporate 401K administrators and their funds. Guideline however gives us access to these large ETF's in a simple and easy to manage way. Also we are more competitive in our hiring offerings now that we are able to offer a corporate matching 401K. ### 41. Great for Employers, Easy for Employees **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jeff K. | Director of Brokerage Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 20, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** It’s incredibly easy to set up, fully automated, and I never have to think about compliance. The investment options are solid, low-cost, and make it easy for employees to get started. Total no-brainer for small businesses. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Honestly, nothing major. It does exactly what I need it to—simple setup, low-cost plans, and no compliance headaches. Hard to complain. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline solves the complexity and time drain of managing a 401(k) plan for a small business. It automates plan setup, compliance filings, and ongoing administration, so I don’t have to worry about regulatory pitfalls or paperwork. The seamless payroll integration means contributions happen automatically, reducing manual errors. Plus, the low-cost, well-curated investment options make it easy for employees to participate and save for retirement. Overall, it saves me significant administrative effort and gives my team a competitive benefit without breaking the budget. ### 42. Guideline has been a great experience **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mark R. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 26, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** The process was seamless. I was actually very surprised at how easy it was to get set up and to get going. We have a login to see our dashboard and we also receive regular automated emails as things are happening behind the scenes. The system also integrates with our QuickBooks online. Highly recommend it! **What do you dislike about Guideline?** I did not encounter any negatives in our setup. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline helped me setup a retirement plan for the employees of my small business. This was something that I wasn't sure was going to be possible due to time constraints. We are a small business and don't have a lot of extra bandwidth. Guideline made the process so simple. I'm totally impressed with it. ### 43. Planning for Retirement Made Easy **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Jennifer H. | Office Manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 08, 2024 **What do you like best about Guideline?** This is my first time saving with a 401K myself as well as assiting ownership with the plan for the company. The Guideline portal is VERY user friendly but when you partner that with the amazing customer support team, you really couldn't ask for a better system to help your employees plan for the future. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Honestly, I have zero complaints or dislikes about Guideline. We've used them since we decided to offer a 401K plan to our employees and it's been smooth sailing ever since. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Our management team for the company wears several different hats: we each manage our own teams plus an array of other tasks that are to be accomplished. Guideline helps ensure our employees are taken care of by the company without much work on our end:we offer 3% towards retirement without employee contribution and profit sharing. When I direct an employee to Guideline when I don't have an answer for them, I am 100% confident they will be helped by the Guideline team. **Official Response from Guideline Team:** > We’re so glad you’re enjoying our service! Here at Guideline, we’re committed to providing our customers with excellent service and are here for you if you need anything. Feel free to contact us at clients@guideline.com. ### 44. This is a lot easier than you might think **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mark B. | Founder, Chief Creative Guy, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 05, 2022 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Super simple set up and easy-to-understand instructions are what set Guideline apart. As a small business owner, I needed a platform that could be set up easily for me as well as easy to use for our emploees. Guideline checked both boxes. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** There's not much to dislike at all, honestly. Some of the required forms/disclosures were a bit challenging, but all it took was searching the FAQs and confirming with my accountant that I was doing the right things and we were all set. I'd say the learning curve for some (reading disclosures and requirements) might be a bit off-putting, but I think that's expected with legal terms when it comes to financial products. **Recommendations to others considering Guideline:** If you're looking for an easy set up, low fees, and hassle-free administration, check out Guidline. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** I was able to get my employees on a 401(k) that was easy to set up, had reasonable fees, and doesn't require a lot of work on my end. The benefits are immediate because I am able to supply a solid benefit to my employees, and I have saved a ton of time and hassle for myself. ### 45. Effortless Setup, But Lacks Direct Professional Support for Employees **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** willie s. | Accountant, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** October 21, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Easy to set up, the employees take care of entering in their information, and very little post setup work required **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Employees do not have direct access to a certified professional to help them set up funds. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline allowed us to set up a simple retirement plan, a benefit that the employees were asking to have since before I was hired. ### 46. Great 401K Option for Small Businesses **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Stacey N. | Managing Partner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** June 25, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline, specifically when used in conjunction with Gusto, is a great seamless tool for 401K contributions. This has been a much easier process to maintain than other 401K solutions I've worked with. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** The only "downside" I've experienced with Guideline was when I encountered a client who had gotten behind on their payments and tried to wire money in order to get caught back up. Guideline is unable to take wires but only normal ACH transfers. It was inconvenient but we were able to work through it. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline offers a seamless solution for 401K contributions the checks that go along with that. It's a much easier process than most 401K companies I've worked with for small businesses. ### 47. User-Friendly Experience with Helpful Support **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Computer Software | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 11, 2026 **What do you like best about Guideline?** User friendly, support service, low fee, integration **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Limited investment options, some hiccups when Guideline was acquired by Gusto. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Easy administration of the company's 401k plan. ### 48. Great 401K Products **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Raquel A. | President, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 25, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** We signed up for the 401K platform in October 2024. The ease of set-up from the company level was a "10". From an employee standpoint, great communication, easy to follow instructions from inception from an employee level very easy instructions. Very glad we choose Guideline for the company and our employees peace of mind. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** Nothing has been a great experience. Would highly recommend. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Have not had any issues. ### 49. Exceptional Value and User Friendly **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Blake A. | Operations Manager, Partner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** It's super easy for me and my employees to use. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** not as configurable as I'd like. Example 1 Would like to provide profit sharing only to a specific employees like owners vs. having to distribute profits to all plan participants using one of the available profit sharing formulas. Example 2 Would like to have the option to add key employees to a profit share plan with specific payout structures per employee (example - our firm pays out X% of net income each year to specific employees whereby they can withdraw one-third of the balance each year starting in three years. In other words a sticky incentive that might help us retain key staff. Also, would like to invest in Vanguard Funds. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Allows me to offer an affordable 401k plan that's easy to use. ### 50. A 401K Provider I so far trust! **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Brian G. | Owner, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** July 29, 2025 **What do you like best about Guideline?** Guideline has been my 401K provider the last 2 years. In between I have switched to another one and noticed the level of professionalism and care I was leaving behind. I was able to switch back to Guideline and have not received any off putting comments about me wanting to leave prior. Customer Service can be reached when needed and they respond within a reasonable amount of time. Their fees are also reasonable for a very small employer like myself. Their dashboard is easy to understand and use. **What do you dislike about Guideline?** So far none. Since I nor my employees are retired yet, we haven't taken any withdrawals, so I don't know if this will be a smooth process. **What problems is Guideline solving and how is that benefiting you?** Guideline lets me stand out amongst other employers in my industry, since I can offer 401K benefits. ## Guideline Discussions - [Would you possibly make monthly statements available as a feature?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/50689-would-you-possibly-make-monthly-statements-available-as-a-feature) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [Can I use this for myself as the owner?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/46542-can-i-use-this-for-myself-as-the-owner) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [What is Guideline used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-guideline-used-for) - 1 comment - [View Guideline pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/guideline/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-19+06%3A27%3A51+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=f0a4ee29-9243-4036-87b2-204d5d3849ca&secure%5Btoken%5D=14e409c20b6cc35f06e823d84c6a206526574cfbd768c473b9ef3f2f25a531d2&format=llm_user) ## Guideline Integrations - [Gusto](https://www.g2.com/products/gusto/reviews) ## Guideline Features **Onboarding** - Administrators - Employees **Dashboard** - Balances - Investments - Personal Information **Compliance** - IRS - Tax Benefits **Administration** - Monitoring - Reporting **Generative AI** - AI Image-to-Text ## Top Guideline Alternatives - [Human Interest](https://www.g2.com/products/human-interest/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (2,303 reviews) - [Betterment at Work](https://www.g2.com/products/betterment-at-work/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (545 reviews) - [401GO](https://www.g2.com/products/401go/reviews) - 4.8/5.0 (145 reviews)