BambooHR
BambooHR (HR software (HRIS) for small and medium businesses: hiring, onboarding, employee records, time off, payroll and performance in one place) is a cloud-based HR software platform, an HRIS, built for small and medium-sized businesses that pulls hiring, onboarding, employee records, time off, payroll, benefits and performance management into a single system.
It is designed to replace the spreadsheets and scattered tools a growing company outgrows, and to give even a one-person HR department a reliable single source of truth for its people data.
Founded in 2008 and based in Lindon, Utah, BambooHR is used by around 30,000 businesses across more than 150 countries, including names like Shopify, Foursquare and Reddit. It is consistently one of the highest-rated HR platforms for smaller companies, holding 4.6 out of 5 across thousands of Capterra reviews, and it is best known for being genuinely easy to use rather than for heavy enterprise depth.
Overview
What BambooHR is
BambooHR is an HRIS, a human resources information system, aimed squarely at small and medium businesses rather than enterprises. The idea is simple: instead of running HR out of spreadsheets, shared drives and half a dozen disconnected apps, you keep every employee record, time-off balance, document and onboarding task in one place, accessible to HR, managers and employees alike. It has grown into one of the most popular HR platforms for companies in the roughly 20 to 500 employee range.
Core features and modules
BambooHR is organised into modules you can adopt as you grow:
- HRIS and employee records: a secure system of record for personal details, documents, job and compensation history, and custom fields.
- Hiring and onboarding: a built-in applicant tracking system (ATS) plus configurable onboarding, offer letters and e-signatures. Onboarding is one of BambooHR's strongest, most-praised areas.
- Time off and time tracking: self-service PTO requests, one-click manager approvals, automatic balances, and an add-on for hourly time and attendance.
- Performance and engagement: review cycles, goals, peer feedback and employee-satisfaction (eNPS) surveys.
- Payroll and benefits (US add-ons): optional US payroll with automatic tax filing, and benefits administration for health, dental, vision and 401(k).
- Bamboo AI and reporting: standard HR analytics and reports, with an AI layer that answers people-data questions in plain language.
BambooHR pricing and cost
BambooHR sells three main plans on a per-employee, per-month basis: Core at $10, Pro at $17 and Elite at $25 per employee each month. Broadly, Core covers the essential HRIS, time off and reporting; Pro adds performance management, the employee community and more advanced workflows; and Elite adds premium support and faster implementation. For very small teams of 25 employees or fewer, pricing switches to a monthly flat rate starting at $250 per month.
The important caveat with BambooHR cost is that the headline per-employee prices are not the whole bill. Payroll, Benefits Administration, Time and Attendance, and Global Employment (powered by Remote) are paid add-ons quoted separately, so real-world pricing often lands higher than the list price once you add what you need. BambooHR offers a 15% discount when you bundle Payroll and Benefits Administration with a plan, plus volume and non-profit discounts, but exact add-on prices and plan feature splits are confirmed on a sales call rather than published in full.
BambooHR vs Gusto
This is the most common BambooHR comparison, and the difference comes down to origins. BambooHR is HR-first: its core strengths are employee records, onboarding and performance, with payroll bolted on as an add-on. Gusto is payroll-first: its US payroll, tax filing and built-in benefits administration are best-in-class for very small businesses, with lighter HR features around them. As a rule of thumb, Gusto tends to win for teams under 100 employees where payroll is the priority and pricing is fully transparent (from about $49/mo plus $6 per employee), while BambooHR tends to win for companies of roughly 50 to 500 where a real HRIS, configurable onboarding and performance management matter and payroll is either handled elsewhere or added on. The table below breaks it down.
For a deeper head-to-head on pricing, payroll, onboarding and support, read our full guide: Gusto vs BambooHR: the best HR software.
BambooHR integrations
BambooHR has a marketplace of more than 150 pre-built integrations covering payroll, ATS, benefits, productivity and identity tools, plus an open API for custom connections. Common integrations include Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Indeed, Greenhouse, JazzHR, 15Five, Lattice, QuickBooks and Checkr. Reviewers note the marketplace covers the essentials well but can feel limited for very complex or niche enterprise requirements.
The BambooHR app and how login works
The BambooHR mobile app is free to download on both iOS and Android and lets employees request time off, view the company directory and org chart, complete onboarding tasks and see performance reviews on the go. You do need an active account provided by your employer to use it.
Login works a little differently from most apps: rather than one generic sign-in page, each company gets its own secure subdomain that looks like yourcompany.bamboohr.com, and you log in there or through the mobile app with the credentials your HR team set up. If you cannot remember your company's BambooHR domain or your password, use the forgot-password link or ask your HR administrator, since only your employer can reset access.
Who it is for, and its limits
BambooHR is a strong pick as HR software for a small or growing business that wants an easy, well-designed HRIS with excellent onboarding and self-service, and it is regularly rated among the easiest HR tools to use. Its honest limitations, echoed across reviews, are that pricing is not transparent, that reporting and customization are lighter than enterprise platforms, that integrations can fall short for very complex needs, and that its payroll works best for straightforward, single-country setups and struggles with multi-state or highly complex payroll. For large enterprises or heavy global payroll, a bigger HCM suite is usually the better fit.
History
BambooHR was founded in 2008 in Lindon, Utah, U.S. by Ben Peterson (Co-founder) and Ryan Sanders (Co-founder).
BambooHR was founded in 2008 in Lindon, Utah, by Ben Peterson and Ryan Sanders, with the goal of freeing small and medium businesses from spreadsheet-based HR. It grew steadily into one of the best-known HRIS products for that segment, reporting around 11,000 clients across 100 countries by 2019 and roughly 30,000 businesses since.
In October 2019, Brad Rencher, previously an executive vice president and general manager at Adobe, was appointed CEO, with co-founders Peterson and Sanders moving to co-chairman roles. The company is also known for its people-first culture, including an "anti-workaholic" policy that discourages more than 40-hour weeks and a "paid paid vacation" benefit that reimburses employees for holiday expenses. Figures reported in the press are point-in-time, so verify current customer and headcount numbers against BambooHR's own announcements.
BambooHR features
BambooHR offers the following capabilities:
- Centralized HRIS and employee records. A single, secure system of record for every employee: personal details, documents, job and pay history and custom fields, replacing spreadsheets and scattered files.
- Hiring and onboarding (ATS). An applicant tracking system plus configurable onboarding: post jobs, collaborate on candidates, send offers, and run new-hire packets and e-signatures before day one. One of its strongest areas.
- Time off and time tracking. Employees request PTO from the app, managers approve in a click, and balances update automatically. An add-on tracks hours for hourly and shift teams.
- Payroll and benefits (US add-ons). Optional US payroll with automatic tax filing, plus benefits administration for health, dental, vision and 401(k). Bundling both with a plan earns a 15% discount.
- Performance and engagement. Run review cycles, goals and peer feedback, with eNPS-style employee satisfaction surveys to track engagement over time.
- Employee self-service and community. A self-service portal and mobile app let staff update details, see the org chart and directory, and get recognition, which cuts routine HR requests.
- 150+ integrations and open API. A marketplace of pre-built integrations connects BambooHR to payroll, ATS, benefits and productivity tools, backed by an open API for custom connections.
- Bamboo AI and reporting. Built-in HR analytics and standard reports, now with Bamboo AI layered on to answer people-data questions and surface trends without building a report by hand.
Use cases of BambooHR
- Graduate from HR spreadsheets (Growing SMBs). Move scattered employee data into one secure system of record as headcount climbs past what a spreadsheet can safely handle.
- Paperless, faster onboarding (HR teams). Send offers, collect signatures and run new-hire packets before day one so new employees start productive instead of buried in forms.
- Cut routine HR admin (People operations). Let employees self-serve time off, personal details and directory look-ups from the web or mobile app, freeing HR from repetitive requests.
- Run performance reviews (People leaders). Standardise review cycles, goals and feedback, and track engagement with built-in satisfaction surveys.
- Track time off accurately (Managers). Approve PTO in a click with balances and accruals calculated automatically, avoiding the errors of manual leave tracking.
BambooHR pricing
BambooHR uses a subscription pricing model, starting at From $10/employee/mo. The product offers a 7-day free trial.
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Core | $10 /employee / month | The essential HRIS: employee records, time off, standard reporting, e-signatures, mobile app and the applicant tracking and onboarding basics. Best entry point for a small team. Companies of 25 or fewer employees pay a flat rate starting at $250/mo instead.
|
| Pro | $17 /employee / month | Everything in Core plus performance management, the employee community and experience tools, more advanced workflows and approvals, and deeper analytics. The common choice for growing companies.
|
| Elite | $25 /employee / month | Everything in Pro plus premium support and faster, guided implementation. Aimed at companies that want the highest service tier. Add-ons (Payroll, Benefits, Time and Attendance) are quoted separately on any plan.
|
BambooHR vs Gusto
The table below contrasts BambooHR with Gusto (gusto.com) on a few key dimensions.
| Dimension | BambooHR | Gusto |
|---|---|---|
| Origin and focus | HR-first HRIS (records, onboarding, performance) | Payroll-first, with HR features built around it |
| Pricing | From $10/employee/mo; add-ons quoted; sales call for full price | Fully transparent, from about $49/mo plus $6/employee |
| Payroll | Add-on; best for simple single-country payroll, strains at multi-state complexity | Best-in-class US payroll and automatic tax filing |
| Benefits administration | Paid add-on (US) | Built in (health, dental, vision, 401k, FSA and more) |
| Onboarding and records | Stronger and more configurable | Solid basics |
| Best for | Companies of roughly 50 to 500 where HRIS depth matters | Teams under 100 where payroll is the priority |
Platforms & tech
- Supported platforms: Web (any modern browser), iOS, Android.
- Deployment: cloud, ios, android.
Integrations
BambooHR integrates with 12 third-party tools:
Awards & recognition
- 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra — Rated 4.6/5 across more than 3,500 Capterra reviews (4.7 ease of use), and a long-running leader in HR software category rankings.
See also
- Gusto vs BambooHR: our full comparison guide — A deeper head-to-head on pricing, payroll, onboarding and which HR software fits your team.
- Gusto — The payroll-first alternative with transparent pricing. The better pick when payroll is the priority and the team is under 100.
- Rippling — An all-in-one platform that unifies HR, IT and payroll. More powerful and more complex than BambooHR.
- Deel — Best for hiring and paying international and remote teams across many countries.
- Workday — An enterprise HCM suite for large organisations that have outgrown an SMB-focused tool.
References
- "BambooHR official website". bamboohr.com.
- "BambooHR Plans and Pricing". bamboohr.com.
- "BambooHR company profile and history". Wikipedia.
- "BambooHR reviews and ratings". Capterra.
- "BambooHR on the App Store". Apple App Store.
- "BambooHR on LinkedIn". LinkedIn.
External links
Frequently asked questions
- What is BambooHR?
- BambooHR is a cloud-based HR software platform, an HRIS, for small and medium businesses. It brings hiring, onboarding, employee records, time off, payroll, benefits and performance management into one system so a growing company can stop running HR out of spreadsheets. Founded in 2008 in Lindon, Utah, it is used by around 30,000 businesses in more than 150 countries and is known for being easy to use.
- How much does BambooHR cost?
- BambooHR pricing has three main plans charged per employee per month: Core at $10, Pro at $17 and Elite at $25. Companies with 25 or fewer employees pay a monthly flat rate starting at $250 instead. The important detail on BambooHR cost is that Payroll, Benefits Administration, Time and Attendance, and Global Employment are paid add-ons quoted separately, so the real total is usually higher than the list price. There is a 15% discount for bundling Payroll and Benefits, plus volume and non-profit discounts, but exact add-on pricing needs a sales quote.
- How do I log in to BambooHR?
- You log in to BambooHR at your company's own subdomain, which looks like yourcompany.bamboohr.com, using the email and password your employer set up, or through the BambooHR mobile app on iOS or Android. There is no single generic BambooHR login page because each company has its own secure portal. If you have forgotten your company's domain or your password, use the forgot-password link or ask your HR administrator, since only your employer can reset access or invite you.
- Is BambooHR good HR software for small business?
- Yes, small and medium businesses are exactly who BambooHR is built for. It is regularly rated one of the easiest HR tools to use, with strong onboarding, employee self-service and a well-liked mobile app, and it holds 4.6 out of 5 on Capterra. It fits companies in roughly the 20 to 500 employee range best. Its trade-offs are lighter reporting and customization than enterprise suites, payroll that suits simpler single-country setups, and pricing that requires a sales conversation.
- BambooHR vs Gusto: which is better?
- It depends on what you need most. Gusto is payroll-first, with best-in-class US payroll, tax filing and built-in benefits, and fully transparent pricing from about $49/mo plus $6 per employee, which makes it ideal for teams under 100 where payroll is the priority. BambooHR is HR-first, with stronger employee records, onboarding and performance management, and suits companies of roughly 50 to 500 where a real HRIS matters and payroll is handled elsewhere or added on. See the BambooHR vs Gusto table above for a row-by-row comparison.
- What integrations does BambooHR support?
- BambooHR has a marketplace of more than 150 pre-built integrations, plus an open API for custom connections. Common ones include Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Indeed, Greenhouse, JazzHR, 15Five, Lattice, QuickBooks and Checkr, spanning payroll, ATS, benefits, productivity and background checks. The marketplace covers mainstream needs well, though reviewers note it can be limiting for very complex or niche enterprise integrations.
- What are the best BambooHR alternatives?
- The most common alternatives are Gusto, the payroll-first option best when payroll is the priority; Rippling, an all-in-one HR, IT and payroll platform that is more powerful but more complex; Deel, best for hiring and paying international teams; and Workday, an enterprise HCM suite for large organisations. The right choice depends on whether you weight payroll, global hiring, IT unification or enterprise depth over BambooHR's ease of use and onboarding.
- Is there a BambooHR mobile app?
- Yes. The BambooHR app is free to download on both iOS and Android. Employees can request time off, view the company directory and org chart, complete onboarding tasks and see performance reviews from their phone. You need an active BambooHR account provided by your employer to sign in and use it.
- Does BambooHR do payroll?
- BambooHR offers payroll, but as a paid add-on rather than part of the base HR platform, and currently for US employees. It includes automatic tax filing and works well for straightforward single-country payroll, especially bundled with Benefits Administration for a 15% discount. For multi-state complexity, certified payroll or very large teams it can strain, which is one reason some companies pair BambooHR's HRIS with a dedicated payroll provider like Gusto.