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BambooHR Review

BambooHR now publishes prices: from about $10 per employee a month, or a flat $250 a month for 25 or fewer people. Payroll and benefits are US-only add-ons quoted separately.

By Krystine Carneiro, Contributor. See their work.Published December 26, 2025Updated October 16, 2026This page was compiled from primary sources: company disclosures and terms, the BBB and regulators. Our ratings method is described on the methodology page.
BambooHR BestGuide rating
4.8/5 BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editors from reputation, services, transparency, customer satisfaction and scale. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.

Best for: US small and midsize businesses buying their first HR system who want simple employee records, time off, hiring and onboarding at a published price.

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Compare hr software solutions
On this page14 sections
  1. Ratings and complaints
  2. BambooHR vs. competitors
  3. Pricing
  4. Step by step
  5. BambooHR legitimacy and licensing
  6. BambooHR pricing explained
  7. What you get in each plan
  8. BambooHR complaints and how to avoid problems
  9. Contracts, cancellation and refunds
  10. BambooHR payroll and global teams
  11. Who should skip BambooHR
  12. What customers say
  13. Alternatives
  14. FAQ
Our verdict

BambooHR is a strong first HR system for small and midsize US businesses moving off spreadsheets: it's easy for employees to use, its mobile app rates 4.7, and unlike most rivals it lists prices, from $10 to $25 per employee a month, or $250 to $650 a month flat for 25 or fewer employees. It is a legitimate HR software company founded in 2008 in Utah that says more than 30,000 companies use it. The tradeoffs are that payroll and benefits administration cost extra and cover US employees only, reporting and workflows can feel rigid, and some customers say setup help after the sale is thin. Choose month to month at first, since extended-term contracts can't be cancelled early and prepaid fees aren't refunded.

Your options

  • BambooHR This review US small and midsize businesses buying their first HR system who want simple employee records, time off, hiring and onboarding at a published price.
    Visit site
  • Deel This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Alternative Companies hiring a mix of contractors and employees across several countries that want one platform and one invoice.
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Plans
Core, Pro and Elite at $10, $17 and $25 per employee a month on the plan cards (the FAQ says $10.25 and $17.50 for Core and Pro), as listed October 20261
Small company pricing
Flat $250 (Core), $425 (Pro) or $650 (Elite) a month for 25 employees or fewer1
Add-ons
Payroll, Benefits Administration, Time and Attendance and Global Employment (powered by Remote); payroll and benefits are US employees only; 15% off when you bundle Payroll and Benefits1
Discounts
Automatic volume discounts as headcount grows; 15% off for registered nonprofits1
Contract
Month to month (cancel any time, effective end of that month) or an extended term that is non-cancelable with non-refundable fees; both auto-renew2
Security
SOC 2 Type 2 report available through its trust portal; data hosted in the US, Canada or Ireland3
Company
Bamboo HR, LLC, 42 Future Way, Draper, Utah; founded 2008; CEO Brad Rencher; co-founders Ben Peterson and Ryan Sanders4

BambooHR ratings and complaint records

  • BBB C- Bamboo HR, LLC, Draper, UT; not accredited; 3 complaints in the last 3 years; no customer reviews View source
  • Trustpilot 3.3 out of 5 154 reviews, 50% five star and 22% one star; claimed profile View source
  • App Store (US) 4.7 out of 5 BambooHR employee app, about 12,750 ratings View source

Pros

  • Published prices, rare among HR platforms
  • Flat monthly price for teams of 25 or fewer
  • Easy to use, with a 4.7-rated employee app
  • Month-to-month option
  • 150+ integrations and SOC 2 Type 2 reporting

Cons

  • Payroll and benefits cost extra and cover US employees only
  • Extended-term contracts can't be cancelled early and aren't refunded
  • Performance reviews need Pro; compensation tools need Elite
  • Some customers report weak setup help after signing
  • C- BBB rating, though only 3 complaints

Best for: US small and midsize businesses buying their first HR system who want simple employee records, time off, hiring and onboarding at a published price.

Skip it if: Most of your staff are outside the US, you want payroll included in the base price, or you need deep custom reporting and workflows.

BambooHR vs. competitors

BambooHR compared with competitors
CompanyPublished pricingStarting priceNative payrollTrustpilotNext step
BambooHR Yes$10 per employee a month, or $250 a month flat at 25 or fewerUS only, paid add-on3.3 (154 reviews) Visit site
Gusto Yes$49 a month plus $6 per person (Simple)US, included1.9 (2,533 reviews) Visit site
Rippling No, quote onlyQuoteUS plus several countries4.5 (2,518 reviews) Visit site
HiBob No, quote onlyQuoteUS and UK4.1 (158 reviews) Visit site

HR software solutions we reviewed

  1. BambooHR This review BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: US small and midsize businesses buying their first HR system who want simple employee records, time off, hiring and onboarding at a published price.
    Visit site
  2. Deel This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Companies hiring a mix of contractors and employees across several countries that want one platform and one invoice.
    Visit site Read review
  3. Paychex This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: U.S. businesses with roughly 10 to several hundred employees that want one provider for payroll, HR support, benefits and possibly a PEO.
    Visit site Read review
  4. Rippling BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Growing companies, often 20 to several hundred people, that want payroll, benefits, devices, app access and expenses run from one system and have someone to own the setup.
    Visit site Read review
  5. HiBob This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Companies of about 50 to a few thousand employees, often across several countries, that want HR, performance and engagement in one modern system.
    Visit site Read review
  6. Justworks This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: U.S. small businesses that want better health benefits and HR compliance help for a published per-employee price.
    Visit site Read review
  7. Remote This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Startups and mid-size companies hiring a handful to a few hundred people abroad that want published prices and an EOR that owns its local entities.
    Visit site Read review
  8. Paycor, Inc. This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: U.S. businesses of roughly 10 to a few hundred employees that want payroll, HR and reporting in one platform and are willing to manage a structured setup.
    Visit site Read review
See all HR software solutions, ranked

BambooHR pricing at a glance

BambooHR plans, as listed October 20261

Plan More than 25 employees 25 employees or fewer Adds
Core $10 per employee a month ($10.25 in BambooHR's FAQ) $250 a month flat Employee records, hiring and onboarding, time off, benefits tracking, reporting, eNPS surveys, AI assistant
Pro $17 per employee a month ($17.50 in the FAQ) $425 a month flat Performance management with 360 reviews, recognition and an employee community
Elite $25 per employee a month $650 a month flat Compensation planning and benchmarks, advanced analytics, extra admin training and 30 more days of implementation
Payroll add-on Quote Quote US employees only; federal, state and local tax filing
Benefits Administration add-on Quote Quote US employees only; 15% off when bundled with Payroll
Time and Attendance add-on Quote Quote Scheduling, overtime, time clocks

Volume discounts apply automatically above 25 employees. Registered nonprofits get 15% off. Monthly customers pay by card or ACH; annual prepay can use wire or check.

BambooHR, step by step

  1. Get a quote or demo

    Pick a plan on the pricing page and request a quote, adding Payroll, Benefits or Time and Attendance if you need them.

  2. Choose a contract term

    Month to month can be cancelled any time; an extended term locks in pricing but can't be cancelled early.

  3. Set up and import data

    Load employee records, time-off policies and onboarding templates. Elite includes extra implementation time; budget for paid help if your setup is complex.

  4. Roll out to employees

    Employees use the web or mobile app to request time off, sign documents and view pay stubs.

  5. Cancel or change plans

    On month to month, cancellation takes effect at the end of the month you cancel. Export your data before the account closes.

BambooHR legitimacy and licensing

Yes. BambooHR is a long-running HR software company founded in 2008 and based in Draper, Utah, led by CEO Brad Rencher with co-founders Ben Peterson and Ryan Sanders. It says more than 30,000 companies use it, its employee app has about 12,750 App Store ratings averaging 4.7, and it offers a SOC 2 Type 2 report to customers through its trust portal.

Its BBB profile shows a C- rating and no accreditation, but only 3 complaints in three years and no reviews, so the grade reflects very little data. Trustpilot is mixed at 3.3 out of 5 from 154 reviews. Earlier versions of this review said BambooHR was accredited; the BBB lists it as not accredited.

BambooHR pricing explained

BambooHR moved away from quote-only pricing. Its pricing page lists three plans: Core at $10, Pro at $17 and Elite at $25 per employee a month for companies with more than 25 employees (its FAQ gives $10.25 and $17.50 for Core and Pro, so confirm in your quote). Companies with 25 or fewer employees pay a flat $250, $425 or $650 a month.

Example: a 40-person company on Pro would pay about $680 to $700 a month before volume discounts; a 12-person company pays $425 a month for Pro, the same as a 25-person company.

Payroll, Benefits Administration, Time and Attendance and Global Employment are separate add-ons with no listed price. Payroll and Benefits cover US employees only, and bundling them takes 15% off. Nonprofits get 15% off, and volume discounts apply automatically as you grow.

Checked the fees?Visit siteCompare all

What you get in each plan

Core covers the HR basics: employee records, hiring with an applicant tracking system, onboarding and offboarding, time-off tracking, benefits tracking, standard reports, eNPS employee surveys and an AI assistant that answers routine HR questions from your company data.

Pro adds performance management with 360 review cycles and 1:1s, recognition and an employee community, and the AI assistant can answer from your policies and handbooks.

Elite adds compensation planning and salary benchmarks, advanced analytics, extra admin training and 30 more days of implementation support. For international staff, BambooHR offers payroll integrations in places like the UK, Australia and New Zealand and an employer of record service powered by Remote.

What customers say about BambooHR

Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.

Common praise

  • Easy to learn for HR staff and employees
  • Helpful support reps
  • Employee records, time off and documents in one place
  • Well-rated mobile app for self-service

Common complaints

  • Thin hands-on onboarding, with some customers paying extra for setup help
  • Support harder to reach after the sale than before it
  • Leave balances and the time-off calendar are hard to read
  • Outages or bugs in time and attendance
  • Reporting and workflows less flexible than expected

BambooHR complaints and how to avoid problems

Negative reviews focus on setup and support more than the software’s basics. Customers report that onboarding is more self-service than they expected, that some paid extra consultants to finish setup, that support is slower after the sale, that leave balances are confusing, and that time and attendance has had outages.

  • Ask what implementation help is included in your plan, in writing, and what extra help costs.
  • Test your real time-off policies and the reports you need during the demo or setup.
  • Start month to month until the system is running well.
  • If you need payroll for non-US staff, price that partner before you commit.

Contracts, cancellation and refunds

BambooHR’s terms (updated September 18, 2026) offer two contract types. Month to month renews automatically each month; you can cancel any time and the cancellation takes effect at the end of that month. Extended term subscriptions renew for 12-month terms, can’t be cancelled early, and fees paid are non-refundable; if you stop using the service you still owe the rest of the term. The exception is if BambooHR fails to provide the service and doesn’t fix it within 30 days of written notice, in which case you can terminate and get a refund of prepaid unused fees.

For month-to-month customers, BambooHR can change prices with at least 60 days’ notice. Export your employee data before you cancel.

BambooHR payroll and global teams

BambooHR Payroll pays US-based employees and files federal, state and local payroll taxes, with tax specialists on hand. It syncs with your HR records so you don’t enter data twice. It does not pay workers outside the US; for them BambooHR points to integrated local payroll providers, global payroll partners in its marketplace, or its employer of record service for countries where you have no entity.

If all your staff are in the US, buying HR and payroll together usually saves setup time and the 15% bundle discount helps. If you have teams abroad, compare the full cost of the partner services too.

Who should skip BambooHR

Very small US businesses that mainly need payroll may pay less with a payroll-first service like Gusto. Companies that want HR, IT and spend management in one system may prefer Rippling. And companies with large non-US workforces or complex approval chains and custom reports should test those needs carefully, since they are common pain points in BambooHR reviews.

Still deciding?Visit siteCompare all

Alternatives to BambooHR

  • Gusto BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.Read review

    Cheaper for very small US teams that mainly need payroll with basic HR built in.

    Visit site
  • Rippling BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.Read review

    Better if you also want IT, device and expense management in the same system, or payroll in several countries.

    Visit site
  • HiBob BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner.Read review

    A fit for midsize companies with UK staff or a heavy focus on engagement tools.

    Visit site
  • Spreadsheets plus your payroll provider's HR tools

    For a handful of employees, the free HR features in your existing payroll service may be enough until you outgrow them.

See all HR software solutions, ranked

Next steps

This review BambooHR Visit site
Alternative Deel This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Visit site
Alternative Paychex This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Visit site

BambooHR reviews

Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does BambooHR cost?

BambooHR lists Core at $10, Pro at $17 and Elite at $25 per employee a month for companies over 25 employees (its FAQ says $10.25 and $17.50 for Core and Pro). Companies with 25 or fewer pay a flat $250, $425 or $650 a month.

Does BambooHR include payroll?

No. Payroll is a paid add-on for US employees only, priced by quote. Bundling it with Benefits Administration takes 15% off.

Is BambooHR good for small businesses?

Yes, it's built for small and midsize companies. The flat pricing for 25 or fewer employees and month-to-month option make it easy to start.

Is BambooHR legitimate and safe to use?

Yes. It was founded in 2008, is based in Utah and says it serves more than 30,000 companies. It offers a SOC 2 Type 2 report to customers.

Can I cancel BambooHR anytime?

On a month-to-month plan, yes; cancellation takes effect at the end of that month. Extended-term contracts can't be cancelled early and prepaid fees are not refunded.

Does BambooHR offer a free trial?

BambooHR's pricing page offers quotes and demos rather than a listed free trial. Ask the sales team whether a trial is available for your company size.

Does BambooHR work for international employees?

It stores records for employees anywhere, but its payroll and benefits cover US employees only. It offers local payroll integrations in some countries and an employer of record service powered by Remote.

Does BambooHR have performance reviews?

Yes, on the Pro and Elite plans, including 360 review cycles and 1:1 meetings. Core does not include performance management.

Does BambooHR offer nonprofit discounts?

Yes. Registered nonprofits get an extra 15% off, and volume discounts apply automatically as headcount grows.

What are common BambooHR complaints?

Limited hands-on setup help, slower support after purchase, confusing leave balances, time and attendance outages and limited report customization.

Sources (9)

Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards

  1. BambooHR: Pricing and FAQ (accessed October 12, 2026)
  2. BambooHR: Terms of service (last updated September 18, 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
  3. BambooHR: Security (accessed October 12, 2026)
  4. BambooHR: About us and leadership (accessed October 12, 2026)
  5. BambooHR: Payroll (accessed October 12, 2026)
  6. BBB: Bamboo HR, LLC profile (accessed October 12, 2026)
  7. Trustpilot: BambooHR reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
  8. Apple App Store: BambooHR (accessed October 12, 2026)
  9. HiBob: Pricing and demo request (accessed October 12, 2026)
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