BambooHR Pricing 2026: Plans, Add-Ons, Real Costs
BambooHR does not publish pricing publicly. Here is what the Essentials and Advantage plans actually cost, what is included, and which features cost extra.
Is it right for you?
- How many employees will use BambooHR? (Pricing is per employee per month)
- Do you need payroll processing, or just HR information management?
- Do you need performance management features, reviews, goals, e-signatures?
- Are you a startup under 25 employees? (BambooHR has startup pricing)
- Do you need applicant tracking and onboarding modules?
Why BambooHR does not publish pricing
BambooHR, like most HR software vendors targeting mid-market companies, uses a sales-quote model rather than public pricing. This allows them to price differently based on company size, negotiation leverage, and which add-ons a prospect needs. The pricing below reflects verified customer reports and third-party research from 2025–2026 and should be treated as directional, not guaranteed.
BambooHR sales reps typically provide a 14-day free trial and a custom quote after a demo call. There is no self-serve signup for paid plans.
BambooHR plan pricing (Essentials vs Advantage)
BambooHR has two main plan tiers. Essentials covers the HRIS core: employee records, document storage, self-service portal, time-off tracking, basic reporting, and mobile app. Advantage includes everything in Essentials plus applicant tracking (ATS), onboarding workflows, e-signatures, advanced reporting, and employee wellbeing features.
Based on current customer reports, Essentials typically prices at $5.25–$6.50 per employee per month for companies with 50–200 employees. Advantage typically prices at $8.00–$10.50 per employee per month for the same size range. Companies under 25 employees are typically quoted a flat monthly fee of $99–$175/month rather than a per-employee rate.
A 100-person company on Advantage would expect to pay approximately $800–$1,050/month before add-ons. This positions BambooHR in the mid-market HR software range, more expensive than Gusto for HR-only, less expensive than enterprise platforms like Workday or Oracle HCM.
Add-on costs
Payroll is the most significant add-on. BambooHR Payroll (US-only) is sold separately and typically adds $4–$6 per employee per month plus a base fee. A 50-person company adding payroll might see $200–$350/month in additional costs. BambooHR Payroll covers automated tax filing, direct deposit, and garnishments, but it is not in the same tier as ADP or Paychex for complex compliance situations.
Time tracking is another paid add-on. Basic time-off tracking is included in both plans, but daily time tracking (hours worked per day, overtime calculations) is an additional module at approximately $2.50–$4.00 per employee per month.
Benefits administration, benefits enrollment, carrier connections, ACA tracking, is either included in Advantage or sold as an add-on depending on the quote. For companies with complex benefits needs, BambooHR's benefits admin is useful but not as full-featured as dedicated benefits platforms.
BambooHR vs alternatives on price
Rippling HRIS (their pure HR module without payroll) starts around $8/user/month but requires a base fee and often bundles payroll. Gusto prices more transparently: $6/month per person plus a $40 base fee, all-in with payroll included.
For companies whose primary need is payroll with basic HR features, Gusto is usually cheaper and more transparent. For companies whose primary need is the HRIS, employee records, PTO, ATS, performance reviews, without complex payroll, BambooHR Essentials or Advantage is competitive.
See also: BambooHR alternatives for a full comparison against Rippling, Gusto, and other mid-market HRIS platforms. For Rippling-specific pricing, see Rippling pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't BambooHR tell me the price without a sales call? BambooHR uses a custom-quote model, and the base per-employee rate can understate real cost by 30 to 50 percent once implementation, payroll, benefits, and time-tracking add-ons are priced in [Outsail, 2025]. Ask for every module priced separately before comparing to a competitor's published rate.
Does BambooHR raise prices when you renew? Some G2 reviewers report renewal increases of 20 to 30 percent, which is one of the more common complaints about the platform. Get your renewal terms in writing at signup.
Is payroll included in the base BambooHR price? No. BambooHR Payroll is a separate add-on for US customers only, typically adding $4 to $6 per employee per month on top of the Essentials or Advantage plan.
How does BambooHR pricing compare to Gusto? Gusto publishes its pricing openly ($40/month base plus $6/employee for Simple), while BambooHR requires a quote. For companies whose main need is payroll with basic HR, Gusto is typically cheaper and more transparent; BambooHR pulls ahead for companies that want a deeper HRIS without complex payroll.
What size company gets the best rate from BambooHR? Companies with 50 to 200 employees tend to see per-employee pricing in the ranges quoted above; companies under 25 employees are usually quoted a flat monthly minimum instead, which makes BambooHR proportionally more expensive for very small teams.