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HR software · head to head

BambooHR vs Gusto

Sebastiaan Smits Editor Sebastiaan Smits · Published September 30, 2026 · Updated October 20, 2026

BambooHR is a standalone HR system with published per-employee prices, a US payroll add-on and 150-plus integrations. Gusto's HR tools are a layer on top of Gusto payroll and are not sold without it. Companies of 20 to 500 wanting a proper HRIS pick BambooHR; US employers under 50 already on Gusto payroll use what they have.

Side by side

BambooHRGusto
What it isCore HRIS built for small and mid-sized companiesHR tools included with Gusto's small-business payroll
Best forCompanies of 20-500 employeesUS companies under 50 on Gusto payroll
HeadquartersUnited StatesUnited States
Pricing modelPer employee / monthIncluded with payroll plan
PricingPublished per-employee pricing above 25 employees, from $10.25 (Core), $17.50 (Pro) and $25 (Elite) per month with volume discounts; flat $250, $425 or $650 a month at 25 or fewer. Payroll and benefits are US-only add-ons.Included in Gusto's payroll plans; higher tiers add performance reviews, surveys and HR advisory access.
Free optionFree trialNone
Place in our HR software ranking#3 of 14#5 of 14
Websitebamboohr.comgusto.com

Both are reviewed in full in Best HR Software in 2026. Position in that ranking can be paid for; the wording of a review or of this comparison cannot. Placement disclosure.

Which one to choose

Choose BambooHR if

you want to keep your current payroll provider or add BambooHR's own, have or plan a dedicated HR person, and need applicant tracking, custom reporting and performance reviews beyond the basics.

BambooHR, #3 in the ranking · Visit BambooHR →

Choose Gusto if

you are a US company under about 50 people, run or will run payroll on Gusto, and an office manager handles HR alongside other duties.

Gusto, #5 in the ranking · Visit Gusto →

Where they differ

Who runs payroll

This is the real fork. Gusto's HR features exist only for Gusto payroll customers, and the payoff is that a new hire's paperwork feeds payroll and benefits without re-keying. BambooHR sells its own payroll for US employees as an add-on, and its integration marketplace, with more than 150 connectors, has a payroll category. Which is better depends on whether your payroll is already settled.

Edge: even

Depth of the HR system

BambooHR's entry plan, Core, already includes custom reporting, applicant tracking for five open jobs, onboarding with e-signatures and checklists, time off with unlimited custom policies and satisfaction surveys, and it documents an open API with webhooks. In the site's assessment, Gusto's reporting, custom fields and workflow options are limited next to BambooHR. As an HR system, BambooHR is the fuller product.

Edge: BambooHR

What you sign up for

Gusto's HR tools come with its payroll plans, so a Gusto payroll customer makes no separate HR purchase. BambooHR lists Core at $10, Pro at $17 and Elite at $25 per employee per month, with a flat rate from $250 a month for 25 or fewer employees, and payroll, benefits administration and time tracking sold as add-ons. For a small employer already on Gusto, it is the simpler transaction.

Edge: Gusto

Headcount and staff outside the US

Gusto is aimed at companies under 50, and in the site's view its HR limits show near 100 people or once a dedicated HR person arrives; it does not manage employees outside the US. BambooHR is built for 20 to 500 staff. Its own payroll pays US employees only, but it points non-US staff to local payroll integrations, global payroll partners or its Remote-based employment add-on.

Edge: BambooHR

Tally: BambooHR 2, Gusto 1, even 1.

When neither fits

Neither fits a company with many employees in Europe that needs local leave rules and compliance. Personio is built for European companies of 50 to 2,000 staff, and HiBob handles mid-sized companies spread across several countries, at a higher price and with a longer implementation.

See Personio and HiBob among the 14 products in Best HR Software in 2026.

Questions and answers

Can I use Gusto's HR tools with another payroll provider, the way BambooHR allows?

No. Gusto's HR features are available only to Gusto payroll customers and are not sold for use with a different provider. BambooHR is the neutral one: it offers its own payroll for US employees as an add-on, and its marketplace of more than 150 integrations includes a payroll category.

At what size should a company move from Gusto to BambooHR?

The pressure point tends to come near 100 people, or when a dedicated HR person joins and wants better reporting, custom fields and workflows. Gusto is positioned for US companies under 50, while BambooHR fits 20 to 500 employees and lowers its per-employee price automatically as headcount grows.

Do BambooHR and Gusto both include performance reviews?

Both do, on higher tiers only. BambooHR adds performance management with 360-degree reviews, one-on-ones and goal tracking on its Pro plan at $17 per employee per month. Gusto places performance reviews and engagement surveys on its upper payroll plans.

How much does BambooHR cost, and is there a trial?

BambooHR publishes Core at $10, Pro at $17 and Elite at $25 per employee per month, with flat-rate pricing from $250 a month for companies of 25 or fewer. Payroll and benefits administration cost extra, with 15 percent off when bought together. A free trial needs no credit card.

Sources

Prices, plan limits and product facts on this page were checked against the vendors' own pages on September 30, 2026. Vendors change both without notice, so treat the figures as of that date.