BambooHR vs Gusto

Where they differ

• Entry pricing recorded here is $6/month for BambooHR and $40/month for Gusto. Plan structures differ, so these are not like-for-like — check both pricing pages before comparing totals.

Head to head

BambooHR

BambooHR is the default HR system for companies hiring their first HR manager: employee records, PTO, onboarding checklists and e-signatures in an interface people actually enjoy. Its reporting covers the essentials and the mobile app handles approvals well. Payroll, benefits and performance are add-ons rather than bundled, so the sticker price understates total cost — but its ease of adoption keeps it a category favorite for SMBs.

BambooHR

★★★★★★★★★★4.5unverified rating

HR software for small and growing teams.

From $6/mo

HR

What we record about BambooHR →

Reported strengths

• ✓Easy to use
• ✓Great onboarding
• ✓Friendly support

Reported drawbacks

• ✗Payroll costs extra
• ✗Custom reports limited

Gusto

Gusto made small-business payroll almost pleasant: automated filings, employee self-service onboarding, and benefits administration in one clean flow. Contractor payments and multi-state support cover most young companies' needs, and the wallet features give employees real utility. It is US-centric — international hiring needs a different tool — and the base-plus-per-person pricing adds up, but for domestic SMB payroll it sets the usability bar.

Gusto

★★★★★★★★★★4.5unverified rating

Payroll, benefits and HR for SMBs.

From $40/mo

HR

What we record about Gusto →

Reported strengths

• ✓Simple payroll
• ✓Good benefits
• ✓Clean UI

Reported drawbacks

• ✗US only
• ✗Base + per-person fee