BambooHR vs Gusto
BambooHR and Gusto are both HR & recruiting tools aimed at small businesses. BambooHR costs less, from $10/mo versus $35/mo for Gusto.
| Pricing | Paid · $10 | Paid · $35 |
| Starting price | $10/mo | $35/mo |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | 7 days | — |
| Built for | Small businesses | Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android | web, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2008 | US · 2011 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose BambooHR if
US and international SMBs with 25–500 employees.
- Easy to use for HR and employees
- Good all-round HR coverage
- Strong reporting
Look elsewhere if: Enterprises or companies needing local compliance in Turkey or EU (Kolay, Personio).
Choose Gusto if
US small businesses up to about 100 employees.
- Very easy payroll for small teams
- Benefits administration included
- Friendly UX and good support
Look elsewhere if: Non-US employers or companies needing deep HRIS/IT (Rippling).
BambooHR vs Gusto pricing
BambooHR
- Core$10/employee/moFlat $250/mo up to 25 employees; HR data, reporting
- Pro$17/employee/moFlat $425/mo up to 25 employees; performance, ATS
- Elite$25/employee/moFlat $650/mo up to 25 employees; compensation tools
Gusto
- Simple$49/mo+ $6/person; single-state payroll
- Plus$80/mo+ $12/person; multi-state payroll, time and PTO
- Premium$180/mo+ $22/person; HR experts, compliance, priority support
- Contractor Only$35/mo+ $6/contractor; base fee sometimes waived as promo
BambooHR · Key features
- Employee records and document storage
- Time off tracking and approvals
- Onboarding and offboarding checklists
- Performance reviews and eNPS surveys
- Applicant tracking system
- Payroll and benefits (US add-ons)
Cons
- Per-employee pricing adds up as headcount grows
- Payroll US-only
- Limited for large enterprises
Gusto · Key features
- Full-service US payroll with tax filings
- Health benefits, 401(k) and workers' comp
- Onboarding with offer letters and e-signature
- Time tracking, PTO and scheduling
- Contractor payments in 120+ countries
- Compliance alerts and HR resources
Cons
- US employees only
- Costs rise with headcount
- Limited HR depth for larger companies
BambooHR vs Gusto: FAQ
Which is cheaper, BambooHR or Gusto?
BambooHR starts at $10/mo and Gusto at $35/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do BambooHR and Gusto have a free plan?
BambooHR has no free plan, a 7-day free trial. Gusto has no free plan.