BambooHR
SMB HRIS that often is the first ATS too.
From $250/mo MCP server API
Bottom line
Small-business HRIS that often doubles as the first ATS. Per-employee plans start at $10, with a $250/mo floor for companies of 25 or fewer.
Stands out for: HRIS plus a light applicant tracker and onboarding in one small-business login.
Watch out for: The $250 figure is the small-company flat rate, not a per-employee price. Bills scale with headcount above that.
Overview
BambooHR is a small-business HRIS that often serves as the first ATS too, with employee records, a light applicant tracker and onboarding in one product. It works until hiring volume needs a dedicated tracker. It has a public API and an official MCP server, currently in beta.
Teams pick BambooHR when HR is the buyer and recruiting is still small. Core is $10 per employee per month, Pro $17 and Elite $25, with a monthly flat rate from $250 for companies of 25 employees or fewer.
Who it's for
Best for
- US small businesses buying a first HRIS
- Teams that want a light ATS in the same product
- HR teams running onboarding after the offer
- Buyers comparing against Gusto or Namely
Not ideal for
- High-volume hiring that needs a dedicated ATS
- Global employer-of-record buyers
Key features
HRIS. HRIS that often doubles as the first light ATS.
ATS. Applicant tracking for jobs, candidates, and stages.
Onboarding. Onboarding starts when the offer is accepted.
Screenshots
HR data and reporting
Hiring and onboarding
Payroll, time and benefits
Employee experience and performance
Images: BambooHR's own website. Select an image to see it full size.
MCP server
First-party MCP server, currently in beta. It runs at each company's own BambooHR address, so there is no single public URL, and people sign in with their own BambooHR login. It covers employee records, time off, goals and applicant tracking data.
Setup steps and live status MCP Directory Check your stack in the MCP readiness checker
Pricing
Companies with 25 employees or fewer pay a flat monthly rate starting at $250. Above 25 employees, Core is $10, Pro $17 and Elite $25 per employee per month, with automatic volume discounts. Payroll, benefits administration and time tracking are add-ons. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.
Checked 20 Sep 2026. Vendors change prices without notice.
Is BambooHR expensive?
BambooHR starts at $250/mo. We list 25 benefits administration tools in total. 0 have a free tier, and those with a public price typically start around $12 a month.
- 19 quote-based
- 0 free tier
- 5 public price
Worked out automatically from every benefits administration listing, so it updates as the directory changes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear per-employee pricing with a small-company floor
- HRIS plus a light ATS
- Public API
Cons
- MCP server is still in beta
- Outgrown quickly by high-volume hiring
- Costs climb with headcount
Integrations
Greenhouse Culture Amp Leapsome Human Interest
What's new at BambooHR
Time & Attendance Team View List Layout (opens in a new tab)
More Carrier Connections for Benefits Administration (opens in a new tab)
Manager Team View for Salaried Employees (opens in a new tab)
See all 24 BambooHR updates, taken from BambooHR's own announcements and our price checks.
Follow BambooHR
Get an email when BambooHR ships a new feature, posts release notes or changes its starting price. Only when something changes, and you can stop in one click.
How BambooHR compares
See all BambooHR alternatives, with what each one does differently and a head to head for every pairing.
| Tool | Free tier | From | MCP | API | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | – | $250/mo | ✓ | ✓ | |
| | – | $49/mo | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | Quote-based | – | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | $1,000/yr | – | ✓ | Compare |
| | – | Sales-quoted | ✓ | ✓ | Compare |
$49/mo MCP API
US small-business payroll-first if pay is the pain, not the HRIS.
Quote-based API
US mid-market HRIS if you are past the BambooHR size band.
$1,000/yr API
Dedicated small-business ATS if the tracker is the product you need.
Sales-quoted MCP API
Broader HRIS plus IT if you have outgrown small-business HR.
Your next step
Shortlisting BambooHR?
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