Head to head

AirMason vs Handbooks.io

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

AirMason

$999/yr Free trial

AirMason is a digital employee-handbook platform. Startup for 1 to 99 employees is $999 per year, or $149 per month if billed monthly. Small Business for 100 to 199 employees is $1,499 per year or $199 per month. 200-plus employees is enterprise quote.

Where AirMason fits

  • US and multi-state employers that want a branded, searchable handbook employees actually open
  • HR teams collecting e-signatures and audit trails without a full HRIS policy module
  • Companies with under 100 employees that will pay $999/yr instead of a lawyer-only Word file
  • Ops teams that will import employees through REST or SAML rather than retyping the roster

Handbooks.io

$179 Free tier

Handbooks.io builds US employee handbooks from attorney-written federal and state policy blocks. A free basic handbook is $0 with no credit card. Paid Starter is $179 one-time (or $179/year if you subscribe for updates) for one state and up to 10 employees.

Where Handbooks.io fits

  • US SMBs that want a free starting handbook with no card
  • Single-state teams of 10 or fewer that will pay $179 once for a comprehensive pack
  • Multi-state employers that will jump to Growth ($369) or Scale ($659)
  • Companies that prefer a Word download over a branded handbook CMS

At a glance

DetailAirMasonHandbooks.io
Starting price$999/yr$179
Free tier–No✓Yes
Free trialYesNot on record
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underHR complianceHR compliance
Capterra4.8 from 14 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

AirMason

Stands out: Unlimited digital handbooks, signatures, versioning, and reminders sit on Startup. Employee import via CSV, REST, and SAML is on the plans table, with SSO called out as included.

Watch out: Annual billing saves up to 44 percent versus monthly. Copywriting, creative services, content migration, and automated policy updates are add-ons. A dedicated account manager is not on Startup.

Not the right fit for

  • A five-person shop that only needs a free Word handbook download
  • Enterprises that need attorney-of-record policy drafting as the core SKU rather than an add-on

Handbooks.io

Stands out: You can buy a one-time download instead of a SaaS seat. Growth is $369 for 2-5 states and up to 50 employees. Scale is $659 for unlimited employees and states, with optional SAML SSO and SCIM on the subscription.

Watch out: The free handbook does not include e-signatures, a live share link, or ongoing policy updates. Those sit on the paid subscription. One-time purchases do not keep receiving law-change updates unless you subscribe.

Not the right fit for

  • HR teams that need AirMason-style analytics, HRIS sync, and branded digital design as the core product
  • Employers outside the US

Pros and cons

AirMason

  • Published $999/yr Startup floor for 1-99 employees
  • REST, SAML, and SSO on the plans table, not a hidden enterprise toggle
  • Capterra 4.8 from 14 matching AirMason reviews
  • Monthly Startup is $149, so skipping annual more than doubles the year
  • Legal drafting, design, and automated law updates are add-ons
  • 200-plus employees leaves the published table for a custom quote

Handbooks.io

  • True $0 basic handbook with no credit card
  • One-time $179 Starter if you do not want another subscription
  • Scale adds SAML SSO and SCIM when you subscribe
  • Free tier omits e-signatures, live link, and ongoing updates
  • One-time buys go stale when laws change unless you add the annual subscription
  • It is a generated document, not a full employee-experience handbook CMS

What each one costs

AirMason

$999/yr

Startup for 1 to 99 employees is $999 per year or $149 per month. Small Business for 100 to 199 employees is $1,499 per year or $199 per month. Enterprise for 200-plus employees is custom. Annual billing is the advertised path and is discounted versus monthly. Copywriting, creative services, content migration, and automated policy updates are add-ons. A trial can be requested. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Handbooks.io

$179

A free basic handbook is $0 with no credit card. Starter is $179 one-time, or $179 per year if you subscribe, for 1 state and up to 10 employees. Growth is $369 (2-5 states, up to 50 employees). Scale is $659 (unlimited employees and states). Subscriptions add policy updates, e-signatures, and a live handbook link. Scale subscription adds SAML SSO and SCIM. A custom handbook update is $899 including one year of updates. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is AirMason cheaper than Handbooks.io?
AirMason starts lower, at $999/yr against $179 for Handbooks.io. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try AirMason or Handbooks.io for free?
Handbooks.io carries a free tier on our listing. AirMason offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All AirMason alternatives All Handbooks.io alternatives Every HR compliance tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?