Head to head

Bambee vs Handbooks.io

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

Bambee

$299/mo

Bambee pairs a small-business HR platform with a dedicated HR manager. The 1-4 employee plan is $299 per month billed monthly and includes that manager, 4 core policies, 2 custom policies, and 3 job descriptions.

Where Bambee fits

  • US SMBs with 1-4 employees that want a human HR manager at $299/mo
  • Owners who need core policies, a few custom policies, and job descriptions without hiring HR
  • Teams of 5-19 that will pay $399/mo for a wider custom-policy cap
  • Founders who want phone support, not only a knowledge base

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

DetailBambeeHandbooks.io
Starting price$299/mo$179
Free tier–No✓Yes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underHR complianceHR compliance
Capterra4.5 from 37 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

Bambee

Stands out: Every paid headcount band includes a named HR manager plus chat, email, and phone support, not a chatbot-only help desk. 5-19 employees is $399/mo. 20-49 is $499/mo. 50-70 is $1,299/mo.

Watch out: 71-plus employees is custom. This is not a PEO and not payroll. Policy and job-description counts are capped per band, so a messy handbook rewrite still consumes the custom-policy allotment.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies that need payroll, benefits admin, or a PEO in the same bill
  • Enterprises with 71-plus employees looking at a custom quote they cannot model online

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

Bambee

  • Published $299/mo 1-4 employee band with a dedicated HR manager
  • Phone support on the manager plans, not chat-only
  • Capterra 4.5 from 37 matching Bambee reviews
  • Not payroll or a PEO. You still run pay and benefits elsewhere
  • Custom policies and JDs are counted, so a full handbook rewrite can exceed the cap
  • 71-plus employees leaves the public table

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

Bambee

$299/mo

The 1-4 employee plan is $299 per month and includes a dedicated HR manager, 4 core HR policies, 2 custom policies, and 3 job descriptions. 5-19 employees is $399/mo. 20-49 is $499/mo. 50-70 is $1,299/mo. 71-plus employees is custom. Plans are billed monthly. 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 Bambee cheaper than Handbooks.io?
Handbooks.io starts lower, at $179 against $299/mo for Bambee. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Bambee or Handbooks.io for free?
Handbooks.io carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Bambee 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?