Head to head

BambooHR vs Employment Hero

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

BambooHR

$250/mo

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.

Where BambooHR fits

  • 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

Employment Hero

Sales-quoted

HR and payroll platform with recruiting tools. No US rate card is published, so US pricing is quote-based.

Where Employment Hero fits

  • Employers that want HR records and recruiting together
  • Teams that may add rostering or managed payroll
  • Companies hiring with AI screening and video interviews
  • Buyers comfortable with a sales quote

At a glance

DetailBambooHREmployment Hero
Starting price$250/moSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underATS, Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Time & attendanceBenefits administration, Engagement, HR compliance, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance
Capterra4.6 from 3,558 reviewsNot enough reviews

Where they pull apart

BambooHR

Stands out: HRIS plus a light applicant tracker and onboarding in one small-business login.

Watch out: The $250 figure is the small-company flat rate, not a per-employee price. Bills scale with headcount above that.

Not the right fit for

  • High-volume hiring that needs a dedicated ATS
  • Global employer-of-record buyers

Employment Hero

Stands out: Employee records, leave, onboarding, performance and recruiting with AI screening in one people system.

Watch out: Published plans are regional. Australian plans have a 10-user minimum, and add-ons like rostering and managed payroll bill extra.

Not the right fit for

  • US buyers who need a published USD price
  • Very small teams under a 10-user minimum

Pros and cons

BambooHR

  • Clear per-employee pricing with a small-company floor
  • HRIS plus a light ATS
  • Public API
  • No MCP
  • Outgrown quickly by high-volume hiring
  • Costs climb with headcount

Employment Hero

  • HR, recruiting and payroll options in one vendor
  • Modular add-ons for time, payroll and learning
  • Public developer API
  • No published US pricing
  • 10-user minimum on published plans
  • Many features are paid add-ons

What each one costs

BambooHR

$250/mo

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

Employment Hero

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted in the US. No public rate card on the vendor site. In Australia, HR Essentials is listed at A$10 and HR Engage at A$14 per user per month with a 10-user minimum; HR Elite is custom. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try BambooHR or Employment Hero for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All BambooHR alternatives All Employment Hero alternatives Every ATS tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?