Head to head

BambooHR vs Factorial

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

Factorial

$8/user/mo

European small-business HR platform with an ATS, time tracking and documents, from $8 per user/month.

Where Factorial fits

European small businesses buying HR plus hiring
Teams that want time tracking next to the ATS
People teams that do not want a separate tracker
Buyers comparing all-in-one HR suites

At a glance

Detail	BambooHR	Factorial
Starting price	$250/mo	$8/user/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	ATS, Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Time & attendance	ATS, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance
Capterra	4.6 from 3,558 reviews	4.3 from 320 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

Factorial

Stands out: HR, hiring and time tracking on one small-business bill.

Watch out: Hiring is a module inside an HR platform rather than a dedicated recruiting tool.

Not the right fit for

Staffing agencies
Enterprise HCM selections

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

Factorial

HR, hiring and time in one suite
Public API
Low published per-user price

No MCP
Hiring is a module, not the focus
Not an agency tool

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

Factorial

$8/user/mo

From ~$5/seat/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 17 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is BambooHR cheaper than Factorial?

Factorial starts lower, at $8/user/mo against $250/mo for BambooHR. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.

Can you try BambooHR or Factorial for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All BambooHR alternatives All Factorial alternatives Every ATS tool

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