Compare/Head to head

BambooHR vs HR Cloud

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

Starting price

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

HR Cloud

Sales-quoted

HR Cloud is a modular HR platform for onboarding, core HR, and frontline employee experience. Modules are quoted by employee count.

Where HR Cloud fits

  • Frontline and deskless employers that need onboarding and an employee app
  • HR teams that want modular onboarding without moving payroll
  • Mid-market companies comparing a quoted HRIS with BambooHR or HiBob
  • Ops leaders who will keep ADP or Paychex for pay and add HR Cloud for experience

At a glance

DetailBambooHRHR Cloud
Starting price$250/moSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underBenefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Time & attendanceEngagement, HRIS, Onboarding
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

HR Cloud

Stands out: Onboard, People, and Workmates are sold as modules, so a frontline employer can buy onboarding without a full HRIS rip-and-replace.

Watch out: hrcloud.com does not print a self-serve per-employee grid. Implementation is a project. This is not Gusto payroll.

Not the right fit for

  • Five-person startups that need payroll plus HR in one $49 Gusto login
  • Enterprises standardized on Workday with no modular gap

Pros and cons

BambooHR

  • Clear per-employee pricing with a small-company floor
  • HRIS plus a light ATS
  • Public API
  • MCP server is still in beta
  • Outgrown quickly by high-volume hiring
  • Costs climb with headcount

HR Cloud

  • Modular onboarding and frontline EX, not an all-or-nothing HRIS
  • Fits employers who will not move payroll
  • Aimed at deskless and frontline populations
  • Quoted, no public per-employee rate
  • Payroll still lives in another vendor
  • Implementation is heavier than a Gusto signup

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 4 Nov 2026

HR Cloud

Sales-quoted

HR Cloud quotes Onboard, People, and Workmates modules by employee count. hrcloud.com does not publish a self-serve per-employee grid. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try BambooHR or HR Cloud for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.
Does BambooHR or HR Cloud have an MCP server?
BambooHR ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All BambooHR alternatives All HR Cloud alternatives Every Benefits administration tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?