Head to head

BambooHR vs MHR

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

MHR

Sales-quoted

MHR is a UK HR, payroll, and finance vendor. People First, iTrent, and MHR ERP are sold on bespoke quotes, not a public per-employee card.

Where MHR fits

  • UK mid-market employers combining HR and payroll
  • Frontline-heavy organisations that need WFM plus payslips
  • Finance leaders who want HR and finance in one MHR ERP conversation
  • Companies already on iTrent that need a path to People First

At a glance

DetailBambooHRMHR
Starting price$250/moSales-quoted
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underATS, Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Time & attendanceHRIS, Payroll, Workforce management
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

MHR

Stands out: People First puts workforce management, HR, and payroll on one platform so frontline staff can clock in, see a schedule, and open a payslip from the same login.

Watch out: Quotes track headcount, payroll frequency, modules (HR, finance, time, analytics, iTrent Shield), and whether you want software-only or fully managed payroll. A small People First entity is priced unlike a multi-entity iTrent rollout.

Not the right fit for

  • US SMBs that want Gusto-style $49/mo checkout
  • Teams that only need a lightweight HRIS without UK payroll

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

MHR

  • HR, payroll, and WFM in one UK vendor
  • People First aimed at frontline clock-in plus payslip
  • iTrent path for more complex multi-entity payroll
  • No public per-employee price
  • Implementation is a project
  • US payroll is not the core market

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

MHR

Sales-quoted

MHR does not publish a rate card. People First, iTrent, and ERP are quoted from headcount, modules, and software vs managed payroll. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

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

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