Head to head

BambooHR vs Personio

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

Personio

Sales-quoted

HR platform for small and mid-sized companies, mainly in Europe, with HRIS, recruiting and payroll prep. Pricing is quote-based.

Where Personio fits

  • European SMBs consolidating HR tools
  • Companies wanting ATS and HRIS in one vendor
  • Teams running multiple legal entities
  • Buyers who want a large integration marketplace

At a glance

DetailBambooHRPersonio
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 & attendanceATS, HRIS, Payroll
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

Personio

Stands out: Core HR, time tracking, recruiting and payroll prep in one system, with over 200 marketplace integrations.

Watch out: No published price. Every active user counts as a license, and API access for custom integrations is on the Core Pro plan, not Core.

Not the right fit for

  • US-only employers wanting US payroll
  • Buyers who need a published price

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

Personio

  • HRIS, time and recruiting in one system
  • 200+ marketplace integrations
  • Public API on Core Pro
  • No published price
  • API access limited to Core Pro
  • Payroll is preliminary, not full US payroll

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

Personio

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. Plans are Core and Core Pro; every active user counts as a license, and annual upfront payment gets 10% off software. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

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

Not the pair you wanted?

All BambooHR alternatives All Personio alternatives Every ATS tool

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