Compare/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.

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

Personio

€7.60/employee/mo

HR platform for small and mid-sized companies, mainly in Europe, with HRIS, recruiting and payroll prep. Plans start from €7.60 per employee per month.

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/mo€7.60/employee/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underBenefits 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: Prices are published in euros only. 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 USD price

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

Personio

  • HRIS, time and recruiting in one system
  • 200+ marketplace integrations
  • Public API on Core Pro
  • Euro pricing only, no USD 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 4 Nov 2026

Personio

€7.60/employee/mo

Personio's pricing page lists plans starting from €7.60 per employee a month; the page shows euro pricing only. Plans are Core and Core Pro, and the yearly subscription has a 12-month minimum term. Custom quotes come through a demo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

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

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