Compare/Head to head

BambooHR vs WorkBright

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

WorkBright

Sales-quoted

WorkBright is I-9 and E-Verify software sold as Starter, Growth, and Premium Get-a-quote plans. WorkBright+, announced as a managed I-9 service, is listed at $25 per I-9. Growth and Premium include API access.

Where WorkBright fits

  • US employers that need audit-ready I-9 and E-Verify without a full HRIS swap
  • Teams hiring over 100 people a year that want unlimited admins and the API on Growth
  • HR ops that would rather pay $25 per I-9 for WorkBright+ than staff a compliance desk
  • Companies already on Workday, UKG, or ADP looking for an I-9 overlay

At a glance

DetailBambooHRWorkBright
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 & attendanceHR compliance, Onboarding
Capterra4.6 from 3,558 reviews4.8 from 188 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

WorkBright

Stands out: Smart I-9 with OCR and geo-validated remote verification, a claimed 150-plus automated compliance checks, and WorkBright+ pairing AI agents with compliance experts at $25 per record. Capterra is 4.8 from 188 reviews.

Watch out: Software plans have no public monthly dollars. Ignore Capterra $9.50/user/mo and G2 $79.17/mo. Starter is capped at five administrators and about 100 hires a year. E-Verify integration starts on Growth.

Not the right fit for

  • Non-US companies that do not file I-9s
  • Buyers who need a published software seat price before talking to sales

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

WorkBright

  • WorkBright+ at $25 per I-9 is a published managed-service rate
  • API on Growth and Premium, with public REST docs
  • Capterra 4.8 from 188 reviews on WorkBright
  • Starter, Growth, and Premium software plans are still Get a quote
  • E-Verify and API wait until Growth
  • US I-9 focused, not a global onboarding HRIS

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

WorkBright

Sales-quoted

Starter, Growth, and Premium Smart I-9 plans are Get a quote. Starter is for up to about 100 hires a year and five admins. Growth adds unlimited admins, E-Verify, text notifications, and API access. Premium is for 1,000-plus hires a year. WorkBright+ is $25 per I-9 for managed I-9 and E-Verify work. Background checks and Compliance Plus are add-ons. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

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

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