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.

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 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

Detail	BambooHR	WorkBright
Starting price	$250/mo	Sales-quoted
Free tier	–No	–No
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	✓Yes	–No
Listed under	ATS, Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Time & attendance	HR compliance, Onboarding
Capterra	4.6 from 3,558 reviews	4.8 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

No MCP
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 20 Sep 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 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try BambooHR or WorkBright for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All BambooHR alternatives All WorkBright alternatives Every ATS tool

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