Head to head

BambooHR vs Zoho People

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

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo 30 day free trial

Cloud HRIS from Zoho with a free plan for small teams. Paid Essential HR is $1.25/user/mo billed annually, with a five-user minimum.

Where Zoho People fits

Small HR teams already in the Zoho suite
Orgs that can start on the free five-user edition
Companies that need leave and files before attendance
HR ops that will add performance on Premium

At a glance

Detail	BambooHR	Zoho People
Starting price	$250/mo	$1.25/user/mo
Free tier	–No	–No
Free trial	Not on record	30 day free trial
MCP server	–No	✓Yes
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	ATS, Benefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Onboarding, Time & attendance	HRIS, Learning, Onboarding, Performance
Capterra	4.6 from 3,558 reviews	4.4 from 362 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

Zoho People

Stands out: Low per-user pricing: Essential HR $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed yearly.

Watch out: Paid plans require five users, so Essential HR costs at least $6.25/mo. Attendance starts on Professional, and performance, LMS, and help desk sit higher.

Not the right fit for

US payroll-first buyers (payroll is a separate Zoho product)
Teams that need attendance tracking on the $1.25 plan

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

Zoho People

Free edition for up to five users
Essential HR $1.25/user/mo billed yearly
30-day trial, then you keep Free

Five-user minimum on paid plans
Attendance is not on Essential HR
Payroll is a separate Zoho SKU

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

Zoho People

$1.25/user/mo

The Free edition covers up to five users. Essential HR is $1.25, Professional $2, Premium $3, and Enterprise $4.50 per user per month billed annually, with a five-user minimum; monthly billing costs more. Paid plans include a 30-day free trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is BambooHR cheaper than Zoho People?

Zoho People starts lower, at $1.25/user/mo against $250/mo for BambooHR. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.

Can you try BambooHR or Zoho People for free?

Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Zoho People offers a 30 day free trial.

Does BambooHR or Zoho People have an MCP server?

Zoho People 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 20 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?