We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
Rippling starts at $8, but that price alone does not settle what your contract will cost or which modules you need. If you’re leaving over billing terms, device management or a difficult exit, compare alternatives against the job you need done—not the promise of one platform for everything. Here, we separate broad HR and payroll options from lower-cost scheduling tools, and flag where pricing is quote-only or add-ons may change the math.
01Why people leave Rippling
Unclear employee billing terms
In one small-business Reddit thread, a customer said they were still billed for former employees and could not find that term in the contract.
MDM contract and add-on concerns
A Reddit post described difficulty leaving an MDM contract; commenters also reported promised features being delayed or costing extra.
Sales and support frustration
The small-business thread included complaints about a pushy representative and confusion over contract terms. These are user reports, not proof of standard practice.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Core HR teams
BambooHRBambooHRIf you mainly need core HR records, hiring and onboarding, BambooHR is a closer fit than switching to another broad workforce suite by default. Its listed starting price is $10.25, which gives you a published base rate to compare with Rippling’s $8 starting price. The listing also warns that add-ons are unpriced, so confirm the full quote before comparing totals.
Trade-off: Add-on pricing is not published, so the base rate may not reflect your total.
6.7/10from
$10.25/mo - International hiring
DeelDeelDeel is worth comparing if cross-border employees or contractors are the reason you need to leave Rippling. It is listed for international hiring, contractor management and payroll and HR in one platform, with a starting price of $14. Check the product and contract details against your countries and worker types; the listed EOR price is much higher at $599 per employee monthly.
Trade-off: EOR is listed at $599 per employee monthly, and support feedback is mixed.
6.3/10from
$14/mo - Hourly team operations
ConnecteamConnecteamConnecteam may suit a small or hourly team trying to replace several workforce tools with scheduling and time tracking. It has a free plan and a listed starting price of $29. That is a different buying case from Rippling’s broad HR and payroll pitch, so check whether the tools you need sit in the right hub and whether its reporting meets your requirements.
Trade-off: Check hub costs and reporting needs before assuming it will cover everything.
6.8/10from
$29/mofree plan - Complex workforce needs
UKG ProUKG ProUKG Pro is a candidate if you are leaving Rippling but still need broad HR and payroll coverage, complex workforce schedules or union scheduling tools. Its listing targets organizations consolidating HR and payroll. Pricing is not published, so request a quote and compare the terms and employee experience before treating it as a like-for-like replacement.
Trade-off: Pricing is quote-only; check employee experience before committing.
5.8/10from
Custom - Multi-site teams
SonaSona
Sona is aimed at multi-site teams with 250 or more staff and shift-based frontline organizations. Its listing says it covers workforce operations, making it relevant if Rippling is being replaced for a larger frontline operation. Pricing is not published, so ask for a quote and compare the included tools before assuming it will consolidate your stack.
Trade-off: Opaque pricing makes the value difficult to judge before getting a quote.
6.0/10from
Custom - Basic shift scheduling
SlingSlingSling is a lower-cost option if the part of Rippling you need to replace is shift coordination rather than all of HR and payroll. It has a free plan and a listed starting price of $1.70, and is positioned for small teams, scheduling and labor-cost tracking. Check plan gates before relying on time tracking or reports.
Trade-off: It is a scheduling-focused option; time tracking and reports may be plan-gated.
7.5/10from
$1.70/mofree plan - Hourly shift teams
When I WorkWhen I WorkWhen I Work is listed for hourly teams scheduling multiple locations, basic shift tools and team messaging. Its starting price is $2.50, which is far below Rippling’s listed $8 starting price, but the two are not presented as equivalent platforms. Compare add-on costs and user feedback before moving over for scheduling alone.
Trade-off: Add-on costs and user complaints temper the low entry price.
6.4/10from
$2.50/mo - Broad HCM coverage
DayforceDayforceDayforce may be relevant if you want broad HCM coverage or are evaluating global payroll needs rather than replacing only a scheduling tool. Its pricing is not published, and the listing flags user complaints about usability and reporting. Get a quote and check those concerns against your requirements before treating it as a safer or simpler switch.
Trade-off: Quote-only pricing and reported usability and reporting complaints are reasons to check carefully.
4.4/10from
Custom
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Rippling Rippling (current) | 6.2 | $8/mo | No | Teams consolidating HR and payroll |
| BambooHR BambooHR | 6.7 | $10.25/mo | No | Teams consolidating core HR records |
| Deel Deel | 6.3 | $14/mo | No | Companies hiring employees across borders |
| Connecteam Connecteam | 6.8 | $29/mo | Yes | Small teams needing a free starting plan |
| UKG Pro UKG Pro | 5.8 | Custom | No | Organizations consolidating HR and payroll |
| Sona Sona | 6.0 | Custom | No | Multi-site teams with 250+ staff |
| Sling Sling | 7.5 | $1.70/mo | Yes | Small teams needing basic scheduling |
| When I Work When I Work | 6.4 | $2.50/mo | No | Hourly teams scheduling multiple locations |
| Dayforce Dayforce | 4.4 | Custom | No | Organizations seeking broad HCM coverage |
Questions people ask
Which Rippling alternative has the lowest listed starting price?
Sling has the lowest listed starting price among these picks at $1.70 and also offers a free plan. When I Work is listed from $2.50. Those are scheduling-focused options, not direct price comparisons with Rippling’s broader workforce platform, so compare the tools and plan limits you actually need.
Which Rippling alternative is best for hiring across borders?
Deel is the clearest fit in this list for companies hiring employees across borders or managing contractors in multiple countries. It is listed from $14, but EOR is listed at $599 per employee monthly. Confirm which service and worker types your quote covers; the starting price does not represent every use case.
Can these alternatives replace Rippling for MDM?
The information here does not establish that any of these alternatives can replace Rippling’s MDM. The Reddit complaints describe problems with Rippling’s MDM and contract, but the alternatives listed are presented for HR, payroll, benefits or workforce management. If device management is essential, confirm MDM coverage and exit terms directly before switching.