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
It's a split decision.
Choose Gusto if payroll, tax filings, and payroll-linked time tracking are your priority. Simple starts at $49 monthly plus $6 per person. Choose BambooHR for employee records, HR workflows, and performance tools; Core lists at $10.25 per employee monthly, with a $250 flat rate for 25 or fewer employees. BambooHR lists payroll and benefits administration as unpriced add-ons, so compare full quotes before switching. Neither product lists a free plan.
01Side by side
| Gusto | BambooHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/month + $6 per person | $10.25/employee/month; $250 flat for 25 or fewer |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | No free plan listed |
| Best for | Payroll-led businesses needing tax filings | Teams prioritizing employee records and HR |
| Core strength | Automated payroll and tax filings | Employee records, workflows, and analytics |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | Payroll, HR, and benefits tools | Employee data, reports, and workflows |
| Team/seat costs | Per-person fees vary by plan | Per-employee rates; flat pricing through 25 employees |
| Support | Review score 4; review notes complaints | Review score 5 |
Gusto Choose Gusto if
- Choose Gusto if payroll automation and tax filings come first.
- Choose Gusto if you need time tracking synced to payroll.
- Choose Gusto if you want listed month-to-month plans.
BambooHR Choose BambooHR if
- Choose BambooHR if employee records and HR workflows come first.
- Choose BambooHR if you need performance tools on Pro.
- Choose BambooHR if its flat rate fits your team of 25 or fewer.
02Pricing compared
Gusto Simple starts at $49 per month plus $6 per person, and includes payroll, tax filings, and basic PTO and holiday pay. Its plans are month-to-month and cancellable anytime. Plus is $80 per month plus $12 per person; Premium is $180 plus $22 per person. Gusto does not list annual rates or a free plan.
BambooHR Core starts at $10.25 per employee per month, but companies with 25 or fewer employees pay a flat $250 monthly. Pro is $17.50 per employee, or $425 flat for smaller companies; Elite is $25, or $650 flat. The pricing page also describes annual upfront payment but does not publish annual rates.
BambooHR lists payroll, benefits administration, and time and attendance as add-ons without prices. Get a full quote before comparing totals; neither product lists a free plan.
03Features and depth
Gusto is the more payroll-centered option in this comparison. Simple includes unlimited payrolls, tax filings and payments, and basic PTO and holiday pay. Plus adds time tracking, scheduling, multi-state payroll, and contractor invoice management. Premium adds HR guidance and tools, compliance support, and premium account support. Gusto also lists hiring, onboarding, benefits, and contractor management among its capabilities.
BambooHR puts employee records and HR workflows at the center. Core includes HR data, time off, benefits tracking, and five job openings. Pro adds performance management and recognition, with 25 job openings; Elite adds advanced analytics and compensation tools, with 50 openings. Its plans also include different numbers of compliance training courses: one on Core, 15 on Pro, and more than 300 on Elite.
BambooHR lists payroll and benefits administration, but prices them as add-ons without publishing rates. Gusto’s listed plans make payroll inclusions clearer; compare the actual BambooHR quote before treating its base price as an all-in payroll cost.
04Ease of use and learning curve
The available product information does not publish enough detail to compare setup time, training needs, or day-to-day ease of use. We would not treat either product’s feature list as proof that it is easier to learn.
The workflow emphasis is clearer. Gusto’s plans connect payroll with tax filings, and Plus includes time tracking and scheduling. That may fit teams that want those tasks together, but check which plan covers the features you need. BambooHR describes a broader HR workflow around employee data, hiring, onboarding, and performance; its published plans also cap job openings and compliance training courses.
Before switching, map your must-have tasks to the plan and confirm which BambooHR add-ons you need. Its payroll and benefits administration prices are not published, so the base rate alone cannot settle the cost comparison.
Questions people ask
Is Gusto a good payroll service?
Gusto’s listed plans include payroll, and Simple includes tax filings and payments for $49 per month plus $6 per person. Plus adds multi-state payroll and time tracking. Whether it fits depends on your needs and budget; per-person charges apply, and the review notes support complaints.
Does BambooHR do benefits?
Yes. BambooHR lists benefits tracking in Core and offers Benefits Administration as an add-on, but does not publish its price. It also lists a Payroll and Benefits Administration bundle with a 15% discount for US employees, alongside any plan.
What are some other apps similar to Gusto?
BambooHR is one alternative in this comparison, but it is positioned as a broader HR platform and lists payroll as an unpriced add-on. The published product information does not name other Gusto alternatives, so compare payroll inclusions and full quotes before choosing another service.
What bank is Gusto affiliated with?
The published Gusto product and pricing information does not identify a bank affiliation. It lists payroll, HR, benefits, and contractor-payment services, but that is not enough to establish which bank, if any, is affiliated with Gusto.