Quick verdict
How these two tools differ.
BambooHR gives you best-in-class applicant tracking, onboarding, time off, and performance tools. It doesn’t run payroll—you integrate Gusto, Rippling, ADP, or others—so you get maximum HR depth and the freedom to choose or change payroll. Ideal for HR-led teams that care more about people operations than single-vendor simplicity.
Rippling gives you HR, payroll, benefits, and IT in one place. Onboarding can provision devices and apps; workflows can span systems. You pay for that breadth with quote-based pricing and more configuration. Best when you want one vendor for people and technology.
If HRIS quality and payroll flexibility matter most, BambooHR wins. If you want one platform that includes payroll and IT, Rippling wins.
Comparison summary
Best HRIS
BambooHR
BambooHR leads on hiring and people workflows.
Best all-in-one + IT
Rippling
Rippling adds payroll and IT to HR.
Quick decision guide
Which product fits your situation.
Choose BambooHR if:
- You want the best HRIS for hiring, onboarding, and people workflows.
- You’re fine using a separate payroll provider.
- You don’t need IT or device management in the same system.
Choose Rippling if:
- You want HR, payroll, and IT in one platform.
- You value automating onboarding (including devices and apps).
- You’re okay with quote-based pricing and more setup.
Ratings comparison
How we score each product.
| Category | BambooHR | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| HRIS / hiring depth | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| All-in-one breadth | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| Ease of use | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Payroll included | No | Yes |
Feature comparison
Side-by-side feature check.
SupportedPartial supportNot available
| Feature | BambooHR | Rippling |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll | Full-service | Full-service / integration |
| Benefits administration | Built-in or add-on | Built-in or add-on |
| Hiring & onboarding | Included or module | Included or module |
| Employee records & HR | Core | Core |
| Native payroll | No (integration) | Yes |
| IT provisioning | No | Yes |
| ATS & hiring | Best-in-class | Strong |
Pricing comparison
What to expect to pay.
BambooHR is quote-based and you add a payroll provider. Rippling is quote-based but includes payroll and optional IT. Total cost depends on headcount and modules; BambooHR plus a payroll provider can be similar to or higher than Rippling when you need both HR and payroll.
Pros and cons
Strengths and trade-offs.
BambooHR
Pros
- Best-in-class HRIS and hiring.
- Flexibility to choose payroll.
- Strong onboarding and time off.
- Performance and culture tools.
Cons
- No native payroll.
- No IT provisioning.
- Quote-based.
Rippling
Pros
- HR, payroll, benefits, and IT in one.
- Automation and workflows.
- Device and app provisioning.
- Single vendor.
Cons
- More complex than BambooHR-only.
- Quote-based pricing.
Best for
Which tool fits your situation.
Best for HRIS-first
BambooHR is best when you want the strongest hiring and people platform and will pair it with the payroll provider of your choice.
Best for all-in-one + IT
Rippling is best when you want one platform for HR, payroll, and IT with automation.
Alternatives
Other options we review.
GustoAll-in-one payroll and HR; simpler than Rippling.
Read review →
DeelGlobal hiring and payroll.
Read review →More comparisons
Read full reviews
Dive deeper into each product.
For detailed ratings, features, and pros and cons, see our standalone reviews:
Best payroll software guides
Find the right fit by use case or trade.
FAQs
Quick answers.