Quick verdict
How these two tools differ.
Gusto is our top pick for most small and midsize businesses that want payroll and HR in one place. You get full-service payroll, benefits administration, hiring, and onboarding without juggling multiple vendors. Pricing is transparent, setup is straightforward, and support is geared to SMBs. For companies that prefer a single relationship for pay runs and HR basics, Gusto is the default.
BambooHR is the stronger choice when HR operations are the priority and payroll can stay with another provider. Its applicant tracking, onboarding, time off, and performance tools are among the best in the SMB space. You get a single source of truth for people data and workflows; payroll integrates with Gusto, Rippling, ADP, and others. The tradeoff is managing two vendors and quote-based pricing.
If you want to simplify to one vendor and don’t need best-in-class HRIS depth, Gusto is the better fit. If you want the strongest HR platform and are okay with separate payroll, BambooHR is the better fit.
Comparison summary
Best all-in-one
Gusto
Gusto bundles payroll, benefits, and HR in one platform.
Best HRIS
BambooHR
BambooHR leads on hiring and people workflows.
Quick decision guide
Which product fits your situation.
Choose Gusto if:
- You want one vendor for payroll, benefits, and HR with published or transparent pricing.
- You’re okay with capable (not best-in-class) hiring and onboarding in exchange for simplicity.
- You value ease of use and SMB-focused support.
Choose BambooHR if:
- You want the strongest HRIS for hiring, onboarding, and people workflows.
- You already have or prefer a separate payroll provider.
- You’re willing to manage two systems for HR depth.
Ratings comparison
How we score each product.
| Category | Gusto | BambooHR |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Payroll + HR breadth | 4.8 | 4.0 |
| HRIS / hiring depth | 4.2 | 4.7 |
| Pricing transparency | 4.6 | 4.2 |
Feature comparison
Side-by-side feature check.
SupportedPartial supportNot available
| Feature | Gusto | BambooHR |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No (integration) |
| Applicant tracking & hiring | Good | Best-in-class |
| Pricing model | Published tiers | Quote-based |
Pricing comparison
What to expect to pay.
Gusto typically starts around $40/month plus per-person fees with clear tier structure. BambooHR is quote-based and scales with employee count and modules; you also pay for a payroll provider. For all-in-one cost, Gusto is often easier to budget; for HR-only plus your choice of payroll, BambooHR’s value is in HR depth, not lower total cost.
Pros and cons
Strengths and trade-offs.
Gusto
Pros
- All-in-one payroll and HR.
- Transparent pricing.
- Strong support and ease of use.
- Hiring and onboarding included.
Cons
- HRIS depth lags BambooHR.
- No IT/device provisioning.
BambooHR
Pros
- Best-in-class HRIS and hiring.
- Strong onboarding and time off.
- Flexibility to choose payroll.
- Performance and culture tools.
Cons
- Payroll via integration only.
- Quote-based pricing.
Best for
Which tool fits your situation.
Best for one-vendor payroll + HR
Gusto is best if you want a single platform for payroll, benefits, and HR with transparent pricing and minimal vendor count.
Best for HRIS-first teams
BambooHR is best if you prioritize people operations and hiring and are fine pairing with Gusto, Rippling, or another payroll provider.
Alternatives
Other options we review.
RipplingHR, payroll, and IT in one platform.
Read review →
ZenefitsAll-in-one HR and benefits at a lower entry price.
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.