BambooHR vs Gusto HRIS: Payroll, Pricing & Verdict (2026)

Gusto is an HRIS with payroll at its core; BambooHR is an HRIS-first platform with optional US payroll. This comparison covers current pricing, employee records, onboarding, recruiting, performance, and the workflow depth that separates them.

Only evaluating Gusto? Read our direct answer to whether Gusto is an HRIS.

Side-by-side HRIS and payroll software comparison workspace

Quick Verdict:

Choose BambooHR when configurable employee data, hiring, onboarding, and broader HR workflows lead the decision. Choose Gusto when payroll, benefits, and core HR in one payroll-first system matter most. Both now cover more of the other product's territory, so compare the specific plan and add-ons you need.

Fast decision:

Choose BambooHR if HR operations, hiring, onboarding, and employee data matter most.
Choose Gusto if payroll, benefits, taxes, and contractor payments are the main job.
Compare total cost carefully: BambooHR Payroll and Benefits Administration are optional US add-ons, while Gusto includes payroll in its employee plans.

Compare HRIS and payroll-first options:

Compare BambooHRBest for dedicated HRIS, employee records, onboarding, ATS, org charts, and performance workflows.Compare GustoBest for payroll, taxes, benefits, contractor payments, onboarding, and one-vendor simplicity.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	BambooHR	Gusto	Winner
Primary Focus	HRIS	Payroll	-
Pricing	Core $10; Pro $17; Elite $25 per employee/month	Simple $49 + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12/person; Premium $180 + $22/person	Depends on plan and add-ons
Payroll	Optional US add-on	Built into employee plans	Gusto
Employee Database	Configurable HR database	Included employee records	BambooHR
Onboarding	Hiring and onboarding workflows	Payroll-connected onboarding	BambooHR
Org Chart	Included	Plus and Premium	BambooHR
Benefits Admin	Optional US add-on	Integrated options	Depends on coverage and quote
ATS	Included, with plan-based job limits	Plus and Premium	BambooHR
Performance	Pro and Elite; includes 1:1s	Plus and Premium; reviews, goals, feedback	BambooHR

Pricing Comparison

BambooHR: Its published pricing is $10/employee/month for Core, $17 for Pro, and $25 for Elite. Organizations with 25 or fewer employees use flat-rate packages starting at $250/month. Automatic volume discounts apply above 25; Payroll, Benefits Administration, and Time & Attendance are separately priced add-ons.

Gusto: Its published pricing is $49/month + $6/person for Simple, $80 + $12/person for Plus, and $180 + $22/person for Premium.
At 10 employees: $109/month for Simple, $200 for Plus, or $400 for Premium.
At 50 employees: $349/month for Simple, $680 for Plus, or $1,280 for Premium.

Important:BambooHR's base plans do not include Payroll, but BambooHR now offers its own US payroll add-on. Get a combined quote before comparing it with Gusto's bundled payroll price. Pricing was last verified on July 11, 2026; promotions and quotes can change.

Where BambooHR Wins

1. Employee Database

BambooHR's Core plan centers on employee records, custom reports, workflows, approvals, and HR dashboards. Gusto includes employee records inside its payroll-first platform. Teams with detailed fields, permissions, and reporting requirements should demo both against their actual data model.

2. Onboarding Workflows

BambooHR offers advanced onboarding: custom workflows, task assignments, e-signature, new hire portal, and automated reminders. Gusto has basic onboarding checklists but less customization.

3. Org Chart

Both products offer org-chart functionality, but Gusto limits its org chart to Plus and Premium. Compare the hierarchy views, permissions, and planning workflow your team needs rather than treating the feature as a simple yes-or-no item.

4. ATS (Applicant Tracking)

BambooHR includes applicant tracking in its base plans, with plan-based limits on open jobs and tools for candidate records, job posting, and email and offer-letter templates. Gusto Recruiting is included in Plus and Premium, but Gusto's help center says it does not currently support interview scheduling or recruiting email templates.

5. Performance Management

BambooHR Pro and Elite include review cycles, 360-degree feedback, 1:1 management, and goal tracking. Gusto performance reviews are available on Plus and Premium with manager reviews, self-evaluations, goals, and feedback; Gusto does not currently document 1:1 meeting management.

Where Gusto Wins

1. Payroll Integration

Gusto is first and foremost a payroll platform. Its employee plans include payroll, tax filing, and direct deposit. BambooHR offers BambooHR Payroll as a separately priced add-on for US employees, so Gusto remains simpler to price when payroll is the starting requirement.

2. Benefits Administration

Gusto integrates benefits options with payroll and employee records. BambooHR also offers Benefits Administration as a US add-on, so compare carrier availability, broker support, implementation, and the combined quote instead of assuming one platform lacks the feature.

3. One Vendor Simplicity

Gusto packages payroll and core HR together in every employee plan. BambooHR can also combine HR, payroll, and benefits, but payroll and benefits are add-ons. Gusto therefore has the clearer public starting price; BambooHR requires a bundle quote for an equivalent configuration.

4. Pricing for Small Teams

At 10 employees, Gusto's published list price is $109/month for Simple or $200 for Plus. BambooHR's base package starts at $250/month for organizations with 25 or fewer employees, before optional Payroll. The right comparison is the Gusto tier you need against BambooHR's complete bundle quote.

Integration Reality

BambooHR buyers can add BambooHR Payroll for US employees or connect another payroll provider. Common configurations to evaluate include:

BambooHR + BambooHR Payroll
BambooHR + Gusto (yes, they integrate)
BambooHR + ADP
BambooHR + Paylocity
BambooHR + Paychex

An external payroll provider adds another contract and data connection. BambooHR Payroll reduces that integration burden, but its add-on price requires a quote. Verify implementation ownership, data sync, support, and total cost for either setup.

If you are weighing BambooHR against a payroll-first suite instead of pairing the two, see our BambooHR vs Paylocity comparison for how that trade-off plays out.

BambooHR vs Gusto for Employee Onboarding

For onboarding specifically: BambooHR has the deeper toolkit: custom onboarding workflows, task assignments across IT/HR/manager, e-signature templates, and a new hire portal. Gusto covers the essentials inside payroll: digital offer letters, I-9/W-4 e-completion, benefits election during onboarding, and direct deposit setup.

Pick Gusto if onboarding just needs to be paperless and tied to payroll. Pick BambooHR if HR designs multi-step onboarding experiences per role. Full breakdown in our employee onboarding software comparison.

Searching for Bambee vs Gusto instead?

Bambee is a different product from BambooHR: it provides a dedicated HR manager and compliance service, not an HRIS or payroll platform. Compare Bambee with Gusto only if your need is outsourced HR compliance guidance. For payroll plus HR software, the BambooHR vs Gusto comparison on this page is the right one.

Final Recommendation

Choose BambooHR if: configurable employee data, hiring, onboarding, reporting, and broader HR workflows are the priority. Choose Pro or Elite if 1:1s and performance management are required, and price any payroll or benefits add-ons in the same quote.

Choose Gusto if: payroll, taxes, benefits, and core HR in one payroll-first platform are the priority. Choose Plus or Premium if you need recruiting, performance reviews, or the org chart.

Our take: there is no reliable employee-count cutoff. Gusto is simpler when payroll drives the purchase; BambooHR is stronger when HR data and workflow configuration drive it. Compare the complete required configuration and final quote, not just the lowest advertised tier.

BambooHR vs Gusto FAQ

Is Gusto an HRIS?

Yes. Gusto is an HRIS built around payroll, benefits, and employee administration. It includes employee records, onboarding, time-off tools, and reporting; Plus and Premium add recruiting and performance reviews.

Does BambooHR include payroll?

BambooHR Payroll is available as a separately priced add-on for US employees. It is not included in the Core, Pro, or Elite base plan price, so request a combined quote.

Which is cheaper, BambooHR or Gusto?

It depends on the required plans and add-ons. At 10 employees, Gusto's published list price is $109/month for Simple or $200 for Plus. BambooHR base packages start at $250/month for organizations with 25 or fewer employees, before optional Payroll or Benefits Administration.

Sources and Verification

Pricing and plan details were last verified on July 11, 2026. Confirm current pricing, availability, and the final quote with each vendor before purchasing.

Disclosure: We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases. This update was verified against current vendor pricing, product pages, and help-center documentation.