Updated 27 March 2026
Rippling vs BambooHR
BambooHR is simpler and cheaper for pure HR. Rippling costs more but replaces your entire HR, IT, and payroll stack.
Pricing Comparison
| Feature | Rippling | BambooHR | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base HR platform | $8/user/mo | $6.19/user/mo (Core) | Rippling includes more out of the box |
| Payroll | +$8/user/mo | Included in Pro ($8.25/user) | Bamboo bundles payroll in higher tier |
| Benefits admin | +$6/user/mo | +$4.25/user/mo add-on | Similar pricing |
| Time tracking | +$8/user/mo | +$3/user/mo add-on | BambooHR cheaper here |
| IT/device management | +$8/user/mo | Not available | Unique to Rippling |
| App management (SSO) | +$8/user/mo | Not available | Unique to Rippling |
| Expense management | +$8/user/mo | Not available | Unique to Rippling |
| ATS (recruiting) | +$8/user/mo | Included in all plans | BambooHR includes basic ATS |
| Implementation fee | Varies ($0-$2,000+) | Included | BambooHR is self-service |
Total Cost: 50 Employees
Rippling (HR + Payroll + Benefits)
HR Platform$400/mo
Payroll$400/mo
Benefits Admin$300/mo
Total$1,100/mo ($13,200/yr)
BambooHR (Pro + Benefits + Time)
Pro (incl payroll)$413/mo
Benefits Admin$213/mo
Time Tracking$150/mo
Total$776/mo ($9,312/yr)
Choose Rippling if...
- - You need IT management (device deployment, SSO, app provisioning)
- - You want one platform for HR, IT, payroll, benefits, and expenses
- - You have international employees (global payroll)
- - You want deep workflow automation across departments
Choose BambooHR if...
- - You only need core HR + payroll
- - You are under 50 employees and want simplicity
- - Budget is the primary concern
- - You prefer self-service setup without implementation fees