7 Best BambooHR Alternatives in 2026 (Free & Paid)

If BambooHR feels like it only does HR while you need more, Rippling is the evolution. It takes everything BambooHR does well (employee records, onboarding, PTO tracking, org charts) and adds payroll, benefits, IT management, app provisioning, and device deployment. It's what happens when you ask "what if we automated everything?"

The magic of Rippling is automation. Hire someone, and Rippling creates their email, provisions Slack, GitHub, Google Workspace, laptop, health insurance, 401(k)—everything from one click. When they leave, it revokes access everywhere instantly. This isn't just convenient; it's a security game-changer that BambooHR simply can't match.

The payroll is genuinely excellent (better than BambooHR's Trax add-on), with built-in time tracking that actually works. Benefits administration is smoother, with direct carrier integrations. And the reporting is enterprise-grade—you can slice data across HR, payroll, IT, and finance in ways BambooHR can't.

The learning curve is steeper, and setup requires more technical know-how. But if you're frustrated by BambooHR's limitations and want something that scales with your ambitions, Rippling is worth every penny.

Namely is what you graduate to when you outgrow BambooHR but aren't ready for Workday. It's designed specifically for companies with 50-500 employees that need more sophisticated HR, better payroll, and actual benefits administration—not just benefits tracking.

The HRIS features are deeper than BambooHR: custom workflows, advanced approval chains, configurable fields, and org chart management that handles complex reporting structures. Performance reviews are more robust with 360-degree feedback, goal tracking, and calibration tools. The employee self-service portal is clean and actually gets used.

Where Namely really shines is benefits administration. They act as a full-service broker, helping you compare plans, run open enrollment, and manage carrier relationships. This is a huge step up from BambooHR's basic benefits tracking. Payroll is built-in (not an add-on) and handles complex scenarios like multi-state, commissions, and bonuses smoothly.

The downside? It's pricier than BambooHR (expect $12-15 per employee), and you need at least 25-30 employees to make the math work. Setup takes 4-6 weeks vs. BambooHR's 1-2 weeks. But if you've outgrown BambooHR's simplicity and need more horsepower, Namely delivers.

If BambooHR's pricing has you wincing, Zenefits is the budget-conscious alternative. They offer a genuinely useful free tier (Essentials) with basic HRIS, employee onboarding, PTO tracking, and document storage. The paid tiers (Growth at ~$10/employee) add payroll, time tracking, and benefits administration—still cheaper than BambooHR.

Zenefits has had a rocky past (compliance scandals in 2015-2016), but they've cleaned up their act under new leadership. The platform is now solid, with a clean mobile app, decent self-service portal for employees, and integrations with major accounting and payroll systems. Onboarding is smooth, with e-signatures and automated workflows that rival BambooHR's.

Benefits administration is surprisingly strong. Zenefits acts as a broker, helping you compare health insurance plans and manage open enrollment. They also handle compliance tasks like ACA reporting and COBRA administration—things BambooHR charges extra for.

The limitations? Reporting is basic, customization is limited compared to BambooHR, and the interface feels more utilitarian than polished. But if you're spending $200+/month on BambooHR and not using half the features, Zenefits makes a ton of sense financially.

If BambooHR's weak payroll integration (Trax) is your main frustration, flip the script with Gusto. It's a payroll platform that added excellent HR features, rather than an HR platform with bolted-on payroll. The result is best-in-class payroll with good-enough HR for most small businesses.

Gusto's payroll is silky smooth: automatic tax filing, accurate calculations, flexible pay schedules (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly), contractor payments, and multi-state support that actually works. The benefits administration is strong, with direct carrier integrations for health insurance, 401(k), workers comp, and even commuter benefits. Employees love the clean self-service portal.

The HR side is more than adequate: org charts, onboarding workflows, PTO tracking, document storage, and employee self-service. It's not as feature-rich as BambooHR's pure HRIS, but it covers 90% of what most companies need. Performance reviews are basic but functional.

The catch? If you need advanced HR features (sophisticated workflows, custom fields, complex approval chains), BambooHR still wins. But if payroll accuracy and benefits are your top priorities, Gusto is the smarter choice—and often cheaper too.

If BambooHR feels too US-centric (because it is), Personio is the European alternative built for international compliance from day one. Based in Munich, Personio handles the messy reality of hiring across EU countries, the UK, and increasingly global markets with different labor laws, tax systems, and HR requirements.

The platform covers full employee lifecycle: recruiting (ATS), onboarding, HR management, payroll, time tracking, and performance reviews. The interface is modern and clean (arguably prettier than BambooHR), and the mobile app is excellent. Automation is strong—approval workflows, document generation, and onboarding tasks run smoothly.

What sets Personio apart is localization. It handles German Lohnabrechnung, UK PAYE, French payroll, and other country-specific requirements that make BambooHR's US-focused system a nightmare for international teams. Multi-language support is built-in, and compliance updates happen automatically as labor laws change.

The limitations? It's still primarily European (US support is newer and less robust), pricing is custom (expect €6-8 per employee), and some features are still catching up to BambooHR's maturity. But if you're hiring in Europe or globally, Personio is purpose-built for your reality.

HiBob (yes, that's the official name, usually called "Bob") is what you get when a team asks "what would HRIS look like if we built it today?" The result is a modern, people-focused platform that feels more like a social network than traditional HR software. If BambooHR feels dated or too corporate, Bob is refreshingly different.

The standout feature is culture and engagement. Bob includes social feeds, shoutouts, employee recognition, pulse surveys, and org charts that show personalities (not just roles). It's designed for remote/hybrid teams, with features that help people feel connected despite physical distance. Onboarding is particularly smooth, with personalized workflows and buddy assignments.

Core HR features are solid: PTO management, document storage, workflows, performance reviews, and goal tracking. The reporting is visual and intuitive (better than BambooHR's in many ways). Integrations with payroll providers like Gusto, ADP, and Paylocity are smooth. Time tracking is built-in, unlike BambooHR.

The catch? Bob is pricier than BambooHR (expect $10-12 per employee), and you need to integrate with a separate payroll provider—it's not included. Setup requires more customization work upfront. But if you value company culture and have a remote/distributed team, Bob is worth serious consideration.

CharlieHR is the UK's answer to BambooHR for small businesses—but at a fraction of the price. Starting at £4 per employee (~$5), it's one of the most affordable HRIS options that doesn't feel cheap. If you're a small UK or European business (under 50 people) and BambooHR feels like overkill, Charlie is delightfully simple.

The platform covers core HR essentials: employee records, contracts, onboarding, PTO tracking, document storage, and org charts. The interface is clean and straightforward—there's no feature bloat or confusing menus. Employees can view payslips, request time off, and update their info through a simple self-service portal.

What makes Charlie special is UK/EU focus. It handles UK employment law (right to work checks, GDPR compliance, UK holiday entitlements), integrates with UK payroll providers like Xero, and includes templates for UK-specific documents. The support team actually understands UK employment law, unlike US-focused platforms where you're on your own.

Limitations are real: no built-in payroll, basic reporting, limited customization, and it's definitely built for smaller teams (10-50 employees). If you need sophisticated workflows or enterprise features, look elsewhere. But for UK/EU small businesses that just need solid HR basics, Charlie is a steal.