Bamboo HR vs Rippling: In-depth Comparison for 2025

BambooHR costs $5.25-$8.75 per employee monthly and works best for US-based small to mid-sized businesses (under 500 employees) seeking straightforward HR management. Rippling starts at $8 per user monthly (with modular add-ons) and serves mid-sized to large companies needing global capabilities and integrated HR-IT-Finance management.

Based on extensive research and user feedback, BambooHR’s simpler interface and core HR features work best for smaller teams, while Rippling’s extensive automation and global payroll options deliver more value for companies with international workforces or complex tech environments.

What is BambooHR?

BambooHR is an HR management platform focused on simplifying core HR tasks for small to mid-sized businesses. Founded in 2008 by Ben Peterson and Ryan Sanders in Lindon, Utah, the company has grown into a popular solution particularly valued for its user-friendly design and straightforward approach to HR management.

The platform excels at employee data management, time-off tracking, performance management, and applicant tracking. Based on extensive user feedback, BambooHR’s interface is remarkably intuitive – even HR newcomers can navigate it without extensive training. The system clearly prioritizes employee experience, with self-service portals that reduce administrative burden.

BambooHR primarily targets US-based companies with 10-500 employees that want to move beyond spreadsheets without the complexity of enterprise HR systems. Its philosophy centers on making HR more human through thoughtful design and focused functionality.

What is Rippling?

Rippling is a comprehensive workforce management platform that unifies HR, IT, and finance operations. Founded in 2016 by Parker Conrad in San Francisco, the company has secured over $700 million in funding and established itself as an innovator in the HR tech space.

Unlike traditional HR systems, Rippling extends beyond personnel management to handle everything from payroll and benefits to device management and app provisioning. Industry analysts highlight how Rippling eliminates data silos between departments – hiring someone automatically triggers all necessary IT setup and finance systems updates.

Rippling targets mid-sized to large businesses, especially those with distributed or global workforces. The platform currently supports operations in 185+ countries, making it particularly valuable for international expansion. Its core philosophy centers on automating repetitive tasks across departments through a single connected system.

BambooHR vs Rippling at a glance

This summary section aims to quickly show how BambooHR and Rippling compare on the most important features and information like pricing. Below is a comprehensive table comparing key aspects of both platforms:

Key features of BambooHR

Employee Database Management

BambooHR excels in providing a centralized employee database that serves as a single source of truth for all employee information. The system allows for easy data entry and updates, with customizable fields to capture the specific information your organization needs.

The employee profiles in BambooHR are comprehensive and well-organized, making it simple for HR professionals to access and manage employee data. The self-service portal empowers employees to update their own information, reducing the administrative burden on HR staff.

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

BambooHR’s built-in ATS streamlines the hiring process from job posting to offer letter. The system allows you to create and publish job openings, track applicants through the hiring pipeline, and collaborate with hiring managers.

The ATS integrates seamlessly with the rest of BambooHR’s features, ensuring a smooth transition from candidate to employee once a hire is made. This integration eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors.

Time-Off Management

The time-off management feature in BambooHR simplifies the process of requesting, approving, and tracking employee time off. The system supports multiple time-off policies and allows for easy customization to match your company’s specific needs.

Managers can view team calendars to see upcoming time-off requests, making it easier to plan for coverage. The system also automatically calculates accruals based on your defined policies, saving time and reducing errors in PTO tracking.

Performance Management

BambooHR’s performance management tools focus on simplifying the review process and promoting ongoing feedback. The system includes features for setting and tracking goals, conducting self and manager assessments, and facilitating 360-degree reviews.

The performance management module encourages more frequent, meaningful conversations between managers and employees, moving away from the traditional annual review model.

Reporting and Analytics

BambooHR offers a range of pre-built reports covering various HR metrics, as well as the ability to create custom reports. The reporting tools allow you to visualize data through charts and graphs, making it easier to identify trends and make data-driven decisions.

While the reporting capabilities are sufficient for most small to medium-sized businesses, they may not be as robust as what larger enterprises or data-heavy organizations might require.

Key features of Rippling

Pricing and plans for BambooHR

BambooHR offers two main pricing plans: Essentials and Advantage. The company does not publicly disclose its pricing, instead requiring potential customers to contact their sales team for a custom quote. However, based on various sources, we can provide an estimated price range:

Essentials plan

• Estimated starting price: $5.25 per employee per month (billed annually)
• Key features:
  • Employee database and records
  • Time-off management
  • Standard workflows and approvals
  • Employee self-service
  • Standard reporting
  • Mobile app access

Advantage plan

• Estimated starting price: $8.75 per employee per month (billed annually)
• Includes all Essentials features plus:
  • Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
  • Onboarding and offboarding
  • Advanced workflows
  • Custom reporting
  • Performance management
  • Employee satisfaction surveys

BambooHR also offers several add-on modules for an additional fee:

• Payroll: Pricing varies, typically around $4-$7 per employee per month
• Time Tracking: Approximately $3-$5 per employee per month
• Performance Management: Around $5-$7 per employee per month

It’s important to note that BambooHR’s pricing can vary based on the number of employees and the specific needs of the organization. The company offers volume discounts for larger businesses, so per-employee costs may decrease as the number of employees increases.

Pricing and plans for Rippling

Rippling takes a modular approach to pricing, allowing businesses to customize their package based on the specific features and services they need. The platform starts with a core workforce management system and allows customers to add various modules as needed. While Rippling doesn’t publicly disclose detailed pricing information, we can provide some estimates based on available data:

Base platform: Rippling Unity

• Starting price: $8 per user per month
• Includes:
  • Employee database management
  • Basic HR functions
  • Document management
  • Reporting capabilities

Additional modules can be added to the base platform, each with its own pricing:

HR Cloud

• Estimated additional cost: $5-$10 per employee per month
• Features include:
  • Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
  • Onboarding and offboarding
  • Performance management
  • Learning management

IT Cloud

• Estimated additional cost: $5-$10 per employee per month
• Features include:
  • Device management
  • App management
  • Security and compliance tools

Finance Cloud

• Estimated additional cost: $5-$10 per employee per month
• Features include:
  • Payroll processing
  • Time and attendance tracking
  • Expense management

Global payroll and EOR services

• Pricing varies significantly based on country and complexity
• Estimated range: $599-$699 per employee per month for full EOR services

It’s important to note that Rippling’s pricing can vary significantly based on the specific needs of the organization, the number of employees, and the combination of modules selected. Businesses interested in Rippling should contact their sales team for a customized quote based on their specific requirements.

Pros and cons of BambooHR

Pros and cons of Rippling

User experience & interface

BambooHR user experience

BambooHR’s interface prioritizes simplicity and visual clarity. The dashboard presents key information through colorful cards and graphs that make workforce data immediately understandable. Navigation follows logical groupings with consistent menu placement across sections.

For employees, the self-service portal provides quick access to personal information, time-off balances, and company resources without overwhelming options. The mobile app maintains nearly identical functionality to the desktop version, with thoughtful adaptations for smaller screens.

The system excels at reducing clicks for common tasks – submitting time-off requests takes just three steps, while accessing team calendars requires only one click from the dashboard. This efficiency makes BambooHR particularly suitable for organizations without dedicated HR specialists.

According to user reports, BambooHR’s form design is particularly thoughtful. Fields appear only when relevant based on previous selections, reducing visual clutter and error rates. The inline help text and validation provide guidance without requiring separate documentation references.

Rippling user experience

Rippling’s interface balances comprehensive functionality with visual organization. The dashboard adopts a more data-dense approach than BambooHR, displaying more metrics and actionable items simultaneously. The navigation system uses both top-level categories and context-sensitive side menus that change based on current activities.

For administrators, Rippling’s unified search function proves invaluable – a single query can find employees, documents, policies, or devices across all modules. The system’s task recommendations predictively suggest next actions based on recent activities and incomplete processes.

Rippling’s cross-module workflows create a more integrated experience than BambooHR, but also introduce complexity. Setting up these automations requires initial configuration time, though the long-term efficiency gains typically justify this investment for larger organizations.

According to power users, Rippling’s performance remains consistent even when handling complex reports or bulk updates that might slow other systems. The interface adapts well to different screen sizes, though the mobile experience prioritizes employee self-service over administrative functions.

Who I recommend BambooHR To

BambooHR is best suited for:

1. Small to medium-sized businesses: Companies with up to 500 employees will find BambooHR’s features and pricing structure most appealing.
2. US-focused companies: Organizations primarily operating in the United States will benefit from BambooHR’s strong understanding of US labor laws and HR practices.
3. HR teams seeking simplicity: BambooHR’s user-friendly interface and straightforward features make it ideal for teams that want to streamline their HR processes without overwhelming complexity.
4. Growing startups: As young companies begin to formalize their HR processes, BambooHR offers a scalable solution that can grow with the business.
5. Organizations prioritizing employee experience: BambooHR is excellent for companies focused on improving employee engagement and satisfaction. With its strong self-service capabilities and employee-centric features, it is a great choice for these organizations.

BambooHR is particularly well-suited for businesses that need a solid, easy-to-use HR system but don’t require extensive global capabilities or advanced IT and finance integrations. Its balance of functionality and simplicity makes it an excellent choice for organizations looking to modernize their HR processes without overcomplicating their systems.

Recommendations

Who should use BambooHR?

BambooHR is perfect for:

1. US-based small to mid-sized businesses (10-300 employees) seeking straightforward HR management without complex international needs. If your operations are primarily domestic with limited global concerns, BambooHR provides the essential functionality without unnecessary complexity.
2. Companies transitioning from spreadsheets to their first HR system. BambooHR’s intuitive design makes this transition particularly smooth, with import tools specifically designed for converting Excel-based personnel records.
3. Organizations prioritizing employee experience over advanced administration. BambooHR’s self-service capabilities and mobile apps create positive employee interactions with HR systems, particularly important for companies where staff satisfaction is a competitive advantage.
4. Businesses with limited HR specialist resources. The platform’s design requires minimal training, making it suitable for companies where HR responsibilities are handled by generalists or shared across roles.

Consider alternatives to BambooHR if:

1. You have significant international operations requiring local compliance management
2. Your organization needs integrated IT management with HR functions
3. You require sophisticated custom workflows spanning multiple departments
4. Your reporting needs go beyond standard HR metrics into advanced analytics

Who should use Rippling?

Rippling is ideal for:

1. Mid-sized to large businesses (100+ employees) with complex workforce management needs spanning HR, IT, and finance. The platform’s integrated approach delivers maximum value when all three areas need coordination.
2. Companies with international workforces or global expansion plans. Rippling’s EOR services and global payroll capabilities remove major barriers to international hiring, allowing rapid workforce growth without legal complexity.
3. Organizations with distributed or remote teams requiring consistent IT management. The platform’s device and application provisioning features ensure standardized technology environments regardless of employee location.
4. Businesses valuing process automation across departments. Rippling’s workflow capabilities create efficiency gains that compound as organization size increases, particularly for routine multi-step processes.

Consider alternatives to Rippling if:

1. Your team lacks the technical capacity to fully implement and utilize the platform’s capabilities
2. You’re a small team (under 50 employees) with straightforward HR needs
3. Your budget priorities cannot accommodate the higher costs of a full-featured system
4. You prefer simplicity over comprehensive functionality

When to consider other providers

While BambooHR and Rippling are strong contenders in the HR software market, there are situations where other EOR providers might be more suitable:

Extensive HR Software Integration: Deel

If your organization heavily relies on a wide range of HR and business software, Deel’s extensive integration capabilities (with over 100 integrations) might make it a better fit.

Region-Specific Expansion: Remote

For companies focusing on expansion in specific regions, Remote offers tailored solutions with in-depth knowledge of local markets and regulations in over 160 countries.

Budget-Friendly Option for Startups: Remofirst

Startups and small businesses looking for a more affordable EOR solution might consider Remofirst, which offers competitive pricing for basic global employment services.

Frequently asked questions