BambooHR has three plans, Core, Pro and Elite. As of October 2026 its pricing FAQ says companies with more than 25 employees pay from $10.25, $17.50 and $25 per employee per month, while companies with 25 or fewer pay a flat $250, $425 or $650 a month. Payroll, benefits administration and time tracking are add-ons on top.
That flat rate is the detail to understand before you get a quote. Below 25 employees, the price doesn't shrink with your headcount, so a very small team pays a high price per person. Here's how it works, from BambooHR's own pricing page.
BambooHR plans and prices
| Plan | More than 25 employees | 25 employees or fewer | Positioning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | From $10.25 per employee per month | $250 a month flat | Foundational HR automation |
| Pro | From $17.50 per employee per month | $425 a month flat | People-focused tools |
| Elite | From $25 per employee per month | $650 a month flat | Insights and benchmarks |
The plan cards on the same page show $10, $17 and $25 per employee per month, each marked with an asterisk pointing to volume and non-profit discounts, while the FAQ gives the $10.25 and $17.50 starting rates. Treat the FAQ figures as the list price and the card figures as what discounts can bring it towards. Prices are in US dollars, and the page asks you to request a quote for your exact team size.
The small-team math
Here's the sourced insight most pricing summaries skip. Because teams of 25 or fewer pay a flat fee, a 10-person company on Core pays $250 a month, which works out at $25 per person, the same per-head rate as Elite's starting price for larger companies. At 25 people, the same $250 works out at $10 each. If you're near the threshold, it's worth asking how the price changes as you grow past 25.
What each plan includes
| Feature | Core | Pro | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee records, reports, workflows | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Applicant tracking | 5 job openings | 25 job openings | 50 job openings |
| Onboarding, e-signatures, offer letter templates | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Time-off management and calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Compliance training courses | 1 course | 15 courses | 300+ courses |
| Performance management (360 reviews, 1:1s) | Not included | Yes | Yes |
| Employee community, recognition and rewards | Not included | Yes | Yes |
| Compensation planning and salary benchmarking | Not included | Not included | Yes |
| Custom dashboards and HR benchmarks | Not included | Not included | Yes |
| AI assistant | HR data questions | Plus company policies and docs | Plus benchmark questions and analysis |
Every plan includes on-demand pay, which BambooHR says lets employees access part of their earned wages before payday at no cost to employers. Elite adds premium services, including two new-administrator training sessions and two hours of data integrity services a year.
Add-ons and offers
- Payroll: direct deposit, flexible pay schedules and federal and state tax filing, for US employees only.
- Benefits administration: open enrollment, life events and carrier connections, US employees only.
- Time and attendance: shift scheduling, overtime calculations and time clocks.
- Global employment, powered by Remote: employer of record and contractor management.
- Bundle discount: 15% off when you combine Payroll and Benefits Administration with any plan, currently for US-based employees only.
- Payroll promotion: from 1 August to 31 December 2026, eligible customers who buy qualifying payroll and commit to a 12-month agreement can get payroll subscription fees at $0 through 31 December 2026; implementation and some other fees are excluded.
BambooHR doesn't publish add-on prices on the page, so you'll need the quote for those. It accepts card and ACH for monthly billing, and wire or check for annual upfront payment, with month-to-month or longer terms.
Which plan fits which business
| If you need | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Records, time off, onboarding and basic hiring | Core | Covers the HR basics with 5 open jobs in the applicant tracker |
| Performance reviews and recognition | Pro | Adds 360 reviews, 1:1s, recognition and rewards |
| Pay planning and benchmarks | Elite | Adds compensation planning, salary benchmarking and custom dashboards |
| US payroll and benefits in the same system | Any plan plus add-ons | Payroll and benefits administration are sold separately |
Questions to ask on the sales call
- What will the price be at my headcount today, and at 26 and 50 employees?
- Which add-ons are in the quote, and what does implementation cost?
- Does the 2026 payroll offer apply to me, and what does payroll cost from January?
- Is the price fixed for the contract term, or does it change with headcount?
- What discounts apply for annual upfront payment or non-profits?
Those five answers tell you the real number, which is rarely the headline per-employee figure. Don't sign until you've seen it in writing, and don't assume the year-end offer's still there in January.
Learning records are another HR job, and our round-up of training management software covers software built for them.
Is BambooHR worth it?
For a company past 25 people that wants HR records, time off and hiring in one place, Core at list price is competitive. Under 25, the flat fee is the sticking point, so compare it with the options in our BambooHR alternatives and best HRIS software guides before you sign.
The verdict
BambooHR's pricing is clear once you know the 25-employee line: flat fee below it, per-employee above it, and payroll and benefits always extra. Get a written quote that includes every add-on you'll need, ask whether the year-end payroll offer applies to you, and check what happens to the price when you hire your 26th person. That last question saves the most surprises.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does BambooHR cost?
As of October 2026, from $10.25 (Core), $17.50 (Pro) and $25 (Elite) per employee per month for companies with more than 25 employees, or a flat $250, $425 or $650 a month for 25 employees or fewer.
Does BambooHR charge per employee?
Yes for companies with more than 25 employees. Companies with 25 or fewer pay a flat monthly rate instead.
Is payroll included in BambooHR?
No. Payroll is an add-on for US employees, as are benefits administration and time and attendance.
Does BambooHR offer discounts?
Its pricing page mentions volume and non-profit discounts and a 15% bundle discount for combining Payroll and Benefits Administration with any plan.
Is BambooHR good for very small teams?
It can be, but the flat monthly fee for 25 employees or fewer means a team of five or ten pays a high price per person. If you're that small, it's worth comparing it with tools that charge purely per employee before you commit.
Can I pay for BambooHR monthly?
Yes. BambooHR says it offers month-to-month terms or a longer term, takes card and ACH for monthly billing, and accepts wire transfers and checks for annual upfront payment.
