Gusto vs BambooHR: vendor prices, September 2026

Gusto costs less at the entry level for 10 US employees: Simple is US$109 per month, while BambooHR’s HR software starts at US$250 per month, according to their own pricing pages, checked 28 September 2026.^1,2 Gusto Simple includes single-state payroll; BambooHR sells Payroll separately.^1,2 The lower price answers the budget question, but the subscriptions buy different work.

TL;DR

• Choose Gusto Simple for single-state payroll; consider Plus when you need multi-state payroll and included time tracking.¹
• BambooHR Core covers employee records, custom reports, hiring administration and time-off management.² Consider it when those HR workflows drive the purchase.
• BambooHR’s headline per-employee rates apply above 25 employees; smaller companies pay a flat rate.²
• Compare the required plan and add-ons together: BambooHR lists Payroll, Benefits Administration and Time & Attendance as separate add-ons.²

How were the prices compared?

The comparison uses Gusto and BambooHR’s published subscription prices for 10 US employees, checked 28 September 2026.^1,2 It applies Gusto’s base-plus-person fee and BambooHR’s small-team flat-rate floor.^1,2 The model treats Gusto’s dollar-only figures as USD; BambooHR explicitly states USD. Taxes and optional services are excluded from the calculation. Confirm Gusto’s billing currency and both vendors’ tax treatment in the quote; those are not universally established by the captured price labels.

For Gusto Simple, the calculation is US$49 + (10 × US$6) = US$109 per month.¹ For BambooHR, the pricing page states that companies with 25 employees or fewer pay a monthly flat rate starting at US$250.² The estimate assumes ten employees and no contractors.

Our research methodology explains the approach to sources and price boundaries.

What do Gusto and BambooHR cost for 10 employees?

Gusto Simple costs US$109 per month for ten employees; BambooHR’s HR software starts at US$250 per month for that team size.^1,2 Gusto’s figure includes single-state payroll, while BambooHR’s figure covers HR software with Payroll sold as an add-on.^1,2 The price comparison needs that scope distinction beside it.

Dimension, checked 28 September 2026	Gusto Simple	BambooHR Core / entry HR software
Published monthly pricing basis, USD before tax	US$49 base + US$6 per person1	Flat rate starting at US$250 for 25 employees or fewer2
Monthly subscription for 10 US employees	US$1091	From US$250, before Payroll or other add-ons2
Payroll in the entry subscription	Single-state payroll, unlimited runs, tax filings and payments1	Payroll sold separately; available for US employees only2
Time off	Basic PTO policies and holiday pay1	Time-off management, calendar and unlimited custom policies2
Time tracking	Time & Attendance Plus available as a paid add-on1	Time & Attendance sold as an add-on2

BambooHR publishes per-employee monthly rates of US$10 for Core, US$17 for Pro and US$25 for Elite for companies with more than 25 employees.² Multiplying those headline rates by ten would apply the wrong pricing band.² Keep “from” attached to the small-team price until a quote confirms the plan and services.

For the separate plan breakdowns, see Gusto pricing and BambooHR pricing.

What is included in the entry plans?

Gusto Simple centres on paying employees, while BambooHR Core centres on employee records and HR administration.^1,2 Simple includes payroll and basic paid time off; Core lists reporting, hiring administration and time-off management, with Payroll priced separately.^1,2 BambooHR Core is the HR information system (HRIS) side of the comparison: employee records, reports and HR workflows.²

Gusto’s plan matrix lists unlimited payroll runs, direct deposits or printable checks, tax filings and payments, payroll approvals, and multiple pay rates and schedules across Simple, Plus and Premium.¹ Simple’s stated payroll scope is single-state.¹ A company needing multi-state payroll should compare the Plus plan described below.¹

BambooHR Core lists employee records, a custom report builder, workflows and approvals, and dashboards.² Its hiring tools include candidate records, job posting, and email and offer-letter templates.² Core also includes time-off management and benefits tracking.² Benefits Administration is a separate add-on with enrolment, election review and carrier connections.² Keep those two benefits functions separate when requesting a quote.

When do the higher plans change the comparison?

Gusto Plus changes the comparison when you need multi-state payroll or included time tracking; BambooHR Pro changes it when you need performance management.^1,2 Those needs move the purchase beyond Gusto Simple or BambooHR Core, so the entry prices alone no longer settle the choice.^1,2

Gusto lists Plus at US$80 per month plus US$12 per person, with multi-state payroll, next-day pay and time tracking.¹ Premium is US$180 per month plus US$22 per person and lists a dedicated service advisor, access to certified HR experts, performance and compensation management, custom reports, and priority support.¹

BambooHR Pro adds performance management to Core, including 360-degree review cycles, one-to-one meetings and performance reporting.² Elite adds compensation planning, salary benchmarking, job levels and salary bands, custom dashboards and HR benchmarks.² Its published per-employee rates belong to the above-25 pricing band; the small-company FAQ gives only a flat-rate starting price.² Request a ten-employee quote for the higher tier you need.

Which should a small team choose?

Glamdring Research’s verdict is to choose Gusto for a cost-led payroll purchase and consider BambooHR when Core’s employee records, reports and hiring workflows are the requirement.^1,2 Gusto Simple’s lower subscription includes single-state payroll; BambooHR requires a separate Payroll purchase if you want that function within its system.^1,2

For a team whose immediate job is paying employees in one state, Gusto Simple is the lower published starting point.^1,2 If multi-state payroll and time tracking are requirements, use Gusto Plus as the comparison candidate.¹

Consider BambooHR Core if employee records, hiring administration and custom reporting are the missing workflows.² If you already have payroll you intend to keep, compare Core against your HR requirements. If you intend to replace payroll too, require a combined HR and Payroll quote before deciding.

Use the same checklist in both demonstrations: employee records, a new hire, a time-off request and a payroll run. Ask which subscription or add-on covers each step. Our HR and payroll research covers related buying decisions.

What can the published prices leave out?

Gusto and BambooHR both list services beyond the entry subscription, so the quoted subscription price can leave out parts of the final bill.^2,1 Compare the recurring software charge with the optional services and benefits costs your team requires.

Gusto lists Time & Attendance Plus for Simple at US$6 per person per month after a free trial.¹ Its health insurance offering charges premiums, while integrating an existing broker is listed at US$6 per eligible employee per month; Gusto’s FAQ says Premium customers can integrate their broker for free.¹ State tax registration is another add-on whose pricing varies by state.¹

BambooHR lists Payroll, Benefits Administration and Time & Attendance as add-ons without standalone charges in its published pricing detail.² A combined total therefore needs a quote. Ask for the ongoing price and any implementation charges separately from temporary discounts.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I use either product month to month?

Yes. Gusto says it is month-to-month and can be cancelled at any time.¹ BambooHR offers flexible month-to-month terms or an extended term.² Confirm the terms of any discounted offer separately from the standard subscription.

Does Gusto’s subscription include health insurance premiums?

No. Gusto says health insurance administration has no extra charge when Gusto is the broker, but the employer still pays the insurance premium.¹ The published payroll subscription and the cost of insurance are separate budget items.¹