Honest BambooHR Review 2024: Pros, Cons, Features & Pricing

BambooHR Pricing

BambooHR offers 2 pricing plans: 

	Core plan	Pro plan
Ideal for	Smaller HR teams with basic operational needs	Scaling companies looking to level up their employee experience.
Features/Modules	• HR data & reporting • Hiring & onboarding • Time off & benefits tracking Integrations	Everything in Core + • Performance management • Employee experience • Employee community
Add-ons
Payroll	Benefits administration	Time tracking
• Direct deposit • Flexible pay schedules • Federal & state tax filing • Specialized support team	• Self-guided benefits configuration • Open enrollment, life events, and new hires • Election review and approval • Reporting & data review • Carrier connections	• Mobile & desktop time clock • Project tracking & billable hours • Viewable & editable employee timesheets • Automated approval workflows • Automatic overtime calculations

Unfortunately, I was frustrated by the website’s lack of upfront pricing. I had to request a quote directly from the vendor—a process no one enjoys when they’re comparing multiple HR solutions.

And despite my colleagues and I setting up a pricing call with a BambooHR representative, they never called. Another representative reached out to set up another call, and we were eventually redirected to a different department. We emailed again and received no response. The process has been quite frustrating and inefficient, and I have yet to learn more about BambooHR’s pricing.

BambooHR’s website does say the platform’s pricing model is based on company size:

• For organizations with over 25 employees, pricing is on a per-employee, per-month basis. 
• Smaller companies with 25 or fewer employees are charged a flat monthly rate. 

I appreciate this flexibility, as it makes the software accessible to businesses of various sizes.

I also like that as a company’s headcount increases, the company automatically applies volume discounts. 

BambooHR also offers several add-ons, including payroll and benefits administration. While these expand the platform’s functionality, I find the need to sign up for different products somewhat cumbersome. This approach might be less than ideal for companies requiring these as built-in features.

However, BambooHR does offer a discount when you combine payroll and benefits with either the Core or Pro plan, which helps offset the additional cost to some extent.

The 7-day free trial BambooHR offers is relatively short compared to some competitors offering 14-day, 30-day, or even 3-month trials (like Workday). In my experience, a week is barely enough time to test all features of a comprehensive HR platform adequately, especially for larger organizations with complex needs. 

Plus, BambooHR lacks a free plan, which puts it at a disadvantage to free HR software solutions like Connecteam and Zoho People.

BambooHR Usability and Interface

As I signed up, the app asked if I’d like to remember the browser for security purposes, which I think is a nice touch. Once I got in, I found that everything was logically organized and easy to navigate.

The top navigation bar provides access to features: Home, My Info, People, Hiring, Reports, and Payroll. The platform doesn’t require users to be particularly tech-savvy, with most functions being self-explanatory.

As you scroll down, you get a quick overview of time off on the left and company announcements on the right. Plus, you can see your team, headcount, turnover, celebrations, who’s taking time off, and important company links.

In settings, you can find 3 access levels:

• Employee Access Level: For employees who should view their own information only and not have access to any sensitive data pertaining to others.
• Manager Access Level: For employees requiring access to information about their direct and/or indirect reports.
• Custom Access Level: For employees who need tailored permissions to view and/or edit information for a specific group of employees or the entire workforce.

BambooHR’s design is modern and visually appealing. The clear, readable font and restrained color palette enhances the overall user experience without overwhelming the senses.

While I didn’t see specific callouts for accessibility features, the high contrast between text and background and the clear layout suggest some consideration for users with visual impairments.

Mobile app

The BambooHR mobile app mirrors most of the core features in the web version. I could access employee information, request time off, and view company announcements directly from my smartphone.

New employees can log into the BambooHR app using a username and password, single sign-on (SSO), or both. Within the app’s settings, options to use face ID, enable notifications, contact support, and log out are available.

Some features aren’t available on the mobile app, such as approvals, the ability to add new employees, the training tab, settings, and reports.

While testing, I found that some basic functions—like viewing stored employee data—were available offline, but most features required an internet connection for real-time updates.

It’s important to note that BambooHR has a separate app for ATS functionalities named “BambooHR Hiring.” Managing 2 apps might be cumbersome and require additional space on one’s phone. However, this separation is understandable, as it helps avoid cluttering smaller screens.

Menu Item	Manager/Admin		Employee
	Website	Mobile App	Website	Mobile App
Home	✅	✅	✅	✅
My Info	✅	✅	✅	✅
Company Directory	✅	✅	✅	✅
Company Files	✅	✅	✅	✅
Time Off	✅	✅	✅	✅
Pay Info	✅	✅	✅ (personal data only)	✅ (personal data only)
Benefits	✅	✅	✅ (personal data only)	✅ (personal data only)
Training	✅	❌	✅ (personal data only)	❌
Assets	✅	✅	✅	✅
Calendar	✅	✅	✅	✅
Integrations	✅	❌	✅	❌
Help Menu	✅	❌	✅	❌
Analysis Features
Reports	✅	✅	❌	❌
Analytics	✅	✅	❌	❌
Management Features
Approvals	✅	✅	❌	❌
Onboarding & offboarding	✅	❌	❌	❌
Add Employees	✅	❌	❌	❌
Performance	✅	✅	✅ (personal data only)	✅ (personal data only)
Access Levels	✅	❌	❌	❌
Settings	✅	✅	❌	❌

BambooHR Core Functionalities

Employee data management

I was impressed by the depth and flexibility of the employee data and information management features. Here’s the data users can input and access:

• Personal: Displays basic details like name, email, and contact info, and allows users to add or remove fields like allergies or educational background as needed.

• Job: Offers insights into an employee’s job status (e.g., full-time or contractor), with options to customize job positions and access detailed info on compensation, benefits, and more.
• Documents: Enables users to upload or download essential employee paperwork like contracts and task lists.
• Training: Tracks employee training and progress and enables managers to implement employee training and development activities.

• Benefits: Stores and tracks employee benefits information, allowing for enrollment, updates, and overview of benefit plans directly from the platform. 

• Time off: Tracks leave requests and balances, enabling employees to request time off and managers to approve it.
• Emergency: Stores emergency contact information.
• Assets: Tracks the assignment and return of company assets, such as laptops.
• Notes: Provides a space for adding miscellaneous notes related to the employee’s performance, special accommodations, or other relevant observations.

Moving to the “People” tab, you can find options to access employees’ information as a list, through a directory, or in a chart. Employees can be filtered based on the following:

• Employment status
• Department
• Location
• Pay range
• Pay type
• Tenure
• Age
• Gender
• Ethnicity

I love how the organization chart is arranged to give you a quick overview of the hierarchy. Plus, you can download it as a PDF or export it to Visio, Lucidchart, or an unformatted CSV file.

However, while the system is generally user-friendly, I think the initial setup will be somewhat time-consuming for those unfamiliar with HR software. Customizing fields and permissions requires a bit of a learning curve. 

Recruitment and ATS 

I was impressed by the comprehensiveness of the ATS. Here’s what it offers:

• Job postings: Create and distribute job postings easily. Post the job to multiple job boards—like Indeed and Glassdoor—and social media channels simultaneously. Each posting can be customized with job descriptions, essential qualifications, and company branding.

• Applicant tracking: BambooHR organizes and tracks each candidate’s progress through the hiring pipeline. The system manages applications, resumes, and any associated documents. 
• Interview scheduling: BambooHR integrates with calendar systems and tools to facilitate seamless interview scheduling.
• Communication tools: I was impressed by the tools for sending personalized emails to candidates directly from the system and the templates for common communications.

While the ATS is strong overall, the system doesn’t offer advanced AI-powered resume screening or candidate matching, which some standalone ATS platforms provide. This could mean more manual work in the initial screening stages for companies dealing with lots of applications.

Additionally, while the interview scheduling tool is useful, it doesn’t include built-in video interviewing capabilities—which would be a valuable addition in today’s remote-first world.

Time off management and time tracking widget

BambooHR simplifies the management of employee time off through an accessible dashboard interface on its mobile and desktop versions.

Employees can choose from various leave types such as sick leave, vacation, bereavement, COVID-related absence, compensatory time, and FMLA. The process is equally simple for managers, who can review and approve requests directly from their dashboard.

One feature that stood out to me was the balance calculator, which lets users see available vacation or sick leave available at a glance. The system even provides a warning if you’re about to request time off that would result in a negative balance.

However, when it comes to time tracking, I hit a bit of a snag. Unlike the time off feature, which is readily available, time tracking is an add-on requiring a totally separate widget and activation process. 

Once set up, the time tracking feature allows employees to log hours worked directly through BambooHR. This tool is designed to help businesses keep accurate records of work hours, manage payroll more efficiently, and comply with labor regulations. Users can also set up the system to automatically calculate accrued time off based on these hours. 

While the time off feature is intuitive and user-friendly, some users may view the additional steps required to activate time tracking as a hassle. However, once implemented, it provides valuable functionality that complements the other tools.

Performance assessment

BambooHR’s performance assessment feature is designed to streamline the review process and foster a culture of continuous feedback and development. It includes:

• Goal setting: Employees and managers can set and track individual and team goals.
• 360-degree feedback: This tool allows for 360-degree reviews (feedback from multiple sources, not just direct supervisors) to gain a well-rounded view of an employee’s performance.
• Self-assessments: Employees can reflect on their own performance and identify personal growth opportunities.

Interestingly, while this feature is accessible through the BambooHR mobile app, it appears to be missing or not immediately visible in the desktop version—which could pose a challenge for users who primarily interact with the platform on their computers.

I found this feature a little basic compared to competitors like Workday, which offers advanced performance management features like cascading goals, customizable reviews, calibration tools, and in-depth reporting.

Payroll 

Unlike many of the platform’s built-in functions, payroll is offered as an add-on service, requiring a separate demo and setup process. 

Once integrated, the payroll feature in BambooHR connects with other HR modules, such as time tracking and benefits management. The payroll system offers features like automatic tax calculations, direct deposit, and digital pay stubs. Plus, the system generates necessary reports, including W-2s and 1099s.

While some companies might be upset that payroll isn’t a built-in feature, smaller companies or those with simpler payroll requirements might not justify a full-scale payroll system—and will appreciate not having to pay for what they don’t need. 

BambooHR Security Features

BambooHR offers thorough security measures to protect sensitive information. Here’s how BambooHR handles security:

• Encryption: For data in transit, BambooHR uses TLS 1.2 encryption protocols—so any data sent to or from the system is secure. For data at rest, the system employs strong encryption methods to safeguard all stored information, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access.
• Two-factor authentication and multi-factor authentication add another layer of security by requiring users to provide 2 or more verification factors to gain access.
• Detailed customization of user roles and permissions ensures that employees can access information that’s relevant to their roles only.
• Compliance with major regulatory frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) helps businesses comply with data protection standards.
• Regular third-party security audits and penetration testing demonstrate BambooHR’s commitment to security. The SOC 2 Type II certification further attests to the platform’s adherence to strict information security policies and procedures.

BambooHR Reporting & Analytics

The platform boasts over 49 standard reports, covering a wide range of HR metrics and data points. Here are some: 

• Employee turnover reports: Provide insights into turnover rates, helping pinpoint trends and potential issues within departments or job roles.
• Compensation reports: Give insights into pay scales across the company to ensure fairness and competitiveness.
• Benefits utilization reports: Help track how employees are using their benefits, which can help with adjusting offerings to suit employee needs.
• Training and development reports: Allow tracking of training hours and the associated costs, which is beneficial for managing development budgets and compliance.
• Attendance reports: Monitors absences and patterns that might affect productivity.

Besides these, you can also access reports related to hiring, time tracking, and employee performance and job information.

As I explored the reporting interface, I found generating reports to be straightforward. The user-friendly report builder let me select parameters, customize fields, and apply filters with ease.

Plus, export options are versatile, supporting formats like CSV, PDF, and Excel.

While the system excels at providing raw data and basic trend analysis, I found the insights somewhat limited. The reports primarily focus on presenting data rather than offering predictive analytics or AI-driven recommendations. Companies looking for advanced AI-powered insights might find the offering a bit basic.

BambooHR Customer Support

The platform offers email support, phone support, and a comprehensive knowledge base.  For immediate assistance, BambooHR provides a live chat feature. Initially, users interact with a chatbot that assesses the query. If the issue can’t be resolved by the bot, it schedules a time slot for a live agent based on availability.

The extensive knowledge base covers a wide range of topics with clear, step-by-step instructions and screenshots.

Support services are generally available during standard business hours, which align with North American time zones. This might require some planning for international customers to ensure they can access live support when needed.

When I reached out during these hours to test the response time, the chatbot informed me no agents were available. I had to select a time slot for a callback. However, once an agent became available, they responded within 1 minute.

Additionally, I encountered a hiccup with BambooHR when they missed a scheduled call for a demo and pricing information. I was later contacted by email to reschedule, but the experience was somewhat frustrating.

What are BambooHR Review Ratings from Review Sites?

(As of July 2024)

• Capterra: 4.6/5
• G2: 4.4/5
• Software Advice: 4.5/5
• TrustRadius: 8.4/10
• GetApp: 4.6/5
• Google Play Store: 4.8/5 
• Apple App Store: 4.7/5

Final Thoughts on BambooHR

BambooHR is well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses that require robust HR management features with customizable add-ons. It excels in offering scalable solutions that grow with organizations, making it ideal for companies planning for gradual expansion.

However, businesses seeking a more integrated HR system—for example, with built-in time tracking—might want to explore other options.

Connecteam – The Best BambooHR Alternative

Connecteam is the best all-in-one HR management app, offering powerful features like document management, time tracking, benefits, rewards and recognition, training, and more.

Comprehensive All-in-One Solution

Unlike BambooHR, which requires add-ons for essential features, Connecteam provides everything you need in one platform. This includes scheduling, time tracking, task management, communication tools, and more, reducing the need for multiple systems.

Superior Mobile Experience

Connecteam’s mobile-first design is perfect for deskless workers. Employees can manage schedules, track time, and communicate seamlessly from their smartphones. BambooHR’s mobile app has limitations, particularly in areas like approvals and onboarding.

Transparent and Affordable Pricing

Connecteam offers clear and competitive pricing plans, with no hidden fees. A free plan is available, making it accessible for small businesses. In contrast, BambooHR lacks upfront pricing and requires a cumbersome process to get a quote.

Enhanced Employee Engagement

With tools for in-app chat, surveys, and recognition, Connecteam fosters a positive work culture. Employees can easily provide feedback, stay connected, and feel appreciated, enhancing overall engagement.

Dedicated Support and Onboarding

Connecteam offers dedicated support and a comprehensive onboarding process, ensuring businesses can maximize the platform’s potential. BambooHR’s support, while standard, doesn’t match the personalized assistance Connecteam provides.

Connecteam stands out as a more versatile, cost-effective, and user-friendly solution compared to BambooHR. Its all-in-one approach, superior mobile functionality, transparent pricing, and dedicated support make it the ideal choice for businesses looking to streamline their operations and enhance employee engagement.

Get started with Connecteam for free now!

FAQs

Is BambooHR HIPAA compliant?

No, BambooHR is not HIPAA compliant. While it offers various HR management tools, it does not meet the specific security and privacy requirements mandated by HIPAA.

Does BambooHR offer a free trial?

Yes, BambooHR offers a free trial. You can explore its features and functionalities before deciding on a paid plan to ensure it meets your business needs.

What integrations are available with BambooHR?

BambooHR offers a wide range of integrations with popular software applications, including payroll systems, performance management tools, and applicant tracking systems. This allows for seamless data transfer and improved workflow efficiency.

Can BambooHR support international employees?

Yes, BambooHR supports international employees. It offers features such as multiple currency support, country-specific compliance tools, and customizable fields to accommodate the needs of a global workforce.