Bambee vs. BambooHR Comparison

Bambee vs. BambooHR Highlights

Bambee and BambooHR offer a range of features to help you hire and manage employees. Both offer in-house payroll processing, optional benefits administration, HR guidance, and intuitive employee self-service capabilities. However, they have some distinct differences, and the best choice will depend on your business’s specific HR needs.

Who Is Bambee For?

Bambee is an HR outsourcing service that caters to small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. In addition to standard recruiting, payroll and employee self-service features, Bambee clients can access HR guidance and policy creation from dedicated Bambee support representatives. One of Bambee’s primary selling points is that it can help small businesses mitigate risk through proper HR implementation. Bambee users can add Bambee guided payroll or integrate with a third-party payroll provider. Our in-depth review of Bambee explains more about this platform’s services and features. 

Who Is BambooHR For?

BambooHR is a great solution for employers who want an intuitive, easy-to-use HR platform with a short learning curve. It’s ideal for small businesses seeking robust HR software functions, especially those that need help onboarding new workers and tracking employee performance. BambooHR’s two tiered service plans, Core and Pro, help businesses choose a solution that fits their needs. 

Both plans have standard HR features for storing employee records, managing time off, setting workflows and approvals, accessing reports and tracking benefits. The Pro plan also has advanced features ideal for managing employee performance, experience, rewards and community. BambooHR has optional add-ons (e.g., payroll, benefits administration and time tracking) for companies that want to customize their HR solution further. Learn more about this robust platform via our comprehensive BambooHR review.

BambooHR allows you to assign onboarding tasks to new hires. Source: BambooHR 

Bambee vs. BambooHR Comparison

We’ll highlight how Bambee and BambooHR compare in terms of pricing, HR administration, payroll and employee benefits administration, customer service and mobile app features. 

Pricing and Plans 

Bambee Pricing and Plans

We like that Bambee offers six service plans — more options than many competitors. Each has varying feature levels. However, the specific plan you choose will largely depend on your employee numbers.

Here is some notable information about Bambee’s pricing:

• Bambee pricing is month-to-month, but contracts are typically one to two years long, with all fees paid upfront.
• While most competitors charge per employee (including BambooHR), Bambee charges a flat fee based on employee ranges.
• Bambee charges a setup fee for most plans.
• Companies can add Bambee’s guided payroll solution for an additional monthly fee.

Here’s a breakdown of each service plan:

BambooHR Pricing

BambooHR offers two service plans: Core and Pro. Both plans have standard HR features like applicant tracking, onboarding, employee records, HR reporting, time-off management, employee self-service and a mobile app. However, you must choose the Pro plan if you want to access BambooHR’s tools for performance management, employee experience and rewards, and employee community.

Here is some notable information about BambooHR’s pricing:

• BambooHR offers a seven-day free trial.
• BambooHR charges per employee but doesn’t list pricing online.
• For additional fees, companies can add payroll, benefits administration and time-tracking features.
• Payroll and benefits administration are only available to U.S.-based employees.

Winner: Bambee

Bambee and BambooHR both charge a monthly fee for their services, but since their pricing models are different, it can be tough to say which is better. It essentially comes down to your number of employees and the features you need. However, we give Bambee the win on pricing because we like that it offers numerous plans, helping employers select the best option for their business’s needs. [Learn more about how Bambee can solve your HR needs.]

We also like that Bambee openly lists its monthly and annual pricing online, while many competitors (including BambooHR) require you to contact them directly for a quote. In addition, Bambee is upfront about its one-time setup fee. This transparency is ideal for small businesses that must know if a platform is within their budget. It also leads us to believe that the company won’t try to surprise you with fees down the road.

BambooHR’s pricing isn’t clear online, so it may or may not be more affordable depending on the number of employees you have and the features you need. Keep in mind that payroll, benefits administration, and time tracking are all optional add-ons.

HR Administration

Bambee HR Services

• Bambee offers standard HR administration services like job description creation, record retention, employee training, corrective action, HR automation and termination assistance.
• Bambee is an HR outsourcing provider, so it acts as your HR manager and offers guidance on HR policy creation.
• Employers can add payroll, time tracking and benefits administration.

BambooHR HR Services

• BambooHR offers a breadth of HR administration services like employee recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, document storage, training tracking, custom reporting, HR workflows and approvals, employee surveys, an audit trail and a mobile application.
• BambooHR is an HR software platform, so many of its features are geared toward employer and employee usage (as opposed to relying on a third party to manage your resources).
• Employers can add payroll, benefits administration and time-tracking services.

Winner: BambooHR

When it comes to HR administration features, BambooHR takes the cake. While Bambee offers HR guidance to help you mitigate potential HR risks, BambooHR offers a broader range of HR features and services. It also offers more optional add-ons, so employers can sign up for the specific HR functions relevant to them. 

Payroll and Benefits Administration

Bambee Payroll and Benefits Administration

• Bambee users can add guided payroll or integrate with a third-party payroll provider.
• Employers must sign up for Bambee’s payroll solution if they want employee benefits management through its partnership with SimplyInsured.
• Bambee integrates with multiple third-party benefits providers.
• Bambee users can add time-tracking capabilities to their plan through Bambee’s partnership with Deputy. These two platforms integrate directly, so time-tracking data can easily pass through to your payroll.

Bambee’s guided payroll is easy to navigate through each pay period. Source: Bambee

BambooHR Payroll and Benefits Administration

• Users can add BambooHR’s payroll platform to their plan or integrate it with a third-party payroll provider.
• BambooHR’s payroll solution has standard features like direct deposit, flexible pay schedules and federal and state employee payroll tax filing.
• BambooHR’s employee benefits administration has standard features like enrollment management, employee self-service, benefit plan support and carrier connections.

Winner: Tie

We found Bambee and BambooHR to be comparable in terms of payroll and benefits administration. They both offer an in-house payroll platform as an optional add-on service, and both integrate with many of the best payroll services. This gives employers the flexibility to find solutions that meet their payroll needs. [Read related: How to Do Payroll for a Small Business

Mobile Application

Bambee Mobile Application

Bambee does not offer a dedicated iOS or Android mobile app. However, you can access the Bambee web app on your mobile device. Its mobile-friendly website allows employees and employers to access Bambee information from anywhere.

BambooHR Mobile Application

• BambooHR offers a mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
• Employees can use the mobile app to check employment details, manage and request time off, set performance goals, view calendars and company directories, sign documents on the go, and submit employee feedback. 
• Employers can use the BambooHR mobile app to manage time-off requests, hire new workers, track employee performance and manage employee and company information.

Winner: BambooHR

Since Bambee does not have a dedicated mobile app, BambooHR is the clear winner in this category. In addition, the BambooHR mobile app (available in the Apple and Google Play stores) has excellent ratings and reviews, reinforcing that it’s a helpful tool.

BambooHR’s mobile app is intuitive and easy to use. Source: BambooHR

Customer Support

Bambee Customer Support

• Employers get access to a dedicated HR representative they can reach by phone, email or web chat.
• If you’re unsure of what HR areas your business must improve on, you can consult with a Bambee representative who will conduct an audit of your business and create custom HR policies for you. This level of support is especially valuable for small businesses.
• Support is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. Bambee online HR requests typically have a three-hour response time during business hours.
• Bambee is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has a B rating with the agency. 

BambooHR Customer Support

• BambooHR offers phone, email and chat support, as well as a success webinar library.
• Support is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT.
• BambooHR is not accredited by the BBB but does have an A+ rating with the agency.

Winner: Bambee

If hands-on customer support is paramount, Bambee is the best choice. You get unlimited access to your own HR representative and can seek assistance from an experienced HR professional with creating HR policies, taking corrective action, firing employees, and handling other HR processes.

Starting an HR request in the Bambee platform can be done in just a few clicks. Source: Bambee

Bambee vs. BambooHR Summary

Bambee is best for small businesses that want hands-on HR guidance. 

Bambee is an excellent option for businesses that need hands-on HR support. Employers can consult with their dedicated HR representative by phone, email and web chat to have all their questions answered. Bambee is also ideal for risk mitigation. Your HR representative can conduct HR audits and create custom HR policies for your business, ensuring you stay compliant with current HR laws and regulations.

BambooHR is best for employers who want an easy-to-navigate platform. 

BambooHR’s intuitive software is equipped with helpful HR features and self-service capabilities and boasts a short learning curve. The BambooHR Pro plan, specifically, is a great choice for employers who want HR management features to enhance their employees’ overall experience and performance.