10 Best BambooHR Competitors & Alternatives of 2024

Deel is a global payroll and compliance platform designed to simplify the complexities of hiring international talent. By providing a comprehensive suite of tools for managing contracts, payments, and compliance, Deel enables companies to hire, pay, and support workers in over 150 countries.

One of the primary reasons Deel stands out as a good alternative to BambooHR is its focus on international payroll and compliance. While BambooHR is a versatile HR management system with a range of features for handling employee data, performance management, and time tracking, it lacks the specialized tools needed for managing a global workforce. Deel excels in this area by offering localized compliance solutions and automated tax filings, which are essential for companies with international employees and contractors. 

Additionally, Deel simplifies the process of creating, managing, and storing contracts for both employees and contractors, with customizable templates that ensure compliance with local labor laws. Its payment platform supports multiple currencies and payment methods, offering more flexibility and convenience than BambooHR. By integrating contract management and payroll into a single platform, Deel eliminates the need for multiple systems and reduces administrative overhead. 

Deel integrates with Greenhouse, HiBob, Lever, NetSuite, Ashby, BambooHR, QuickBooks, Slack, Workday, Xero, and others.

WorkBright is a comprehensive HR software solution designed to streamline the hiring and onboarding process for businesses. It offers a range of features including remote I-9 verification, automated E-Verify, digital onboarding forms, and an applicant tracking system (ATS). 

One of the key differentiators is WorkBright’s mobile-friendly onboarding platform, which allows new hires to complete paperwork on their smartphones without the need for apps or downloads. This feature is particularly beneficial for companies with remote or field-based employees, as it eliminates the logistical challenges often associated with traditional onboarding methods.

Another standout feature of WorkBright is its compliance management, particularly the way it handles form I-9 and E-Verify processes. WorkBright offers photo-upload functionality, allowing new hires to submit documents directly through their devices, which not only accelerates the verification process but also helps organizations maintain compliance with federal regulations seamlessly. BambooHR, although equipped with compliance tools, doesn’t offer the same level of specialization in onboarding-specific compliance needs.

Integrations include ADP Workforce Now, E-Verify, iSolved, Netchex, ApplicantPRO, and Universal Background Screening.

GoCo is an HR management solution designed to simplify and streamline various HR processes for small to mid-sized businesses. The platform integrates essential HR tasks such as onboarding, payroll, benefits administration, and performance management into a single, cohesive system.

GoCo offers several features that make HR management intuitive and efficient. One of GoCo’s significant strengths lies in its user-friendly interface, which simplifies navigation and enhances the overall user experience. The platform includes easy-to-understand reports and a drag-and-drop workflow automation builder, allowing users to customize workflows easily and streamline HR processes without extensive training or technical expertise. This intuitive design helps HR teams manage tasks such as onboarding, time tracking, and benefits administration more effectively.

Additionally, GoCo excels in providing built-in compliance tracking features, which are essential for maintaining adherence to HR regulations. The platform offers tools for ACA, FMLA, and OSHA compliance, along with a robust library of compliance materials and law alerts. This comprehensive compliance support ensures that businesses can navigate complex HR regulations confidently. Furthermore, GoCo places a strong emphasis on customer support, assigning each customer a dedicated Client Success Team that provides personalized guidance. 

Integrations are available with over 100 apps, including QuickBooks, Xero, Gusto, ADP, BambooHR, Namely, Zenefits, Workday, Rippling, Paychex, TriNet, Justworks, Greenhouse, Lever, JazzHR, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter.

ClearCompany is a comprehensive talent management system designed to support talent acquisition, employee engagement, and performance management. By leveraging AI and automation, it aims to improve recruitment and hiring processes. The platform is widely used by companies to enhance HR operations, reduce time-to-hire, and gain valuable insights into employee development.

One of the key features of ClearCompany is its AI-powered ATS, which significantly simplifies recruiting workflows. The ATS includes advanced tools such as the ClearText Suite, which enables recruiters to communicate with candidates via text. This suite also includes Text-to-Apply, allowing candidates to apply for jobs through text messages.

The AI candidate match recommendations feature uses machine learning to identify high-potential candidates, reducing the time spent on manual resume screening. Additionally, ClearCompany’s recruiting campaign automation helps nurture passive talent through personalized email and text campaigns, ensuring that recruiters can maintain a steady pipeline of qualified candidates. These automation tools not only save time but also enhance the overall efficiency of the recruitment process.

Integrations include Slack, Gmail, Google Workspace, Dropbox Business, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Indeed, Google Calendar, ADP Workforce Now, ZipRecruiter, BambooHR, and Microsoft Outlook.

TimeTrex is a comprehensive workforce management software that offers an integrated solution for time and attendance tracking, payroll processing, and human resource management. It is designed to accommodate businesses of various sizes, providing them with the tools needed to manage complex pay structures and HR operations and ensure compliance with labor laws. 

While both TimeTrex and BambooHR offer robust HR management features, such as employee record management and self-service portals, TimeTrex stands out with its native payroll capabilities. Unlike BambooHR, which often requires third-party integrations for payroll, TimeTrex includes payroll processing as a core feature, allowing businesses to manage the entire payroll process from within the same platform. This integration is particularly beneficial for companies with complex and customized pay structures or varying compliance needs.

In addition to payroll, TimeTrex's time and attendance tracking features are more advanced than those offered by BambooHR. TimeTrex includes tools for scheduling, job costing, and real-time attendance tracking, which are particularly beneficial for businesses with hourly employees or those requiring detailed labor tracking. These features help businesses manage labor costs more effectively and ensure compliance with labor regulations.

TimeTrex integrates with QuickBooks, Sage 50, ADP, Paychex, Gusto, Xero, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, and Salesforce.

Freshteam is a SaaS HRMS (human resource management system) designed to support hiring, onboarding, time-off tracking, employee data management, and other HR workflows like building custom reports. It’s a great choice for businesses with a heavy sales and marketing focus since Freshteam works seamlessly with other Freshworks products such as Freshdesk (customer support software), Freshsales (sales/lead generation software), Freshmarketer (multichannel marketing software), and Freshservice (IT service management software).

When stacked up against BambooHR, Freshteam scores higher in their candidate sourcing and applicant tracking tools. While BambooHR does have an ATS (in their highest paid service level), Freshteam’s recruitment tools are available even in their freemium package. Their software supports candidate sourcing from multiple sources (job boards, employee referrals, emails and social media), plus the ability to schedule interviews and roll out offers right from within the platform. As well, they’ve built in helpful automations for key tasks like thank you emails or reference check reminders. On top of all that, they also support candidate skills assessments and kanban-style boards for applicant tracking, plus detailed talent pool analytics so you can see where your recruitment efforts are hitting the mark, or falling short.

Freshteam integrates with Adzuna, LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Office 365 Calendar, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Google Hangouts, HackerRank, HackerEarth, Codility and ClassMarker.

Freshteam’s affordable pricing also stands out against BambooHR since the software is free to use for startups with up to 50 employees. For organizations with more staff, Freshteam’s pricing starts at $1.20/employee/month plus a $71 USD flat fee per month. You can also request a free demo or a 21-day free trial through their website too.

Workday is cloud-based software that offers a wide range of tools for human resources, finance, and planning. It's designed to help businesses manage their workforce, financials, and overall performance. Workday is a popular choice for companies looking for a comprehensive solution to manage their HR and finance needs, and it's often considered one of the top BambooHR competitors and alternatives.

I chose Workday as one of the best BambooHR competitors and alternatives because it offers a robust set of features that cater to businesses of all sizes. Workday's comprehensive suite of tools makes it a good choice for companies looking for an all-in-one solution to manage their HR and finance needs. Additionally, Workday's user-friendly interface and customizable dashboards make it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need quickly.

Workday offers several features that make it stand out from other BambooHR competitors and alternatives. Some of these standout features include:

Unified HR and Finance: Workday combines HR and finance tools in one platform, allowing businesses to manage their workforce and financials seamlessly.

Adaptive Planning: Workday's planning tools help businesses create accurate budgets, forecasts, and reports, making it easier to plan for the future and make data-driven decisions.

Talent Management: Workday's talent management tools help businesses attract, retain, and develop top talent, ensuring they have the right people in the right roles.

Advanced Analytics: Workday's analytics tools provide businesses with real-time insights and data-driven recommendations, helping them make informed decisions and improve overall performance.

Global Compliance: Workday's global compliance features help businesses stay up-to-date with changing regulations and requirements, reducing the risk of non-compliance.

Integrations include ADP, BetterUp, DocuSign, Humanity, HireRight, LinkedIn Recruiter, Okta, Salesforce, Slack, Workhuman, and others.

Pricing is available upon request, and they offer a free demo.

Since Sapling is technically an HCM (human capital management) platform, their main focus is on improving people-centric processes like onboarding and offboarding, and enhancing internal communication through features like intranet services, shared calendars, and mobile app accessibility. Their HR platform also includes add-ons for other core HR functions such as dynamic org charts, track & approve chains, time off tracking, and employee surveys to monitor your level of employee engagement.

Since user reviews of BambooHR point to a lack of flexibility and customization options throughout their platform, Sapling is a better fit for companies looking to automate and customize their routine processes. Sapling allows users to simplify common tasks through auto-assigned workflows, email scheduling, and customizable alerts, to standardize the employee experience while maximizing efficiency. This is a valuable feature for organizations with distributed teams, as it helps HR both regulate and customize processes across locations, departments or types of employees, as needed. Using the onboarding process as an example, the onboarding requirements for a frontline sales associate will look very different than the requirements for a senior manager or a lead engineer. Rather than reinventing the wheel for each new hire, you can build up your automated processes for each segment of your workforce, then let them roll out automatically.

Some additional aspects that may lead you to choose Sapling over BambooHR include Sapling’s extensive forms library, their ability to incorporate background checks into the hiring process, and their deep integration with Google Suite—all of which are missing in BambooHR. As well, Sapling’s support team is available 24/7 to assist you, whereas BambooHR’s email support has restricted hours and their telephone support is only available in their highest paid service level.

Sapling integrates with 50+ leading HR, IT and productivity systems including 15Five, ADP, ChartHop, Greenhouse, JazzHR, Jira, Kallidus, Lattice, Lessonly, Lever, LinkedIn, Okta, OneLogin, Paylocity, Slack, Workday, Zapier, and many others.

To take advantage of their full range of HRIS features, pricing for Sapling starts at $6.99 USD/employee/month for their People Ops Platform. However, they do offer a cheaper alternative if all you need to access are their onboarding features. You can also request a free demo through their website too.

It’s true that Zenefits and BambooHR do have a lot in common. Both systems have a good handle on employee data management, onboarding, and time-off tracking. As well, both systems have a long list of extra features that can be added on for an additional fee. The main difference is in the way each company has structured their packages. That means it’s extra important to know exactly which modules you’d need to make the best and most cost-effective decision. Several areas where Zenefits outshines BambooHR include their benefits management integration, their mobile app, and their level of customer support.

Zenefits includes a Health Insurance Marketplace, where you can review different group insurance plans to find the best option for your organization. Once you’re ready, you can request a quote through one of their certified brokers, who will also help you administer your plan—a service that’s included for no additional cost, no matter which pricing plan you choose.

The mobile app for Zenefits gives users access to all the same features they’d find in the web interface, whereas the BambooHR app is limited to time off requests, updating personal information, accessing the employee directory, or reviewing company-wide announcements. As well, Zenefits offers customer support via phone, email, or live chat whenever needed. In contrast, BambooHR’s customer support relies heavily on pre-recorded videos that don’t necessarily contain the answer you’re looking for.

Zenefits integrates with 45+ commonly used software systems including BetterWorks, Bonusly, Expensify, Google Suite, Office 365, Slack, Salesforce, Zapier, and many others.

Pricing for Zenefits is transparent, so you know exactly what you’re getting at each price level, which starts at $8 USD/employee/month. You can also request a free demo and a 14-day free trial through their website too.

Namely is cloud-based human resources (HR) software that aims to simplify and streamline HR processes for mid-sized companies. It offers a wide range of features, including payroll, benefits administration, talent management, and time tracking, all in one platform. Namely is designed to be user-friendly and customizable, allowing businesses to tailor the software to their specific needs.

I chose Namely as one of the best BambooHR competitors and alternatives because it offers a comprehensive suite of HR tools that cater to the unique needs of mid-sized businesses. While BambooHR is a great option for small businesses, Namely's focus on mid-sized companies means it can handle more complex HR processes and requirements. Plus, its user-friendly interface and customization options make it easy for HR teams to manage their tasks efficiently.

There are several features that make Namely stand out from other HR tools in the market. First, its payroll system is robust and easy to use, allowing HR teams to process payroll quickly and accurately. It also offers a benefits administration module that simplifies the process of managing employee benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans.

Another standout feature is Namely's talent management module, which includes performance management, goal setting, and employee engagement tools. This helps businesses keep track of employee performance and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals. Additionally, Namely's time and attendance tracking feature makes it easy for employees to clock in and out, request time off, and view their schedules.

Namely offers a wide range of integrations with other popular business tools, making it easy for businesses to connect their HR processes with other aspects of their operations. Some of the integrations available include Bonusly, Culture Amp, Equifax, Greenhouse, Lattice, Lever, LinkedIn Talent Hub, NetSuite, Slack, Small Improvements, Workable, Worktango, and 15Five. Zapier can also be connected to configure additional integrations.

Pricing is available upon request, and they offer a free demo.