A BambooHR alternative for small business
For a team of up to 25 people BambooHR Core is a flat $250 a month, and 1:1s and reviews start with the Pro plan. PapaHR is free up to 25 employees, and 1:1s, reviews, goals and hiring are $1.50 per employee a month.
No card, no demo. BambooHR prices are from bamboohr.com/pricing as of Oct 27, 2026.
What a month costs
BambooHR starting prices from its site, monthly; volume discounts are not counted. PapaHR is paid yearly.
PapaHR Free vs BambooHR Core — a flat price for teams up to 25
PapaHR Pro vs BambooHR Pro — from $17.50 per employee
PapaHR and BambooHR: what is included
| PapaHR | BambooHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ up to 25 employees, no time limit | — 7-day trial |
| Price | $1.50 per employee a month paid yearly, $1.80 monthly | up to 25 people — $250 a month; more — from $10.25 per employee (Core) |
| Time off, onboarding, eNPS surveys | ✓ in Free | ✓ in Core |
| 1:1s, reviews, goals | ✓ in Pro | from the Pro plan — from $17.50 per employee |
| Hiring (ATS) | ✓ in Pro, unlimited jobs | Core — 5 jobs, Pro — 25, Elite — 50 |
| Time tracking, payroll | timesheet and pay calculations (Pro); no clock-in, taxes or payouts | paid add-ons, payroll for the US only |
| SAML SSO, open API | — | ✓ yes |
| Ukrainian interface | ✓ yes | — no |
| HR methods and templates | ✓ Mike Pritula Academy built in | — |
BambooHR prices are from its site as of Oct 27, 2026. Check the current prices before you decide.
Why teams switch to PapaHR
- A small team works for free, not for $250 a month.
- 1:1s, reviews and goals for $1.50, not $17.50 per employee.
- A Ukrainian interface — BambooHR does not have one.
- Daily nudges: probation ending, a time-off request, a missed 1:1.
- Mike Pritula Academy methods built in: onboarding templates, 1:1 questions, review forms.
When BambooHR is the better fit
If your company is in the US and you want payroll and benefits in the same system, SSO and an integrations marketplace. PapaHR is made for companies where HR is one person or the manager.
How to switch
- Export your employee list from BambooHR to Excel.
- Upload the file to PapaHR — profiles, departments and managers appear by themselves.
- Invite managers: they approve time off and run 1:1s.
Questions
Is PapaHR cheaper than BambooHR?
Yes: free up to 25 employees vs $250 a month for BambooHR Core. With 1:1s and reviews it is $1.50 per employee vs $17.50 for BambooHR Pro.
Can I move my data?
Yes, through Excel: export your employee list and upload it to PapaHR.
Which languages?
English, Ukrainian, Russian, Portuguese and Spanish.
What does PapaHR not have?
Clock-in, payroll with taxes, SAML SSO and an open REST API.
Try it with your team
Free up to 25 employees, no card and no demo — your first time-off request can go through PapaHR today.