Gusto vs Rippling vs BambooHR: which HR and payroll software is best for a small business in 2026?
Every price and fact below was checked on each company's own website on October 11, 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom. No company pays to appear.
The short answer
Gusto is the best pick for most small businesses that mainly need payroll with some HR, because it is the only one of the three that publishes payroll prices, from $49 a month plus $6 per person. BambooHR is the better choice if HR records, hiring and reporting matter more than payroll, from $10.25 per employee a month (or a flat $250 a month for 25 employees or fewer). Rippling suits teams that want HR, payroll and IT in one platform and are happy to get a custom quote, because it publishes no prices.
Side by side
| Gusto | Rippling | BambooHR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 | #2 | #3 |
| Best for | Small businesses that want payroll first, with benefits and basic HR added | Growing teams that want HR, payroll and IT managed in one platform | Small businesses that want an HR system of record with hiring and reporting |
| Published plans and price | Simple $49 a month + $6 per person, Plus $80 a month + $12 per person, Premium $180 a month + $22 per person | Not published. Custom quote after you enter your headcount | Core $10.25, Pro $17.50, Elite $25 per employee a month (more than 25 employees). Flat $250, $425 or $650 a month for 25 employees or fewer |
| What the base product is | Payroll, with benefits and HR tools on top | A required core Rippling Platform, with HR, finance and IT products bought on top | HR system of record. Payroll, benefits administration and time and attendance are add-ons |
| Payroll | Included on every plan, with unlimited payrolls a month and tax filings and payments | Sold as a separate product on top of the Platform. Price not published | Add-on, US employees only. Price not published |
| Multi-state payroll | Plus and Premium. Simple runs payroll in one state | Not mentioned on the pricing page. The site says it helps you stay compliant across all 50 states | Not mentioned on the pricing page |
| Hiring and applicant tracking | Hiring and onboarding is listed in the product menu. Plan price not shown on the pricing page | Not mentioned on the pricing page | Job posting and candidate records are included from Core |
| Time tracking | Time tracking and scheduling on Plus and Premium. Also sold separately, free to try then $6 a month per person | Not mentioned on the pricing page | Time and attendance is an add-on. Price not published |
| Reporting and benchmarks | Workforce cost reports on Plus and Premium | Custom reports and dashboards across the platform | Custom report builder from Core. HR benchmarks and custom dashboards on Elite |
| Integrations | Not mentioned on the pricing page | 650+ integrations | Over 150 integration partners |
| Contract and trial | No contracts, free account setup, cancel any time | Free quote on request. No trial mentioned | Month-to-month or longer terms. No free trial mentioned |
The winner, by what you need
Small businesses that mainly need to run payroll
Gusto
It is the only one of the three with published payroll pricing, from $49 a month plus $6 per person, and payroll is included on every plan.
Teams of 25 or fewer that want a flat, predictable HR bill
BambooHR
BambooHR publishes flat monthly prices for 25 employees or fewer, from $250 a month for Core.
Companies that want hiring, reporting and an HR record in one place
BambooHR
Job posting, candidate records and a custom report builder are included from Core at $10.25 per employee a month.
Businesses that want HR, payroll and IT in one platform
Rippling
Rippling sells HR, finance and IT products on one core platform, though you need a custom quote to see the price.
Businesses paying people in more than one state
Gusto
Multi-state payroll is included from Plus at $80 a month plus $12 per person.
Worth knowing
- Rippling publishes no prices. It asks for your headcount and sends a custom quote, so it cannot be compared on cost from its own site.
- BambooHR's pricing page shows rounded plan prices of $10, $17 and $25, while its FAQ gives $10.25, $17.50 and $25. The FAQ figures are used here. Volume discounts apply automatically, and BambooHR advertises a 15% discount when payroll and benefits administration are bundled with a plan.
- Gusto charges extra for several services, for example health insurance administration, time tracking as a standalone product, and state tax registration. Check its add-on list before you compare totals.
- Prices are US list prices as shown on 11 October 2026 and can change at any time.
See all eleven in the full ranking: Gusto vs Rippling vs BambooHR: 11 Best HRIS for Small Businesses 2026.
Sources
- Gusto plans, prices, multi-state payroll, time tracking, workforce cost reports, no contracts, standalone time tracking price: https://gusto.com/product/pricing
- Rippling quote-only pricing, separately purchased products on the core Platform, 650+ integrations, 50-state compliance: https://www.rippling.com/pricing
- BambooHR plan prices, flat pricing for 25 or fewer, payroll add-on US only, hiring, reporting, benchmarks, 150 integration partners, bundle discount: https://www.bamboohr.com/pricing