A BambooHR alternativefor HR, payroll and the books.
BambooHR is a well-known HR platform for employee records, time off and onboarding. But payroll is a separate add-on, and accounting and invoicing live in another tool entirely.
Encarmo keeps HR, payroll and accounting in one system and one login, with unlimited users and no per-employee pricing.
Sources: BambooHR US pricing page and Encarmo pricing. List prices, checked October 2026.
You need deep HR workflows like performance reviews and applicant tracking, and payroll and accounting are handled elsewhere.
You want HR, payroll and accounting in one place, without a $250 minimum or per-employee fees across separate tools.
Why look for a BambooHR alternative?
BambooHR does employee records, time off and onboarding well. Small businesses usually look elsewhere for three reasons.
What is Encarmo?
A modular business platform: accounting, invoicing, payroll, HR, CRM, inventory, scheduling and reporting in one connected system.
Where BambooHR centres on the employee record, Encarmo connects that record straight through to pay: attendance flows into payroll, and payroll posts to the ledger, with no reconciliation step.
Everything shares one ledger, one login and unlimited users.
Annual billing saves 17%, or two months free, on every plan.
Who should switch from BambooHR?
Two kinds of business land on this page, and the right answer depends on which one you are.
You need performance reviews, applicant tracking and detailed HR reporting, and payroll and accounting are already sorted. BambooHR fits you well.
You need HR and payroll connected to the books, without paying per employee across several tools. This is who Encarmo is built for.
If deep HR workflows are your priority, BambooHR is a proven choice. If HR is one part of running the whole business, Encarmo is built for you.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Encarmo | BambooHR |
|---|---|---|
| Employee records | Native, $15/mo flat | Yes, a core strength |
| Time off and attendance | Native | Yes, a core strength |
| Onboarding workflows | Native, with tasks and documents | Yes, a core strength |
| Performance management | Not a core feature | Pro plan and up |
| Applicant tracking | Not a core feature | Yes |
| Payroll | Native, $19/mo flat | US add-on, priced on request |
| Accounting and invoicing | Native, free forever | Not available |
| Pricing by headcount | Flat, unlimited employees | $250/mo to 25, then per employee |
Where the differences actually show up.
What you would actually pay.
HR, payroll and accounting on both sides. Payroll priced with Gusto, since BambooHR Payroll is priced on request.
BambooHR Core, Gusto Simple and QuickBooks Simple Start at US list prices, checked October 2026. The gap widens with headcount, because BambooHR and Gusto price per employee.
The subscriptions are visible. The overhead isn't.
When a growing business runs a separate tool for each department, the subscriptions are only part of the bill.
Encarmo was built to remove that overhead. Whether it makes sense depends on your team size, how many tools you run, and how much time you spend keeping them in sync.
Pros and cons, stated plainly.
Who should choose which?
Side-by-side summary.
| Encarmo | BambooHR | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary strength | Full business system | HR management |
| HR and records | Native, $15/mo | Core product, from $250/mo |
| Performance reviews | Not a core feature | Pro plan and up |
| Payroll | Native, $19/mo | Add-on, priced on request |
| Accounting | Native, free forever | Needs another tool |
| Pricing model | Flat, unlimited users | $250 flat to 25, then per employee |
Questions people ask us.
Straight answers on pricing, migration and where each platform fits.
Visit the help centerIs Encarmo a good BambooHR alternative?
Yes, if you want HR connected to payroll and accounting instead of paying for each separately. If performance reviews and applicant tracking are central, BambooHR is stronger there.
Can I move employee records from BambooHR?
Yes, and migration is free. We bring across employee profiles, documents, leave balances and job history.
Does Encarmo charge per employee?
No. HR is a flat $15 a month and payroll $19, with unlimited employees.
Why do the scenarios use Gusto for payroll?
BambooHR doesn't publish its payroll price, so we used Gusto Simple, a published US price, to keep the comparison honest.
Where do the BambooHR prices come from?
From BambooHR's US pricing page, checked October 2026.
Ready to replace BambooHR with one connected system?
Start free with accounting and invoicing, and add the modules you need as you grow.