BambooHRvsZenefits
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
BambooHR
- No public pricing - forces sales calls(8/10)
- Expensive add-ons inflate total cost(8/10)
Zenefits
- Add-on fees for payroll, benefits admin, and HR advisory(7/10)
- TriNet acquisition forcing expensive PEO/ASO plans(8/10)
- Charged for more employees than actually employed(7/10)
BambooHR
- Reporting engine lacks depth and flexibility(7/10)
- Time tracking UI requires excessive scrolling(6/10)
- Document organization is painful(5/10)
Zenefits
- Significant learning curve and 40+ hour setup time(6/10)
- Repeated login requirements despite remember device(4/10)
BambooHR
- ATS module too basic - lacks advanced features(7/10)
- Benefits administration not competitive(6/10)
Zenefits
- QuickBooks Desktop integration claims are false(7/10)
BambooHR
- Support quality drops dramatically after sales(8/10)
Zenefits
- Customer support wait times of 45 minutes to 3+ hours(9/10)
- No phone support - everything through email tickets(8/10)
- Only 30 days access to data after cancellation(7/10)
BambooHR
- Rigid platform - limited customization options(7/10)
Zenefits
No signals
BambooHR
- Payroll confusing error messages and tax ID limits(7/10)
- Frequent bugs and slow load times(6/10)
Zenefits
- Payroll processing errors causing employees to miss paychecks(10/10)
- Tax filing errors and delayed submissions(9/10)
- Benefits enrollment glitches auto-enrolling wrong plans(9/10)
- HSA contribution mishandling through required bank(9/10)
BambooHR
- Mobile app limited compared to desktop(6/10)
Zenefits
No signals
BambooHR
- Emails appear as external - phishing vulnerability(8/10)
Zenefits
- State compliance issues with incorrect implementation(8/10)
BambooHR
- Leave management setup overly complex(6/10)
Zenefits
No signals
BambooHR
No signals
Zenefits
- Glitchy software with recurring bugs and slow resolution(6/10)
Pricing Comparison
BambooHR
Users: Flat rate under 25 employees, then per-employee
Storage: Standard
Limits: Limited customization, Basic reporting only, No performance management, No advanced workflows
Users: Per employee
Storage: Standard
Limits: No custom dashboards, No advanced compensation management, Still requires add-ons for full HR suite
Users: Per employee
Storage: Enhanced
Limits: Still requires payroll/benefits add-ons for complete solution, Complex procurement process
Users: Per employee
Storage: N/A
Limits: One tax ID only - problematic for multi-location companies, US only, Complex compensation poorly supported
Users: Per employee
Storage: N/A
Limits: Clunky interface with excessive scrolling, Limited for remote/hybrid teams, Desktop version better than mobile
Zenefits
Users: Per employee
Limits: No performance management, No compensation management, No employee engagement tools
Users: Per employee
Limits: No performance management, No compensation management, No employee engagement tools
Users: Per employee
Limits: No employee engagement surveys, No well-being features, No People Hub
Users: Per employee
Limits: No employee engagement surveys, No well-being features, No People Hub
Users: Per employee
Limits: Advanced reporting limited, Custom integrations may require additional setup fees
Users: Per employee
Limits: Advanced reporting limited, Custom integrations may require setup fees
Feature Comparison
| Feature | BambooHR | Zenefits |
|---|---|---|
| Core HR | ||
| Employee Records Database Centralized employee information | ||
| Employee onboarding Automated workflows | ||
| Employee Self-Service Employees update own info | ||
| Time-Off Tracking Included in base plans | ||
| Document Storage Limited folder organization | ||
| Employee self-service | ||
| Payroll | ||
| Payroll processing Add-on on lower tiers | ||
| Payroll Processing Paid add-on, single tax ID only | ||
| Multi-State Payroll US only, one tax ID limitation | ||
| Global payroll US only | ||
| Benefits | ||
| Benefits administration Broker fees apply | ||
| Benefits Administration Paid add-on, limited automation | ||
| Time Tracking | ||
| Time & attendance Can be clunky | ||
| PTO management | ||
| Scheduling Built-in functionality | ||
| Onboarding | ||
| Onboarding Workflows Well-designed for new hires | ||
| Offboarding Workflows Standard offboarding tasks | ||
| Talent | ||
| Performance management Growth plan and above | ||
| Recruiting | ||
| Applicant Tracking (ATS) Basic - lacks advanced features | ||
| Candidate Ranking/Scoring Not available | ||
| Resume Parsing Basic parsing only | ||
| Usability | ||
| Mobile app Some device crashes reported | ||
| Compliance | ||
| Compliance tools State-specific issues reported | ||
| Support | ||
| Phone support Email tickets only | ||
| Time | ||
| Time Tracking Paid add-on, poor UI | ||
| Integrations | ||
| QuickBooks Desktop integration Users report claim is false | ||
| API access Limited partner integrations | ||
| API Access Available for custom integrations | ||
| Performance | ||
| Performance Management Pro plan and above | ||
| Goal Tracking Pro plan and above | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Custom reporting Limited pre-built reports only | ||
| Standard Reports 30 pre-built reports | ||
| Custom Reports Limited, Advantage tier only | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Mobile App (iOS) Limited vs desktop | ||
| Mobile App (Android) Limited vs desktop | ||
| Security | ||
| SSO/SAML Higher tiers only | ||