BambooHR vs Gusto vs Rippling
For a small business weighing BambooHR, Gusto and Rippling, start with what the system is for. Gusto is payroll-first, at $49 a month plus $6 per person on Simple. BambooHR is built around the HR record, at $10 per employee on Core or a flat rate from $250 for 25 or fewer. Rippling combines HR, IT and finance on a required core platform and quotes the price. Pay first points to Gusto, the HR record to BambooHR, and devices plus spend to Rippling.
What each one costs
| Product | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Gusto Simple | $49 + $6 | base per month, plus per person / month; single state |
| Gusto Plus | $80 + $12 | base per month, plus per person / month |
| Gusto Premium | $180 + $22 | base per month, plus per person / month |
| BambooHR Core | $10 | per employee / month (Pro $17, Elite $25) |
| BambooHR, 25 employees or fewer | from $250 | flat per month, not per seat |
| Rippling | Quote only | no public price; required core platform, then per employee / month |
| PeopleMuster | $3 | per person / month, every module included |
Gusto read in a browser on gusto.com on 22 September 2026. BambooHR read on bamboohr.com/pricing and Rippling's structure on rippling.com/pricing in September 2026. Rippling's figure is left blank because the vendor keeps it in a quote.
Why teams choose PeopleMuster
- Leave quotas per type flow into the capacity plan the moment a manager approves them.
- Browser check-in opens inside a window around each person's shift, and a missed window becomes a punch request HR reviews.
- Benefits live in a catalogue, with enrolment tracked per employee.
- Todos and shared task lists carry due dates and overdue flags, so small jobs stop slipping between meetings.
- You get one bill at $3 per person a month: no base fee, no platform fee and no seat minimum.
Questions people ask
Which is best for a business under 50 employees?
Match the system to its first job. Gusto is payroll-first and prices a team openly, from $49 a month plus $6 a person. BambooHR bills 25 or fewer at a flat rate from $250 and prices larger teams per employee. Rippling suits a team that wants IT and spend in the same place, at a quoted price.
Which of the three has a base fee?
Gusto, on every plan: $49, $80 or $180 a month plus a per-person rate. Rippling says some products may carry a monthly base fee on top of per-employee billing. BambooHR bills per employee, or a flat rate from $250 for 25 or fewer.
Do any of them handle client projects?
No. BambooHR, Gusto and Rippling run internal operations: HR and pay, and for Rippling, IT and spend as well. None of the three is sold for client-project delivery.