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HR · head to head

BambooHR vs Freshteam

BambooHR logo

BambooHR

HR

HR software with heart

From
$10/month per employee
Rated
-
Freshteam logo

Freshteam

HR

Smart HR software for growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Freshteam has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BambooHR organisations of 25 or fewer employees pay a flat rate starting at $250 a month, so a very small team pays far more per head than the listed per-employee price; Freshteam no pricing information published on the website
  • They diverge on capability: BambooHR covers Employee database, Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BambooHR and Freshteam actually diverge.

Attributes where BambooHR and Freshteam differ
AttributeBambooHRFreshteam
Starting price$10/month per employeeFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20082010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BambooHR

  • Employee database
  • Time-off management
  • Benefits tracking
  • Performance reviews
  • Reporting & analytics
  • Mobile access
  • Document management
  • Indeed

Only in Freshteam

  • Applicant Tracking
  • Time Off
  • Employee Directory
  • Time Tracking
  • Documents
  • Org Chart
  • Freshdesk
  • Freshsales

Both cover

  • Onboarding
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365
  • LinkedIn

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BambooHR

  • HR system of record with employee data and documentsnot Freshteam
  • Time off tracking and approvalsnot Freshteam
  • Applicant tracking and onboardingnot Freshteam
  • Performance reviews and 1:1s on the Pro tiernot Freshteam
  • Compensation planning and benchmarking on Elitenot Freshteam

Freshteam

  • Onboarding new hires through automated employee lifecycle workflowsnot BambooHR
  • Processing expense and procurement approvals without manual email routingnot BambooHR
  • Managing maintenance requests with centralized tracking and approval trailsnot BambooHR
  • Automating contract reviews and document request handlingnot BambooHR
  • Routing HR, Finance, Facilities, Legal requests through structured catalogsnot BambooHR

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BambooHR

  • Organisations of 25 or fewer employees pay a flat rate starting at $250 a month, so a very small team pays far more per head than the listed per-employee price
  • Per-employee pricing starts at 26 employees, from $10 on Core
  • Performance management, 360 reviews and recognition all require Pro at $17 per employee per month
  • Compensation management, salary benchmarking and advanced analytics are Elite only at $25 per employee per month
  • Compliance training is rationed by tier, at 1 course on Core against 300 on Elite

Freshteam

  • No pricing information published on the website
  • Requires contacting sales or requesting a demo for pricing details

Pricing, plan by plan

BambooHR

$10/month per employee

No published plan breakdown. See the BambooHR review.

Freshteam

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 Employees
    • Basic ATS
    • Time Off
  • Growth$1.2/month
    • All Free features
    • Onboarding
    • Time Tracking
  • Pro$2.4/month
    • All Growth features
    • Custom Reports
    • Advanced Workflows

Which should you pick?

Choose BambooHR if

  • You need employee database.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want time-off management.

Choose Freshteam if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time off.

Questions people ask

Is BambooHR or Freshteam better?
Neither clearly leads. BambooHR starts at $10/month per employee and Freshteam at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BambooHR or Freshteam?
Freshteam has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $10/month per employee for BambooHR and Free for Freshteam.
Does BambooHR or Freshteam run on more platforms?
BambooHR runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Freshteam runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Freshteam for free?
Yes. Freshteam has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BambooHR starts at $10/month per employee.
What is BambooHR best used for?
BambooHR is most often used for hr system of record with employee data and documents, time off tracking and approvals, applicant tracking and onboarding, performance reviews and 1:1s on the pro tier. Of those, hr system of record with employee data and documents and time off tracking and approvals are not what Freshteam is typically brought in for.
What can BambooHR do that Freshteam cannot?
BambooHR covers Employee database, Time-off management, Benefits tracking, Performance reviews. Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking, Time Off, Employee Directory, Time Tracking. Both handle Onboarding, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BambooHR: Does BambooHR offer a free trial?

Yes, BambooHR offers a free trial available at bamboohr.com/signup/.

Source
Freshteam: How much does Freshteam cost?

Freshteam (formerly Freshservice HRMS) does not publish specific pricing information. The vendor focuses on describing product features and benefits across HR, Finance, Facilities, and Legal departments on their public website.

Source
BambooHR: How is BambooHR pricing calculated?

Pricing varies depending on the number of employees at your organization and the features you select. Contact BambooHR at 1-866-387-9595 for a free price quote specific to your company size.

Source
Freshteam: Does Freshteam offer a free version?

Freshteam includes a 'Start for free' call-to-action on their website, suggesting a freemium model or free trial option. However, specific details about free tier capabilities or duration are not published.

Source
BambooHR: Is payroll included in the core plan?

Payroll and time tracking are offered as separate add-on solutions, not included in the base HR modules. The payroll add-on provides seamless data flow, comprehensive reporting, full-service tax filing, and dedicated customer support.

Source
BambooHR: In which countries can I use BambooHR?

BambooHR is available in 150+ countries worldwide.

Source
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