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BambooHR alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave BambooHR: native payroll is US-only, and reporting and workflows are limited for complex organisations. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces BambooHR, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. HiBob currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1OrangeHRM logoOrangeHRMOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted, iOS +13 of 352.3
  1. OrangeHRM logo

    1. OrangeHRMTop pick

    Best for: Organisations with IT staff that want a free, self-hosted HRIS

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted, iOS, Android

    52.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from BambooHR

    Open-source HRIS you can self-host for free.

    Pros

    • Free open-source Starter edition
    • Covers leave, time, recruiting and performance
    • Paid hosted edition available when needed

    Cons

    • No payroll in the free edition
    • Community-only support for Starter
    • Interface lags behind commercial HRIS tools
    Visit OrangeHRM Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.353
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is OrangeHRM a good BambooHR alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Open-source edition
    Starter, free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days (Advanced)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026orangehrm.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best BambooHR alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

HiBob logo

Best BambooHR alternative for most people

HiBob

More flexible, modern HRIS for fast-growing and multi-country companies.

OrangeHRM logo

Best BambooHR alternative for a free option

OrangeHRM

Open-source HRIS you can self-host for free.

OrangeHRM logo

Best BambooHR alternative for open source

OrangeHRM

Open-source HRIS you can self-host for free.

OrangeHRM logo

Best BambooHR alternative for self-hosting

OrangeHRM

Open-source HRIS you can self-host for free.

Rippling logo

Best BambooHR alternative for iPhone and Android

Rippling

Combines HR, payroll, IT and devices on one employee record.

Gusto logo

Best BambooHR alternative for working in the browser

Gusto

Payroll-first platform with simpler HR for small US businesses.

BambooHR alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to BambooHR?

HiBob ranks first right now. More flexible, modern HRIS for fast-growing and multi-country companies. Rippling and Gusto follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to BambooHR?

Yes. OrangeHRM (open source) has a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to BambooHR?

Yes: OrangeHRM. OrangeHRM can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from BambooHR?

The complaints we hear most: native payroll is US-only; reporting and workflows are limited for complex organisations; performance tools need a higher tier.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces BambooHR, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.