BambooHR vs QuickBooks Payroll

by Gralio Feb 04, 2025

BambooHR and QuickBooks Payroll cater to different HR needs. BambooHR offers a broader HR suite, excelling in hiring, onboarding, and employee management. QuickBooks Payroll is a payroll-focused solution with strong tax management capabilities and seamless QuickBooks integration, ideal for businesses prioritizing accounting integration.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 5531 reviews and 60 websites, saving 1 day, 7 hours, 13 minutes of reading.

BambooHR

QuickBooks Payroll

About

BambooHR is an HR software platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It brings together various HR functions like hiring, onboarding, payroll, benefits, and employee data management into one system. This allows for streamlined workflows, automated tasks, and easier access to employee information. BambooHR aims to simplify HR processes, improve data accuracy, and enhance the employee experience. It is used by companies in various industries and boasts features like custom reporting and integrations with other software.

QuickBooks Payroll is a cloud-based payroll software designed for small to medium-sized businesses in the USA. It aims to simplify payroll processing with features like automated tax calculations and filings, direct deposit, and integrated time tracking. QuickBooks Payroll also offers additional tools like HR support, workers' compensation administration, and health benefits options. It stands out with its tax penalty protection, promising to cover penalties incurred due to errors within the software.

Summary

Main difference

BambooHR is a comprehensive HR platform with robust features for hiring, onboarding, and employee management. QuickBooks Payroll focuses primarily on payroll processing, tax management, and basic HR functions, integrating seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software.

Relative strengths of BambooHR (compared to QuickBooks Payroll)

Stronger hiring and onboarding tools
Better employee management features
More comprehensive HRIS functionality

Relative weaknesses of BambooHR (compared to QuickBooks Payroll)

Less focus on payroll tax management
Limited accounting integration
Potentially higher cost for payroll-centric needs

Who should use BambooHR VS. QuickBooks Payroll

BambooHR is a user-friendly HR platform ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. It streamlines HR tasks such as onboarding, payroll, and reporting. Users praise its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, while some find the rehiring process cumbersome and customer support slow. BambooHR helps maintain compliance and improve the employee experience.

QuickBooks Payroll simplifies US SMB payroll with automated taxes, direct deposit, and HR tools. Users praise its ease of use and integration with QuickBooks Online but criticize customer support and limited paystub customization. Ideal for businesses wanting an integrated payroll and accounting solution.

Best for small to medium-sized businesses (50-1000 employees).
Suitable for various industries, including Healthcare, Finance, Retail, and Technology.

Best for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the US.
Suitable for most industries, including Healthcare, Finance, Retail, and more.

BambooHR and QuickBooks Payroll features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Hiring and Onboarding

Supported

BambooHR supports hiring and onboarding tools, including onboarding, offboarding, and e-signatures.

Partially supported

QuickBooks Payroll offers basic onboarding features but lacks applicant tracking, mobile hiring, and electronic signatures.
Payroll, Time, and Benefits

Supported

BambooHR supports payroll, time tracking, PTO, and benefits administration.

Partially supported

QuickBooks Payroll supports payroll, time tracking, and benefits administration. PTO management is partially supported.
Employee Experience

Supported

BambooHR supports a positive employee experience with satisfaction tracking, surveys, performance reviews, and open communication tools.

Not supported

QuickBooks Payroll does not directly support employee satisfaction tracking or performance reviews.
HRIS integration

Supported

BambooHR supports HRIS integration via API, custom reports and pre-built integrations.

Partially supported

QuickBooks Payroll integrates with HRIS systems via APIs and third-party platforms like Finch.
Mobile payroll

Supported

BambooHR provides a mobile app that allows employees to access their payroll information, including viewing pay stubs and editing payroll details.

Supported

QuickBooks Payroll allows employees to access payroll information via a mobile app.
HRIS Platform Integration

Supported

BambooHR supports integrations with other HRIS platforms through its open API, pre-built integrations, and developer resources.

Partially supported

QuickBooks Payroll integrates with other HRIS platforms through third-party connectors like Finch.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

-0.3

Rather negative sentiment

-0.5

Rather negative sentiment
Customer Service

+0.59

Rather positive sentiment

-0.43

Rather negative sentiment
Ease of Use

+0.95

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.45

Rather positive sentiment
Reliability and Performance

+0.22

Neutral sentiment

+0.13

Neutral sentiment
Ease of Implementation

+0.55

Rather positive sentiment

+0.33

Rather positive sentiment
Scalability

-0.36

Rather negative sentiment

No data

BambooHR and QuickBooks Payroll Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.3

See full Pricing page

QuickBooks offers three pricing plans for their payroll and bookkeeping services, each bundled with different QuickBooks Online plans. The prices listed are monthly fees. Each plan can be purchased with a 50% discount for the first three months. Each plan also has an additional fee per employee that is not subject to the discount.

Plans

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.5

See full Pricing page

BambooHR and QuickBooks Payroll review insights

5531 reviews analysed from and

Users love

User-friendly and intuitive interface, praised for its ease of use.
Streamlined onboarding and offboarding experience.
Comprehensive HR features, including hiring, time off tracking, and reporting.
Effective for maintaining compliance and generating helpful reports.

Easy to use and set up
Automated tax calculations and filings
Direct deposit
Integrates with QuickBooks Online

Users dislike

Rehiring and re-onboarding processes are cumbersome and time-consuming.
Two-factor authentication can be time-consuming and disrupt workflow.
Limited functionality for managing groups of companies.
Customer support response times can be slow and inefficient.

Taxable benefits do not show up on employee paystubs
Paystubs cannot be altered in any way, missing legal requirements
Support is basically non-existent
Difficult to edit payroll and employee details aside from very basic aspects

BambooHR and QuickBooks Payroll Ratings

G2

4.4/5

(2208)
Capterra

4.6/5

(2425)

G2

3.8/5

(65)
Capterra

4.5/5

(833)

Company health

Employee growth

18% increase in the last year

No data

Web traffic

1% increase in the last quarter

No data

Financing

April 2016 - $0

No data

How important is US-based customer support for payroll questions?

Given that both BambooHR and QuickBooks Payroll are designed for the US market, having US-based customer support is highly important for payroll questions. Payroll involves complex regulations and tax laws that are specific to the US, so readily available and knowledgeable support within the same legal and business context is crucial for efficient and accurate payroll management. QuickBooks Payroll users specifically report issues with customer support, highlighting the importance of this feature when choosing between these two options.

Which product offers a better integrated experience with existing accounting software?

QuickBooks Payroll offers a better-integrated experience with existing accounting software, especially if that software is QuickBooks Online. It's designed to work seamlessly with the QuickBooks ecosystem, streamlining financial data flow between payroll and accounting functions. While BambooHR may offer integrations with various accounting software, QuickBooks Payroll's native integration within the QuickBooks environment provides a more cohesive and efficient experience for users already invested in the QuickBooks suite.

What are the advantages of BambooHR?

BambooHR excels in providing a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive suite of HR features, including robust onboarding and offboarding tools, that streamline core HR processes. It's particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized businesses seeking an integrated platform to manage various HR functions efficiently.

What are the disadvantages of BambooHR?

BambooHR has some drawbacks based on user reviews. The rehiring and re-onboarding processes are reportedly cumbersome and inefficient. Two-factor authentication, while enhancing security, can be time-consuming and interrupt workflow. The software appears to have limited functionality for managing groups of companies, potentially posing challenges for larger or more complex organizations. Finally, some users have reported slow and unhelpful customer support responses.

Alternatives to BambooHR and QuickBooks Payroll

Rippling

Rippling is a comprehensive employee management platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It streamlines and automates various HR, IT, and finance processes, including payroll, benefits, device management, and expense tracking. By centralizing these functions, Rippling aims to simplify employee lifecycle management, reduce administrative burden, and improve operational efficiency for businesses. The platform is particularly valuable for companies with global operations, offering localized solutions for international payroll, benefits, and compliance.

HiBob HRIS

HiBob is an HR software platform designed for mid-sized businesses, especially those experiencing rapid growth. It offers a range of features covering core HR needs like onboarding, performance management, and compensation management. HiBob aims to streamline HR tasks, improve employee engagement, and provide data-driven insights to inform strategic decision-making. It's known for its user-friendly interface and focus on automation.

Personio

Personio is an all-in-one HR software designed for mid-sized companies. It combines multiple HR functions like recruiting, onboarding, payroll, and performance management into a single platform. This helps streamline HR tasks, automate repetitive processes, and provide data-driven insights to inform strategic decisions. Personio aims to free up HR teams from administrative burdens so they can focus on employee experience and development.

Gusto

Gusto is an all-in-one HR platform designed for small and medium-sized businesses in the USA. It offers payroll, benefits administration, hiring and onboarding tools, and HR management features. Gusto aims to simplify and automate HR processes, ensuring compliance and saving you time. It's known for its user-friendly interface, strong customer satisfaction ratings, and comprehensive feature set.

ADP Workforce Now

ADP Workforce Now is a comprehensive HR software suite designed for mid-sized companies (50-5,000 employees). This cloud-based platform combines core HR functions like payroll, benefits, and talent management into a single, easy-to-use system. ADP Workforce Now helps businesses streamline HR processes, improve compliance, and make better decisions with data-driven insights. It also offers a mobile app for convenient employee and manager self-service.

People HRMS

People HRMS is an HR software platform designed to help you manage all your HR needs in one place. It offers a range of features, including recruiting, onboarding, performance management, time and attendance tracking, and benefits administration. People HRMS is suitable for small to midsize businesses and can be customized to fit your specific needs. The platform focuses on automation and ease of use, aiming to save you time and improve efficiency in your HR processes. It also emphasizes employee engagement through tools like internal communication channels and performance recognition features.

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