Wrkbase vs BambooHR: a dedicated HR system, or HR inside the workspace that runs the team
BambooHR is a strong HR platform with real US payroll processing. Wrkbase puts HR tools, attendance, leave, and payroll tracking next to the team's tasks, time, leads, and invoices, at a price built for teams under 50.
Feature by feature
BambooHR figures from its own public pricing page, checked September 2026.
| Category | Wrkbase | BHBambooHR |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | WrkbaseOne workspace for tasks and time, HR, attendance, leave, payroll tracking, leads, and invoicing, with an AI agent. | BambooHRA dedicated HR platform (HRIS): employee records, HR workflows, and add-ons for payroll and benefits. |
| HR tools | WrkbaseOnboarding and offboarding checklists, nine HR letter types, org chart, holidays, compliance documents. On every plan. | BambooHRIts core strength, from the Core plan up. |
| Tasks and time | WrkbaseA task board with automatic time tracking, reminders, and comments, on every plan. | BambooHRBuilt for HR, not day-to-day task tracking. |
| Payroll | WrkbaseSalary pay runs, approvals, and payslips on Team. Tracking only: no tax filing or direct deposit. | BambooHRReal payroll processing as a paid add-on, for US employees only. |
| AI | WrkbaseAn AI agent that carries out actions across the workspace, only after you confirm. 500 actions/month on Team. | BambooHRAn AI Assistant that answers HR questions from your company data, growing in scope by plan. |
| Pricing | WrkbaseFree for up to 5 people. Team $8 and Enterprise $18 per member/month. | BambooHRCore $10, Pro $17, Elite $25 per employee/month for 25+ employees; a flat rate from $250/month for 25 or fewer. Payroll extra. |
BambooHR pricing and features as publicly listed in September 2026 (bamboohr.com/pricing). Pricing pages change: confirm current numbers there before deciding.
Which one actually fits
BambooHR fits better if
You need US payroll processed with taxes, benefits administration, or a deep HR system, and task tracking lives in another tool.
Wrkbase fits better if
You're a team under 50 that wants HR, attendance, leave, and payroll tracking in the same place as the work, at $8 per member.
Onboarding
Started automatically when Alex accepted the invite
Alex Rivera
Sales · starts Oct 6
A new hire accepts the invite and onboarding starts on its own.
Questions worth asking first
How much does BambooHR cost for a small team?
For 25 employees or fewer, BambooHR lists a flat monthly rate starting at $250, per its pricing page in September 2026; above that it's $10 to $25 per employee per month depending on plan, with payroll as an add-on. Wrkbase is free for up to 5 people and $8 per member per month on Team, so 20 people is $160 a month with payroll tracking included.
Does Wrkbase run payroll like BambooHR does?
No, and it's worth being plain about. BambooHR's payroll add-on processes US payroll. Wrkbase tracks payroll: pay runs, approvals, bonuses and deductions, and payslips, but it doesn't calculate taxes, file them, or pay people. Pay through your bank or payroll provider, then mark the run paid in Wrkbase.
Does BambooHR include task management?
It's built for HR, not day-to-day work tracking. Wrkbase puts a task board with automatic time tracking next to its HR tools, so the work and the people records live in one place.
Can Wrkbase handle onboarding like an HR system?
Yes, for a small team: onboarding and offboarding checklists that start on their own, nine HR letter types generated as PDFs, an org chart, a holiday calendar, and compliance documents with expiry reminders. It has no benefits administration or applicant tracking.
HR and the work, in one place
Free for teams up to 5, no credit card required.