BambooHR
BambooHR is the HR platform that most small and mid-sized teams encounter first when they outgrow spreadsheets.
Pricing: Per-employee pricing. Deployment: Cloud. Trial: Free trial available.
Paycor quotes every employer above 50 staff, offers no trial and is being acquired by Paychex, so mid-market employers compare payroll platforms with clearer pricing and ownership.
Paycor publishes prices only for businesses under 50 employees (Basic starts at $99 a month plus $5 per employee) and offers no free trial, so mid-market comparisons still wait on a sales demo and custom quote. Its ownership is also changing: Paychex agreed to buy the company, and customers who chose Paycor as an alternative to Paychex now face the same parent. Implementation depth varies by plan, which makes rollout effort hard to predict.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Paycor (current) | Restaurant and healthcare employers needing payroll plus scheduling | $99/month + $5 per employee/month (under 50 employees) |
| BambooHR | First-time HRIS buyers at 25 to 300 employees | $10 PEPM |
| Gusto | US small businesses wanting published payroll pricing and 50-state tax filing | $49/mo + $6 PEPM |
| Rippling | Tech-forward firms tying HR, IT devices and finance together | Quote-based (est. ~$8 PEPM + $35–$40/month base) |
Employers using Paycor's scheduling, OnDemand Pay or LMS alongside payroll would lose the most by leaving and should wait for clarity on the combined roadmap. Those running only basic payroll have simpler exits. Request year-to-date payroll registers and tax filings, and confirm the effective date for handing quarterly tax filing to the new provider.
BambooHR is the HR platform that most small and mid-sized teams encounter first when they outgrow spreadsheets.
Pricing: Per-employee pricing. Deployment: Cloud. Trial: Free trial available.
Gusto is the payroll platform that most small businesses encounter first when they realize they need more than a spreadsheet and a quarterly trip to the accountant.
Pricing: Per-employee pricing. Deployment: Cloud. Trial: Free trial available.
Rippling is the HR platform that refused to stay in its lane.
Pricing: Modular pricing. Deployment: Cloud. Trial: Trial not listed.
Yes. Paycor's website states that Paychex has signed a definitive agreement to acquire it. Paycor has not published how pricing or products will change, so customers near renewal should get terms in writing before committing to a long contract.
Continue researching Paycor