Greenhouse vs BambooHR: Complete 2026 Comparison
Compare a best-of-breed ATS with an all-in-one HRIS. Find the best solution for your hiring, onboarding, and HR operations based on features, pricing, and company size.
Watch: Greenhouse vs BambooHR
Platform Comparison at a Glance
We've evaluated both platforms across key criteria including features, pricing, usability, and target market. Here's a quick overview to help you make an informed decision:
| Platform | Rating | Pricing | Countries | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best-of-breed applicant tracking system (ATS) and structured hiring platform built for scaling recruitment teams | 8.7/10 (1600 reviews) | $$$ Custom pricing; typically $6,000-$25,000+/year depending on headcount and modules | Available globally, popular in US, UK, and Europe | Mid-market to enterprise organisations (200-10,000+ employees) |
All-in-one HRIS with built-in applicant tracking, onboarding, time tracking, and employee self-service | 8.5/10 (2200 reviews) | $$ Starts at ~$6/employee/month | Available globally, primarily used in US and UK | Small to mid-market organisations (25-1,500 employees) |
Detailed Platform Analysis
In-depth review of each platform's features, pricing, strengths, and limitations to help you choose the right solution for your hiring and HR operations needs.
Greenhouse
Key Features
- •Structured hiring methodology with standardised scorecards
- •Interview scorecards and customisable interview kits
- •DEI hiring tools including anonymised resume reviews
- •Advanced candidate sourcing and CRM capabilities
- •500+ integrations with HR, payroll, and productivity tools
- •Onboarding module for new hire workflows
Limitations
- •No HRIS or core HR features included
- •Expensive for small teams with limited hiring volume
- •Complex initial setup and configuration
- •Focused exclusively on hiring, not broader HR needs
Best For:
Mid-market to enterprise companies with high hiring volumes that need a dedicated, best-of-breed ATS with structured hiring, advanced analytics, and deep integrations.
BambooHR
Key Features
- •Intuitive HRIS with centralised employee records
- •Built-in applicant tracking system for streamlined hiring
- •Streamlined onboarding with task management and e-signatures
- •Time tracking and PTO management
- •Employee self-service portal and mobile app
- •Basic performance management with review cycles
Limitations
- •ATS less powerful than dedicated hiring platforms
- •Limited enterprise scalability for large organisations
- •Fewer hiring analytics and recruitment-specific reports
- •Basic reporting compared to specialised tools
Best For:
Small to mid-size companies that want an intuitive, all-in-one HR platform combining employee records, hiring, onboarding, and time tracking in a single system.
Comprehensive Feature Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of key features to help you understand what each platform offers for your hiring, recruitment, and HR operations needs.
Hiring & Recruitment
HR Operations
| Feature Category | Greenhouse | BambooHR |
|---|---|---|
Platform Focus | Excellent Dedicated ATS & hiring Purpose-built for recruiting with structured hiring methodology and deep talent acquisition tools | Excellent All-in-one HRIS Comprehensive HR platform covering the full employee lifecycle from hire to retire |
ATS Capabilities | Excellent Best-of-breed ATS Advanced sourcing, structured scorecards, DEI tools, and 500+ integrations | Good Built-in basic ATS Covers core hiring needs with job posting, application tracking, and offer letters |
HR Core Features | Limited No HRIS functionality Hiring-only platform; requires a separate HRIS for employee records and HR operations | Excellent Full HRIS suite Employee records, time tracking, PTO, benefits, and employee self-service |
Onboarding | Good Hiring-to-start onboarding Task assignments and welcome workflows focused on the candidate-to-employee transition | Excellent Comprehensive HR onboarding E-signatures, new hire packets, self-service setup, and integration with payroll and benefits |
Integration Ecosystem | Excellent 500+ integrations Extensive marketplace with HRIS, payroll, sourcing, background check, and assessment partners | Good Growing integrations Integrates with payroll providers, ATS tools, and key business applications |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing between Greenhouse and BambooHR for your hiring and HR needs.
Should I choose an ATS-only platform like Greenhouse or an all-in-one HR system like BambooHR?
It depends on your priorities. If hiring is your biggest challenge and you need advanced recruitment features like structured interviews, DEI tools, and deep sourcing capabilities, Greenhouse is the better choice. If you need a single platform to manage employee records, onboarding, time tracking, and basic hiring, BambooHR's all-in-one approach is more practical and cost-effective for most small to mid-size teams.
Can Greenhouse and BambooHR be used together?
Yes, many companies use both platforms together. Greenhouse handles the recruitment and hiring pipeline while BambooHR manages the employee lifecycle after the offer is accepted. They integrate directly, allowing candidate data to flow from Greenhouse into BambooHR once a hire is made. This combination gives you a best-of-breed ATS alongside a solid HRIS.
Which platform is better for small businesses?
BambooHR is generally the better fit for small businesses. Its per-employee pricing starts at around $6/month, making it affordable for smaller teams, and it covers multiple HR needs in one platform. Greenhouse's custom pricing typically starts at $6,000/year, which can be difficult to justify for companies with low hiring volumes or fewer than 50 employees.
At what hiring volume does Greenhouse make more sense than BambooHR's built-in ATS?
If your company regularly hires more than 20-30 people per year or has multiple recruiters managing pipelines simultaneously, Greenhouse's structured hiring methodology, interview scorecards, and advanced analytics deliver significantly more value than BambooHR's basic ATS. For companies hiring fewer than 20 people annually, BambooHR's built-in applicant tracking is usually sufficient.
How do the onboarding features compare between Greenhouse and BambooHR?
BambooHR offers more comprehensive onboarding with task management, e-signatures, new hire packets, and self-service setup. Greenhouse has an onboarding module that focuses on the transition from candidate to employee with task assignments and welcome workflows, but it lacks the depth of BambooHR's HR-centric onboarding that connects directly to employee records, benefits enrolment, and time tracking.
Do Greenhouse and BambooHR integrate with each other?
Yes, Greenhouse and BambooHR offer a direct integration. When a candidate is marked as hired in Greenhouse, their information can automatically sync to BambooHR to create a new employee record. This eliminates manual data entry and ensures a smooth handoff from recruiting to HR operations. Many growing companies adopt this paired approach to get the best of both worlds.