BambooHR Alternative for Small Companies: Why BorovaHR Fits Better

BambooHR is one of the most recognized names in HR software. It offers a broad suite of HR tools — from employee records and onboarding to performance management and reporting. But for small companies, several issues push teams to look for a BambooHR alternative:

Per-Employee Pricing Adds Up Fast

BambooHR charges per employee per month (typically $6-8/employee). For a 20-person company, that is $120-160/month. As you hire, costs grow automatically — and you are paying for every employee, even the ones who never log in.

ATS Is a Paid Add-On

BambooHR's core plans focus on HR management. The applicant tracking module is an additional cost, which means you are paying extra for the recruitment features that brought you there in the first place.

Overkill for Early-Stage Companies

BambooHR includes features like employee satisfaction surveys (eNPS), advanced workflows, and custom access levels. These are valuable for 100+ person companies — but for a team of 15, they add complexity without proportional value.

No Free Plan

BambooHR requires a demo call and custom quote to get started. There is no self-serve free plan to try the product yourself — a friction point for small companies that want to evaluate before committing.

Implementation Takes Time

Getting BambooHR fully configured with your employee data, company policies, and workflows is a multi-day project. For a small company, that is time better spent on core business activities.

Small companies (5-50 employees) have a specific set of HR needs that differ from the enterprise:

• Hiring tools that work immediately — Post jobs, receive applications, screen candidates, and make offers without weeks of setup
• Leave management — Track PTO, sick days, and vacation balances without spreadsheets
• Attendance tracking — Simple clock-in/clock-out or attendance logs
• Payslip generation — Create and distribute payslips to employees
• Document storage — Keep contracts, IDs, and certifications in one secure place
• Performance basics — Set goals and track progress without a complex review cycle
• Affordable pricing — $0-50/month, not $150+. Every dollar counts at this stage.

The key insight: small companies need fewer features that work perfectly rather than many features that require training to use.

Criteria	BorovaHR	BambooHR
Starting Price	Free	~$6/emp/mo
Pricing Model	Flat monthly	Per employee
Free Plan	Yes	No
ATS / Recruitment	Included	Paid add-on
AI Resume Screening	Yes	No
Leave Management	Yes	Yes
Attendance	Yes	Yes (add-on)
Payslips	Yes	Payroll (add-on)
Performance	Yes	Yes (add-on)
Setup Time	<10 minutes	Days to weeks
Best For	Small companies (1-50)	Mid-market (50-500)

The pattern is clear: BambooHR charges extra for many features that BorovaHR includes by default. For small companies, this adds up to significant savings.

Let us compare what a 20-person company actually pays:

BambooHR

• Base plan: ~$6/employee/month = $120/month
• ATS add-on: ~$50-100/month additional
• Time tracking add-on: ~$3/employee/month = $60/month
• Performance add-on: varies
• Estimated total: $230-330/month ($2,760-3,960/year)

BorovaHR

• Free plan: $0/month (includes ATS, leave, attendance)
• Starter plan: $29/month (more jobs, team members, features)
• Pro plan: $79/month (full feature set)
• Annual cost: $0-948/year

Even comparing BorovaHR's highest tier to BambooHR's base plan, the savings are substantial: $1,812-3,012 per year. For a small company, that is budget you can put toward actually growing your team.

Compare BorovaHR plans to find the right fit for your company.

Switching from BambooHR to BorovaHR is straightforward. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Export Your Data from BambooHR

BambooHR allows data export for employee records. Download your employee list, leave balances, and any documents you need.

Step 2: Sign Up for BorovaHR

Create your free BorovaHR account. Set up your company profile with your company name, logo, and basic details.

Step 3: Set Up Your Team

Add your employees to BorovaHR. Configure leave policies, attendance rules, and any benefits you want to track.

Step 4: Move Active Hiring

Recreate your open job postings on BorovaHR. Update your careers page link and share new application URLs.

Step 5: Run in Parallel (Optional)

If you want a smooth transition, run both systems for 2-4 weeks. Process new applications in BorovaHR while wrapping up existing ones in BambooHR.

Step 6: Cancel BambooHR

Once everything is running smoothly on BorovaHR, cancel your BambooHR subscription and start saving.

Most small companies complete the migration in 1-2 days. The time investment pays for itself within the first month through pricing savings alone.

Is BorovaHR a full BambooHR replacement?

For small companies, yes. BorovaHR covers hiring (ATS), leave management, attendance, payslips, benefits, performance reviews, and document management — the core features small companies use from BambooHR.

What does BambooHR have that BorovaHR does not?

BambooHR offers some advanced features like eNPS surveys, advanced custom workflows, and a larger integration marketplace. These are typically used by larger companies (100+ employees).

Can I try BorovaHR alongside BambooHR?

Yes. Since BorovaHR has a free plan, you can set it up and evaluate it without any financial commitment while keeping BambooHR active.

How does BorovaHR handle payroll?

BorovaHR generates and distributes payslips. For actual payroll processing (tax calculations, direct deposits), you would use your existing payroll provider or accountant.

Is my data secure if I switch?

BorovaHR uses enterprise-grade encryption for all data in transit and at rest. Your employee data is protected with strict access controls and GDPR-compliant practices.