BambooHR vs Sage HR — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
BambooHR starts at $10/mo. Sage HR starts at $5.5/mo. Sage HR is $4.5/mo cheaper on the entry tier than BambooHR.
HRIS for small-to-mid businesses (5-500 employees), acquired by KKR-backed private equity in 2023. Positioned as the alternative to Workday for teams that don't need enterprise-grade complexity. Distinctive for its non-technical HR generalist UX and its e-signature + onboarding flows. Priced per employee monthly (~$8-$12) with all-in-one plans. Real cost bloat comes from add-ons: Performance, Time Tracking, Payroll (US only).
Sage HR (formerly CakeHR) is Sage's cloud HR platform for SMBs. Core HR ~$5.50/employee/mo; add-on modules (Leave, Performance, Timesheets, Shift Scheduling, Recruitment, Expenses) priced separately per employee. 30-day free trial. UK-headquartered.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | BambooHR monthly | BambooHR annual | Sage HR monthly | Sage HR annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Core / + Expenses | $10 | $10 | $1.5 | $1.5 |
| Mid tier 1 | Pro / + Performance | $17 | $17 | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 2 | — / + Shift Scheduling | — | — | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 3 | — / + Timesheets | — | — | $3 | $3 |
| Mid tier 4 | — / Core HR + Leave Management | — | — | $5.5 | $5.5 |
| Mid tier 5 | — / + HR Advice Essentials | — | — | $100 | $100 |
| Pro / power | Elite / + Recruitment | $25 | $25 | $200 | $200 |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
BambooHR is worth it if… SMBs (30-500 employees) that need core HR (records + time-off + reporting) plus lightweight performance and hiring modules — without Workday's complexity. Per-employee pricing on Core; Pro adds performance management and advanced analytics.
Sage HR is worth it if… Sage HR is ideal for UK/EU small-to-mid businesses (5-200 employees) that want modular HR without US-heavy pricing tiers.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose BambooHR over Sage HR if…
Choose BambooHR if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $10/mo).
- You match the profile BambooHR is built for: SMBs (30-500 employees) that need core HR (records + time-off + reporting) plus lightweight performance and hiring modules — without Workday's complexity.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Sage HR if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $5.5/mo).
- You match the profile Sage HR is built for: ideal for UK/EU small-to-mid businesses (5-200 employees) that want modular HR without US-heavy pricing tiers.
- You need a general-purpose hr & people option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| BambooHR | Sage HR | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $10/mo | $5.5/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Verification | Checked September 28, 2026 | Pricing under review |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 28, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about BambooHR and Sage HR
- How much does BambooHR cost in 2026?
- Does BambooHR have a free plan?
- How often does BambooHR change prices?
- What are the best BambooHR alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Sage HR cost in 2026?
- Does Sage HR have a free plan?
- How often does Sage HR change prices?
- What are the best Sage HR alternatives in 2026?