HRIS software: what it does and what it costs
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An HRIS costs $10, $17 or $25 per employee per month on BambooHR's Core, Pro and Elite plans, or a flat $250, $425 or $650 a month for 25 or fewer employees, according to its pricing page checked October 16, 2026. Systems that bundle payroll, such as Gusto Premium at $180 plus $22 per person, cost more per head but replace a second bill.
An HRIS (human resources information system) is software that stores employee records and runs self-service, time off, onboarding and HR reporting in one database.
On this page
HRIS vs HRMS vs HCM
- HRIS: the employee database plus the tools that use it: self-service, time off, onboarding, documents and reports.
- HRMS: vendors use it for an HRIS, or for an HRIS with payroll and time tracking. There is no fixed definition.
- HCM: the widest label, adding payroll, recruiting, performance and planning. See HCM software costs.
Because the labels overlap, ask for the module list with the price. A "full HRMS" from one vendor can have fewer features than another vendor's HRIS.
What an HRIS does
- Keeps one record per employee: personal data, job, pay rate, documents and history.
- Lets employees update their own details and see pay stubs and policies (self-service).
- Runs onboarding: offer letters, e-signatures and new hire forms. See onboarding software picks.
- Tracks time off requests and balances, often with manager approval.
- Produces headcount, turnover and compliance reports.
- Feeds payroll, either inside the same system or through an integration.
HRIS options ranked
| Provider | HR score | Published price (Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto | 61 | $49 + $6 to $180 + $22 per person a month | Payroll first, HR tools in higher plans |
| Justworks | 59 | Payroll $50 + $8; PEO Basic $79 and PEO Plus $124 per employee | HR tools and benefits through a PEO at a posted price |
| BambooHR | 54 | $250, $425 or $650 flat (25 or fewer); $10, $17 or $25 per employee above that | An HR system first, payroll second |
| Rippling | 30 | Quote only; FAQ says from $8 per employee plus a base fee | HR, IT and devices in one system |
| Paycor | 23 | Quote only | A sales-led suite with implementation help |
| Paylocity | 23 | Quote only (third-party estimate $18 to $22 per employee for core payroll and HR) | Midsize companies that want employee self-service |
Scores: HRPricing HR scores, updated Oct 17, 2026. Prices: vendor pricing pages checked Oct 16, 2026; Paylocity estimate from OutSail, Jul 24, 2026.
BambooHR scores highest on documented HR features (18 of 30) of the six; Gusto and Justworks score higher overall because payroll is included at a published price. The rules are in our scoring method.
BambooHR
The closest to a pure HRIS in this set: records, onboarding and performance documented, 150+ integrations, and payroll as an unpriced add-on for US employees. Full plan costs in BambooHR pricing.
How the score adds up
- Price transparency20/30
- Core HR18/30
- Payroll included10/20
- Complaints record6/20
Gusto
Payroll with HR tools layered on: time tracking from Plus, HR and compliance tools on Premium. Employee records and performance tools are not documented on the pages we checked. See Gusto pricing.
How the score adds up
- Price transparency30/30
- Core HR9/30
- Payroll included20/20
- Complaints record2/20
What an HRIS costs
| Option | Published price | 5 people | 10 people | 25 people | What the figure covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gusto Plus | $80 + $12 per person | $140 | $200 | $380 | Payroll included; time tracking, multi-state |
| Gusto Premium | $180 + $22 per person | $290 | $400 | $730 | Payroll included; HR and compliance tools |
| Justworks PEO Basic | $79 per employee | $395 | $790 | $1,975 | Payroll and HR tools; workers' comp and premiums extra |
| Justworks PEO Plus | $124 per employee | $620 | $1,240 | $3,100 | Adds benefits administration |
| BambooHR Core | $250 flat for 25 or fewer | $250 | $250 | $250 | No payroll; payroll add-on price not published |
| BambooHR Pro | $425 flat for 25 or fewer | $425 | $425 | $425 | No payroll in this figure |
| BambooHR Elite | $650 flat for 25 or fewer | $650 | $650 | $650 | No payroll in this figure |
| Rippling | From $8 per employee + base fee | $40 + base | $80 + base | $200 + base | Floor only; base fee not stated |
| Paylocity (estimate) | $18 to $22 per employee | $90 to $110 | $180 to $220 | $450 to $550 | OutSail mid-market estimate, Jul 2026 |
| Paycor | Quote only | n/a | n/a | n/a | Formerly $99 + $5 (Fit Small Business, May 2026) |
| OnPay payroll + HR add-on (not scored) | $49 + $6, plus $15 + $2 per worker | $104 | $144 | $264 | Budget route if payroll comes first |
| Patriot Full Service + HR add-on (not scored) | $37 + $5, plus $6 + $2 per employee | $78 | $113 | $218 | Lowest published HR add-on |
Math: base + (per-person fee x headcount), or per-employee fee x headcount. Example: Gusto Premium at 10 people = $180 + 10 x $22 = $400; OnPay at 10 = $49 + 10 x $6 + $15 + 10 x $2 = $144. Sources: Gusto, Justworks, BambooHR, Rippling, Paycor, OnPay and Patriot pricing pages, checked Oct 2026 (Oct 16, 2026); Paylocity estimate from OutSail (Jul 24, 2026), a third party, not a Paylocity price.
HRIS and payroll in one system, or two?
This is the main decision, and buyers ask it in exactly those words: HRIS plus payroll plus IT in one system, or separate tools.
| Setup | Monthly cost, 10 people | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| BambooHR Core + Gusto Simple payroll | $359 | Best HR tools of the two, but two bills and an integration to maintain |
| Gusto Premium (HR + payroll) | $400 | One system and one bill; fewer documented HR features |
| Gusto Plus (payroll + time tracking) | $200 | Cheapest one-system route if you do not need Premium HR tools |
| BambooHR Core + BambooHR payroll | $250 + payroll | One system; payroll price not published ($0 promo through Dec 31, 2026 on a 12-month agreement) |
| Rippling HR + payroll + IT | $80 + base + modules | One system for HR, IT and devices; price only by quote |
Math: BambooHR Core $250 flat + Gusto Simple $49 + 10 x $6 = $359; Gusto Premium $180 + 10 x $22 = $400; Gusto Plus $80 + 10 x $12 = $200; Rippling 10 x $8 = $80 plus an unstated base fee. Sources: BambooHR, Gusto and Rippling pricing pages, checked Oct 2026 (Oct 16, 2026).
- One system: data entered once, no sync errors between HR and pay. The risk is lock-in: leaving means moving payroll and HR at the same time, and Rippling's modular price is the top complaint from its Capterra reviewers.
- Two systems: you can switch payroll without losing HR history. The cost is double entry or an integration, and two vendors to call when a number is wrong.
Compare combined systems in the HR and payroll software rankings and payroll-only options in the best payroll software list.
Getting your data out
Ask before you sign. Of the six vendors, only Gusto publishes what happens after you leave: admins keep limited read-only access to forms, reports and past payrolls with no end date stated, and employees keep limited lifetime access (Gusto support, checked October 16, 2026). BambooHR, Justworks, Rippling, Paycor and Paylocity publish no export or post-exit access terms. One Justworks reviewer reports about three months to get old tax records (Trustpilot, September 24, 2026).
Before switching, export employee records, time off balances, signed documents and every payroll register for the current year. The payroll setup guide lists what a new payroll provider needs.
Common HRIS buying mistakes
- Buying an HRIS before you have the processes it automates. Under 10 employees, a payroll vendor's HR add-on (Patriot $6 + $2 per employee, OnPay $15 + $2 per worker) may be enough.
- Missing BambooHR's flat minimum: $250 a month on Core whether you have 3 people or 25.
- Asking quote-only suites for a price without naming modules. Get the same module list priced by Rippling, Paycor and Paylocity.
- Taking a payroll promotion without the post-promo price in writing.
- Ignoring per-employee growth. At 50 employees BambooHR Pro is $850 a month at the plan price, $875 at its FAQ price.
Frequently asked questions
What is HRIS software?
What is the difference between HRIS and HRMS?
How much does an HRIS cost?
What is the best HRIS for a small business?
Should HRIS and payroll be in one system?
Can I export my data if I leave an HRIS?
Sources (12)
- BambooHR: BambooHR pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Gusto: Gusto pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Gusto: Cancel your company's Gusto account (admins) (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Justworks: Justworks pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Rippling: Rippling pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Paycor: Paycor pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Paylocity: Paylocity pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- OutSail: How much does Paylocity cost in 2026 (Jul 24, 2026) (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- OnPay: OnPay pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Patriot Software: Patriot payroll pricing page (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Capterra: Rippling reviews, page 6 (Sep 2025 to Aug 2026) (checked Oct 16, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Justworks reviews (2.1 from 37 reviews) (checked Oct 16, 2026)
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