SoftwareGlimpse

BambooHR vs When I Work

Compare BambooHR and When I Work on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.

Independently recommendedLast updated Aug 18, 20264 evidence sourcesHow we compare

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BambooHR

7.8/10

SMB/mid-market core HRIS with Core/Pro/Elite PEPM tiers — Core from $10/employee/mo above 25 employees, or $250/mo flat floor for smaller teams.

Best for

• Small and mid-size teams that need a clean core HRIS as the employee system of record
• US companies that may add payroll/benefits later rather than buying a payroll-first suite
• Buyers who want published PEPM instead of fully opaque HCM quotes

Starting from $10.00/user/mo

No free plan

VS

Our verdict

No universal winner

No universal winner. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.

When I Work is better for

✓ Starting pricing

Tie

• Integrations

Choose BambooHR if: Small and mid-size teams that need a clean core HRIS as the employee system of record

Choose When I Work if: Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price

See detailed comparison ↓

When I Work

7.9/10

Per-user hourly scheduling — Essentials from $2.50/user/mo; Pro $5; Premium $8; 14-day trial. Time & attendance is a paid toggle.

Best for

• Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price
• Operators who will trial 14 days before buying Deputy or Homebase hubs
• Multi-location teams that stay on Essentials+ for templates and OpenShifts

Starting from $2.50/user/mo

No free plan

Visit When I Work

BambooHR vs When I Work at a glance

Criterion-level leaders from verified research.

Full scorecard →

Scorecard preview

Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.

Starting pricingWhen I Work
BambooHR
When I Work
Free planDepends
BambooHR
When I Work
User / licence minimumDepends
BambooHR
When I Work
IntegrationsTie
BambooHR
When I Work

Which HR software is better for you?

Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.

→ When I Work
Best for starting pricing
When I Work publishes a lower researched starting floor ($2.5/mo vs $10/mo for BambooHR). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.

The biggest differences

Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.

Starting pricing
When I Work wins
BambooHR
Trails When I Work on this criterion
When I Work
When I Work publishes a lower researched starting floor ($2.5/mo vs $10/mo for BambooHR). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.

Which should you choose?

Choose BambooHR if

Small and mid-size teams that need a clean core HRIS as the employee system of record
US companies that may add payroll/benefits later rather than buying a payroll-first suite
Buyers who want published PEPM instead of fully opaque HCM quotes

Choose When I Work if

Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price
Operators who will trial 14 days before buying Deputy or Homebase hubs
Multi-location teams that stay on Essentials+ for templates and OpenShifts

Related comparisons

Alternatives to consider

How we compare

A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology

1
Collect
Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.
2
Normalize
Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.
3
Compare
Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.
4
Explain
Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.

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