HR & Payroll Software
When small businesses need HR software, Gusto vs Rippling vs BambooHR comparisons, and what to look for in payroll and benefits administration.
Articles
Best HR Software for Companies Under 50 Employees
Once your team hits 10+, you need more than spreadsheets. These HR platforms are built specifically for companies under 50 employees.
Complete Guide to Payroll Software for Small Teams
Running payroll manually is one of the biggest liabilities for small businesses. This guide covers top payroll software platforms with pricing and a setup checklist.
Common Questions
What is HRIS software and does my company need one?
HRIS (Human Resource Information System) software centralizes employee data, onboarding, benefits, PTO, and performance management. You typically need HRIS software once you reach 10–25 employees — before that, spreadsheets often suffice. Signs you need HRIS: HR tasks are taking too long, compliance documentation is scattered, onboarding is inconsistent, or you're about to add benefits administration.
BambooHR vs Gusto vs Rippling: which HR software is best?
Gusto is best for small businesses that prioritize payroll — it's the easiest payroll software available and includes basic HR features. BambooHR focuses on the full employee lifecycle (onboarding, performance, offboarding) and is better for companies where HR processes matter as much as payroll. Rippling is the most comprehensive, handling HR, payroll, IT, and finance in one platform — best for growing companies that want to consolidate their HR and IT stack.
When does a startup need to invest in HR software?
Most startups can manage with spreadsheets and a payroll service up to about 15 employees. By 25–30 employees, inconsistent onboarding, manual PTO tracking, and compliance risks make HRIS software worth the investment. Key triggers: you're hiring faster than 1–2 people/month, you've had a compliance issue, or your founders/ops team is spending more than 5 hours/week on manual HR administration.
When should a business invest in a dedicated HR platform vs using payroll-only software?
Use payroll-only software (Gusto, Patriot, Wave Payroll) when you have simple payroll needs and fewer than 20 employees. Upgrade to a full HRIS when: you need structured onboarding/offboarding, you're managing performance reviews, PTO tracking is consuming too much manager time, or compliance documentation is becoming a risk. The tipping point for most companies is 20–30 employees or when HR becomes a dedicated role.
What is Rippling and why is it different from other HR tools?
Rippling is unique because it manages HR, payroll, benefits, IT (device management, app provisioning), and finance in a single platform. When you onboard an employee in Rippling, you can simultaneously provision their laptop, assign their software access, enroll them in benefits, and add them to payroll — all from one workflow. For companies that want to eliminate the HR/IT coordination gap, Rippling is compelling despite its higher price.