BambooHR vs Gem
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed September 22, 2026How we research →
By Ramin Assemi, B2B SaaS marketer and former Head of Content at Close.comPublished Updated
BambooHR
SMB HR suite with built-in hiring features
Best for: SMBs under 200 employees hiring occasionally inside their HR system
✓One vendor, one login for HR and hiring
✓Clean, accessible UI with quick self-directed setup
✕Candidate tracking is extremely light
✕Minimal automation; poor fit for volume hiring
Gem
Sourcing-first talent platform with staffing-specific plans
Best for: Sourcing-led teams: in-house TA and outbound-heavy search firms
✓One-click sourcing across 30+ platforms with multi-channel sequencing
✓Best-in-class analytics and forecasting
✕Expensive at scale; enterprise deals run high per seat
✕Strict email-finding credit limits on lower tiers
Our verdict
Choose BambooHR if…
SMBs under 200 employees hiring occasionally inside their HR system. See the feature table below for where it differs from Gem.
Choose Gem if…
- ✓You're in executive search firms, a segment BambooHR doesn't focus on
- ✓You're in recruitment agencies & staffing firms, a segment BambooHR doesn't focus on
- ✓You want built-in candidate sourcing instead of separate tools
- ✓You want workflow automation working out of the box
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | BambooHR | Gem |
|---|---|---|
| ATS + CRM core | ~ | ✓ |
| Email/inbox sync | ~ | ✓ |
| LinkedIn / Chrome extension | – | ✓ |
| Multi-job-board posting | ~ | ~ |
| Built-in candidate sourcing | – | ✓ |
| Workflow automation | ~ | ✓ |
| AI matching & assistance | – | ✓ |
| Reporting & analytics | ~ | ✓ |
| Temp back-office (pay & bill) | – | – |
| Open API | ~ | ✓ |
| Mobile app | ✓ | – |
IncludedPartial or paid add-onNot available
What would it cost your team?
| Est. monthly cost, entry tier | 5 seats | 20 seats | 50 seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| BambooHR (official) | $10/employee/mo (HR suite)flat | $10/employee/mo (HR suite)flat | $10/employee/mo (HR suite)flat |
| Gem (official) | $695/mo | $2,780/mo | $6,950/mo |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of September 22, 2026; real quotes vary with plan tier, add-on modules, and contract terms. See how we label pricing confidence.
Frequently asked questions
How do BambooHR and Gem pricing compare?
BambooHR pricing starts at $10/employee/mo (HR suite) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Gem pricing starts at $139/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026).
What does BambooHR cost?
BambooHR pricing starts at $10/employee/mo (HR suite) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). HR-suite pricing: companies with 25 or fewer employees pay a flat monthly rate starting at $250/mo on Core; at 26+ employees it shifts to per-employee rates — Core $10, Pro $17, Elite $25 per employee/month. Hiring features are bundled in; there is no standalone ATS price (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
What does Gem cost?
Gem pricing starts at $139/user/mo (official, reviewed September 22, 2026). Staffing plans on monthly billing: Essentials $139/user/mo (up to 3 users per account) and Professional $199/user/mo (up to 10 users). Billed yearly those drop to $99 and $149. Enterprise is custom, with the choice of Gem's ATS or a third-party one. Both paid staffing plans start with a 7-day trial. Email-finding credits are 150/user/mo on Essentials and 750 on Professional. Corporate plans are quoted on company headcount, with discounted startup pricing under 100 employees (vendor pricing pages, Sep 2026).
Who is BambooHR best for, and who is Gem best for?
BambooHR: SMBs under 200 employees hiring occasionally inside their HR system. Gem: Sourcing-led teams: in-house TA and outbound-heavy search firms.