BambooHR vs Handshake
Two recruitment CRMs compared on pricing, features, and fit, so you can shortlist with confidence.
✓Pricing verified against vendor pagesData reviewed July 4, 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
Handshake
The campus recruiting network: 1,400+ colleges, 18M students
Best for: Employers running campus, internship, and early-career programs
✓Unmatched campus reach: direct registrar-verified student profiles
✓Genuinely free Basic tier for job posting
✕Free tier is tightly limited (10 messages/month)
✕Steep jump from Free/Pro to quote-based Enterprise
Our verdict
Choose BambooHR if…
- ✓You're in in-house talent acquisition, a segment Handshake doesn't focus on
- ✓You want to trial before committing (free trial available)
Choose Handshake if…
- ✓You're in campus & graduate recruiting, a segment BambooHR doesn't focus on
- ✓You want built-in candidate sourcing instead of separate tools
- ✓Multi-job-board posting is core to how you fill roles
Feature-by-feature
| Feature | BambooHR | Handshake |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ | ~ |
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 |
| Handshake (official) | $450/mo (Pro)flat | $450/mo (Pro)flat | $450/mo (Pro)flat |
Estimated from each vendor's published entry-tier price as of July 4, 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 Handshake pricing compare?
BambooHR pricing starts at $10/employee/mo (HR suite) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Handshake pricing starts at $450/mo (Pro) (official, reviewed July 4, 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 Handshake cost?
Handshake pricing starts at $450/mo (Pro) (official, reviewed July 4, 2026). Basic is free (job posting, but capped at 10 messages/mo); Pro is $450/mo with 200 messages/mo; Enterprise is quote-based. Promoted jobs are a flexible-rate add-on. The old $100+/week Plus tier no longer exists (vendor pricing page, Jul 2026).
Who is BambooHR best for, and who is Handshake best for?
BambooHR: SMBs under 200 employees hiring occasionally inside their HR system. Handshake: Employers running campus, internship, and early-career programs.