BambooHR review: Why we chose it (and what could be better)

Managing HR for a small or medium-sized business can quickly get complicated. From onboarding new hires to tracking time off and running payroll, the right HR software can save hours each week and reduce costly errors. One of the most popular platforms in this space is BambooHR—but is it the right fit for your company? 

What is BambooHR? 

BambooHR is a cloud-based HR platform that brings core HR functions—like hiring, onboarding, payroll, time-off tracking, and performance management—into one central place.  

Instead of jumping between spreadsheets or multiple tools, everything is streamlined in one easy-to-navigate system. Whether you’re the business owner, part of the HR team, or a manager, BambooHR helps you cut down on repetitive tasks and keeps all your employee info organised and easy to find.  

From onboarding new hires to tracking promotions and raises as your team grows, BambooHR is built to scale with your business. The platform’s user-friendly design means you don’t need to be a tech expert to get started, and most features are customisable to suit your workflow. 

If you want to save time, reduce mistakes, and spend more energy on your people instead of paperwork, BambooHR is worth checking out. At Airswift, we use BambooHR to support our global HR operations— and here is what our HR team thinks of BambooHR: 

What we love about BambooHR 

Is it easy to use? Absolutely. 

One of BambooHR’s biggest strengths is its user-friendly design. Whether you're a business owner, HR admin, or employee, the platform is intuitive and easy to navigate. Uploading documents, requesting time off, or accessing company policies doesn’t require any technical know-how. 

In fact, one of our HR team members gave the interface a 9 out of 10, specifically calling out how simple it is for employees and line managers alike. For example, applying for leave and getting approvals is a quick, one-step process—and everything is tracked in one place. 

The result? Less time spent on training, fewer mistakes, and a smoother HR experience for everyone involved. 

Does it help boost employee engagement? Yes, with tools that actually get used. 

BambooHR includes built-in self-assessment and goal-tracking tools that help keep employees engaged with their own development. These tools encourage reflection, regular feedback, and alignment with company objectives. 

Our team especially values the 360 Feedback feature and structured biannual feedback cycles. They’ve made it easier to facilitate meaningful one-on-ones, career conversations, and performance reviews—without having to chase people or rely on spreadsheets. 

What about onboarding? It’s smooth and centralised. 

New hires can complete all their onboarding tasks—like paperwork, reviewing policies, and introductions—from one hub. This not only saves HR time but also helps new employees feel more prepared from day one. 

The platform also offers training content for both administrators and employees. While one of our HR team members felt the training library could be more comprehensive, the actual onboarding process itself was rated as clear, smooth, and easy to follow. 

Can employees manage their own info? Yes—and it’s a major time-saver. 

The employee self-service feature gives staff the ability to update personal details, request time off, access payslips, and find HR documents on their own. This means fewer admin queries for HR to handle. 

Customisable access levels let you control who sees what, and automated approval flows keep things moving without bottlenecks. The mobile app is also a nice touch, letting employees handle tasks on the go. 

The result? HR can focus on strategy instead of routine requests—and employees feel more empowered. 

What we don't love about BambooHR 

Even the best tools have limitations—and BambooHR is no exception. While it covers the HR essentials well, there are a few areas where it could improve, especially for teams looking to automate more or scale up. 

Does the interface always feel modern and seamless? Not quite. 

While BambooHR is generally easy to use, parts of the interface feel slightly dated or unintuitive. For example, tracking paid time off (PTO) can involve more clicks than expected, and navigating between certain modules occasionally disrupts the otherwise smooth experience. These aren’t deal-breakers, but they can slow things down—especially for teams managing HR tasks at scale. 

Could automation be better? Definitely. 

One of the biggest limitations our HR team noticed is the lack of deeper automation. Tasks like updating pay changes or generating letters (e.g. salary adjustment letters) still require multiple manual steps. There's also no automatic notification system for some routine tasks, which means it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. 

In short: BambooHR handles repetitive admin better than spreadsheets, but there's still room to automate more and reduce the chance of human error. 

Are integrations seamless? Not always. 

If you're using payroll systems like ADP, integration can be a sticking point. Setting it up usually takes extra time and troubleshooting. Some users may find themselves having to double-check data between systems or re-enter information manually—adding back some of the administrative burden BambooHR is meant to remove. 

Does it have advanced features for larger teams? It's limited. 

While BambooHR works well for small to mid-sized businesses, it may fall short for larger or more complex organisations. Features like compensation planning, learning management, or robust analytics aren’t built in. This means you may need to plug in additional software—adding to your cost and complexity. 

How’s the support and pricing transparency? It could improve. 

Customer support can be hit or miss. While our team didn’t encounter major issues, response times weren’t always fast, and support channels aren’t as robust as some competitors. Pricing is also not fully transparent on their website, which can make budgeting and comparison shopping more difficult before speaking with a sales rep. 

Who is BambooHR best for? 

Best for small to mid-sized businesses that want to streamline HR basics. 

If you're a small or mid-sized business that’s outgrown spreadsheets and is looking for a clean, reliable HR solution, BambooHR is likely a great fit. 

It works especially well for companies that want to: 

• Simplify onboarding and employee record-keeping 

• Centralise time-off tracking and approvals 

• Give employees self-service access to their HR info 

• Save time on routine admin without hiring a full HR team 

The interface is easy for non-HR users to navigate, and it doesn’t require heavy training or IT support. That makes it ideal for lean HR teams—or for business owners managing HR themselves. It’s also competitively priced for growing teams and offers enough customisation to adapt as your business evolves. 

Not ideal for larger enterprises or global teams with complex needs. 

If you're a large company or planning rapid international expansion, BambooHR may fall short in a few key areas: 

• It lacks native tools for global workforce management, compliance, or compensation planning 

• Workflow automation is limited for more advanced HR processes 

• Integrations with other enterprise systems may require extra effort or workarounds 

In short: if you need an all-in-one enterprise HR platform with deep automation and advanced reporting out of the box, you might want to explore more robust solutions built specifically for larger organisations. 

At a glance: Is BambooHR right for you? 

Final verdict: Is BambooHR the right fit for you? 

If you’re a small to mid-sized business looking to simplify and streamline your HR processes, BambooHR is a strong contender. It brings all your core HR functions—like onboarding, PTO tracking, and employee data management—into one easy-to-use platform 

The intuitive interface, solid self-service tools, and time-saving workflows make it especially helpful for lean HR teams or growing companies that want to reduce admin and focus more on people. 

That said, BambooHR isn’t designed for every business. Larger organisations or those managing global teams may find it lacks the automation, analytics, and advanced features they need. Integration setup and support responsiveness could also be improved, and the pricing structure may not be fully transparent up front. 

Still, for teams focused on the HR fundamentals, BambooHR offers real value—helping you spend less time on paperwork and more time building a better workplace. 

If your business is starting to outgrow BambooHR or you need more robust global workforce solutions, Airswift is here to help. With our expertise and tailored technology, we can support your team’s next growth stage, no matter where you’re hiring. Contact Airswift to see how we can take your HR and workforce management to the next level.