BambooHR Packages FAQ

Purpose: To help you understand the packages that BambooHR offers and how to tell which package you have.

Table of Contents

We offer two packaging options: Core and Pro. If you have the Essentials or Advantage package and are interested in learning more about our new packaging options, go to Settings > Account Settings > Account Info and click Manage Subscription. Please note that all Essential and Advantage plans will be moved to Core or Pro on May 1st.

What are the packages?

To meet the needs of our customer environments, BambooHR offers two packaging options: Core and Pro. You can choose the package that best fits your company's business needs.

  1. Core: The Core package is for customers needing to lay an HR foundation for the future. Their HR information is everywhere. It is on paper, stuffed into filing cabinets, spread across spreadsheets, entered in multiple systems, and some of it may be in their head. With HR data being everywhere, it becomes difficult for them to respond to company needs because the data is inaccessible. They spend so much time trying to keep track of everything and cannot imagine doing anything more.
  2. Pro: The Pro package is for customers needing to increase the impact they provide at their companies. They spend too much time on operational activities and cannot get to the strategic and high-impact activities they know their organizations need to be successful. They are looking for ways to do things better and more but do not know how to do it without help. With help, they can escape the characterization of being purely operational.
What are the features included in each package?

For the most up-to-date information on features, please review the Compare Plans and Features section  on our BambooHR website.

How does the legacy packaging compare?
HR Data
Feature Essentials Advantage Core Pro
Standard Access Levels X X X X
Custom Access Levels X X X
Ask BambooHR® X X
Benefits Tracking X X X X
Company Announcements X X X
Company Branding X X X
Company Links X X X X
Custom Tabs & Fields X X X
Document Storage X X X X
Standard Email Alerts X X X X
Custom Email Alerts X X X
Employee Directory & Org Chart X X X X
Employee Profile X X X X
Employee Records X X X X
Mobile App X X X X
Notification Center X X X X
Time Off Calendar X X X X
Time Off Management X X X X
Training Tracking X X X
Workflows & Approvals X X X X
Reporting
Feature Essentials Advantage Core  Pro
ACA Reporting X X X X
Audit Trail   X X X
Custom Reporting   X X X
Standard Reporting X X X X
Hiring
Feature Essentials Advantage Core  Pro
Applicant Tracking System (ATS)   X X X
Automated Disqualifying Questions     X X
Automated Emails     X X
Candidate Keyword Search   X X X
Candidate Record   X X X
Email & Offer Letter Templates   X X X
Hiring Mobile App   X X X
Job Boards   X X X
Job Openings   25 5* 25
Job Pipelines     X X
Talent Pools   X X X

*Customers moving from the Advantage package to Core on or before May 1st will receive 20 complimentary job openings, totaling 25 to match the Advantage package.

Onboarding
Feature Essentials Advantage Core Pro
Electronic Signatures X X X
New Hire Packet X X X
Onboarding Tasks X X X
Offboarding Tasks X X X
Welcome Emails X X X
Employee Experience
Feature Essentials Advantage Core Pro
Employee Satisfaction with eNPS X X X
Employee Wellbeing Survey X X X
Total Rewards Statement X X
AI-Powered Topic Summaries X X
Equity Projections X X
Heatmap Analysis X X X
Keyword Analysis X X X
Research-Validated Question Bank X X X
Performance Management

Please note that Pro packages now include BambooHR® Performance Management. We no longer offer it as an add-on for current customers subscribed to the Essentials or Advantage packages.

Feature Essentials Advantage Core Pro
360 Feedback X
Assessment Templates X
Custom Questions X
Custom Review Cycles X
Double-Blind Assessments X
File Upload X
Goal & Sub-Goal Tracking X
Impromptu Assessments X
Mobile Assessments X
Multiple Review Cycles X
Peer Feedback X
Performance 1:1s X
Pre-Built Reporting X
Segment by Employee Type X
Employee Community
Feature Essentials Advantage Core Pro
Community Feed Widget X
Company Events X
Customizable Groups X
Email Notifications X
Employee Polls X
Event Calendar X
Post Analytics Dashboard X
Post Attachments X
Post Read Confirmations X
Post Scheduling X
Slack Integration X
Integration Marketplace
Feature Essentials Advantage Core Pro
BambooHR Marketplace X X X
BambooHR Open API X X X
Customer Support
Option Essentials Advantage Core  Pro
Chat Support X X X X
Email Support X X X X
Telephone Support X X X X
Success Webinar Library X X X X
Why are you sunsetting the legacy packages (Essentials & Advantage)?

BambooHR has offered the Essentials and Advantage plans for over a decade. As we consider the continuous evolution and shift within the HR landscape, we want to make sure we are offering plans that meet the various needs of your business. We have begun introducing our new Core and Pro plans within this past year to lay this foundation and enable you to do more across the different stages of your HR journey.

Sunsetting these legacy packages allows us to reinvest our resources into further innovation, and will ensure we can continue to meet your needs for years to come.

Why does BambooHR offer multiple packages?

We introduced multiple packages to be more flexible in matching the unique benefits of BambooHR with the needs of our customers. Customers now have more flexibility in choosing the right package, add-ons, and services for their needs.

How do I determine which package I have?

To discover your package details, go to Settings > Account > Account Info.

Clicking on your package under "My Subscription" will pull up a modal showing how long you have been using the package, how many active users you have (or how many out of your intended employee count if you have not met that number yet), and link to more information about your package. If you are on the Pro package, you will also see a link to the setup guides.

How do I upgrade my package?

If you are interested in upgrading your package, you might be able to do this on your own in BambooHR. There are some criteria around who can use our self-serve upgrade option:

You can use the self-serve upgrade option if you are an account owner upgrading from:

  1. Core to Pro.
  2. Advantage to Pro.
  3. Essentials to Core or Pro.

You will not be able to use the self-serve upgrade option if:

  1. you are in a grace period (have a past due invoice), until that is paid.
  2. you are using wire transfer or check as your primary payment method.
  3. you have the Payroll, Ben Admin, or Time Tracking add-ons on your account.
  4. you are currently in Implementation.
  5. you want to upgrade to Core, and have Essentials with the Performance Management add-on on your account. In this case however, you WOULD be able to upgrade to Pro as you will not lose Performance Management in the process.

The options available to you in this process may depend on your role within BambooHR.

If you meet the criteria, you can access the self-serve upgrade option through Account Info in Settings. Simply click on Learn More under "Available Upgrades," or click Manage Subscription.

From the Mangage Subscription page, click Upgrade to [Package Name].

This will pull up a page where you can start a package upgrade, schedule a demo, or view a plan comparison.

Clicking Start Upgrade will pull up your new estimated total for your next invoice. This total will include a prorated amount* for the new package for the number of days you have left in the current billing period. You can click View Estimate or View Details to get more details on the price (see below).

*If you prepay annually, you will see a slightly different view as the amount will be coming out of your prepaid total. If you have insufficient funds, you will not be able to proceed with the upgrade. If this is the case, you can reach out to our Billing team to add the needed funds.

Clicking View Estimate will pull up a page with your new estimated monthly pricing for the new package. You can print or save this estimate if needed.

Clicking View Details will pull up a page where you can see the breakdown of the prorated amounts for the old package and your new package.

Clicking Start Using [Package Name] Now* will apply the upgrade immediately, and you will see a celebratory confirmation modal with a link to your setup guide. 

If you still need either Payroll or Ben Admin to qualify for the bundle discount, you will see an option to request information about the add-ons, and our Expansion team will reach out shortly.

*Please note you will need to click the box accepting the terms of service before you can proceed with the upgrade.

Once you have upgraded, you and your Account Payable Contacts will receive a confirmation email.

If you are interested in upgrading your package but do not meet the criteria to use the self-serve option, you can request a personalized demo with our team at BambooHR. To do this, navigate to Settings > Account > Account Info. On this page, select Manage Subscription and then the upgrade option.

A short video will appear and provide you with an overview of the selected package.

  1. Talk to Our Team About Upgrading: If you are a non-account owner (such as an admin or billing contact) and qualify for self-service, you can select this button to automatically send a request to our team for the next steps on upgrading your package.
  2. Start Upgrading: If you are an account owner who qualifies for self-service, you can click the green "Start Upgrade" button to begin the process of upgrading your package.
What is dynamic billing?

Our billing system for customers is dynamic, which means the system automatically adjusts billing each month based on the customer’s active employee count. Dynamic billing begins once implementation is marked complete or when an active customer headcount meets 100% of the stated headcount (whichever comes first).

How do I efficiently and effectively set up my new features if I upgrade?

We have mapped out and gathered resources for you to quickly set up some of the bigger features you are gaining with the Core and Pro packages. Click on each link to review these steps. 

For more information on how to get the most value out of additional features, click here.

What features will remain the same, and will I lose access to anything in my current package when I upgrade?

You will not lose access to features and data within your current package when you upgrade. Based on your package upgrade, some features may be enhanced, but they will all remain within your account. See the table above for a breakdown of what features are included in your specific package. 

Please note, that if you are on an Essentials or Advantage package you will be automatically upgraded on May 1st, 2025.

What is the price of my new package upgrade?

Before you finish the upgrade process, BambooHR will provide you with your new estimated monthly package pricing. When you upgrade via self-serve within BambooHR (Settings > Account Info), you will also see an estimate of your upgrade costs here as well. 

If you are unsure about package plans or plan features, click the Plan Comparison link to review the available packages and features.

If you want to learn how these upgrades can help your business save money and gain efficiency, contact our support team ([email protected]) for a free price quote and demo.

What new features am I gaining when I migrate my Advantage account to Core or Pro?

Advantage to Core

Advantage to Pro

For a full overview of each feature and how you can better utilize them to set your company free, check out this guide.

There are many exciting new features, but I am overwhelmed by setting them all up. Are there services I can pay for to help me do this? 

If you find yourself in a bind, we won't leave you hanging. If you prefer direct help when it comes to setting up your new features from a BambooHR product expert, you can do so at an additional cost. Contact our Support team ([email protected]) to inquire about more information. 

Do you have any resources we can use to help our financial and/or business decision-makers understand the value the package upgrade can bring to our business?

We understand that while you may love our exciting new package upgrades, there are key decision-makers who have the final say. We won't leave you hanging. We have created a Decision-Maker Toolkit for both the Core and Pro packages with the materials necessary to help guide those conversations with your stakeholders. Each toolkit includes the following: 

  • Downloadable slide deck for Decision Makers
  • Downloadable feature comparison one-pager
  • Overview video of the new plan

We also have cost and financial analysis PDFs that you can share with your stakeholders. Both provide an overview of the features of the Core and Pro packages and your return on investment.

Upgrading to BambooHR Core.pdf
Upgrading to BambooHR Pro.pdf
What if I need to change my package after upgrading?

Access the self-serve option through Account Info in Settings if you need to change your package. Click Request to Switch, and a member of our Success team will contact you with the next steps.

If you are unsure about package plans or plan features, click the Plan Comparison link to review the available packages and features.