BambooHR vs VIVA HR

These two platforms often get confused but serve drastically different HR functions. BambooHR is a full-featured, strategic HRIS system for managing the entire employee lifecycle. VIVA HR specializes in super affordable, streamlined Applicant Tracking and team collaboration. You must decide whether you need an HR operating system or just a robust hiring tool.

BambooHR
BambooHR

Top-tier HRIS with pricing volatility risks.

Ciroapp review
4.2
#4 in Human Resources Management System

We find BambooHR to be a highly effective, all-in-one HR platform that significantly reduces administrative load and excels in user experience (UX) for both HR staff and general employees. Overall, this is a top-tier HR solution well-suited for growing businesses, though we caution users to carefully analyze the long-term pricing model and package restructuring history before committing.

Pros

  • Intuitive and exceptional user interface (UI/UX) minimizes training needs.
  • Streamlines HR processes seamlessly across recruiting, payroll, and PTO management.
  • Scales effectively for organizations from small teams up to 900+ employees.
  • Customer service team is consistently described as responsive and helpful.

Cons

  • Reported instances of significant, non-negotiable price increases for loyal customers.
  • Customer service interaction regarding contract renewal can be challenging.
  • Less flexibility for users needing to configure highly specific system areas.
  • Some users noted key features were removed or changed without adequate warning.
Pricing
Not explicitly stated
Free trialYes
Money-back
Best for
Organizations needing to unify payroll, benefits, and time tracking into a single system., HR teams focused on strategic reporting using HR Benchmarks and workforce analytics., Growing companies needing enterprise-grade security assurances like SOC II and Zero Trust models.
VIVA HR
VIVA HR

Affordable ATS with Powerful Collaboration Tools.

Ciroapp review
4.1
#5 in Human Resources Management System

We recognize VIVA HR provides exceptional value and strong features, particularly for small businesses needing an accessible ATS. The platform excels at automated actions and team collaboration, which simplifies complex recruiting pipelines. Overall, we see VIVA HR as a powerful and affordable system, but potential users must also be aware of concerning reports related to unauthorized billing and platform-associated spam issues.

Pros

  • Excellent value proposition, especially for small business ATS needs.
  • Recruitment process is routinely described as smooth and stress-free.
  • Automated actions significantly simplify complex HR workflows.
  • Highly praised and responsive customer support team is readily available.

Cons

  • Repeated association with candidate spamming and dubious emails on the platform.
  • Reports cite difficulty canceling service and unauthorized recurring charges.
  • Some high-value candidates are deterred by mandatory application questionnaires.
  • Initial difficulty reported with posting jobs or receiving applicants during the trial stage.
Pricing
$83/mo
Free trialYes
Money-back
Best for
Small businesses seeking the most affordable Applicant Tracking System (ATS) solution., Teams prioritizing easy hiring pipeline setup and enhanced internal recruiting collaboration., Recruiters who rely heavily on quick, effective candidate communication via text and email.
Quick verdict
Choose BambooHR if you need unified payroll, benefits, and performance management for teams up to 900 employees, focused on saving up to 40% on administrative costs.
Choose VIVA HR if you are a growing small-to-midsize business needing an affordable, effective Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to handle unlimited job postings starting from $1/month.

AboutBambooHR

BambooHR is a complete, all-in-one HR software platform designed to simplify complex people management. It brings all your employee, payroll, time, and benefits information together in one secure location.

This system is built for easy navigation, making it ideal for both novices and seasoned HR experts. Whether you are a small team or serve a global workforce across 150 countries, BambooHR gives you the tools you need to streamline operations and be compliant. 💡 It allows even a single-person HR department to perform strategic work efficiently.

AboutVIVA HR

VIVA HR is a robust platform designed to help organizations manage their talent acquisition and team engagement efforts. It appears built for internal users responsible for sourcing, hiring, and analyzing workforce metrics. The system provides practical communication tools, including Email and Text capabilities. It effectively helps you manage the full journey, from candidate Sourcing to issuing Offer Letters. VIVA HR aims to improve overall communication and workflow efficiency within your company. ✅

Highlights

Quick winners by category at a glance.
Ease of Use
BambooHR receives consistent, high praise for having one of the most intuitive user interfaces in HRIS. VIVA HR is simple but less comprehensive.
Feature Set
BambooHR is a full HRIS with integrated payroll and performance management. VIVA HR's feature set is mostly limited to ATS functions.
Value for Money
VIVA HR provides exceptional value for affordable, high-volume hiring. BambooHR offers financial value through massive time savings (40% cost reduction).
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Scalability
BambooHR scales gracefully to 900+ employees and handles complex, global multi-state requirements effectively. VIVA HR is best for SMBs.
Integration Options
BambooHR offers robust connectivity with over 150 available integrations for surrounding HR and financial systems.
Pricing Transparency
VIVA HR transparently publishes its starting prices online. BambooHR uses opaque, customized quotes requiring sales discussion.

Feature Comparison

Compare key features side by side
Core Functional Focus
BambooHR:HRIS (Full Employee Lifecycle)
VIVA HR:ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
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Integrated Payroll & Tax Filing
BambooHR:Full Service, Multi-State Tax Handling
VIVA HR:No Core Payroll Functionality
BambooHR
Pricing Model
BambooHR:Quote-Based (Per Employee/Modules)
VIVA HR:Tiered (Clear, Published Monthly Rates)
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Pricing Transparency
BambooHR:Low (Contact sales required)
VIVA HR:High (Starts at $1/month)
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Performance Management Tools
BambooHR:Advanced (High Compliance Rates)
VIVA HR:Basic Workflow Support Only
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Strategic Reporting (Benchmarks)
BambooHR:Yes (HR Benchmarks & Dashboards)
VIVA HR:Focuses on Hiring Metrics Only
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Dedicated Employee Onboarding
BambooHR:Yes (Proactive Tasks)
VIVA HR:Workflow Support for New Hires
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Maximum Employee Count
BambooHR:900+ Employees
VIVA HR:Small to Mid-Sized Organizations
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SOC II Security Audit
BambooHR:
VIVA HR:
BambooHR
Unlimited Job Postings
BambooHR:Included in ATS Module
VIVA HR:Growth/Premier plans only
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AI Assistance
BambooHR:General HR Assistant
VIVA HR:AI Hiring Assistance
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Free Trial Available
BambooHR:
VIVA HR:
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User Interface (UX)
BambooHR:Exceptional/Intuitive
VIVA HR:User-friendly/Easy Adoption
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Feature Comparison Summary
2
BambooHR
11
Ties
0
VIVA HR

Features Overview

We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.

Core Purpose & Scope

BambooHR is the full HRIS operating system; VIVA HR specializes in targeted, affordable hiring management.

BambooHR

BambooHR centralizes all employee data, including benefits, time, and unified payroll. This approach helps organizations cut administrative costs typically by up to 40%. VIVA HR is fundamentally a specialized Applicant Tracking System (ATS) built for efficiency. It focuses on streamlining hiring pipelines and enhancing recruiting collaboration. BambooHR works across the entire employee lifecycle, from candidate to retirement. VIVA HR steps in mainly during the intensive hiring phase. If your entire HR management is fragmented, BambooHR solves the core underlying organizational problem.

Pricing Model

BambooHR pricing lacks transparency; VIVA HR offers clear, low-cost starting plans.

VIVA HR

BambooHR uses customized, quote-based pricing depending on your headcount and feature modules. Expect varied pricing and required sales negotiation. VIVA HR is very affordable, with published starting plan prices listed as low as $1/month. This structure is transparent and highly accessible. VIVA HR wins easily on clear, budget-friendly entry costs for small teams. BambooHR requires significant investment and commitment. Be warned: some loyal users reported BambooHR forced significant, non-negotiable price hikes during renewal.

Payroll Management

BambooHR offers full, integrated payroll; VIVA HR does not specify core payroll features.

BambooHR

BambooHR provides a unified, built-in payroll system coupled with time and benefits administration. Data flows automatically, reducing entry errors. It handles complex payment scenarios, including detailed multi-state tax filing and various multi-rate pay calculations. This ensures compliance. VIVA HR's focus is on talent acquisition, not on running core organizational payroll. You will need a third-party application or integration for paycheck processing. If integrating payroll with your employee data is a priority, BambooHR is the central, comprehensive solution.

Hiring & ATS Depth

VIVA HR excels in hiring collaboration; BambooHR integrates the ATS into the wider HRIS suite.

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BambooHR’s ATS efficiently manages candidates and immediately transitions to proactive onboarding tasks. It supports the start of the employee journey. VIVA HR uses highly streamlined pipelines and structured workflows for strong recruiting collaboration. It’s designed to boost hiring velocity. VIVA HR might seem smoother for pure day-to-day candidate management and team interaction. BambooHR provides deeper integration into core HR records. Use VIVA HR when hiring speed is paramount; use BambooHR when new hire data integration matters most.

Analytics & Reporting

BambooHR offers strategic workforce analysis; VIVA HR provides operational reports for hiring.

BambooHR

BambooHR features powerful analytical tools like Custom Dashboards and essential HR Benchmarks. These provide strategic context and trend analysis. These insights help HR teams move from guesswork to data-driven operational decisions consistently. Customers have saved thousands using these instant reports. VIVA HR reporting focuses on pipeline visibility, tracking candidate movement and collaboration status. It serves the recruitment team. BambooHR helps the executive team make C-Suite decisions; VIVA HR helps the hiring team track operational metrics.

User Experience (UX)

BambooHR's UX is globally recognized as exceptional across its deep feature set.

BambooHR

BambooHR consistently receives the highest marks for its highly intuitive and exceptional UI/UX. HR staff and employees adopt it quickly. This excellent design allows BambooHR to manage complex HR functions without feeling overwhelming or difficult to navigate. VIVA HR is also praised as user-friendly and easy to adopt, especially for small business owners. Its simpler design reflects its focused feature scope. BambooHR wins because it maintains market-leading ease of use across a much broader, more sophisticated set of tools.

Data Security

BambooHR guarantees security via SOC II audits; VIVA HR’s security protocols are not publicly specified.

BambooHR

BambooHR employs a transparent, robust security framework, including a Zero Trust model and encryption both in transit and at rest. BambooHR also undergoes annual third-party SOC II security audits to ensure ongoing protection of sensitive employee data. VIVA HR does not publicly state its specific audit protocols or architectural security framework in its material. Security is less transparent. For organizations dealing with highly sensitive HR data, BambooHR offers crucial, verifiable assurance and compliance evidence.

Our Verdict

Objective guidance based on features, pricing, and user fit.

BambooHR and VIVA HR often get mentioned together, yet they target entirely different HR infrastructure needs. For most organizations seeking a full HR foundation, the analysis clearly points to BambooHR. If you only need superior recruiting and cannot spend much, VIVA HR takes the lead. BambooHR’s superpower is unification and strategic excellence across the entire workforce. It centralizes payroll, time, and benefits management, often leading to huge administrative time savings. The user experience of BambooHR is exceptionally high, making complex HR tasks feel intuitive and seamless for employees. VIVA HR excels through its affordability and laser focus on effective talent acquisition. Its published starting price of $1/month makes VIVA HR an invaluable resource for budget-conscious hiring efforts. VIVA HR uses clear pipelines and strong team tools to ensure recruiting collaboration moves swiftly and smoothly. The deciding factor is scope: Do you need a robust, enterprise-ready HR system (BambooHR), or just a specialized, low-cost ATS (VIVA HR)? Choose BambooHR if you require integrated, compliant payroll and strategic workforce analytics. Choose VIVA HR if your primary current pain point is only the volume and velocity of hiring. Ultimately, BambooHR is a superior, scalable investment for full-cycle HR operations and high-growth mid-market companies. VIVA HR offers compelling, unbeatable value for small organizations where hiring is the single biggest technological priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for core payroll and tax filing: BambooHR or VIVA HR?

BambooHR offers full, unified payroll with multi-state tax filing and multi-rate pay management. VIVA HR is not designed for core payroll processing. VIVA HR users must rely on separate third-party integrations for paycheck tasks.

Is VIVA HR cheaper to implement than BambooHR?

Yes, VIVA HR is significantly cheaper and more accessible initially. VIVA HR has transparent plans starting at $1/month for small teams. BambooHR pricing is complex, quote-based, and typically requires a much larger investment.

Does BambooHR include an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) like VIVA HR?

Yes, BambooHR includes a powerful, robust ATS tightly integrated with its core HRIS features. While VIVA HR is primarily a specialized ATS tool, BambooHR handles the full hire-to-retire process seamlessly.

Which system offers better strategic workforce analytics and reporting?

BambooHR is superior here, offering advanced HR Benchmarks and Custom Dashboards for strategic analysis. VIVA HR reports focus mainly on operational metrics for recruitment pipeline visibility.

Is BambooHR's data security more transparent than VIVA HR's?

Yes. BambooHR publicly details its highly robust security, including annual SOC II audits and a Zero Trust model. VIVA HR does not provide comparable public security specifics for employee data.

Which software is better for very small businesses just starting out?

For businesses needing only Applicant Tracking and minimal cost, VIVA HR is a great option. For managing compliance and foundational employee data from day one, BambooHR is recommended.

Ready to Choose?

Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.