Dover vs. BambooHR: Which Is Better? (December 2025)
Dover
December 29, 2025
•
4 mins
BambooHR is an HR management software built for small and medium-sized businesses that need to centralize their people operations. The system handles employee data management, benefits administration, time off tracking, and performance reviews from a single dashboard.
The software includes an applicant tracking module as part of its broader HR suite, letting companies post jobs, manage candidates, and track applications alongside their other HR tasks. BambooHR also offers add-on services like payroll processing, though these typically come with additional fees beyond the base subscription.
Companies access BambooHR through tiered pricing plans that charge per employee per month. More advanced capabilities like performance management tools and customizable reporting require higher-tier plans.
BambooHR is positioned as a full HR management solution instead of a recruiting-first tool, making it popular with companies that need people management beyond just hiring.
Dover is a recruiting solution built for startups that need to scale hiring fast. We offer a completely free ATS with AI-powered candidate screening, simplified interview scheduling with automation, one-click posting to 100+ job boards, and integrated sourcing tools.
What sets us apart is combining software with services. Use the free ATS on its own, or tap into our marketplace of vetted fractional recruiters who work directly with your team. These recruiting partners bill hourly with no long-term contracts, giving you expert help without the hefty fees traditional agencies charge.
Setup takes minutes. Our Chrome extension helps identify publicly available candidate contact information for outreach, while AI automatically ranks incoming applicants so you can focus on the best fits. Everything from career page creation to employee referral tracking lives in one place.
We've worked with over 1,200 startups, helping them hire their first employees through their hundredth.
BambooHR is an HR information system where recruiting sits alongside payroll processing, benefits enrollment, performance management, and employee records. The applicant tracking module is one feature within a larger suite focused on managing your workforce after people are hired.
Dover focuses on recruiting. Every feature exists to make hiring faster. You won't find payroll tools or benefits administration because we're not building an HR system.
If you need software to manage existing employees with basic hiring capabilities, BambooHR's bundled approach works. If hiring is your primary challenge and you need recruiting tools plus access to fractional recruiters, Dover fits better.
Applicant Tracking and Hiring Features
Both track applicants through hiring stages, but with different approaches. BambooHR includes recruiting as part of its broader HR suite, while Dover focuses exclusively on hiring.
BambooHR's Recruiting Features
BambooHR's ATS posts jobs, centralizes applications, and lets teams collaborate on candidate reviews. The system uses one pipeline structure for all roles, which limits customization across different workflows. Interview scheduling needs manual work or third-party tools. Pre-screening automation is basic compared to recruiting-focused software.
Dover's Recruiting Features
Our free ATS automates repetitive hiring work. AI-powered scoring ranks applicants instantly based on your criteria. Post to 100+ job boards with one click and review all applications in one dashboard. Scheduling happens automatically with customizable templates. A Chrome extension helps identify publicly available candidate contact information for outreach, and employee referrals track from submission through hire.
Pricing and Cost Structure
BambooHR uses subscription pricing that scales with company size. Teams under 25 employees pay a flat monthly rate, while larger organizations move to per-employee pricing. The Core tier starts at $250 monthly for small teams, covering basic HR functions and the applicant tracking module.
Performance management tools, custom reporting, time tracking, and benefits administration each require additional fees beyond the base subscription. Payroll processing is available as another paid service.
Dover's ATS is completely free with no usage limits. Post unlimited jobs, add unlimited team members, and manage any hiring volume without paying subscription fees. You get AI candidate scoring, automated scheduling, 70+ job board postings, sourcing tools, and analytics at zero cost.
You only pay if you bring in a recruiter from our marketplace. These fractional recruiting partners bill hourly with transparent rates and no contracts. Average cost per hire through Dover runs in the low thousands, compared to traditional agencies that charge 20–25% of first-year salary. For a $120,000 role, that's $24,000–$30,000 through an agency versus a few thousand with Dover's recruiting partners.
Expert Recruiting Support
BambooHR provides software but no recruiting services. If you need help sourcing candidates or closing difficult roles, you handle it internally or separately contract with recruiting agencies.
Dover's marketplace connects you with vetted fractional recruiters who have startup hiring experience. They're real people who source passive candidates, conduct initial screenings, and guide your closing strategy.
You work with one dedicated recruiter matched to your needs, not five agencies competing for the same placement. When multiple recruiters blast the same candidates, it damages your employer brand and creates confusion. Our model gives you a recruiting partner who understands your company and represents you consistently.
Engage a recruiter for one role or your entire hiring pipeline. They work on your team's Slack and become an extension of your recruiting function without requiring a full-time hire.
Why Dover Is the Better Choice
Frequently Asked Questions
Final thoughts on Dover and BambooHR
Table of contents
