# BambooHR vs Vanilla POS

The clearest difference is ratings volume: BambooHR at 13K against Vanilla POS's 1. BambooHR also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and monetization model (freemium vs paid). Vanilla POS's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Vanilla POS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BambooHR has 13K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

BambooHR ships an update every 2 weeks, Vanilla POS monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BambooHR | Vanilla POS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (13K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamboohr/id587244049/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vanilla-pos/id6717609850/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **13K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 26.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Size | 287 MB | 87 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BambooHR](https://appshunter.io/developer/587244052) | [Turkois Design LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769290222) |

## What reviewers say

### BambooHR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bamboohr/id587244049)

Access essential HR functions on the go. View your company directory, manage time off requests, and stay updated with notifications. Securely access employee information and approve or deny leave requests from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Company directory access, Time off requests and approvals, View colleague information, Add contacts to phone, Check time off balances, Push notifications for requests, TouchID and passcode protection

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use for employer and employee
- 👍 Simple to use
- 👍 Professional approach
- 👍 User friendly
- 👍 Great app when it involves anything to do with my job

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App ask for update to see inbox, people or my info
- 🐛 Locks you out
- 🐛 Spends a lot of time down, can't always see signature so you don't know if forms are actually filed out or not
- 🐛 Not user friendly
- 🐛 Freezes

**Reported bugs**

- App ask for update to see inbox, people or my info
- Locks you out
- Spends a lot of time down, can't always see signature so you don't know if forms are actually filed out or not
- Freezes
- Notifications don't clear properly

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced calendar view on app
- Allow employees to download letter of employment at their own
- Easier way to fix clocking issues
- Easier way to track lieu hours


### Vanilla POS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vanilla-pos/id6717609850)

A customizable point-of-sale system that integrates with Stripe Terminal for efficient in-store, online, and mobile sales. It offers flexible payment options, secure transactions, and tailored features for businesses of all sizes, including digital receipts and reporting.

**Highlights:** Stripe Terminal integration, Tap to Pay on iPhone support, Complete sales and refund flow, Customizable POS configurations, Digital receipts and reporting, Gift card and loyalty program support, Multi-location support

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BambooHR free?

BambooHR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Vanilla POS free?

Vanilla POS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BambooHR or Vanilla POS?

Vanilla POS is rated higher. BambooHR averages 4.7 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Vanilla POS averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do BambooHR or Vanilla POS have ads?

Neither BambooHR nor Vanilla POS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BambooHR or Vanilla POS?

BambooHR ships an update every 2 weeks, and Vanilla POS monthly. Most recently, BambooHR was updated on October 25, 2026 and Vanilla POS on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*