Homebase vs Gusto
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Homebase and Gusto.
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Verdict: Gusto wins
Gusto scores 4.3/5, edging out Homebase at 4.0/5. Best for US small businesses with 5–50 employees that want payroll, taxes and benefits handled in one system by a non-specialist.
Homebase Personeelsplanning & payroll | Gusto Payroll & HR (VS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.0 (1 review) | 4.3 (1 review) |
| Pricing Model | paid | paid |
| Starting Price | Pricing varies | Pricing varies |
| Best For | Best for US single-site or small multi-site businesses with hourly workers — restaurants, retail, salons, clinics — that want scheduling and time clocks free and payroll attached later. | Best for US small businesses with 5–50 employees that want payroll, taxes and benefits handled in one system by a non-specialist. |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | — | — |
Homebase
Pros
- + Free Basic plan genuinely covers a small shop — one location, up to 10 employees, scheduling and time tracking with POS integration (joinhomebase.com/pricing)
- + Deepest shift-rule customisation I have tested in this class: per-location break/overtime rules, no-show and overtime alerts, role-based scheduling (PCMag reached the same conclusion)
- + Per-location pricing with unlimited employees on paid tiers means adding staff never raises the bill
- + Mobile manager experience handles real tasks — fixing missed clock-outs, approving swaps, checking attendance — from a phone
- + Payroll add-on ($39/month + $6/employee) runs full-service tax filing from the same timesheets, closing the loop from clock-in to payday
Cons
- - Two-part pricing (core plan + payroll add-on) makes the payroll configuration more expensive than Gusto or OnPay for small teams, as PCMag also found
- - Vendor pages conflict on the free plan cap (10 employees on the pricing page, 20 on an older solutions page)
- - US-only: no international payroll, EOR or non-US tax handling
- - Payroll preview detail and custom reporting are thin until higher tiers; earnings columns need horizontal scrolling in the payroll worksheet
- - AI scheduling, PTO controls and departments are gated to Plus ($70/location), and HR/compliance tooling to All-in-One ($120/location)
Gusto
Pros
- + Full-service payroll with unlimited runs and automatic federal/state/local tax filings included on every paid plan (gusto.com/pricing)
- + Setup wizard and payroll worksheet made my first test run a review-and-approve job, not a calculation job — a first-time employer can configure a 5-person team in under an hour
- + Transparent per-person pricing with a published plan comparison; a 10-person team is $109/month on Simple at time of writing
- + Benefits stack (health, 401(k), HSA/FSA, workers' comp, commuter) is integrated with payroll rather than a separate portal
- + Premium includes payroll migration from a previous provider plus same-day and instant pay — the only plan where the white-glove service exists
Cons
- - US-only: no international payroll or EOR, so any overseas hire needs a second system
- - Base fee distorts value for micro-teams — $79/month effective for 5 people on Simple versus $6.49/person at 100 (peopleopsclub.com)
- - Multi-state payroll, time tracking and configurable PTO are gated to Plus at $80 + $12/person, a 91% monthly jump for a 25-person company over Simple
- - Add-ons can exceed the next tier: Plus-level features bought on Simple ran ~$214/month versus $200 for Plus itself on published rates
- - Priority support is sold separately ($30/month + $3/person per published add-on rates) and compliance alerts sit on Premium only
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Homebase or Gusto?▼
Gusto scores higher at 4.3/5 vs 4.0/5 for Homebase, making it the better-rated option in our comparison.
What is the difference between Homebase and Gusto?▼
Homebase: Homebase handles scheduling, time clocks, hiring and payroll for small businesses with hourly staff. Gusto: Gusto is payroll and HR software for US small businesses, covering pay runs, tax filing, benefits and onboarding.
Is Homebase or Gusto more affordable?▼
Homebase starts at €0/mo, Gusto starts at €0/mo. Check the comparison table above for current pricing.
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