Gusto vs Homebase
Compare Gusto and Homebase on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Gusto
US SMB payroll + benefits + light HR — Simple from $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22.
Best for
- • US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
- • Teams that want published month-to-month pricing instead of HCM quotes
- • Single-state companies that can start on Simple and upgrade for multi-state
Starting from $49.00/user/mo
No free plan
VS
Our verdict
No universal winner. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.
Homebase is better for
- ✓ Starting pricing
- ✓ Free plan
- ✓ Integrations
Choose Gusto if: US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
Choose Homebase if: Small hourly businesses (retail, cafes, local services) that need scheduling + time in one app
Homebase
SMB hourly WFM (scheduling, time, hiring) priced per location — free Basic ≤10 employees at 1 site; paid Essentials from $24/location/mo annual.
Best for
- • Small hourly businesses (retail, cafes, local services) that need scheduling + time in one app
- • Teams that want a free ≤10-employee starter before paying per location
- • Operators who may add payroll later rather than buying Gusto first
Starting from $24.00/user/mo
Free plan available
Gusto vs Homebase at a glance
Criterion-level leaders from verified research.
Scorecard preview
Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.
- Starting pricingHomebase
Gusto
Homebase
- Free planHomebase
Gusto
Homebase
- User / licence minimumDepends
Gusto
Homebase
- IntegrationsHomebase
Gusto
Homebase
Which HR software is better for you?
Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.
- → Homebase
Best for starting pricing
Homebase publishes a lower researched starting floor ($24/mo vs $49/mo for Gusto). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.
- → Homebase
Best for free plan
Gusto does not research a free plan; Homebase researches a free plan.
- → Homebase
Best for integrations
Homebase leads on integrations (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
The biggest differences
Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.
Starting pricing
Homebase winsGusto
Trails Homebase on this criterion
Homebase
Homebase publishes a lower researched starting floor ($24/mo vs $49/mo for Gusto). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.
Which should you choose?
Choose Gusto if
- US small businesses running payroll (and benefits) for the first time
- Teams that want published month-to-month pricing instead of HCM quotes
- Single-state companies that can start on Simple and upgrade for multi-state
Choose Homebase if
- Small hourly businesses (retail, cafes, local services) that need scheduling + time in one app
- Teams that want a free ≤10-employee starter before paying per location
- Operators who may add payroll later rather than buying Gusto first
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider
Rippling
Unified people platform (HR + payroll + IT/spend) — published SMB floor $8/user/mo plus $40/mo platform fee; modules are quote-stacked.
BambooHR
SMB/mid-market core HRIS with Core/Pro/Elite PEPM tiers — Core from $10/employee/mo above 25 employees, or $250/mo flat floor for smaller teams.
Greenhouse
Structured-hiring ATS (Core / Plus / Pro) — custom quote by plan, hiring volume, and org complexity; no published seat dollars.
Connecteam
Frontline workforce app with Ops, Comms, and HR & Skills hubs — free ≤10 users; paid hubs from $29/mo annual for first 30 users.
How we compare
A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology
1
Collect
Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.
2
Normalize
Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.
3
Compare
Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.
4
Explain
Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.
Still deciding between Gusto and Homebase?
Use Best HR software for a shortlist matched to your priorities, or build another side-by-side comparison.
- Independent criterion outcomes
- No invented scores or prices
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