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
Comparison scorecard
Criterion-by-criterion results for Gusto and Homebase. Numeric bars appear only when both products have approved scores.
- Homebase
Starting pricing
Published floor price and what that floor actually includes.
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.
GustoWeakerHomebaseStronger - Homebase
Free plan
Whether a usable free plan is published, and what it gates.
Gusto does not research a free plan; Homebase researches a free plan.
GustoWeakerHomebaseStronger - Depends
User / licence minimum
Seat floors, per-employee minimums, and small-team pricing traps.
Check employee or licence minimums for Gusto and Homebase on current vendor packaging.
GustoDependsHomebaseDepends - Homebase
Integrations
Important third-party integrations.
Homebase leads on integrations (7/10 vs 8/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
Gusto7/10Homebase8/10
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