Homebase vs Rippling
Compare Homebase and Rippling on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.

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
VS
Our verdict
No universal winner. Choose based on which criteria matter most for your team.
Homebase is better for
- ✓ Free plan
Rippling is better for
- ✓ Starting pricing
- ✓ Integrations
Choose Homebase if: Small hourly businesses (retail, cafes, local services) that need scheduling + time in one app
Choose Rippling if: Companies that want HR, payroll, and IT provisioning on one employee record

Rippling
Unified people platform (HR + payroll + IT/spend) — published SMB floor $8/user/mo plus $40/mo platform fee; modules are quote-stacked.
Best for
- • Companies that want HR, payroll, and IT provisioning on one employee record
- • Fast-growing teams willing to model modular PEPM TCO
- • Orgs that currently stitch HRIS + Okta/MDM + payroll and want one hire event
Starting from $8.00/user/mo
No free plan
Homebase vs Rippling 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 pricingRippling
Homebase
Rippling
- Free planHomebase
Homebase
Rippling
- User / licence minimumDepends
Homebase
Rippling
- IntegrationsRippling
Homebase
Rippling
Which HR software is better for you?
Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.
- → Homebase
Best for free plan
Homebase researches a free plan; Rippling does not research a free plan.
- → Rippling
Best for starting pricing
Rippling publishes a lower researched starting floor ($8/mo vs $24/mo for Homebase). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.
- → Rippling
Best for integrations
Rippling leads on integrations (8/10 vs 9/10) from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments — not hands-on lab testing.
The biggest differences
Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.
Starting pricing
Rippling winsHomebase
Trails Rippling on this criterion
Rippling
Rippling publishes a lower researched starting floor ($8/mo vs $24/mo for Homebase). Confirm currency, renewals, and add-ons — not a total TCO winner.
Which should you choose?
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
Choose Rippling if
- Companies that want HR, payroll, and IT provisioning on one employee record
- Fast-growing teams willing to model modular PEPM TCO
- Orgs that currently stitch HRIS + Okta/MDM + payroll and want one hire event
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider

Connecteam
Frontline workforce app with Ops, Comms, and HR & Skills hubs — free ≤10 users; paid hubs from $29/mo annual for first 30 users.

When I Work
Per-user hourly scheduling — Essentials from $2.50/user/mo; Pro $5; Premium $8; 14-day trial. Time & attendance is a paid toggle.

Deputy
Mid-market hourly WFM — Lite $5 / Core $6.50 / Pro $9 per user/mo; $30 invoice minimum; up to 31-day trial.

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.
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 Homebase and Rippling?
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
- Affiliate links never change winners
Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.