Homebase vs Payroll4Free

Two payroll & HR tools side by side. Prices are the starting plan a small business would pick, in USD.

Short version

  • Payroll4Free costs less for a six-person team.
  • Homebase fits retail shop, restaurant or café.
  • Payroll4Free fits agency or studio, trades or contractor, online store.
  • Homebase suits teams past ten people.
CompareHomebaseHomebasePayroll4FreePayroll4Free.com
In one linePayroll and scheduling for hourly teamsFree payroll software for teams of 9 or fewer
Starting priceFrom $49/mo + $6/personFree
Six-person team$85/mo$0/mo
PlansPayroll $49/mo + $6 per employee paid, first 6 months free (limited time); Basic scheduling free for 1 location, up to 10 employeesFree for 9 or fewer people paid no more than once a month (ad-supported); filled-out tax forms incur a small fee; optional Payroll Tax Service and Direct Deposit Service at unpublished prices
Pricing modelPaidFree
Free trial——
UsersPer personUp to 9 paid
Both connect toNo shared connections on record.
Also connects toQuickBooks Online, Homebase SchedulingNone in our catalog
Team size2–10 people · 11–50 peopleJust me · 2–10 people
Available inUSUS
Phone supportEvery paid planEvery plan
Live chatEvery plan; every paid planNone listed
Support hoursLive chat: 24/7 · Live chat: 7:00am-7:00pm CST, Mon-Sun (excluding holidays) · Phone: 7:00am-7:00pm CST, Mon-Sun (excluding holidays)Not published
Incidents posted2 incidents posted on Homebase's status page, which covers all Homebase products and regions, in the 90 days to Oct 27, 2026; 0 marked major or critical by Homebase. Status pageWe found no public status page for Payroll4Free.com.
Capterra score4.6 / 5 from 1,157 reviews3.1 / 5 from 13 reviews (few reviews)
Trustpilot scoreNot listed2.2 / 5 from 8 reviews (few reviews)
Fit: Retail shop8858
Fit: Restaurant or café9255
Fit: Service business6060
Fit: Agency or studio2045
Fit: Trades or contractor5060
Fit: Online store3045
Why people pick it
  • Scheduling, time clock, and payroll together
  • Tips handling
  • Free for small teams
  • W-2 and 1099 workers
Where it falls short
  • Weak for salaried teams
  • Payroll is newer than Gusto's
  • You file payroll taxes yourself unless you pay
  • Ads in the software
Visit Homebase Visit Payroll4Free

Six-person prices are what a team of six would pay on the published plans; "Not listed" means those plans don't cover six. How we calculate prices

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