Software · head to head
CharlieHR vs Homebase
The short version
- Only Homebase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: CharlieHR limited payroll integration capabilities compared to dedicated payroll platforms; Homebase free Basic plan is capped at 10 employees and a single location
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CharlieHR and Homebase actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in CharlieHR
- Employee Database
- Time Off Management
- Onboarding
- Performance Reviews
- Team Engagement
- Company Directory
- Slack
- Google Workspace
Only in Homebase
Nothing recorded that CharlieHR does not also cover.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
CharlieHR
- Limited payroll integration capabilities compared to dedicated payroll platforms
- Pricing structure geared toward UK and Europe, with limited localization for other regions
- Add-on services like Charlie Recruit and Charlie Advice incur additional costs
- Smaller employee base (approximately 30 people) compared to enterprise HR competitors
Homebase
- Free Basic plan is capped at 10 employees and a single location
- Paid plans are billed per location per month ($30, $70 or $120), so a multi-location business pays the rate again for each site
- Payroll is a separate add-on at $39 per month plus $6 per month per employee paid
- Tip Manager and Task Manager are further add-ons billed per location per month on top of the base plan
Pricing, plan by plan
CharlieHR
£5/month- Core HR (Teams 1-4)$5/month
- Employee onboarding
- Time off management
- Document storage
Homebase
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Homebase review.
Which should you pick?
Choose CharlieHR if
- You need employee database.
- You work on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android).
- You also want time off management.
Questions people ask
- Is CharlieHR or Homebase better?
- Neither clearly leads. CharlieHR starts at £5/month and Homebase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CharlieHR or Homebase?
- Homebase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at £5/month for CharlieHR and Free for Homebase.
- Does CharlieHR or Homebase run on more platforms?
- CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android). Homebase runs on Web.
- Can I use Homebase for free?
- Yes. Homebase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CharlieHR starts at £5/month.
- What can CharlieHR do that Homebase cannot?
- CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Time Off Management, Onboarding, Performance Reviews.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
CharlieHR: Does CharlieHR offer a free plan?
CharlieHR does not have a free plan, but offers a 7-day free trial without requiring a credit card. Pricing starts at £5/month for teams of 1-4 employees.
SourceCharlieHR: What are CharlieHR's core features?
Core features include employee onboarding, time off tracking, performance reviews, document storage, employee engagement tools, and benefits management with access to 30,000+ discounts.
SourceCharlieHR: Does CharlieHR integrate with payroll systems?
CharlieHR integrates with major HR tech stacks and offers add-on services like Charlie Recruit for hiring automation. Payroll integration capabilities depend on the specific payroll provider you use.
SourceCharlieHR: Is CharlieHR GDPR compliant?
Yes. CharlieHR is GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001-certified, providing strong data security and privacy compliance for European businesses.
SourceCharlieHR: Does CharlieHR support multi-currency?
CharlieHR's pricing is primarily in GBP (British Pounds). International users can access the platform but currency and localization options may be limited.
Source