Softwr

HR · head to head

Homebase vs Kudos

Homebase logo

Homebase

HR

Scheduling, time tracking and HR for hourly teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kudos logo

Kudos

HR

Employee recognition that drives performance

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Homebase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Homebase free Basic plan is capped at 10 employees and a single location; Kudos no pricing published; requires demo request or direct sales contact
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homebase and Kudos actually diverge.

Attributes where Homebase and Kudos differ
AttributeHomebaseKudos
Starting priceFree$5/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android, Api
FoundedUnknown2010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

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 Homebase

Nothing recorded that Kudos does not also cover.

Only in Kudos

  • Peer-to-peer recognition
  • Manager recognition
  • Social recognition wall
  • Points & rewards
  • Awards & nominations
  • Anniversary celebrations
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Company values alignment

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Homebase

  • Managing shift schedules across restaurant locationsnot Kudos
  • Automating tip pool calculations and distributionnot Kudos
  • Processing payroll directly from time trackingnot Kudos
  • Onboarding and verifying hourly employeesnot Kudos

Kudos

  • Employee recognitionnot Homebase
  • Culture buildingnot Homebase
  • Employee engagementnot Homebase
  • Retention improvementnot Homebase
  • Values reinforcementnot Homebase

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Kudos

  • No pricing published; requires demo request or direct sales contact

Pricing, plan by plan

Homebase

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Up to 10 employees per location
    • Basic scheduling
    • Time tracking
  • Essentials$24/month
    • Unlimited employees per location
    • Advanced scheduling
    • Time tracking
  • Plus$56/month
    • Unlimited employees per location
    • AI-powered scheduling
    • PTO controls
  • All-in-One$96/month
    • Unlimited employees per location
    • Employee onboarding
    • Labor cost management

Kudos

$5/month
  • Plus$5/month
    • Peer recognition
    • Social recognition wall
    • Points system
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Plus
    • Awards & nominations
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Homebase if

  • You want to start without paying.
Homebase review

Choose Kudos if

  • You need peer-to-peer recognition.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want manager recognition.
Kudos review

Questions people ask

Is Homebase or Kudos better?
Neither clearly leads. Homebase starts at Free and Kudos at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homebase or Kudos?
Homebase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Homebase and $5/month for Kudos.
Does Homebase or Kudos run on more platforms?
Homebase runs on Web. Kudos runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use Homebase for free?
Yes. Homebase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kudos starts at $5/month.
What is Homebase best used for?
Homebase is most often used for managing shift schedules across restaurant locations, automating tip pool calculations and distribution, processing payroll directly from time tracking, onboarding and verifying hourly employees. Of those, managing shift schedules across restaurant locations and automating tip pool calculations and distribution are not what Kudos is typically brought in for.
What can Homebase do that Kudos cannot?
Kudos covers Peer-to-peer recognition, Manager recognition, Social recognition wall, Points & rewards.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Homebase: Does Homebase offer annual billing discounts?

Yes, Homebase annual billing offers savings: Essentials saves $72/year, Plus saves $168/year, All-in-One saves $288/year compared to monthly billing.

Source
Kudos: How much does Kudos cost?

Kudos does not publish standard pricing on its website. To learn pricing, contact Kudos for a 30-minute demo or reach out directly at +1 (888) 915-8367 or [email protected].

Source
Homebase: Is there a free trial for Homebase?

Homebase offers a free 14-day trial of the All-in-One plan with no credit card required.

Source
Kudos: How can I get Kudos pricing information?

Contact Kudos through their website demo request form or directly at [email protected] to discuss pricing and setup for your organization.

Source
Homebase: What does Homebase Payroll cost?

Homebase Payroll costs $39 per month base plus $6 per employee per month, with add-ons available for Tip Manager ($25/month) and Background Checks ($30 each).

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Homebase

More on Kudos

Keep looking

Other head to heads