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Software · head to head

Homebase vs Namely

Homebase logo

Homebase

Software

Scheduling, time tracking and HR for hourly teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Namely logo

Namely

Software

The HR platform that employees love

From
$18/employee/month
Rated
-

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; Namely limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homebase and Namely actually diverge.

Attributes where Homebase and Namely differ
AttributeHomebaseNamely
Starting priceFree$18/employee/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
FoundedUnknown2012

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Homebase

Nothing recorded that Namely does not also cover.

Only in Namely

  • HR Management
  • Payroll
  • Benefits Administration
  • Time Off Management
  • Performance Management
  • Onboarding
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace

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

Namely

  • Limited customization for complex HR processes: workflows and customization options are limited compared to enterprise solutions
  • Payroll limitations: better served for less complex organizations and struggles with complex time-and-attendance or multi-FEIN scenarios
  • Missing ATS and surveys: lacks built-in applicant tracking system and pulse survey capabilities
  • Slow support response times: pod-based support model has led to slow response times for customers
  • Designed for specific market segment: best fit is mid-sized companies with 50-350 employees

Pricing, plan by plan

Homebase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Homebase review.

Namely

$18/employee/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Namely review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Homebase if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Namely if

  • You need hr management.
  • You also want payroll.

Questions people ask

Is Homebase or Namely better?
Neither clearly leads. Homebase starts at Free and Namely at $18/employee/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homebase or Namely?
Homebase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Homebase and $18/employee/month for Namely.
Does Homebase or Namely run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Homebase for free?
Yes. Homebase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Namely starts at $18/employee/month.
What can Homebase do that Namely cannot?
Namely covers HR Management, Payroll, Benefits Administration, Time Off Management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Namely: Does Namely support global payroll?

Namely primarily focuses on mid-sized US-based companies with 50-350 employees. While it can handle complex payroll scenarios, it is better served for less complex organizations and does not have extensive global payroll capabilities compared to enterprise platforms.

Source
Namely: What is included in Namely's Premium pricing?

Premium plans cost $18-24 per employee per month plus implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs. Plans include payroll, HR, benefits administration, time management, and talent management features.

Source
Namely: Does Namely include performance management features?

Yes, Namely offers customizable performance review modules enabling dynamic, ongoing feedback rather than traditional annual-only reviews. This is one of Namely's standout features.

Source
Namely: How long does Namely implementation typically take?

Namely is designed for mid-sized companies and implementation timelines vary based on complexity. The platform includes implementation fees of 10-25% of annual software costs in addition to monthly per-employee pricing.

Source

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