Softwr

HR · head to head

Homebase vs SmartHR

Homebase logo

Homebase

HR

Scheduling, time tracking and HR for hourly teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SmartHR logo

SmartHR

HR

Japanese back-office cloud for labor management, payroll and talent management

From
On request
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; SmartHR no specific pricing published on vendor website
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homebase and SmartHR actually diverge.

Attributes where Homebase and SmartHR differ
AttributeHomebaseSmartHR
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

What people use each for

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

Homebase

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

SmartHR

  • Reducing combined processing time by 88% across HR functionsnot Homebase
  • Centralizing employee information through onboarding to offboardingnot Homebase
  • Distributing payroll and salary statements via mobile appnot Homebase
  • Automating document distribution and employee communicationsnot Homebase
  • Integrating with 120+ external systems for extended functionalitynot 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

SmartHR

  • No specific pricing published on vendor website
  • Requires direct quotation for customized pricing
  • Multiple plan options create complexity in pricing structure

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

SmartHR

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the SmartHR review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Homebase if

  • You want to start without paying.
Homebase review

Choose SmartHR if

Nothing in the data separates SmartHR from Homebase on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

SmartHR review

Questions people ask

Is Homebase or SmartHR better?
Neither clearly leads. Homebase starts at Free and SmartHR at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homebase or SmartHR?
Homebase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Homebase and On request for SmartHR.
Does Homebase or SmartHR 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. SmartHR starts at On request.
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 SmartHR is typically brought in for.

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
SmartHR: How much does SmartHR cost?

SmartHR pricing is customized per organization based on features and user count. The vendor does not publish standard pricing rates. Customers must use the estimation tool or contact the vendor directly to receive a personalized quote. No additional charges are assessed beyond monthly usage fees.

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
SmartHR: What is SmartHR's free tier?

SmartHR offers a free plan (¥0プラン) for small businesses with up to 30 employees. This tier provides basic employee data management without additional charges, making it suitable for very small organizations or trials.

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
SmartHR: What are SmartHR's plan options?

SmartHR provides multiple plans including HR Strategy Plan (labor and talent management), Essential Plan (labor management focus), Talent Management Plan (employee growth focus), and a specialized plan for companies with 50 or fewer employees. Optional add-ons including payroll, attendance tracking, and recruitment are available.

Source
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