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HR · head to head

Homebase vs Zoho People

Homebase logo

Homebase

HR

Scheduling, time tracking and HR for hourly teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoho People logo

Zoho People

HR

Cloud HR software for growing businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Homebase free Basic plan is capped at 10 employees and a single location; Zoho People slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Homebase and Zoho People actually diverge.

Attributes where Homebase and Zoho People differ
AttributeHomebaseZoho People
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
FoundedUnknown1996

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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 Zoho People does not also cover.

Only in Zoho People

  • Employee Database
  • Time Off
  • Time Tracking
  • Attendance
  • Performance
  • Onboarding
  • Self-Service
  • Zoho CRM

What people use each for

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

Homebase

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

Zoho People

  • Automating recruitment workflows from application through onboardingnot Homebase
  • Managing performance evaluations and compensation decisions centrallynot Homebase
  • Tracking employee time, attendance, and leave in real-timenot Homebase
  • Generating HR analytics to measure employee satisfaction and retentionnot 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

Zoho People

  • Slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
  • Limited customization options for leave and performance management workflows
  • Mobile app is missing key features available in desktop version, like timesheets and reporting
  • Customer support is ticket-based only with no live chat unless on premium plan

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

Zoho People

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Zoho People review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Homebase if

  • You want to start without paying.
Homebase review

Choose Zoho People if

  • You need employee database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want time off.
Zoho People review

Questions people ask

Is Homebase or Zoho People better?
Neither clearly leads. Homebase starts at Free and Zoho People at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Homebase or Zoho People?
Homebase starts at Free and Zoho People at Free.
Does Homebase or Zoho People run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Homebase for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Zoho People is typically brought in for.
What can Homebase do that Zoho People cannot?
Zoho People covers Employee Database, Time Off, Time Tracking, Attendance.

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
Zoho People: Does Zoho People have a free tier?

Yes, the Free plan supports up to 5-10 users with essential HR tools, email support, and 30-day free trial available on all paid plans with no credit card required.

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
Zoho People: What is the pricing for Zoho People?

Pricing starts at $1.25 per user per month when billed annually. The Essential HR plan costs $1.50 monthly per user, dropping to $1.25 annually with five tiers available: Free, Essential HR, Professional, Premium, and Enterprise.

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
Zoho People: Does Zoho People work with other Zoho applications?

Yes, Zoho People integrates with the Zoho ecosystem including Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and other Zoho applications for unified business management.

Source
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