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It's a split decision.
Choose BambooHR for employee records, hiring, payroll, benefits and performance in one HR-focused platform. Choose Homebase for hourly teams that need scheduling, time tracking and team communication, with a free plan for one location and up to 10 employees. BambooHR starts at $10.25 per employee monthly, with a $250 flat rate for companies with 25 or fewer employees on Core. Homebase paid plans are priced per location, and payroll costs extra.
01Side by side
| BambooHR | Homebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $10.25 per employee/month | $0 Basic plan |
| Free plan | No free plan listed | One location, up to 10 employees |
| Best for | Businesses needing broad HR tools | Small businesses with hourly teams |
| Core strength | Employee data and HR management | Scheduling and time tracking |
| Learning curve | Not published | Not published |
| Integrations/data | Employee records, reports and analytics | Schedules, hours and timesheets |
| Team/seat costs | Per employee; flat rates up to 25 | Per location; paid plans allow unlimited employees |
| Support | Review score: 5/10 | Review score: 5/10 |
BambooHR Choose BambooHR if
- Choose BambooHR if… you need employee records and HR reporting.
- Choose BambooHR if… performance tools matter to your HR setup.
- Choose BambooHR if… hiring, benefits and compensation belong together.
Homebase Choose Homebase if
- Choose Homebase if… your team works hourly shifts.
- Choose Homebase if… you need scheduling and time tracking.
- Choose Homebase if… a free, one-location plan fits your team.
02Pricing compared
BambooHR Core starts at $10.25 per employee per month. For companies with 25 or fewer employees, the listed Core price is $250 per month flat. Pro is $17.50 per employee monthly, or $425 flat for smaller companies; Elite is $25 per employee monthly, or $650 flat. The pricing page lists month-to-month prices, but annual rates are not published. Payroll, benefits administration and time and attendance are add-ons with no published prices.
Homebase’s Basic plan is free for one location and up to 10 employees, with timesheets stored for up to 90 days. Paid plans start at $30 per location monthly for Essentials; annual prices are not published. Payroll costs extra: $49 monthly plus $6 per paid employee, or $29 monthly for teams of up to five. The listed offer makes payroll free for the first six months.
03Features and depth
BambooHR is the broader HR-focused option. Its employee records, reporting and workflows sit alongside hiring and onboarding, benefits tracking, payroll and time tools, performance management, and compensation planning. The plan tiers differ: Core includes HR data, time off and benefits tracking; Pro adds performance management and recognition; Elite lists advanced analytics and compensation, plus data-integrity services and administrator training. Payroll, benefits administration and time and attendance are separately priced add-ons, so check what your quote includes.
Homebase is built around hourly, shift-based teams. It combines scheduling, availability, time tracking, breaks, overtime, hiring and team communication. The All-in-One plan adds HR and compliance; Plus includes PTO controls, departments and permissions. Homebase lists payroll as an add-on, not part of the plan prices. Its homepage names restaurants, retail, beauty and wellness, medical, and home services as target industries.
Choose BambooHR for a wider set of employee-management functions. Choose Homebase when shift scheduling and time tracking are the main operational needs.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Neither pricing page establishes which product is easier to learn, so we would not treat ease as settled by the plan descriptions. The practical difference is what teams need to set up and maintain. BambooHR covers employee records, hiring, benefits and performance, with higher tiers adding more tools. Homebase centers on schedules, clock-ins and communication, with HR and compliance on All-in-One.
For a small hourly team, Homebase’s free Basic plan gives a way to start with scheduling and time tracking for one location and up to 10 employees. BambooHR may fit better when HR administration is the priority, but its add-on prices are not published. Compare the workflows your team needs and get an itemized quote before switching.
Questions people ask
What is the toll-free phone number for BambooHR?
The product information available to us does not list a toll-free phone number for BambooHR, so we can’t verify one here. Check BambooHR’s official contact or support information for a current number rather than relying on an unverified listing.
How do I login to BambooHR?
The materials available to us describe BambooHR’s features and pricing, but do not provide login instructions or a login URL. Use the login link provided by your employer or check BambooHR’s official website; your organization may have its own account setup process.
What kind of software is BambooHR?
BambooHR is an HR platform for managing employee data, hiring, payroll, benefits and performance. Its listed tools also cover onboarding, time off, reporting, employee experience and compensation planning. Payroll, benefits administration and time and attendance are listed as add-ons with no published prices.
Who does BambooHR compete with?
The information available here does not name BambooHR’s competitors, so we won’t guess at a list. This comparison puts it against Homebase: BambooHR focuses on broad HR administration, while Homebase centers on scheduling and time tracking for hourly teams, with HR tools on its All-in-One plan.