Homebase vs QuickBooks Payroll

The short answer

Homebase is a scheduling and time clock app for hourly teams; its payroll is an add-on at $49 a month plus $6 per employee paid. QuickBooks Payroll, now sold as QuickBooks Workforce, starts at $50 a month plus $7 per employee, and Intuit files federal and state payroll taxes on every plan.

By LeadChange Research TeamUpdated Oct 20, 2026Facts checked Oct 12, 2026

Homebase

Starting price: $30/mo
Best for: Restaurants, retail and service businesses with hourly staff

Choose Homebase if

Your team works shifts and you want schedules, the time clock and payroll in one app.
You want the lower payroll fee: $49 a month plus $6 per employee paid.
You run a restaurant or shop: Homebase connects Square, Toast, Clover and Shopify.
You manage tips: Tip Manager is $25 a month per location.

Homebase pricing Homebase alternatives

QuickBooks Payroll

Starting price: $50/mo + $7/employee/mo
Best for: QuickBooks Online users who want payroll in the same Intuit account

Choose QuickBooks Payroll if

Your accounting already runs in QuickBooks Online: payroll can be added at any time.
You want same-day direct deposit on Premium or Elite.
You want an expert to set up payroll and tax penalty protection up to $25,000 a year (Elite).
You pay contractors too, with 1099 e-filing.

What QuickBooks Payroll costs QuickBooks Payroll alternatives

LeadChange Score: editorial assessment based on public information.

Scorecard

Homebase wins 2QuickBooks Payroll wins 21 tie

Homebase vs QuickBooks Payroll by dimension
Dimension	Homebase	QuickBooks Payroll
PricingHomebase payroll is $49 a month plus $6 per employee paid, on top of its scheduling plan; Basic is free for one location and 10 employees. QuickBooks Workforce Payroll is $50 plus $7 per employee, Premium $88 plus $13 and Elite $134 plus $17. Payroll add-on: $49 a month base plus $6 per employee paid (first 6 months free promotion), Tip Manager: $25 a month per location, Task Manager: $13 a month per location, Background checks: $30 each, Job post boosts: from $50 per post, Hiring Assistant: from $99 a month	Published	$50/mo + $7/employee/mo
CapabilitiesQuickBooks Payroll documents 9 of the 12 items on our payroll checklist, including automatic payroll runs, 1099 e-filing and an employee app. Homebase documents 8, with automated tax filing and overtime and break preferences. Payroll tax calculation, filing and payment, Automatic payroll runs after initial setup, 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC e-filing, Employee app for pay info and W-2s, Payroll AI time and attendance collection, Integrated time tracking and timesheet approval, Hiring, onboarding and e-signature offer letters, HR advisor access via Mineral, Expert-assisted payroll setup	8 of 12 core capabilities	9 of 12 core capabilities
IntegrationsHomebase names point-of-sale systems such as Square, Toast and Clover, and payroll and accounting tools such as Gusto, ADP and QuickBooks. QuickBooks Payroll keeps its Workforce API for approved partners. Square, Toast, Clover, Shopify, Lightspeed, PAR, GoDaddy, Heartland, Gusto, ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks, SurePayroll, Square Payroll	14 documented	4 documented
SecurityIntuit states ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II at company level. Homebase states SOC 2 Type 2 and offers SSO and two-factor sign-in. Yes	SOC 2	SOC 2, ISO 27001
Fit and supportHomebase is built for small businesses with hourly staff. QuickBooks Payroll serves small and midsize businesses, with weekend phone and chat on Premium and Elite. Small businesses	Small businesses	Small businesses, mid-market companies

Key differences

Where Homebase and QuickBooks Payroll differ (7)
Attribute	Homebase	QuickBooks Payroll
Pricing model	Tiered plans	Base fee + per employee
Free plan
Best for	Small businesses	Small businesses, mid-market companies
Support channels	24/7 AI chat support and Help Center, Live support by chat and phone (paid plans)	Phone, chat, online support hub and community
Founded	2014	1984
Headquarters	San Francisco, California, United States	Mountain View, California, US
Ownership	Private	Publicly traded

Show 6 attributes where they are the same

Where they are the same (6)
Attribute	Homebase	QuickBooks Payroll
Price transparency	Published	Published
Free trial
Contract term	Monthly	Monthly
Mobile apps		iOS (QuickBooks Workforce), Android (QuickBooks Workforce)
SOC 2 Type II
Automatic tax filing

Analysis by dimension

Pricing. Homebase payroll is $49 a month plus $6 per employee paid, on top of its scheduling plan; Basic is free for one location and 10 employees. QuickBooks Workforce Payroll is $50 plus $7 per employee, Premium $88 plus $13 and Elite $134 plus $17.

Capabilities. QuickBooks Payroll documents 9 of the 12 items on our payroll checklist, including automatic payroll runs, 1099 e-filing and an employee app. Homebase documents 8, with automated tax filing and overtime and break preferences.

Integrations. Homebase names point-of-sale systems such as Square, Toast and Clover, and payroll and accounting tools such as Gusto, ADP and QuickBooks. QuickBooks Payroll keeps its Workforce API for approved partners.

Security. Intuit states ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II at company level. Homebase states SOC 2 Type 2 and offers SSO and two-factor sign-in.

Fit and support. Homebase is built for small businesses with hourly staff. QuickBooks Payroll serves small and midsize businesses, with weekend phone and chat on Premium and Elite.

Neither one?

Patriot Payroll

Patriot Payroll has the highest LeadChange Score in Payroll Software after excluding these two (9.3/10).

From $17/mo + $4/employee/mo

More Homebase comparisons

More QuickBooks Payroll comparisons

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper for 10 employees, Homebase or QuickBooks Payroll?

Homebase, by a little. Its payroll add-on comes to $109 a month for 10 employees: $49 plus $6 each. QuickBooks Workforce Payroll comes to $120: $50 plus $7 each. Homebase’s payroll sits on top of its scheduling plan, and Basic is free for one location.

Does Homebase work with QuickBooks?

Yes. QuickBooks is among the payroll and accounting tools Homebase connects, next to Gusto, ADP and Paychex. You can keep scheduling in Homebase and run payroll in QuickBooks, or run both in Homebase.

What is QuickBooks Payroll called now?

Intuit sells it as QuickBooks Workforce, in three plans: Workforce Payroll, Premium and Elite. Premium and Elite add time tracking, scheduling and the Workforce app.

Which pays employees faster, Homebase or QuickBooks?

QuickBooks states next-day direct deposit on Workforce Payroll and same-day on Premium and Elite, with a 7 AM PT cutoff. We have no stored deposit timing for Homebase payroll; ask before you switch.

Is Homebase or QuickBooks Payroll more secure?

Intuit states ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II across its products. Homebase states SOC 2 Type 2 and encrypts data at rest with AES-256.

Who are QuickBooks Payroll’s competitors for shift teams?

Among the payroll services we review, we also compare QuickBooks Payroll with Gusto, Square Payroll, Paychex Flex, Patriot Payroll and SurePayroll. Against QuickBooks, Homebase’s case is the shift tools and the lower fee; QuickBooks' is the link to your books.

Do Homebase and QuickBooks Payroll offer a free trial?

Yes, both list a free trial. Homebase also lists a free plan.

Homebase or QuickBooks Payroll? Your answer in 3 questions

Your team size, what matters most and your role: see which one fits more of your answers, from verified facts and list prices. Then, if you like, ask to hear from both.

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