Updated October 18, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team
Homebase vs Time Doctor
Homebase
Higher score in this comparison
Time Doctor
What sets them apart
| Compare | HomebaseReviewVisitVisit | Time DoctorReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Usage limits | Up to 10 employees at 1 location | 14-day trial, all features |
| Integrations | 17 | 60Higher |
| Tool type | Scheduling, HR, Payments | Project management |
| Price from | $30 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Free trial length (14 days).
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Key differences
- Homebase scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Free plan: only Homebase.
- Integrations is higher at Time Doctor: 60 vs 17.
- Support channels: only Homebase offers Chat, Phone.
- Audience: only Time Doctor offers Enterprise.
- Pricing model: only Homebase offers Free plan.
- Tool type: only Homebase offers Scheduling, HR, Payments.
- Tool type: only Time Doctor offers Project management.
Our verdict on each
Homebase
Homebase suits teams in small business that need scheduling plus HR and payments in a unified option with support across chat, phone and help centre. Paid access starts at $30 with Up to 10 employees at 1 location, so growing shops can use the entry option and trial paid tools for 14 days before committing.
Time Doctor
Time Doctor suits small businesses and enterprise teams that want project management with payroll in the same package, and its 14 day trial opens every feature so you can size the tool before paying anything. It holds an overall score of 4.1 here, with help centre the only listed support channel.
Score breakdown
| Area | Homebase | Time Doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherPaid entry at $30 with entry option without payment keeps starting costs low. | 8.6 |
| Offer | 9.1HigherCover of scheduling, HR and payments with Up to 10 employees at 1 location shapes daily shift value. | 8.8 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.9 |
The numbers side by side
| Fact | Homebase | Time Doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial length | 14 days | 14 days |
| Integrations | 17 | 60 |
How they place
| Ranking | Homebase | Time Doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll software | 7 of 173 | 11 of 173 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Homebase | Time Doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Small business | Small business, EnterpriseCovers more |
| Pricing model | Free plan, Free trialCovers more | Free trial |
| Legal entity | Pioneer Works, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2012 |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Accounting software
| Fact | Homebase | Time Doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Users included | 10 | Not confirmed |
| Payroll | Add on | Included |
| Platforms | iOS, AndroidCovers more | iOS |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Homebase | Time Doctor | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $30above the median | Not confirmed | $22 |
| Free trial length | 14 daysat the median | 14 daysat the median | 14 days |
| Integrations | 17below the median | 60above the median | 36 |
Median across 353 listed software products.
Pros and cons
Homebase
Pros
- Entry option without payment keeps early costs down, with paid access at $30 when you grow.
- Trial for 14 days gives room to test scheduling before paid billing starts.
- Cover across scheduling, HR and payments joins scheduling with HR and payments for shift teams.
Cons
- Paid start at $30 costs more than Pocket at $19.99 for tight budgets.
- Entry cap of Up to 10 employees at 1 location may feel tight as rosters grow across shifts.
- Payroll is add on, so budgeting must allow an extra charge beyond the base plan.
Time Doctor
Pros
- A 14 day trial opens the full feature set, so nothing important is held back
- Payroll is included in the package rather than sold as a separate add-on
- It connects to 60 integrations, which suits teams running several tools
Cons
- There is no free plan, so testing starts on a 14 day trial and then a paid plan
- Support runs on help centre alone, so self-serve answers carry the load
- Mobile coverage is ios only, which is a narrow phone footprint
Who each suits
Homebase
Who it suits
- Small retail and hospitality teams that exceed 1 set, 1 invitee per event at Flexibits and need cover for Up to 10 employees at 1 location.
- Shift managers who find Appointy too booking led and prefer staff scheduling with HR and payments.
- Budget minded owners comparing Pocket at $19.99 who still want phone support and team tools.
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams larger than Up to 10 employees at 1 location that need broader rosters, where Appointy may fit booking led work better.
- Solo bookers fine within 1 set, 1 invitee per event at Flexibits without staff scheduling extras.
Time Doctor
Who it suits
- Small businesses that want project and payroll work in one purchase
- Teams that prefer to size the whole feature set on a trial before paying
- Enterprise groups looking for one packaged tool rather than separate subscriptions
Who should look elsewhere
- Billy, because Billy offers a free plan where Time Doctor starts on a trial
- ANNA Money, for buyers who want a permanent free tier instead of a 14 day trial
- Aspire, for teams that want a starting tier they can keep at no cost
Current offers
Questions about each
Homebase
How much does Homebase cost to start using?+
Paid use starts at $30 for the paid tier, while the entry option without payment stays available for very small teams. You can also evaluate paid tools for 14 days before deciding. That setup lets you match spend to staff size and change tiers as shift needs grow over time.
Does Homebase include an option without payment?+
Yes, an entry option without payment is available for small setups. You can run basic scheduling and team coordination there before moving to paid access at $30. That path helps you confirm fit with your roster and location needs before you commit to billing.
Time Doctor
Does Time Doctor offer a free plan?+
No, there is no free plan on Time Doctor. The only free route is a 14 day trial, and it starts with the full feature set rather than a trimmed version. After the trial window closes the account moves to a paid plan, so budget for a subscription from the first billing period onward.
What do you get during the free trial?+
The trial opens the whole feature set, including the project management tools and the payroll option, so you can test the full package for 14 days. The median trial length on ForgeCue is 14 days and the longer tail reaches 30 days, so this is a middle length rather than the longest on offer.