Head to head

Homebase vs Time Doctor

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Homebase

$30/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Scheduling, time clocks, and team messaging for hourly shops. Basic is free for 10 employees at 1 location. Essentials is $30/mo.

Where Homebase fits

  • Restaurants and retail with hourly shifts
  • Owners who want a free plan for one small location
  • Managers who need clock-in, schedules, and team chat
  • Shops adding payroll later as an add-on

Time Doctor

$7/user/mo 14 day free trial

Remote productivity tracker with screenshots and activity, from $7/user/mo on the Basic annual plan ($80 per user per year).

Where Time Doctor fits

  • Distributed and remote ops teams that want screenshot proof of work
  • Agencies that export approved hours into payroll
  • Hybrid companies comparing office vs remote productivity on Premium
  • Buyers who want a 14-day trial with no credit card

At a glance

DetailHomebaseTime Doctor
Starting price$30/mo$7/user/mo
Free tier✓Yes–No
Free trial14 day free trial14 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underATS, HRIS, Texting, Time & attendance, Workforce managementTime & attendance
Capterra4.6 from 1,155 reviews4.5 from 548 reviews

Where they pull apart

Homebase

Stands out: A real free plan for tiny teams, plus a 14-day All-in-One trial with no card.

Watch out: Paid plans are per location. Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee paid. API access sits on All-in-One.

Not the right fit for

  • Multi-location brands that need a cheap flat rate
  • Teams that need the API below All-in-One

Time Doctor

Stands out: Premium adds Benchmarks AI against 250,000+ users plus Unusual Activity AI for mouse jiggler detection, and Open API access sits only on Premium.

Watch out: Basic has no payroll, no web and app usage reports, and no integrations. Those start on Standard at $14/user/mo month-to-month or $140 per user per year.

Not the right fit for

  • Hourly restaurants that need Fair Workweek shift rosters
  • Teams that will not accept screenshots or activity monitoring

Pros and cons

Homebase

  • Free Basic for 10 staff at 1 location
  • 14-day All-in-One trial, no card
  • Payroll add-on on every plan
  • Paid plans bill per location
  • API only on All-in-One
  • Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee

Time Doctor

  • 14-day trial with no credit card, and printed Basic, Standard, and Premium rates
  • Time Doctor AI is included in every plan, not gated to Enterprise
  • Premium Open API plus Benchmarks AI against 250,000+ users
  • Basic omits payroll, integrations, and web/app usage reports
  • Open API access is Premium-only
  • Screenshot and activity monitoring will not fit every culture

What each one costs

Homebase

$30/mo

Basic is free for 1 location and up to 10 employees. Essentials is $30/location/mo. Plus is $70. All-in-One is $120. Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee paid. Hiring Assistant starts at $99/mo. 14-day All-in-One trial, no card. Annual billing is offered on paid plans. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Time Doctor

$7/user/mo

Basic is $80 per user per year ($6.67/user/mo) or $8 month-to-month. Standard is $140 per year ($11.67/user/mo) or $14 month-to-month. Premium is $200 per year ($16.67/user/mo) or $20 month-to-month. Enterprise is custom. Software Cost Insights is $3/user/mo. Native HRIS or payroll integrations are $200 per integration per month. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Homebase cheaper than Time Doctor?
Time Doctor starts lower, at $7/user/mo against $30/mo for Homebase. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Homebase or Time Doctor for free?
Homebase carries a free tier on our listing. Homebase offers a 14 day free trial. Time Doctor offers a 14 day free trial.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?