Gusto vs Homebase
Side-by-side from the Top 11 rankings of Gusto vs Rippling vs QuickBooks Payroll: 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs 2026 and Homebase vs When I Work vs 7shifts: 11 Best Employee Scheduling Software 2026. Last verified May 31, 2026.
The short answer
Homebase ranks higher on Top 11 (#1 vs #1) for Small business owners running payroll without in-house HR / Managers scheduling shifts for hourly workers, restaurants, retail, and healthcare. Most functional free tier and all-in-one toolkit for single-location businesses.
At a glance
| Gusto | Homebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 11 rank | #1 / Gusto vs Rippling vs QuickBooks Payroll: 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs 2026 | #1 / Homebase vs When I Work vs 7shifts: 11 Best Employee Scheduling Software 2026 |
| Score (out of 9.4) | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Best for | Overall ease of use | All-in-one for SMBs |
| Pricing | $$ ($46 to $150+/mo) | $ ($0 to $10/user/mo) |
| HQ | San Francisco, USA | San Francisco, USA |
| Founded | 2011 | 2014 |
Gusto
The easiest-to-use platform for all-in-one payroll, benefits, and HR, perfect for business owners without HR staff.
gusto.comSee full entry in Gusto vs Rippling vs QuickBooks Payroll: 11 Best Payroll Software for SMBs 2026
Homebase
Most functional free tier and all-in-one toolkit for single-location businesses.
joinhomebase.comSee full entry in Homebase vs When I Work vs 7shifts: 11 Best Employee Scheduling Software 2026
Methodology and scoring weights live at /methodology. No vendor pays for placement — see about.