Comparison
Deputy vs Homebase
Our take
Nearly identical core fraud protection (GPS clock-in, geo-fencing), so the real decision is about scale and budget. Homebase's free tier makes sense for a single location. Deputy's demand-aware scheduling and compliance tooling earn their keep once you're running multiple locations or franchises.
D
Deputy
Multi-location scheduling and time tracking with compliance guardrails built in
VERIFIED JUN 18, 2026
H
Homebase
The cheapest real fix for buddy punching, especially if you're already using it for scheduling
VERIFIED JUN 18, 2026
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Starting point | Tiered per-user monthly pricing, typically in the range of $4 | Free plan available for a single location with basic scheduling and time tracking |
| Best for | Multi-location or franchise businesses that need scheduling, compliance guardrails, and basic time-theft prevention in one platform. | Small hourly-workforce businesses (retail, restaurants, service) that want to shut down casual buddy punching without buying a separate biometric system. |
| Countries | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia | United States, Canada |
| Editorial score | 7.9/10 | 8.2/10 |
Deputy
Pros
- Strong fit for multi-location or franchise operations, not just single-shop businesses
- Compliance reminders reduce the labor-law side of payroll risk, not just fraud
- GPS clock-in closes off remote buddy punching
Cons
- No biometric verification, same blind spot as Homebase for in-person buddy punching
- Per-user pricing can add up for larger hourly teams compared to Homebase's free tier
- More feature surface than a very small single-location business may need
Homebase
Pros
- Genuinely cheap, free tier covers a single location's basics
- GPS/geo-fencing stops the most common low-effort buddy punching (clocking in from home)
- Bundles fraud-resistant time tracking with scheduling you probably need anyway
Cons
- No biometric verification, so a determined coworker with physical access to someone's phone can still buddy punch
- GPS features require the paid tier, not available on the free plan
- Built for hourly/shift teams, not a fit for salaried-only offices
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