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.
Deputy
Multi-location scheduling and time tracking with compliance guardrails built in
VERIFIED JUN 18, 2026
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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