Comparison
Homebase vs QuickBooks Time
Homebase
The cheapest real fix for buddy punching, especially if you're already using it for scheduling
VERIFIED JUN 18, 2026
QuickBooks Time
The obvious time clock if payroll already runs through QuickBooks
VERIFIED JUL 5, 2026
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Starting point | Free plan available for a single location with basic scheduling and time tracking | Premium: $20/mo base + $8 per user |
| Best for | Small hourly-workforce businesses (retail, restaurants, service) that want to shut down casual buddy punching without buying a separate biometric system. | Businesses already running payroll through QuickBooks that want time data flowing into pay runs untouched by human hands. |
| Countries | United States, Canada | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia |
| Editorial score | 8.2/10 | 7.4/10 |
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
QuickBooks Time
Pros
- Timesheets land directly in QuickBooks Payroll, removing the manual re-entry step where hour-padding hides
- All-shift GPS trails are stronger evidence than a single clock-in pin
- Kiosk photo capture plus facial recognition is more deterrent than most non-biometric rivals offer
Cons
- Base-fee-plus-per-user pricing makes it one of the most expensive options for small teams
- Facial recognition flags a mismatched face but doesn't block the punch, someone still has to review
- Geofencing is locked behind the Elite tier, which is where much of the fraud value lives
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