Homebase costs $30/mo.
These cost $0.
5 free alternatives to Homebase, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Homebase vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $30/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frappe HR | open source | GPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 8.5k | Homebase vs Frappe HR → |
| Horilla HR | open source | LGPL-2.1 | Self-host | ★ 1.4k | Homebase vs Horilla HR → |
| Sling Free | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Homebase vs Sling Free → |
| 7shifts Comp | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Homebase vs 7shifts Comp → |
| Connecteam Small Business Plan | free | proprietary, free | Hosted | ★ $0 forever | Homebase vs Connecteam Small Business Plan → |
The picks
2 open source · 3 free to use · ranked by fit
- 01
Frappe HR
open sourceGPL-3.0Self-host8.5kaug 2026Schedules, shifts and leave in a full HR stack; running the stack is the unpaid role.
The catch vs HomebaseIt can model shifts and leave, but the full Frappe stack is far more operational work than Homebase's managed scheduler.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Launch its Docker Compose stack, or install hrms and ERPNext into an existing Frappe Bench
- setup
- The full Frappe/ERPNext stack brings Docker, MariaDB, Redis, proxy/TLS and version-compatible app upgrades
- your data
- Each Frappe site has its own MariaDB database plus private/public files directories; backups are SQL dumps and file archives under the site
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 02
Horilla HR
open sourceLGPL-2.1Self-host1.4kjul 2026Schedules, rotating shifts and leave in Docker; a whole HR suite comes along for the ride.
The catch vs HomebaseA whole self-hosted HR system is substantially harder to administer and less friendly to frontline schedulers than Homebase.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented
- setup
- Docker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
- your data
- HR records in PostgreSQL by default, with uploaded media on server storage or optional Google Cloud Storage
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
Sling Free
freeproprietary, freeHostedShift scheduling, availability and swaps for 30 people; the time clock is where the upsell starts.
The catch vs HomebaseThe free plan schedules up to thirty users but withholds the time clock and labor-cost tools that make Homebase useful to hourly teams.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then invite employees by email or phone to the web, iOS and Android apps
- your data
- Schedules, availability, requests and messages in Sling's cloud account; schedules and many records export as CSV or XLS
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 04
7shifts Comp
freeproprietary, freeHostedSchedules, availability, time off and shift swaps for one 15-person location; restaurant branding comes free too.
The catch vs HomebaseIt is limited to one fifteen-person restaurant location and keeps time-clock and more advanced operations features outside the free tier.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup for one restaurant location, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
- your data
- Employee profiles, schedules, availability, time-off and communications in 7shifts' cloud, with selected reports and export tools
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 05
Connecteam Small Business Plan
freeproprietary, freeHostedScheduling, time off and shift changes for ten people; user eleven has a price tag.
The catch vs HomebaseThe free plan ends at ten users, below many shift teams, and its broader operations suite is less scheduling-focused than Homebase.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- mobilewebthey host it
- install
- Hosted signup, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
- your data
- Employee records, documents, schedules and time data in Connecteam's cloud; schedules and timesheets export to Excel, PDF, CSV or payroll-specific files
- checked
- 2026-08-11
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Homebase open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Homebase?+
The top free alternative to Homebase is Frappe HR (open source, GPL-3.0). Schedules, shifts and leave in a full HR stack; running the stack is the unpaid role. Other popular Homebase replacements include Horilla HR, Sling Free, 7shifts Comp.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Homebase?+
Yes. Of the 5 free alternatives to Homebase, 2 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Frappe HR (GPL-3.0), Horilla HR (LGPL-2.1).
How much does switching from Homebase to a free alternative save?+
Homebase starts at $30/month per seat ($360/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Frappe HR saves $1,800 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Homebase clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Homebase is NOT REALLY (use a free alternative, save the tokens). A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Homebase, build staff schedules and time-off workflows without payroll or hiring services. The hard boundary is time clocks, payroll, messaging, labor-law tools, hiring, and support, plus compliance, payroll, and regulated integrations.
What is the catch when switching from Homebase to Frappe HR?+
It can model shifts and leave, but the full Frappe stack is far more operational work than Homebase's managed scheduler.
