Homebase alternatives: 5 free & open-source picks
Curated, verified, and actually free. No trials, no crippled tiers. Star counts and last-activity dates checked by hand, not scraped and forgotten.
Schedules, shifts and leave in a full HR stack; running the stack is the unpaid role.
licenseGPL-3.0
runsyour server
installLaunch its Docker Compose stack, or install hrms and ERPNext into an existing Frappe Bench
dataEach Frappe site has its own MariaDB database plus private/public files directories; backups are SQL dumps and file archives under the site
vs HomebaseIt can model shifts and leave, but the full Frappe stack is far more operational work than Homebase's managed scheduler.
setupThe full Frappe/ERPNext stack brings Docker, MariaDB, Redis, proxy/TLS and version-compatible app upgrades
facts verified 2026-08-11
Schedules, rotating shifts and leave in Docker; a whole HR suite comes along for the ride.
licenseLGPL-2.1
runsyour server
installClone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented
dataHR records in PostgreSQL by default, with uploaded media on server storage or optional Google Cloud Storage
vs HomebaseA whole self-hosted HR system is substantially harder to administer and less friendly to frontline schedulers than Homebase.
setupDocker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
facts verified 2026-08-11
Shift scheduling, availability and swaps for 30 people; the time clock is where the upsell starts.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup, then invite employees by email or phone to the web, iOS and Android apps
dataSchedules, availability, requests and messages in Sling's cloud account; schedules and many records export as CSV or XLS
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.
setupno real blockers; verified to install clean
facts verified 2026-08-11
Schedules, availability, time off and shift swaps for one 15-person location; restaurant branding comes free too.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup for one restaurant location, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
dataEmployee profiles, schedules, availability, time-off and communications in 7shifts' cloud, with selected reports and export tools
vs HomebaseIt is limited to one fifteen-person restaurant location and keeps time-clock and more advanced operations features outside the free tier.
setupno real blockers; verified to install clean
facts verified 2026-08-11
Scheduling, time off and shift changes for ten people; user eleven has a price tag.
licenseproprietary, free
runstheir cloud
installHosted signup, then invite staff to the web and mobile apps
dataEmployee records, documents, schedules and time data in Connecteam's cloud; schedules and timesheets export to Excel, PDF, CSV or payroll-specific files
vs HomebaseThe free plan ends at ten users, below many shift teams, and its broader operations suite is less scheduling-focused than Homebase.
setupno real blockers; verified to install clean
facts verified 2026-08-11
last updated 2026-08-11 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Homebase BasicThe $0 plan builds a weekly schedule, but availability, time-off requests and shift trades start on paid tiers.
Jibble SchedulingThe free scheduling page still says Coming soon, so it cannot replace a scheduler today.
TimeTrex CommunityCommunity Edition was discontinued in October 2024 and no longer receives security updates.
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frappe HR | GPL-3.0 | self-host, real ops | web, self-hosted | 8,500 | 2026-08 |
| Horilla HR | LGPL-2.1 | docker to self-host | web, self-hosted | 1,400 | 2026-07 |
| Sling Free | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
| 7shifts Comp | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
| Connecteam Small Business Plan | proprietary, free | they host it | web, ios, android | — | — |
People still pay for Homebase because HR platforms survive because mistakes affect pay, benefits, immigration, and legal obligations, not because forms are difficult to render. The recurring cost buys sensitive data, access, retention, audit, payroll calculations, filings, benefits, employment law, incident response, and support, not just the visible interface. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $360 a year.
Is there a free alternative to Homebase?
Yes: Frappe HR, Horilla HR, Sling Free and 2 more. Every tool on this page is either open source or genuinely free to use long-term: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Should I just build my own Homebase?
Our verdict is NOT REALLY. 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. If you'd rather build, the exact one-shot prompt is free at canivibecodeit.com/homebase.
