RTC SCORE
7.0
#5 of 22 with enough data
Homebase Payroll
Payroll added to Homebase's scheduling and time clock app, at $49 a month plus $6 per employee paid. It files federal, state and local taxes, and imports tips from Toast, Square and Clover through its Tip Manager.
RTC SCORE
7.4
#2 of 22 with enough data
Square Payroll
Square's payroll, billed monthly plus a fee per person paid. It files federal, state and supported local taxes, pays its own filing errors, and imports tips from Square's POS.
Key differences
| Data point | Homebase Payroll | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee | $49/mo | $35/mo |
| Live support hours a week | 84 | 60 |
Side by side
| Feature | Homebase PayrollRTC Score: 7.0 out of 10 | Square PayrollRTC Score: 7.4 out of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base fee | $49/moSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Plus a team plan per location: Basic is $0 for one location with up to 10 employees; Essentials $30, Plus $70 and All-in-One $120. | $35/mo(Best value)Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Per employee | $6Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | $6Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Who counts as an employee | Each person paid that monthSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | Each person paid that monthSource: Square (opens in a new tab)You pay per person paid; seasonal inactivity is free. |
| Per contractor (1099) | UnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase doesn't say whether a contractor paid through payroll counts toward the $6 per employee paid. | $6Source: Square (opens in a new tab)There is also a contractor-only plan at $6 per person paid. |
| Published pricing | PublishedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | PublishedSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Setup fee | $0 one-timeSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | $0 one-timeSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square's pricing page lists only the monthly fee, the fee per person paid and the optional paper forms; it shows no setup charge. |
| Year-end forms fee | $0/yrSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)W-2s and 1099s are generated and delivered digitally within that price; Homebase publishes no year-end charge. | $0/yrSource: Square (opens in a new tab)W-2 and 1099 forms are filed and delivered digitally at no charge. Paper copies mailed by Square cost $3 per employee or contractor a year, only if you opt in. |
| Each extra state | $0Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | $0Source: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Each state or tax jurisdiction where you run payroll is filed at no additional charge. |
| Other fees | Next Day Pay costs $49 a month plus $9 per person instead of the standard payroll price. Tip Manager: $25 per location a month. Instant Cash Out for employees has a fee that the employee pays.Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | Paper W-2 and 1099 copies mailed by Square: $3 per employee or contractor a year (optional). Employees who take their pay early to a debit card or bank account pay 1.75%; to Cash App it's free.Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Taxes and forms | ||
| Who files payroll taxes | The provider calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | The provider calculates, files and pays federal, state and local payroll taxesSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square files supported local taxes (for example New York City, Yonkers, Ohio and Pennsylvania local agencies, Kansas City and St. Louis). If a local tax isn't supported, you file it and Square gives you a quarterly wage report. |
| Payroll in all 50 states | YesSource: Homebase Help Center (opens in a new tab)Homebase's payroll FAQ says payroll is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The help center page asks for a human verification step; we read its text in the search index and did not get around the check. | YesSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| Year-end W-2 and 1099 forms | W-2 and 1099 prepared and filedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | W-2 and 1099 prepared and filedSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Forms it files: 941, 940, 944, 1099-NEC, W-2 and W-3. |
| Paying 1099 contractors | Included in payroll plansSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | Also a contractor-only planSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Tax penalty guarantee | No guarantee publishedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)We found no published guarantee to pay penalties caused by Homebase's errors on its payroll, tax or pricing pages. | Pays penalties caused by its own errorsSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| Garnishments and new-hire reporting | IncludedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Child support is sent to the agency for you; other garnishments (tax levies, student loans, consumer debt) are withheld and you remit them. New-hire reports are filed. | IncludedSource: Square (opens in a new tab)New-hire reports are filed for you. Garnishments are withheld from pay, but you send the money to the agency yourself. |
| Paying your team | ||
| Pay schedules | Weekly, Every two weeks, Twice a month, MonthlySource: Homebase Help Center (opens in a new tab)Weekly, every two weeks, twice a month or monthly. The help center page asks for a human verification step; we read its text in the search index and did not get around the check. | Weekly, Every two weeks, Twice a month, MonthlySource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| Unlimited pay runs | YesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | YesSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Fastest direct deposit included | Three or more business daysSource: Homebase Help Center (opens in a new tab)New accounts start on 3-business-day processing and move to 2 days after 10 successful payrolls. Next-day deposits cost extra ($49 a month plus $9 per person). The help center page asks for a human verification step; we read its text in the search index and did not get around the check. | Next daySource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Next business day when you fund payroll from your Square balance. Funded from another bank account, deposits take four business days, or two with two-day payroll, which you apply for. |
| Early pay for employees (earned wage access) | Included at no cost to the employerSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Standard Cash Out is free for the employee; instant Cash Out has a fee the employee pays. | Included at no cost to the employerSource: Square (opens in a new tab)On Demand Pay and Instant Deposit: free for employees to Cash App; 1.75% to a debit card or bank account. Instant Deposit isn't available in CA, MA, NJ, NM, NY, PA, VT and WV. |
| Tips | ||
| Imports tips from these POS systems | Clover, Square, ToastSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | SquareSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Card and cash tips from Square POS, pooled or direct. It leaves out auto-gratuities and contractors' tips. |
| Tip pooling and tip-outs | Paid add-on or higher planSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Tip Manager, $25 per location a month; it pools tips by hours. | Paid add-on or higher planSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)With Square Shifts Plus or the Plus and Premium plans. |
| Tip credit and minimum wage make-up | Claimed, without documented mechanicsSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase says federal, state and local minimums apply with no manual adjustments, without documenting how. | UnconfirmedSource: Square Seller Community (opens in a new tab)Not documented. In 2022 a Square moderator filed automatic tip credit make-up as a feature request; we found no newer Square page that describes it. |
| FICA tip credit (Form 8846) | Not supportedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase keeps the data and sends you to your tax adviser for Form 8846. | Not supportedSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Form 8846 isn't among the forms Square files. |
| Declared cash tips | YesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | YesSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)"Tips Already Paid" and "Paycheck Tips" fields. |
| 2026 W-2 for No Tax on Tips (code TP and tipped occupation code) | Not confirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)We found no Homebase page that confirms code TP or the tipped occupation code on the 2026 W-2. | Not confirmedSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square's W-2 article and its No Tax on Tips post (2025 amounts on pay stubs) don't confirm code TP or the tipped occupation code on the 2026 W-2. |
| 2026 W-2 for qualified overtime (code TT) | Not confirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)We found no Homebase page that confirms code TT on the 2026 W-2. | Not confirmedSource: Square Seller Community (Square staff post) (opens in a new tab)Square's post covers how employees find 2025 amounts on their pay stubs; it doesn't confirm codes TT or TP on the 2026 W-2. |
| Service charges paid as wages | UnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase doesn't document how its payroll treats mandatory service charges. | NoSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square's tip import does not support auto-gratuity from Square for Restaurants; you add service charges to the pay run yourself. |
| State and local minimum wages built in | YesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Marketing claim; Homebase doesn't publish how it keeps the rates current. | UnconfirmedSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Not documented on Square's payroll pages or help articles we read. |
| Integrations and time tracking | ||
| POS integrations (hours or sales data) | Toast, Square, Clover, Lightspeed, PAR, OthersSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Others: GoDaddy and Shopify. | SquareSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Time tracking | IncludedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)The free Basic plan covers one location with up to 10 employees; above that, the team plan (Essentials or higher) is required and is included in the cost. | IncludedSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Timecards come from Square POS or the Square Team app (free Square Shifts). |
| Scheduling | IncludedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | IncludedSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Accounting integrations | UnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase's QuickBooks integration syncs employees and hours into QuickBooks Online Plus (for running payroll there); it doesn't document posting Homebase Payroll to an accounting system. | QuickBooks OnlineSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| Payroll engine | Check (a payroll infrastructure provider)Source: Check Technologies (opens in a new tab) | The vendor itselfSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab) |
| Benefits and insurance | ||
| Health benefits | Through a partner brokerSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Health, dental and vision options for teams under 50 through integrated partners. | Through a partner brokerSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Workers' compensation | Pay-as-you-go connected to payrollSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | Pay-as-you-go connected to payrollSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Pay-as-you-go workers' comp through Square's partner, with premiums based on each payroll run. |
| Contract and exit | ||
| Initial term | Month to monthSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Month to month. | Month to monthSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Month to month: Square says there is no long-term commitment. |
| Automatic renewal | Month to monthSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Billed month to month. | Month to monthSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Billed month to month. |
| Notice to avoid renewal | 0 daysSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | 0 daysSource: Square (opens in a new tab)You cancel from your Square account settings; access continues to the end of the billing period, with no refund. |
| Early termination fee | NoneSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Month to month: no term and no early termination fee. | NoneSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Month to month: no term and no early termination fee. |
| Early termination clause | No early termination fee.Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | No early termination fee.Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Right to raise prices | UnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase's terms of service didn't load for us (the page needs JavaScript); we couldn't read its price-change clause. | Square can change subscription fees with reasonable advance notice; using the service after the notice means you accept the change.Source: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Free trial or free months | 180 daysSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Limited-time offer for new customers: 6 months of payroll and the Plus plan free, if payroll setup is done by Dec 15, 2026 and the first payroll runs by Jan 20, 2027. | UnconfirmedSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square's payroll pricing page shows no free trial or free months today. |
| Your records when you leave | UnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase doesn't publish how long you keep access to payroll records after you cancel. | UnconfirmedSource: Square Support Center (opens in a new tab)Square's help center says closing the payroll account is irreversible; it doesn't say how long you keep access to reports afterwards. |
| Support | ||
| Support 24/7 | NoSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Around the clock it's an AI chat; live people answer 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central. | NoSource: Square (opens in a new tab) |
| Live support hours a week | 84(Best value)Source: Homebase (opens in a new tab)12 hours a day, every day, per the payroll page and the help center (Mon to Sun). An older comparison table on Homebase's site says 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday. | 60Source: Square (opens in a new tab)12 hours a day, Monday to Friday. |
| Dedicated specialist | YesSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | YesSource: Square (opens in a new tab)Square describes dedicated payroll specialists for setup and questions; it doesn't say each account gets one assigned person. |
Contracts compared
| Product | Initial term | Auto-renewal | Early termination fee | Price increases during the term | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homebase PayrollSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination fee. | UnconfirmedSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Homebase's terms of service didn't load for us (the page needs JavaScript); we couldn't read its price-change clause. | 180-day trialSource: Homebase (opens in a new tab)Limited-time offer for new customers: 6 months of payroll and the Plus plan free, if payroll setup is done by Dec 15, 2026 and the first payroll runs by Jan 20, 2027. |
| Square PayrollSource: Square (opens in a new tab) | Month to month | No auto-renewal | No early termination fee. | Square can change subscription fees with reasonable advance notice; using the service after the notice means you accept the change.Source: Square (opens in a new tab) | Unconfirmed |
This is general information about published contracts, not legal advice: read your own contract and check with a lawyer before you sign.
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