Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Homebase · 🧑💼 hr
Homebase vs Horilla HR
Schedules, rotating shifts and leave in Docker; a whole HR suite comes along for the ride. Here is how Horilla HR ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Homebase ($30/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Horilla HR
$0.00/mo · LGPL-2.1
Homebase vs Horilla HR Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-11
| Dimension | Homebase (Paid) | Horilla HR (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $30 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $360 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $360) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $1,800 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $1,800) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $3,600 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $3,600) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source LGPL-2.1 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 1.4k (active jul 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Homebase to Horilla HR
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
A whole self-hosted HR system is substantially harder to administer and less friendly to frontline schedulers than Homebase.
How to deploy Horilla HR
Clone the stable 2.0 branch and run docker-compose up -d; a manual Django setup is also documented
What it takes to run
Docker and production configuration: database credentials, secret key, allowed hosts, HTTPS, backups and mail remain the operator's job
Where your data lives
HR records in PostgreSQL by default, with uploaded media on server storage or optional Google Cloud Storage
Why fork Horilla HR instead of vibe-coding a Homebase clone?
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.
Homebase vs Horilla HR FAQ
Is Horilla HR a good free alternative to Homebase?+
Yes. Horilla HR is a verified open-source (LGPL-2.1) replacement for Homebase. Schedules, rotating shifts and leave in Docker; a whole HR suite comes along for the ride.
What is the catch when switching from Homebase to Horilla HR?+
A whole self-hosted HR system is substantially harder to administer and less friendly to frontline schedulers than Homebase.
How much do you save switching from Homebase to Horilla HR?+
Homebase costs $30/mo ($360/yr) per seat, whereas Horilla HR is $0/mo. Switching saves $360/yr for a solo user, $1,800/yr for a 5-person team, and $3,600/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Horilla HR instead of Homebase?+
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
