Symple Team vs Homebase vs Connecteam: Choosing PTO Software for Small Teams

Choosing PTO software for a small team shouldn't be complicated. But with dozens of options ranging from free tools to enterprise HR suites, it's easy to get overwhelmed.

This guide compares three popular options for small teams: Symple Team (that's us), Homebase, and Connecteam. We'll be upfront about what each does well and where each falls short.

The Quick Summary

Understanding Each Tool's Focus

Before diving into features, it's important to understand what each tool was built for:

Symple Team: Pure PTO Focus

Symple Team does one thing: PTO and leave management. That's it. No scheduling, no time clocks, no payroll integration, no performance reviews.

Built for: Small salaried teams who need simple, reliable PTO tracking without the complexity of an all-in-one HR platform.

Homebase: Scheduling-First

Homebase started as a scheduling and time-tracking tool for hourly workers. PTO management was added later as part of a broader employee management suite.

Built for: Retail, restaurants, and service businesses with hourly shift workers who need scheduling as the primary function.

Connecteam: All-in-One Operations

Connecteam is a comprehensive operations platform covering communication, scheduling, training, forms, and yes, time off. It's designed for "deskless" workers in field service, construction, and logistics.

Built for: Companies with mobile/field workforces who need a single app for everything operational.

Feature Comparison: PTO Tracking

Since we're focused on PTO management, let's compare how each handles the core features:

Requesting Time Off

Symple Team:

• Mobile app or web
• One-tap request submission
• See balance before requesting
• Add notes for approver

Homebase:

• Mobile app or web
• Integrated with schedule view
• Can see who else is off
• Part of broader "Time Off" module

Connecteam:

• Mobile app or web
• Request through "Time Off" feature
• Multiple approval workflows
• Part of operations hub

Verdict: All three handle basic requests well. Symple Team is fastest for employees who just want to submit and go. Homebase shines if you need to see the schedule simultaneously. Connecteam offers more workflow options but at the cost of simplicity.

Managing Balances

Symple Team:

• Real-time balance tracking
• Multiple PTO types (vacation, sick, personal)
• Annual allowances with carryover rules
• Automatic accrual (optional)
• Prorated balances for mid-year hires

Homebase:

• Balance tracking in paid plans
• Accrual policies available
• Limited PTO type customization in lower tiers
• Tied to payroll integration

Connecteam:

• Flexible policy creation
• Multiple leave types
• Accrual and allowance options
• Can get complex with many options

Verdict: Symple Team offers the most straightforward balance management. Connecteam offers the most flexibility but requires more setup. Homebase locks some features behind higher tiers.

Approval Process

Symple Team:

• Manager receives notification
• One-click approve/deny
• Automatic calendar update
• No complex workflows (by design)

Homebase:

• Manager notification
• Approval from scheduling view
• Can see coverage implications
• Batch approvals available

Connecteam:

• Multi-level approval chains
• Custom approval workflows
• Automated rules possible
• More enterprise-oriented

Verdict: Symple Team prioritizes speed and simplicity. Connecteam offers the most powerful approval workflows. Homebase sits in the middle.

Visibility & Calendar

Symple Team:

• Team calendar showing all approved PTO
• Filter by team/department
• Google Calendar sync
• Visual coverage at a glance

Homebase:

• PTO visible on schedule
• Integrated with shift planning
• Team availability view
• Conflict detection with shifts

Connecteam:

• Team calendar
• Part of broader scheduling
• Multiple views available
• Can be complex to navigate

Verdict: Homebase has an advantage if you need PTO integrated with shift scheduling. Symple Team has the cleanest dedicated PTO calendar. Connecteam's calendar is powerful but buried in a larger system.

Pricing Breakdown

Symple Team Pricing

No contracts. No setup fees. Cancel anytime.

The Unlimited plan is particularly good value once you hit ~20 employees ($99 flat vs. $100 at $5/user).

Homebase Pricing

Homebase charges per location, not per user. Good for single-location businesses with many employees. Gets expensive with multiple locations.

PTO tracking requires at least the Plus plan ($48/location/month).

Connecteam Pricing

Additional users beyond included count cost extra.

Time off features are available across plans but depth varies.

Pricing Verdict

• Smallest budget: Symple Team free (5 users) or Connecteam free (10 users)
• Single location, hourly team: Homebase might be cost-effective
• Growing team (20+): Symple Team Unlimited ($99 flat) is hard to beat
• Need everything: Connecteam or Homebase higher tiers

When to Choose Each

Choose Symple Team If:

✅ You just need PTO tracking, nothing else ✅ Your team is salaried/professional (not shift-based) ✅ You want the fastest setup possible ✅ Simple and intuitive matters more than features ✅ You have 20+ employees (Unlimited plan value) ✅ You're coming from spreadsheets and want minimal friction

Choose Homebase If:

✅ You run a shift-based business (retail, restaurant, service) ✅ Scheduling is your primary need (PTO secondary) ✅ You have a single location with many hourly workers ✅ You want time clock + scheduling + PTO in one ✅ Payroll integration is important

Choose Connecteam If:

✅ You have a deskless/field workforce ✅ You need communication + scheduling + time off + more ✅ Complex approval workflows are required ✅ You want one app for all operational tasks ✅ Training and forms management is also needed

What Each Tool Lacks

Every tool has gaps. Here's what each doesn't do well:

Symple Team Limitations

• No scheduling features (by design)
• No time clock
• No payroll integration
• No performance management
• Not ideal for hourly/shift-based teams

We built Symple Team to be simple. If you need an all-in-one HR platform, it's not the right fit.

Homebase Limitations

• PTO features locked to higher tiers
• Per-location pricing gets expensive for multi-site
• Complex interface if you only need PTO
• Less intuitive for non-scheduling tasks
• Better for hourly than salaried teams

Connecteam Limitations

• Steep learning curve
• Can be overwhelming for small teams
• PTO is one feature among many (not the focus)
• User limits on lower tiers
• Mobile-first can be limiting for desk workers

Migration Considerations

Moving to Symple Team

If you're coming from spreadsheets or another tool:

1. Setup time: Under 5 minutes
2. Data import: Manual balance entry (CSV import coming)
3. Team onboarding: Most employees figure it out immediately
4. Historical data: Start fresh or enter current balances

Moving to Homebase

1. Setup time: 15-30 minutes for basic, longer for full features
2. Data import: Integration options available
3. Team onboarding: Training helpful due to feature breadth
4. Best if: Already using Homebase for scheduling

Moving to Connecteam

1. Setup time: 30+ minutes, possibly hours for full setup
2. Data import: Robust import tools
3. Team onboarding: Significant training usually required
4. Best if: Committing to full platform adoption

Real User Feedback (Aggregated)

Here's what users commonly say about each tool:

Symple Team Users Say:

"Finally, something that just does PTO without trying to do everything else."

"Setup took 4 minutes. My team was using it the same day."

"The $99 unlimited plan is amazing once you grow past 20 people."

Common complaint: "I wish it integrated with our payroll."

Homebase Users Say:

"Great for scheduling our retail staff. PTO tracking is a nice bonus."

"The free tier is generous for small single-location shops."

"Time clock and scheduling in one place saves us time."

Common complaint: "Interface is confusing when I just want to check PTO."

Connecteam Users Say:

"Perfect for our field service team. Everyone uses the app."

"Powerful but took weeks to set up properly."

"Nice to have communication and time off in the same place."

Common complaint: "Overkill if you don't need all the features."

The Honest Assessment

We're biased—we built Symple Team. But here's our honest take:

If you need scheduling: Don't use Symple Team. Homebase or Connecteam will serve you better.

If you need a complete operations platform: Connecteam is impressive (if you're willing to invest in setup).

If you just need PTO tracking: That's what we built Symple Team for. One thing, done well, with minimal complexity.

The worst choice is picking an all-in-one tool when you only need one feature. You'll pay for complexity you don't use, and your team will struggle with an interface designed for much more.

The second-worst choice is no tool at all. Spreadsheets work until they don't, and by then you've already had the double-booking or balance error that costs real time and trust.

Making Your Decision

Questions to Ask:

1. What's your primary need? If it's scheduling, Homebase. If it's operations, Connecteam. If it's PTO, Symple Team.

2. How complex are your requirements? Simple teams → Symple Team. Complex workflows → Connecteam.

3. What's your team structure? Hourly/shifts → Homebase. Salaried/professional → Symple Team. Field/deskless → Connecteam.

4. What's your budget sensitivity? Free tiers available from all three. Best value at scale: Symple Team Unlimited.

5. How much setup time do you have? Minutes: Symple Team. Hours: Homebase. Days: Connecteam.

Our Recommendation Framework

Try Before You Commit

All three tools offer free options:

• Symple Team: Free for teams up to 5, full features
• Homebase: Free basic tier, 1 location
• Connecteam: Free for up to 10 users

The best way to decide is to try them with your actual team. See which one your employees naturally adopt without needing help.

Ready to Try Simple PTO Tracking?

If you just need PTO management without the complexity of an all-in-one platform, Symple Team might be right for you.

Start free — 5 users, full features, no credit card required.