NannyKeeper vs HomePay
Care.com's nanny payroll service. Here's how NannyKeeper compares—and why families are making the switch.
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NannyKeeper
Comparing
HomePay
✕ means the feature isn't listed on that provider's own pages (checked September 2026).
About HomePay
HomePay is Care.com's household payroll service. It has handled household payroll since 1992, as Breedlove & Associates until Care.com acquired it in 2012. Their Plus plan ($75/month) is the comparable full-service tier, adding dedicated account management with audit support, an employee app for hours, time off and expenses, tax agency notices handled for you, and a Care.com membership. An Essentials plan at $59/month files the same returns, registers you with the tax agencies and includes phone, chat and email support, without those four extras. Both include full-service payroll, meaning they handle tax filings on your behalf, a key difference from NannyKeeper, where you file yourself (with our documents and guidance).
What HomePay does well
- Full-service: they file taxes on your behalf
- Established brand backed by Care.com
- Tax registration and phone, chat and email support on both tiers; Plus adds dedicated account management, an employee app and tax agency notice handling
- Direct deposit and deadline reminders included
Where HomePay falls short
- Costs $708–$900/year for one employee
- No free tier for payment tracking
- Essentials plan ($59/mo) has no dedicated account management or tax notice handling
Why families switch to NannyKeeper
- Save $720+ per year with the same core features
- Modern, mobile-friendly interface
- Free payment tracking tier for families just starting out
- Self-service means you're always in control of your filings
Pricing verified September 2026. Verify current pricing on each provider's website.
Save $720 every year
That's $3,600 over 5 years, for the same tax forms.
Enough for date nights, a family outing, or just keeping more of your money.
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Check what the IRS would flag about your current setup
If you've been running payroll on HomePay, there may be compliance gaps worth knowing before you migrate. The free audit simulator takes 60 seconds and shows specific dollar exposure — FICA, Schedule H, state SUTA, 1099 misclassification.
Run the IRS audit simulatorWhat you get with NannyKeeper
Automatic tax calculations
Federal, state, and local taxes calculated for every paycheck. All 50 states supported.
Direct deposit available
Pay your nanny directly to their bank account. Starting at $6/transfer, plus 0.8% on amounts over $1,000 per transfer.
W-2 and Schedule H
Year-end forms generated and ready for you to file. No surprise fees.
Email deadline reminders
We remind you before quarterly deadlines so you never miss a payment.
Pay stubs
Professional pay stubs for every paycheck—great for your nanny's records.
State requirement tracking
We track what's required in your state and remind you of deadlines.
A note on full-service vs self-service: NannyKeeper is a self-service platform. We calculate taxes, generate W-2s and Schedule H, and remind you of deadlines—but you handle the actual filing with the IRS, SSA, and your state. Competitors like HomePay, GTM, Poppins, and SurePayroll offer full-service filing, meaning they file taxes on your behalf at a higher monthly cost.
One thing worth knowing: full-service asks more of you than it looks. To file on your behalf, you authorize the provider as your agent—power of attorney over your federal and state tax accounts. And it doesn't actually move the responsibility off you: household employment taxes are reported on your own 1040 (Schedule H), under your own Social Security number, so the IRS looks to the family no matter who submits the forms. The guarantees say so in the fine print too—they cover a penalty if the provider made the mistake, but never the tax itself. We've even had families come to us after a provider missed something for years, or simply didn't file what they were paying for, and left them to sort it out with the IRS. With NannyKeeper you stay in control, see exactly how every number was calculated, pay the IRS directly (about 15 minutes a quarter), and save hundreds a year.
Learn more about nanny taxes
Complete Guide to Nanny Taxes
Everything you need to know about household employment taxes.
Nanny Tax Calculator
See exactly what you'll owe in taxes for your situation.
Schedule H Guide
Line-by-line walkthrough of Schedule H for household employers.
State Requirements
Find the specific tax rules for your state.