Homebase

Homebase brings the routines of hourly workforce management into one product, from shift planning and clock-ins to payroll and hiring. It is a practical fit for local employers whose teams work changing shifts, though the price rises quickly when they need broader controls or add-ons.

Overview

Scheduling, time tracking, payroll, hiring, onboarding, HR, compliance, and team communication sit under one roof. That range can simplify day-to-day coordination for restaurants, retailers, beauty and wellness businesses, medical practices, and home services teams. The main trade-off is that the most useful capabilities are spread across paid tiers and add-ons, so the free starting point is narrow.

Homebase was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Its Basic plan covers one location and up to 10 employees; paid plans allow unlimited employees per location. That makes it easier to start small, but a growing team or multi-location operator should weigh the per-location plan costs.

Key features

Scheduling and shift changes

Availability collection, auto-scheduling, time-off management, open shifts, and shift swaps cover both schedule creation and the changes that follow. These tools are useful when availability shifts week to week. Basic scheduling is included in Basic, while advanced scheduling appears in Essentials and higher tiers, so managers needing more control will have to pay.

Time clocks and payroll

Employees can clock in and out using mobile or tablet time clocks, with PIN, photo, and GPS or geofencing checks. Approved hours flow into payroll, where Homebase says it calculates wages, overtime, tips, and taxes and handles tax filings. That connection can reduce handoffs between timekeeping and pay, but payroll is an add-on rather than part of the listed base tiers.

Hiring, administration, and integrations

Homebase also covers onboarding, HR, compliance, labor cost management, and team communication. Its integrations include Square, Toast, Clover, Shopify, ADP, Gusto, and QuickBooks, a useful range for businesses already using those systems. The plan comparison also allows customers to build custom integrations through the API.

For businesses assessing data safeguards, Homebase says it uses encryption at rest and in transit, two-factor authentication, SSO, password-less login, and role-based access control. It reports annual penetration tests and monthly vulnerability scans. Its Trust Center lists SOC 2 Type 2, SOC 3, PCI DSS v4.0.0, CCPA, PIPEDA, and NIST CSF.

Pricing

Homebase uses a freemium model, with paid plans starting at $30/mo and a 14-day trial. Plans are billed per location, and paid tiers allow unlimited employees per location. Check the billing terms for the offer and add-ons you select: some are monthly, while others are one-time charges.

• Basic: Free for one location and up to 10 employees. It includes basic scheduling, basic time tracking, POS integration, and the option to add payroll. It is a sensible starting point for a small single-site operation, but the employee cap and basic tools limit its usefulness as needs grow.
• Essentials — $30 a month: Per location, with unlimited employees, advanced scheduling and time tracking, and team communication. Payroll is available as an add-on. This is the entry point for businesses that have outgrown Basic's staffing cap or need more capable scheduling and timekeeping.
• All-in-One — $120 a month: Per location, with unlimited employees, employee onboarding, labor cost management, HR, and compliance; payroll remains an add-on. It suits employers who want more workforce administration in the same system, though the fourfold jump from Essentials is substantial.
• Plus — $700 a month: Per location, with unlimited employees, an AI-powered Scheduling Assistant, PTO and time-off controls, and departments and permissions. The page also advertises six months free with payroll. Its price makes it a high-commitment choice for teams that specifically need these additional controls.

Optional charges can add up. The Task Manager add-on is $13 a month for task lists and completion tracking; Tip Manager is $25 a month for POS tip imports, pool calculations, and adding tips to timesheets. Hiring Assistant is $99 a month, with the first month free, for job posts, candidate finding, and interviews. Payroll is $496 a month, with the first six months free; afterward, a base fee plus a per-employee charge applies. Background checks cost $30 per check, and job post boosts cost $50 per boost.

Platforms

Homebase is available on Android, iOS, and the web, with mobile apps and browser access to suit managers and staff working away from a desktop. Support includes 24/7 AI chat and a Help Center; live chat and phone support are also available in plan comparisons.

Who it's for

Homebase is strongest for small hourly, shift-based businesses that want schedules and time clocks connected to payroll and team administration. A restaurant, shop, or service business can start with one location and a small staff on Basic, then move to a paid tier when it needs more than 10 employees or advanced tools. Businesses with complex multi-location needs should compare the per-location cost across their required tiers and add-ons before committing.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Scheduling, time clocks, payroll, and broader team administration share a product, which can reduce separate workflows for hourly staff.
• Pro: Basic is free for a single location with up to 10 employees, giving a small employer room to start without a subscription.
• Pro: Multiple clock-in checks and integrations with major POS and payroll services support varied operating setups.
• Con: Basic caps the business at 10 employees and offers only basic scheduling and time tracking, so growing teams will need a paid plan.
• Con: Payroll costs extra, and hiring, tips, tasks, and other capabilities can require separate add-ons, making the full cost higher than the base plan.
• Con: Plus is $700 a month per location, a steep step up for businesses that need its advanced scheduling and permission controls.

Alternatives

7shifts is worth comparing for restaurants that want a free scheduling plan: its Comp plan covers up to 15 employees at one location, versus Homebase Basic's 10; its Essentials plan has a 30-employee limit and unlimited locations.

Sling is another freemium option, with a free plan for up to 30 users that includes shift scheduling, time-off requests, available shifts, news sharing, long-term scheduling, and private messaging.

Harri Applicant Tracking is a paid alternative for teams considering a talent acquisition or AI-powered hiring bundle, with custom pricing.

Rosnet Scheduling & Forecasting is a paid option for buyers seeking scheduling and forecasting software; pricing is by demo request.

Fourth Inventory is a paid inventory option with pricing by demo request. Fourth Forecast Manager is another paid Fourth product to consider.

Lineup.ai suits buyers focused on forecasting: its Forecasts Only plan is $79 a month, billed per location, with unlimited users and employees, automated AI-generated forecasts, and a custom labor allowance budget.

Restaurant365 Workforce Management is another paid workforce management alternative.

For category-specific comparisons, browse Restaurant Labor Management Software, Nonprofit Payroll Software, Restaurant Scheduling Software, Restaurant Tip Management Software, Time and Attendance Software, and Gym Staff Scheduling Software.

Verdict

Homebase is a strong choice for small hourly employers who want scheduling, verified clock-ins, and payroll workflows connected with hiring and team administration. Its free single-location tier is a useful entry point, but the 10-employee cap, paid payroll, and add-on charges mean buyers should price the setup they actually need. Look elsewhere if your priority is a broader free employee allowance or a narrower scheduling or forecasting tool.