Homebase Review: Key Features, Pros & Cons, and Pricing
Homebase is a workforce management software designed to simplify scheduling, time tracking, and team communication. It's perfect for small businesses in retail and service-based industries, like cafes and boutiques, where managing hourly workers is key.
Homebase offers real value by saving you time and reducing the hassle of workforce management, so you can focus on growing your business.
In this article, you'll get an in-depth look at Homebase's features, pros and cons, best and worst use cases, and pricing details. You'll also gain insights about Homebase’s team management tools to help streamline your operations and achieve your team's goals.
Homebase Evaluation Summary

- From $20/location/month
- Free plan available
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
Homebase Overview
In my opinion, Homebase is a strong choice for small to mid-sized businesses needing efficient scheduling and time-tracking tools to manage hourly workers. It excels with its user-friendly interface and mobile app, making it particularly suitable for retail, hospitality, and service sectors where shift management is crucial.
However, it falls short on advanced HR or payroll functionalities, often requiring add-ons that can inflate costs.
Compared to competitors, Homebase is best for users wanting ease of use and basic employee management functions rather than comprehensive HR solutions. If your team values straightforward scheduling and team communication, Homebase is worth considering.
pros
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It simplifies shift swapping and covers changes with minimal hassle.
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Your team will benefit from integrated communication tools for quick updates via the Homebase app.
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You can easily schedule shifts and track time with its intuitive interface.
cons
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It may not suit larger businesses needing robust HR functionalities.
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Your team might find customer support response times slower than desired.
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It lacks advanced HR and payroll features for comprehensive HR management.
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How We Test & Score Our Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final score)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final score)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final score)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final score)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final score)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final score)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final score)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Shift Scheduling: Easily create and manage employee schedules with drag-and-drop tools. Your team can view shifts and request changes, keeping everyone informed.
Time Tracking: Track employee hours accurately with an integrated time clock and clock-in/ clock-out functions. These features help you ensure payroll accuracy and manage labor costs effectively.
Team Communication: Communicate directly with your team through built-in messaging. Share updates quickly and keep everyone on the same page without leaving the platform.
Shift Swapping: Homebase allows employees to swap shifts with ease, reducing scheduling conflicts. This feature gives your team flexibility and ensures continuous business coverage.
Payroll Integration: Sync time tracking with payroll processing to streamline payments. Save time and reduce errors by automating this crucial process.
Labor Cost Management: Monitor labor costs in real-time to stay within budget. You can make informed decisions by accessing detailed reports on your workforce expenses.

Ease of Use
Homebase is user-friendly, making it easy for you to navigate its features without a steep learning curve. The intuitive interface lets you drag and drop schedules and access time-tracking data quickly. Your team can easily manage shifts and communicate via the mobile app, adding convenience to daily operations.
Compared to other workforce management tools, Homebase stands out for its simplicity and accessibility, allowing you to focus more on your business and less on software navigation.

New Product Updates from Homebase
AI-Optimized Scheduling Assistant Unveiled by Homebase
The recent update from Homebase introduces a new AI-optimized Scheduling Assistant, designed to simplify the scheduling process for businesses. This tool leverages artificial intelligence to create staff schedules efficiently by considering team availability, work history, and time-off requests. Key features include:
- Instant Schedule Creation: The assistant builds schedules by analyzing employees' availability, previous work history, and scheduled time-off.
- Conflict Resolution: Managers can resolve scheduling conflicts with one click, ensuring a smooth process.
- Onboarding and Availability Setting: New hires can onboard, set their availability, and start working directly from their phones.
This update is part of Homebase's effort to enhance its platform with AI-driven tools, aiming to reduce administrative tasks and improve efficiency for small businesses. For more details, visit the Homebase releases page .
Homebase Upgrades Team Chat with New Interactive Features
Homebase has introduced a comprehensive update to its team messaging feature, enhancing internal communication for small businesses. This update includes:
- GIFs and Photo Sharing: Users can now share GIFs and photos, adding a visual dimension to their conversations.
- Threads: This feature allows users to organize conversations by following specific discussions within larger chats.
- Polls: Teams can quickly gather opinions and make decisions collectively by utilizing the polls feature.
- Message Editing: Users have the ability to edit messages post-sending, facilitating quick corrections and updates.
For more details, visit Homebase Releases .
Homebase Specs
- 2-Factor Authentication
- 360 Degree Feedback
- API
- Application Tracking
- Attendance Tracking
- Batch Permissions & Access
- Budgeting
- Calendar Management
- Dashboard
- Data Export
- Data Import
- Data Visualization
- Employee Database
- Employee Engagement
- Employee Incentive Management
- Employee Onboarding
- Expense Tracking
- External Integrations
- Feedback Management
- Forecasting
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Onboarding
- Payroll
- Project Management
- Scheduling
- Time Management
- Timesheets
- Travel Management
- Vacation & Absence Calendar
Homebase FAQs
How does Homebase manage shift swaps?
How does Homebase handle employee data security?
Can Homebase accommodate multiple locations?
Is Homebase suitable for remote teams?
How does Homebase support employee communication?
How does Homebase help with compliance?
Can Homebase generate custom reports?
Does Homebase offer training resources for new users?
What's Next?
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