Homebase
Homebase is an all-in-one team management software providing small businesses with integrated tools for hourly scheduling, time tracking, payroll processing, and team communication to simplify daily operations and compliance.
When I Work
When I Work is a complete employee scheduling and time tracking solution designed to help you manage hourly teams, reduce labor costs, and improve workplace communication through a centralized mobile-first platform.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Homebase | When I Work |
|---|---|---|
| Website | homebase.com | wheniwork.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | $2.5/month |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 14 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2014 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, USA | Minneapolis, USA |
Overview
Homebase
Homebase is a comprehensive team management platform designed specifically to help you manage hourly workforces without the paperwork headache. You can build schedules in minutes, track employee hours with a digital time clock, and message your team instantly. It eliminates the manual effort of calculating total hours and overtime, ensuring your business stays compliant with labor laws while keeping your labor costs under control.
You can also manage the entire employee lifecycle from hiring and onboarding to automated payroll and performance tracking. The platform integrates directly with your point-of-sale system to sync sales data with labor costs, giving you a clear view of your business health. Whether you run a single cafe or manage multiple retail locations, you can handle all your people management tasks from one centralized dashboard.
When I Work
When I Work is a mobile-first platform that simplifies how you manage hourly employees. Instead of messy spreadsheets and endless phone calls, you get a centralized hub to build schedules in minutes, track attendance, and chat with your team. You can easily handle shift swaps, monitor labor costs against your budget, and ensure everyone knows exactly when and where they need to work.
The software solves the headache of manual scheduling by allowing you to fill open shifts instantly and verify employee locations via GPS geofencing. Whether you run a single coffee shop or manage multiple retail locations, it helps you stay organized and compliant with labor laws while giving your employees the flexibility they crave through a user-friendly mobile app.
Overview
Homebase Features
- Employee Scheduling Build and share work schedules in minutes using templates and drag-and-drop tools that notify your team instantly via mobile.
- Time Tracking Turn any device into a smart time clock that tracks breaks, prevents early clock-ins, and automatically calculates total hours worked.
- Automated Payroll Convert your timesheets into paychecks with a few clicks, including automated tax filings and direct deposits for your entire team.
- Team Communication Message your whole team or individual employees through a secure app, ensuring everyone sees important updates and shift changes.
- Hiring and Onboarding Post jobs to top boards, track applicants, and complete all new-hire paperwork digitally before their first day on the job.
- Compliance Tools Stay protected with automated alerts for missed breaks, overtime limits, and labor law updates specific to your business location.
When I Work Features
- One-Click Scheduling. Build and publish your entire weekly schedule in minutes using custom templates and automated shift assignments.
- Mobile Time Clock. Turn any smartphone or tablet into a precise time clock with GPS verification to ensure your team is on-site.
- Team Messaging. Communicate with your entire staff or specific groups instantly without sharing private phone numbers or using external apps.
- Shift Swapping. Empower your employees to trade shifts or find coverage themselves, requiring only your final digital approval.
- Labor Cost Tracking. Monitor your labor spending in real-time against your sales forecasts to prevent costly overtime before it happens.
- Auto-Scheduling. Generate optimal schedules automatically based on employee availability, qualifications, and your specific business requirements.
Pricing Comparison
Homebase Pricing
- Up to 20 employees
- One business location
- Time tracking and time clock
- Employee scheduling
- Team messaging
- Hiring and job posting
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- Unlimited employees
- Advanced scheduling tools
- Team communication history
- Remote clock-in and GPS
- Performance tracking
- Labor cost forecasting
When I Work Pricing
- Standard scheduling tools
- Team messaging and chat
- Shift trading and drops
- Time off management
- Multiple locations and sites
- In-app employee training
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Custom reporting and exports
- Labor forecasting tools
- Shift bidding capabilities
- Role-based permissions
- Advanced API access
Pros & Cons
Homebase
Pros
- Per-location pricing saves money as you hire more staff
- Extremely user-friendly mobile app for hourly employees
- Seamless integration with popular POS systems like Square
- Automated shift reminders reduce employee no-shows significantly
- Generous free plan includes essential scheduling and tracking
Cons
- Payroll services require an additional monthly add-on fee
- Advanced HR compliance features locked behind higher tiers
- Occasional sync delays between mobile app and desktop
When I Work
Pros
- Intuitive mobile app makes shift management easy for employees
- Reduces time spent on scheduling by up to 80 percent
- GPS geofencing prevents early clock-ins and time theft
- Seamless integration with popular payroll providers like ADP
Cons
- Mobile app can occasionally lag during peak usage
- Advanced reporting is locked behind the higher pricing tier
- Initial setup of employee availability takes some time