10 Best Homebase Alternatives in 2026 for Scheduling and Time Tracking

If you’re considering a move from Homebase (joinhomebase.com), the app for hourly teams, these 10 alternatives address specific gaps in scheduling and time tracking. There’s no rigid ranking here: each tool addresses a specific operational gap. Plan limits and cost examples help you check whether it fits your team’s day-to-day work and budget.

Key Takeaways about Homebase Alternatives in 2026 Choosing the best Homebase Alternatives in 2026 depends on the gap you want to close: hourly scheduling (When I Work, Sling, ZoomShift), demand-based rosters (Deputy), hospitality (7shifts, HotSchedules), clock-in verification (Buddy Punch), international payroll (Planday), or project billing (TimeCamp). Homebase charges per location, so teams that are operating on multiple sites should compare per-user pricing from competitors like When I Work or ZoomShift (also: note that Homebase Payroll services are only available in the US)  Keep in mind the cheapest option isn’t always free. Sling and 7Shifts don’t offer time clocks on their free plans, so calculate the final price based on what your team needs. If you’re looking for connecting tracked hours to client billing and project capacity rather than extended shift scheduling, TimeCamp may be the tool worth testing.

 

How do we review software in TimeCamp? A human is behind every word posted here. We value our users’ time and trust, so you can be sure our team (Ola, Wojtek, Kasia, Iza, Robert, and others) spent real hours testing the apps, and then researching, briefing, and writing this article. Our editorial team has 10+ years of experience writing SaaS content, including testing and using a variety of tools daily. Our writers are also app users, so we write our recommendations based on what we would read as potential clients. Our main rule is “do not cover without a source.”We also revisit and update our articles to cover notable changes to the app’s features or pricing (at least quarterly). Read more → How do we create content and review software in TimeCamp? Happy reading!

Why look for a Homebase alternative?

Migrating to a new platform takes work, doubly so if integrations need reconfiguring. Start with the core friction point that makes the transition worth it.

• Per-location charges add up. Homebase’s paid plans charge by physical address, with no per-user fees. At the same subscription level, two sites cost twice as much as one; three cost three times as much. If you run several small locations, calculate the equivalent per-user bill using your actual head count. Larger teams at a single venue benefit from a price that stays fixed as staff numbers grow.
• Advanced roster controls cost extra. Basic covers shift creation and time tracking. More advanced options start on Essentials; the AI Scheduling Assistant requires Plus. Check which subscription includes the feature you need before comparing starting prices.
• Payroll stops at US borders. Homebase Payroll serves US-based businesses. Teams in Canada or the UK require a service that processes local payroll, or a compatible connection between their time records and regional provider.
• Add-ons change the total. Tip Manager and Task Manager carry separate fees on top of the core subscription. A restaurant using automated tip pooling alongside assigned opening and closing tasks has to account for both charges. Compare that combined cost with packages that include the required functions.
• Notification problems create follow-up work. User reviews include reports of notification glitches and lengthy support resolution. A missed shift update leaves a supervisor checking whether the message reached the person assigned. During a trial, follow a schedule change through to the employee’s phone and check how exceptions reach support.
• Client billing requires different tools. Homebase centers on managing hourly staff and their shifts. Businesses charging customers for project hours also require billable rates and reports connecting labor costs with revenue. If your office still rebuilds those figures separately, evaluate how an alternative carries recorded time into invoices and profitability calculations.

Homebase alternatives at a glance

Focus first on the workflow you’re trying to improve. A restaurant coordinating tipped shifts across lunch and dinner service has different requirements from an agency turning tracked hours into client invoices.

Starting prices below reflect annual billing where available. Check each free plan’s headcount limits and included features. Paid tiers deserve the same scrutiny: the entry-level subscription doesn’t necessarily include the capability driving your switch. Ratings are out of 5, verified in October 2026.

Tool	Reason to consider it	Starting paid price	Free plan	G2	Capterra	Platforms
TimeCamp	Connect project hours with client billing and labor costs	Starter: $3.99/user/month	Yes; unlimited users	4.7	4.7	Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
When I Work	Coordinate shifts across locations with per-user pricing	Essentials: $2.50/user/month; confirm attendance costs	No	4.4	4.5	Web, iOS, Android
Deputy	Build schedules around staffing demand and work rules	Lite: $5/user/month; minimum spend applies	No	4.6	4.6	Web, iOS, Android
Sling	Publish schedules for a small team on a free plan	Premium: $1.70/user/month	Yes; up to 30 users, no time tracking	4.4	4.6	Web, iOS, Android
7shifts	Manage restaurant shifts alongside tips and daily tasks	Essentials: $39.99/location/month	Yes; one location, up to 15 employees	4.5	4.7	Web, iOS, Android
Connecteam	Give mobile crews a shared place for clock-ins, forms, and assigned work	Operations Basic: $29/month for the first 30 users	Yes; up to 10 users	4.6	4.6	Web, iOS, Android
Buddy Punch	Add clock-in controls and review attendance exceptions	Starter: $4.99/user/month + $19/month base fee	No	4.8	4.8	Web, iOS, Android
ZoomShift	Keep shift planning straightforward for a small hourly team	Starter: $2/user/month	Yes; up to 20 users, one location, no time tracking	4.8	4.5	Web, iOS, Android
Planday	Pair scheduling with payroll integrations available in your country	Regional pricing; confirm local currency and minimum seats	No	4.5	4.3	Web, iOS, Android
HotSchedules by Fourth	Plan restaurant labor using sales forecasts and POS data	Custom quote	No permanent free plan confirmed	4.3	4.4	Web, iOS, Android

 

Compare the total bill for your actual setup. Connecteam’s listed rate covers its Operations hub, with other modules sold separately. With Buddy Punch, a flat base fee gets added to seat pricing. Restaurant teams evaluating 7shifts also have to choose the subscription tier that includes their required tip and task tools.

When I Work’s pricing cards and FAQ don’t align on attendance packaging. Confirm whether your quote includes the time clock before using its scheduling rate in an apples-to-apples comparison with your current costs.

TimeCamp: connect tracked hours with client billing and project capacity

TimeCamp fits teams whose scheduling problem involves allocating people to client work and checking what that work costs. Recorded hours feed into financial reports, and its Resource Planner compares assignments with the time actually spent.

Office staff get automatic time tracking with keyword rules assigning activity to projects. Mobile workers record hours through the GPS-enabled app. Geofencing offered for Enterprise teams starts and stops entries when someone enters or leaves a defined job site, provided the app runs in the background.

Shared-device clock-ins are available through the free TimeCamp Kiosk add-on. Staff select their name and task, then start a work period that becomes a timesheet entry. Optional PIN verification adds an identity check; switching assignments closes the current record and starts the next.

How closely does it replace Homebase’s scheduling?

TimeCamp now offers a free Shift Scheduling add-on with a weekly roster, recurring shifts, and task checklists. Its scope has an important limit: planned shifts don’t generate time entries or connect to the kiosk and time-off tools. Checking scheduled hours against attendance still requires a separate step.

Resource Planner serves a different purpose. Available on Premium and above, it allocates hours to existing projects and shows where assignments exceed capacity. Its calculations use an eight-hour weekday baseline; holidays, approved leave, and individual working hours don’t adjust that capacity. Account for those absences before assigning more work.

What does TimeCamp cost for 10 users?

Plan	Per user/month, billed annually	Monthly equivalent for 10 users	Relevant features
Free	$0	$0	Unlimited users and projects; basic time tracking and GPS
Starter	$3.99	$39.90	Attendance, time off, invoicing
Premium	$6.99	$69.90	Billable time, accounting exports, Resource Planner
Ultimate	$9.99	$99.90	Billable rates, labor costs, timesheet approvals
Enterprise	Custom quote	Custom quote	Geofencing and the core Time Clock Kiosk feature

 

Month-to-month rates are $5.49 for Starter, $9.99 for Premium, and $13.99 for Ultimate (per user/month). A 10-person team using Ultimate pays $99.90/month equivalent on annual billing, or $139.90 on a monthly subscription.

Free marketplace add-ons for Kiosk and Shift Scheduling are separate from the core features listed in the subscription matrix. Budget for Ultimate if you require custom billable rates and labor-cost reporting.

Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Where does TimeCamp fit, and what are its limits?

Pros	Cons
Free time tracking accommodates unlimited users	Custom billable rates and labor costs require Ultimate
Desktop capture records computer-based work alongside mobile entries	Geofencing requires an Enterprise quote
Resource Planner compares allocated hours with recorded time	Capacity calculations don’t adjust for leave or individual schedules
Free kiosk supports shared-device, task-based clock-ins	Shift Scheduling remains separate from attendance, kiosk, and time off

What do users report?

G2: 4.7/5. Capterra: 4.7/5. Verified in October 2026.

Jenna described using computer-activity records to find work that hadn’t been assigned to a billable task. In a 5/5 G2 review dated September 2, 2026, Jenna reported roughly 20% more billable hours. That’s one person’s result, with a specific mechanism behind it: reconciling captured activity with submitted entries.

Anna’s August 2026 G2 review (4.5/5) highlights straightforward timer controls and activity tracking for consultations and follow-up work. She found the feature set more extensive than a very small team required, giving solo practitioners a reason to check how much of the package they’d actually use.

When I Work: fill open shifts and coordinate staff across locations

When I Work gives hourly teams a per-user scheduling option with OpenShifts and staff-managed swaps. It fits businesses that want available workers to respond to uncovered shifts through the app, keeping coverage requests attached to the roster.

Publishing an OpenShift notifies eligible, qualified staff. Turn on pickup approval and interested workers submit bids for a manager to review. Position assignments and custom tags help define eligibility, so a shift requiring specific training reaches the appropriate people.

Auto-Assign handles a different job: allocating unpublished openings before you release the schedule. It considers existing assignments and approved leave, with options to respect availability preferences and maximum hours. Review the result before publishing; filling next week’s roster and finding cover for today’s call-out are separate actions.

What does When I Work cost for 10 users?

Plan	Published price per user/month	Listed monthly cost for 10 users	Relevant scope
Essentials	$2.50	$25	Auto scheduling, templates, OpenShifts, swaps, and multi-location scheduling
Pro	$5	$50	Scheduling rules, labor sharing, custom reporting, and time-zone switching
Premium	$8	$80	API access, webhooks, and SAML/SSO

 

Frankly, I found conflicting pricing information on When I Work’s own pricing page during my research. Its plan cards list multi-location scheduling and show time tracking as an add-on. Yet the “How much does When I Work cost?” answer on that same page gives a different rate for multi-location teams and says attendance is included in every plan. Confirm the total for your locations and time-clock requirements before budgeting around the rates above.

There’s no permanent free plan. A 14-day trial includes scheduling, time tracking, and messaging, with no credit card required.

Platforms: Web, iOS, and Android.

Where does When I Work help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
OpenShifts lets eligible staff respond to coverage requests	Qualification filters depend on accurate positions and tags
Auto-Assign fills unpublished openings using account data	Availability preferences require the relevant assignment options to be enabled
Per-user pricing gives small teams a headcount-based cost model	Each additional paid seat increases the subscription bill
Pro supports sharing staff between schedules	Labor sharing sits above Essentials

What do users report?

G2: 4.4/5. Capterra: 4.5/5. Verified in October 2026.

Brie’s July 2026 G2 review (4.5/5) describes staff picking up last-minute openings across recreational programs. Larger rosters brought extra steps when changing recurring assignments, and Brie wanted stronger controls around qualifications. The review also identifies a practical misunderstanding: younger staff sometimes treated offering a shift as confirmation that someone else had taken responsibility for it.

Yanina highlighted mobile clock-ins in a May 2025 Capterra review (5/5). Having schedule details and team messages in the same app also helped reduce confusion. Missed notifications and loading problems occasionally disrupted access after updates. Those interruptions were frustrating when she just needed to check a shift quickly.

Deputy: build demand-based rosters and flag break exceptions

Deputy fits teams that want staffing levels tied to expected demand, with break rules carried through to timesheet review. Its Core plan combines auto-scheduling with wage budgets, giving supervisors a way to assess coverage and labor expense before publishing shifts.

Demand-based planning starts with data. Import sales figures from a connected system or enter a custom metric, then configure rules that translate demand into required staff. Deputy builds a shift structure and fills empty assignments with recommended people. Availability and training influence those recommendations; cost preferences help determine who gets assigned.

There’s a boundary worth checking: Auto-Fill assigns empty shifts, but doesn’t fill published Open Shifts. Last-minute coverage uses the separate replacement or open-shift workflow. Automatic roster creation won’t resolve every call-out on its own.

How does Deputy handle breaks and timesheet exceptions?

Break planning supports paid rest periods and unpaid meals within the same shift. Location-level settings control how those breaks are scheduled and recorded. Where configured, timesheet flags draw attention to missed breaks or other exceptions before approval.

Flagged records don’t pass through the break-planning auto-approval extension unchecked. A supervisor still has to review the issue, and the configuration has to reflect the rules applicable to that workplace.

What does Deputy cost for 10 users?

Plan	Per user/month on an annual plan	Monthly equivalent for 10 users	Relevant scope
Lite	$5	$50	Basic scheduling and time clocking, replacement shifts, leave and availability
Core	$6.50	$65	Auto-scheduling, demand forecasting, wage budgets, advanced compliance tools
Pro	$9	$90	Custom access levels, location hierarchies, SSO, Analytics+ and Messaging+

 

For the demand-based scheduling described here, Core costs $65/month equivalent for 10 users on an annual plan, excluding taxes. Count administrators and supervisors in those 10 seats: Deputy charges for them too.

Monthly plans have a $30 minimum spend per invoice. SMS delivery carries separate charges, so publishing schedules by text adds to the subscription bill. Deputy offers a trial, with no permanent free plan.

Platforms: Web, iOS, and Android.

Where does Deputy help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Demand data feeds roster creation and staffing calculations	Sales inputs and labor-model rules require setup
Paid and unpaid breaks sit within the shift plan	Applicable rules still require accurate configuration
Timesheet flags direct attention to exceptions	Demand forecasting and auto-scheduling require Core
Cost preferences influence automatic assignments	Admin seats and outgoing SMS increase the total cost

What do users report?

G2: 4.6/5. Capterra: 4.6/5. Verified in October 2026.

Uncomplicated shift scheduling and real-time updates helped reduce coordination errors, according to a January 2026 G2 review (4.5/5) from Zakir. On the downside, the review flags reporting and customization limits for complex workflows, alongside periodic mobile slowness and pricing that scales with headcount.

Mobile clock-ins and clearly displayed assignments worked well for Max, whose April 2026 Capterra review awarded Deputy 5/5. The written feedback was more qualified: Max reported occasional discrepancies in tracked time and total-hour calculations, plus difficulty understanding those figures before payroll. That account makes reconciliation a useful trial task: follow a known shift through to the approved totals and investigate any mismatch.

Sling: publish a small team’s roster on a free plan

Sling is a solid pick if your immediate priority is publishing schedules on a free plan. Up to 30 users get access to shift assignments and time-off requests, plus direct messaging for individual questions. If printed rosters still leave staff calling to check when they’re working, mobile access gives them somewhere to look.

Time tracking sits outside that free plan. Mobile clock-ins start on Premium. Need a shared tablet kiosk at the venue? That takes you to Business. Price out the package that covers both scheduling and recorded hours before treating Sling as a cost-free Homebase replacement.

What does Sling cost for 10 users?

Plan	Per user/month, billed annually	Monthly equivalent for 10 users	Relevant scope
Free	$0	$0	Up to 30 users; scheduling, time-off requests, private messaging
Premium	$1.70	$17	Mobile time tracking, labor costs, overtime tracking, group messaging
Business	$3.40	$34	Kiosk clock-ins, reporting, PTO management, no-show and call-out tracking

 

Month-to-month pricing is $2/user/month for Premium and $4/user/month for Business. For 10 users, that’s $20 or $40 respectively. Paid features are available through a 15-day trial.

Check the distinction between requesting a day off and managing paid leave: free time-off requests don’t provide the PTO management listed under Business.

Platforms: Web, iOS, and Android.

Where does Sling help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Free scheduling supports up to 30 users	Recording worked hours requires a paid plan
One-to-one messaging handles individual schedule questions	Group conversations require Premium
Premium brings labor costs into the scheduling workflow	Kiosk access and PTO management require Business
Staff view assignments through the mobile app	Paid subscription costs increase with user count

What do users report?

G2: 4.4/5. Capterra: 4.6/5. Verified in October 2026.

Checking an on-call roster was the main use case for Elizabeth, whose June 2025 G2 review gave Sling 3.5/5. Shift reminders and access to changed assignments helped with work that the payroll application didn’t schedule. Elizabeth’s setup didn’t show a running PTO balance, so the review offers a useful reminder to check what staff actually see in their accounts.

Filtering by location and reviewing past rosters helped Kylee navigate schedules, according to a June 2026 Capterra review (5/5). The limitation emerged when assigning specialist work: Kylee reported being unable to schedule by skill, citing forklift operation as an example. For teams with qualification-dependent coverage, that’s a specific requirement to check before moving their roster to Sling.

7shifts: restaurant scheduling linked to sales forecasts and tip management

7shifts uses POS sales history to help restaurant managers match shift coverage to expected demand. Employee scheduling draws on projected revenue, giving labor cost management a basis beyond last week’s roster. Recorded hours also feed tip-pool calculations, with allocations ready to export to a supported payroll provider.

Forecasting needs a history to work from. Initial sales projections typically appear one to two weeks after POS activation. Depending on the provider, 7shifts imports up to 90 days of historical data. Consistent manual uploads can produce estimates sooner. Year-over-year comparisons require at least 12 months of history. The vendor’s roughly 95% accuracy claim describes an average, so it doesn’t establish how reliably the model will predict revenue on an unpredictable event night at your venue.

Tip management also depends on configuration. Check how your POS integration maps employees and job roles before relying on automated distributions. With Square, for example, tips follow the person who processes the payment. If someone closes a coworker’s check under their own login, that attribution carries into the pooling data.

What does 7shifts cost for a 10-person team?

Plan	Per location/month, billed annually	Monthly equivalent for 10 employees at one location	Relevant scope
Comp	$0	$0	One location, up to 15 employees; basic scheduling and time-off requests
Essentials	$39.99	$39.99	Up to 30 employees; advanced scheduling, team communication and basic time clocking
Pro	$79.99	$79.99	Unlimited employees; labor cost tools, advanced time clocking and PTO balances
Premium	$134.99	$134.99	Tip management, task management and advanced hourly labor forecasting

 

Month-to-month subscriptions cost $44.99 for Essentials, $89.99 for Pro, and $149.99 for Premium, per location.

Tip Management and Task Management are also listed as separate add-ons at $49.99 and $12.99 per location/month. Premium bundles both. Instant tip payouts carry an additional $1 transaction fee, paid by the restaurant or employee.

Multiple locations still multiply the subscription cost. Two sites on Premium cost $269.98/month equivalent with annual billing. The restaurant-specific workflow is the reason to consider switching; the billing model still follows your location count.

POS compatibility goes beyond the “36 versus seven” comparison. 7shifts’ current directory extends beyond 36 POS connections, including direct integrations and partner-led options. Homebase lists seven POS integrations; its larger overall catalog also includes payroll connections. For scheduling, confirm that your connection imports sales data for forecasting. Wage and tip syncing require separate verification, and partner-led connections put setup and troubleshooting with the integration partner.

Platforms: Web, iOS and Android. Time clocking uses the companion 7punches app or a supported integration.

Where does 7shifts help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Sales history gives managers a basis for staffing decisions	New locations need time to build usable forecasts
Tip allocations can connect recorded hours with payroll	POS employee and role mapping needs careful configuration
Premium bundles restaurant tip and task tools	Per-location fees accumulate as you open additional sites

What do users report about 7shifts?

Ratings checked in October 2026: G2 4.5/5; Capterra 4.7/5.

POS punches flowed into tip allocations and then payroll in Ashley’s April 2026 G2 review (4.5/5), removing manual calculations and data entry from her team’s workflow. Employee-specific tip-pool exceptions were the missing control: she wanted to choose individual contributors, but the options she described followed departments or job roles.

The employee experience adds a different consideration. Oliver, a waiter reviewing 7shifts on Capterra in October 2025 (3/5), found shift swaps easy and appreciated the record of exchanged shifts. His criticism was more specific than a general usability complaint: swapping several shifts needed a better workflow, and the interface felt cluttered.

Connecteam: scheduling with task management for mobile crews

Publishing a shift tells someone when and where to work. Connecteam also gives them a place to record what gets done. The Operations hub combines employee scheduling with digital forms and task management, so a supervisor gets completed checklists back through the same platform used to assign the job.

Automatic scheduling starts with shifts you’ve already created. Set up the assignments and scheduling rules, then let Auto Assign distribute the work. It considers qualifications and availability, including approved time off. Results remain drafts for review, and shifts it can’t fill stay unassigned. You still decide what coverage the operation requires.

Lean operations get advanced scheduling features through the free Small Business plan. Its 10-user limit counts active and archived accounts alike. Archiving a departing worker doesn’t free up a seat for their replacement, so hiring and turnover can push the total beyond the free allowance. Timesheet exports are included, but direct payroll integration requires a paid Operations subscription. My advice: send a sample export to your payroll provider and confirm that it can be imported with no manual reformatting. That will help you assess whether this free Homebase alternative saves administrative work.

What does Connecteam cost for a 10-person team?

Plan	Monthly equivalent, billed annually	Cost for 10 users	Relevant scope
Small Business	$0	$0	Up to 10 active and archived users; one schedule and one time clock
Operations Basic	$29	$29	First 30 users; basic scheduling, GPS clock-ins, forms and tasks
Operations Advanced	$49	$49	First 30 users; recurring shifts, templates and up to 10 geofence sites
Operations Expert	$99	$99	First 30 users; automated scheduling, up to 12 schedules and unlimited geofence sites
Enterprise	Custom quote	Custom quote	Unlimited schedules and time clocks; expanded administration controls

 

Month-to-month Operations subscriptions cost $35 for Basic, $59 for Advanced, and $119 for Expert.

Paid hubs have separate subscriptions. Operations pricing doesn’t include paid Communications or HR & Skills packages. Operations Advanced plus Communications Basic totals $78/month equivalent with annual billing, or $94 on monthly subscriptions. Compare the capabilities included in your selected combination before budgeting to replace multiple tools.

Growing teams pay additional seat charges after the first 30 users. Across multiple locations, the subscription follows the selected hubs and headcount; there’s no standard fee for each physical address.

Platforms: Web, iOS and Android.

Where does Connecteam help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Assignments and completed forms stay within the same Operations hub	Recurring schedules and automated assignment require higher paid tiers
Paid packages include the first 30 users	Paid Communications and HR & Skills subscriptions increase the total
Small Business includes advanced capabilities at no subscription charge	Archived accounts count toward its 10-user cap; payroll integration is excluded

What do users report about Connecteam?

Ratings checked in October 2026: G2 4.6/5; Capterra 4.6/5.

Scheduling across three locations was part of Kandi’s March 2026 Capterra review (5/5). As a director of operations, she valued staying in contact with staff individually and in groups. Her requested improvement concerned navigating future dates: moving ahead week by week with arrows made reaching a particular day more cumbersome.

A familiar spreadsheet-style layout eased the transition from Excel, according to a December 2025 G2 review (2.5/5) by Lindsey. Setup brought confusion over when to use the admin or user view. Scheduling remained difficult when directors covered shifts, a relevant test case if your supervisors fill roster spots alongside their team.

Buddy Punch: verify clock-ins and keep scheduling simple

If verifying where shifts start is your main headache with Homebase, Buddy Punch attaches GPS coordinates to recorded punches. Supervisors get a location to check alongside each timestamp, with job or site codes organizing hours for payroll reporting.

Geofencing restricts mobile punches to assigned locations. Available from Pro, it lets administrators set a perimeter around each site. Crossing that boundary doesn’t start or stop the timer automatically. Employees still tap to clock in and out within an assigned area. Exit notifications require the separate Real-Time GPS add-on and leave the timer running.

Lunch breaks expose a practical limitation. Because the boundary also applies to manual break punches, anyone heading off-site has to record the start of their break before leaving. Trying from outside the permitted area returns an error.

Beyond attendance, employee scheduling includes recurring shifts and reusable templates. Staff also get options to swap or cover assignments. Pro bundles these tools into the subscription, and Starter offers them as a paid add-on.

What does Buddy Punch cost for a 10-person team?

Plan	Per user/month, billed annually	Monthly equivalent for 10 paid users, including base fee	Relevant scope
Starter	$4.99	$68.90	Time tracking, GPS on punches and payroll integrations
Pro	$6.99	$88.90	Basic geofencing, offline mobile punches and scheduling
Advanced	$12.99	$148.90	Real-Time GPS, advanced reporting and expanded manager permissions

 

Every plan includes a $19 monthly base fee. Month-to-month rates are $5.99 per user for Starter, $7.99 for Pro, and $13.99 for Advanced. Including that fee, a 10-person Pro subscription costs $98.90/month on monthly billing.

Scheduling adds $1 per user/month to Starter. Real-Time GPS costs another $2 per user/month on Starter or Pro and is included in Advanced. For the geofenced time clock and scheduling described here, budget for Pro.

Administrator-only accounts are free. Employees and managers count as paid users; inactive workers don’t count toward the active total.

Free option: No permanent free plan; a 14-day trial is available.

Platforms: Web, iOS and Android. Geofencing requires the mobile app.

Where does Buddy Punch help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Punch locations give supervisors evidence to check against recorded hours	Basic geofencing doesn’t provide continuous location tracking
Pro includes scheduling alongside attendance controls	Flat base fee increases the effective cost for small teams
Offline mobile punches accommodate gaps in connectivity	Workers must sign in before losing service; unsynced entries are discarded if they sign out offline

 

Offline Mode requires an administrator to enable it. Closing the app preserves unsynced records, but signing out discards them. During a trial, check a complete offline punch-and-sync sequence on the phones your crew actually uses.

What do users report about Buddy Punch?

Ratings checked in October 2026: G2 4.8/5; Capterra 4.8/5.

Carey, a CFO reviewing Buddy Punch on G2 in July 2026 (5/5), valued geofencing with a choice of kiosk or personal-device punching. Spanish-language access also helped employees understand the system. The interface drew a more qualified assessment: Carey found some controls unintuitive and redundant, though those issues weren’t changes they prioritized.

A February 2026 Capterra review from Jenni (5/5) describes easier payroll preparation through regular tracking of weekly hours. Rising costs led her team to drop scheduling and reduce its user count. That account adds a useful purchasing consideration: price the combined time-clock and roster package you intend to keep, even when the core punching experience works well.

ZoomShift: a low-cost schedule and time clock for hourly teams

ZoomShift’s free Essentials plan covers up to 20 users at one location. Managers create schedules no more than two weeks ahead, with reminders sent to staff when shifts approach. That works for a small operation publishing short-term rosters, but the package excludes time tracking.

Starter brings the roster and recorded hours into one app. At $20/month equivalent for 10 active users on annual billing, it adds reusable templates and a time clock. Hourly employees also request time off or arrange shift coverage through their phones. Premium raises that annual-billing equivalent to $40 for the same headcount, adding overtime warnings and geofencing.

Seasonal businesses can pause subscriptions during inactive months and retain their data for reactivation. If you’re keeping a smaller crew between busy periods, remember to adjust the purchased team-member spots too. Archiving workers alone doesn’t lower the bill.

What does ZoomShift cost for a 10-person team?

Plan	Per active user/month, billed annually	Monthly equivalent for 10 users	Relevant scope
Essentials	$0	$0	Up to 20 users, one location and a two-week scheduling horizon
Starter	$2	$20	Scheduling templates, time clock, timesheets and payroll reports
Premium	$4	$40	Auto-scheduling, overtime warnings, overlap prevention and geofencing

 

Month-to-month rates are $2.50 per active user for Starter and $5 for Premium. A 10-person team therefore pays $25/month or $50/month, respectively.

Paid plans let you add unlimited users, with each active team-member spot billed at the selected rate. Multiple locations are included. Managers also occupy paid spots, so include them in your headcount.

Platforms: Web, iOS and Android.

Where does ZoomShift help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Starter combines scheduling and time tracking at a low per-user rate	Essentials excludes the time clock and limits advance planning
Paid plans accommodate multiple locations	Overtime controls and geofencing require Premium
Pausing preserves account data between operating seasons	Removing staff requires a separate adjustment to purchased spots

 

Payroll reports provide hours for processing in another system. Check how that export fits your provider’s import format before assuming it removes manual payroll work.

What do users report about ZoomShift?

Ratings checked in October 2026: G2 4.8/5; Capterra 4.5/5.

Moving shifts between staff with drag-and-drop controls replaced a paper-based exercise for Steven, according to a December 2025 G2 review (5/5). He also valued adjusting staff numbers to control costs. Payroll remained a separate source of friction: handling the exported CSV took longer than manual entry in his setup, which he acknowledged wasn’t entirely a ZoomShift issue.

Teresa’s February 2025 Capterra review (4/5) describes a college music venue managing more than 40 student workers. Starter was affordable for that operation, and reactivating returning staff after summer was easy. Archiving employees didn’t automatically reduce the bill, though: she had to update the subscription quantity herself. She also wanted approval rules that distinguished routine coverage requests from last-minute call-outs.

Planday: shift scheduling with payroll integrations beyond the US

If your UK or Australian business runs payroll in Xero, Planday connects employee scheduling with that existing setup. Managers send approved hours directly into the payroll system. Available from the Plus plan, this integration sits alongside leave management and revenue reporting in the same workforce management platform.

International reach depends on the integration you choose. Xero handles payroll processing for the supported markets above. Elsewhere, check whether Planday connects to your local provider and whether that connection transfers data directly or requires a file export.

Salary-code mapping deserves a closer check during setup. Codes assigned to specific job roles take precedence over the general hourly code, so mapping the latter alone won’t cover everyone. Leave a bartender’s role-specific code unmapped, and those hours won’t appear in the payroll preview. Review a sample pay period to catch missing hours and other payroll errors before the first live run.

What does Planday cost for a 10-person team?

Plan	Published monthly rate	Monthly cost for 10 users	Relevant scope
Starter	£2.99 per user	£29.90	Scheduling, time tracking, working-time warnings and basic payroll reports
Plus	£3.99 per user + £30 subscription fee	£69.90	Payroll integrations, leave management and revenue reporting
Pro	Custom quote	Custom quote; minimum 50 users	Auto-scheduling, custom planning metrics and configurable permissions

 

Licenses are billed in increments of five. Increasing headcount from 10 to 11 means paying for 15 licenses. Starter has a five-user minimum; Plus requires 10. Pro also carries a subscription fee, with the amount determined through the quote.

For the Xero integration discussed here, budget for Plus and a separate Xero subscription. A 30-day trial is available; there’s no permanent free plan.

Platforms: Web, iOS and Android.

Where does Planday help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Approved hours transfer into supported payroll systems	Country and payroll-product compatibility need checking
Plus brings leave records and revenue reporting into shift planning	Payroll integrations require Plus or above
Working-time warnings help managers spot scheduling conflicts	Five-license billing increments can raise costs before every seat is filled
Pro offers automatic scheduling and custom permissions	Its 50-user minimum puts that package beyond many small teams

What do users report about scheduling and payroll?

Ratings: G2 4.5/5; Capterra 4.3/5, checked in October 2026.

Aimen used Planday every week to check shifts and exchange assignments with colleagues, describing those actions as easy in a February 2025 G2 review (4/5). Getting payroll working with Xero proved trickier. Include the payroll handoff in your trial, even if the roster takes little time to learn.

Sam’s January 2026 Capterra review (5/5) describes onboarding staff to clock-ins and available shifts in minutes. Pulling reports also made payroll preparation quicker. Mobile access didn’t match the web version’s functionality, though: Sam recommended using a computer for holiday booking. If staff handle leave requests entirely from their phones, include that workflow in the trial.

HotSchedules (Fourth): demand-driven staffing for larger hospitality operations

Across multiple sites, fixed roster templates fall short when guest counts fluctuate or local events drive sales spikes. HotSchedules draws on POS sales and labor data to help restaurant operators plan coverage against expected demand. Regional managers also get labor-variance reports to investigate where actual results depart from the plan. Supported connections include Toast and Oracle Micros.

Forecast-driven scheduling starts with your operating rules. During implementation, teams define how expected sales or guest counts translate into staffing requirements. Fourth’s forecasting then generates unassigned house shifts to meet that demand. Auto Schedule fills them according to availability and skill level, applying configured labor constraints during assignment.

Getting this setup ready takes someone who knows your staffing ratios and can validate the incoming POS data. I suggest asking Fourth to demonstrate the quoted package using your restaurant’s job roles and busy service periods. The written proposal also needs to specify which forecasting and automation features the price covers (including any paid upgrades to integrated scheduling).

What does HotSchedules cost for a 10-person team?

Item	Published price	Cost for a 10-person team	Relevant scope
Business subscription	Custom quote	Quote required	Confirm scheduling, forecasting and POS integration scope
HotSchedules mobile app	$2.99 per download	$29.90 if all 10 users purchase it	Separate app-store purchase; an active account is still required

 

I suggest requesting an itemized quote showing implementation costs and charges for your required modules, with the contract term clearly stated. The mobile app purchase is separate from the recurring business subscription. Staff can also access schedules through a browser.

“One year free” comes with a contract commitment. Fourth’s current promotion requires a 24-month HotSchedules agreement plus an eligible payroll contract. It isn’t a permanent free plan, and some iQ packages carry additional per-location charges.

Platforms: Web, iOS and Android.

Where does HotSchedules help, and where are the limits?

Pros	Cons
Demand forecasts translate into staffing requirements before shifts are assigned	Labor rules and POS data require configuration
Reports support labor-cost oversight across multiple locations	Advanced forecasting scope requires confirmation in the quote
Staff request shift changes from their phones, with manager approval	The mobile app carries a separate download charge
POS connections bring sales and recorded labor into planning	Subscription and implementation costs aren’t publicly itemized

What do hospitality users report?

Ratings: G2 4.3/5; Capterra 4.4/5, checked in October 2026.

Managing labor across locations and tracking spending were central benefits in Brian’s September 2026 G2 review (4/5). In-store users found the platform easy to use. Pricing sat at the higher end in Brian’s assessment, although HotSchedules had become integral to the business. His account shows how a larger operation uses the budgeting tools, but it doesn’t establish a universal price premium over Homebase.

Percentage-based adjustments and the visual weekly roster helped Justin with planning, according to a March 2025 Capterra review (4/5). Adding or removing shifts was easy, and forecasting felt more intuitive than the spreadsheet tools previously used. Mobile functionality and the app’s cost limited its appeal for general staff use in that account. Include employees in the evaluation as well as the managers building schedules.

How do you choose a Homebase alternative for your team?

After reviewing the documentation and user feedback, I’d shortlist Homebase competitors around the problem that keeps sending you back to manual work. Unique features make a neat comparison table. What earns a place in your budget is a feature that removes a recurring task or catches a costly mistake.

• For everyday hourly shifts, start with When I Work, Sling or ZoomShift. Compare the package that includes both the roster and time clock. Sling’s free tier covers shift planning, so its starting price won’t represent the full replacement cost if you also record hours.
• Consider Deputy when staffing rules drive the decision. Its demand-based planning and automated assignments suit operations balancing coverage against wage budgets. Put the separate replacement workflow through a trial too: Auto-Fill doesn’t fill published Open Shifts after a call-out.
• Restaurants have two distinct options in 7shifts and HotSchedules. I’d look at 7shifts when POS sales and tip allocations drive daily decisions. HotSchedules warrants an enterprise evaluation when several venues require configured labor rules and regional budget oversight. Ask either vendor to demonstrate the exact data your POS transfers; a long integration directory doesn’t establish that tip or forecasting data is supported.
• Connecteam extends team management beyond the roster. Checklists give supervisors evidence that assigned work was completed, and training adds support for frontline staff. Its free Small Business plan includes up to 10 users, counting active and archived accounts together. Turnover affects that allowance as well as growth.
• Choose Buddy Punch when clock-in location is the main concern. GPS records and geofencing address that specific requirement. Employees still punch manually, and alerts about leaving a site require the appropriate Real-Time GPS package.
• Planday’s fit depends on your local payroll provider. Its Xero connection supports UK and Australian customers. Elsewhere, confirm the supported product and export method before committing.
• Project capacity and client billing point toward TimeCamp. Resource Planner helps allocate assignments across projects; recorded hours feed budgets and profitability reporting. That fits an agency deciding who has capacity for a client engagement. Restaurant shift coverage calls for a different tool.
• Retailers already using Square POS have other options within their existing setup, including Square Shifts. Shopify merchants must verify compatibility separately; don’t assume that the same connection applies.

Homebase offers a claimed average saving of 20 manager hours per month through integrated scheduling, time tracking and payroll, all in one app. That isn’t a scheduling-only benchmark or a guaranteed result. My recommendation: test the specific task driving your switch during a trial, then price the package that handles it, including features reserved for higher tiers.

FAQ

What are the best Homebase alternatives?

When I Work, Sling and ZoomShift are good fits for everyday hourly scheduling. Deputy adds demand-based planning and labor-rule controls. For restaurants matching coverage to POS sales or managing tip allocations, look at 7shifts. HotSchedules serves larger hospitality operations with forecasting and labor-budget oversight across locations.

Connecteam adds frontline checklists and training, and Buddy Punch focuses on clock-in verification. Planday serves teams using supported international payroll connections. If client billing and project capacity drive the decision, look at TimeCamp.

Is there a free Homebase alternative for small businesses?

Yes. Sling provides free scheduling for up to 30 users, and 7shifts’ Comp plan supports one restaurant location with up to 15 employees. Connecteam’s Small Business plan includes up to 10 users, counting active and archived accounts together.

For basic time tracking, TimeCamp offers a free plan with unlimited users. These packages cover different needs: Sling’s free tier excludes a time clock, and Resource Planner requires a paid TimeCamp subscription. Choose around the functions your team uses, then apply the headcount limits.

What is a cheaper alternative to Homebase?

Per-user subscriptions from ZoomShift, Sling or When I Work can cost less than Homebase’s paid per-location plans for small teams spread across several sites. ZoomShift Starter, for example, costs $20 per month for 10 active users on annual billing and includes scheduling with a time clock.

Headcount and required features determine the final comparison. Homebase Basic is already free for eligible teams, so moving to a paid scheduler won’t reduce that subscription cost. Include attendance tools and any necessary upgrades when calculating the replacement bill.

Does Homebase offer payroll outside the US?

No. Homebase Payroll is a paid add-on for US-based businesses, covering all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Teams elsewhere require a provider serving their country.

Planday is one scheduling option to investigate if you already use Xero in the UK or Australia. Xero processes payroll, and the connection requires an eligible Planday subscription. Confirm support for your country and specific payroll product before moving employee records.

What is the best Homebase alternative for restaurants?

7shifts is worth evaluating when POS sales and tip allocations shape daily staffing decisions. HotSchedules suits larger operators requiring configured labor rules and oversight across multiple locations. Your POS connection and the forecasting package included in the subscription help determine which fits.

Integration counts alone won’t settle that choice. 7shifts’ current documentation lists direct and partner-led connections, with wage and tip syncing varying by provider. Ask which data your system transfers and who handles support before relying on automated forecasts or distributions.

Does Homebase offer project or resource planning?

Homebase focuses on hourly shifts and internal labor management. It doesn’t provide the project-capacity and client-profitability workflow described in this comparison. TimeCamp’s Resource Planner supports assignments across projects, with recorded hours feeding budgets and billing through the appropriate paid plan.

Clockify also supports project planning on Pro and Enterprise. Dragging scheduled assignments across its timeline changes their dates, helping you adjust allocations as workloads shift. That feature alone doesn’t replace the shift-management functions a restaurant requires.

Which Homebase alternatives offer automated scheduling?

Deputy and HotSchedules both offer automatic assignment tools. Deputy’s Auto-Fill assigns empty shifts but excludes published Open Shifts, so last-minute coverage uses a separate workflow.

HotSchedules uses demand forecasts and configured staffing requirements to generate shifts before assigning people. Fourth documents AI-powered scheduling through this combination of AI forecasting and automated allocation. Confirm which package includes those capabilities: forecasting demand and selecting available workers are separate parts of the operation.

Will a scheduling alternative replace Homebase’s hiring tools?

A scheduling subscription doesn’t necessarily replace Homebase’s recruitment functions. Homebase also supports job postings and applicant tracking, so moving the roster leaves those requirements unresolved if your team uses them.

Include hiring in the vendor proposal or budget for a dedicated system. Ask how an accepted applicant becomes an employee record, and identify any additional module or fee involved.

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Markdown

Wojciech Piwowarski Wojciech Piwowarski is an author covering time tracking, business operations, and productivity. He specializes in turning complex topics such as workflow efficiency, profitability, and performance measurement into clear, practical insights. His experience comes from years of working with SaaS, B2B, and operational content built for decision-makers and professional teams. His work focuses on the role time data plays in better processes, sharper decisions, and stronger business performance.

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