Homebase vs When I Work
Scheduling & Staffing · Features checked on the official websites, Oct 2026.
Verdict
Pick Homebase if you run one restaurant or bar with a big hourly team. Per-location pricing stays flat as headcount grows, small teams get a free plan, and payroll and tip pooling are add-ons in the same app. Pick When I Work if your team is small or spread across several locations and you'd rather pay per user, or you already run payroll in Rippling. With 30 staff, compare 30 × the per-user price against Homebase's per-location price.
Who it's for
- Homebase: Single-location restaurants and bars with larger hourly teams.
- When I Work: Small or multi-site teams that prefer per-user pricing.
Visit Homebase ↗ Visit When I Work ↗
Feature comparison
| Feature | Homebase | When I Work |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model (checked Oct 2026) | Per location: Basic $0, Essentials $30, Plus $70, All-in-One $120 /location/mo | Per user: Essentials $2.50, Pro $5, Premium $8 /user/mo |
| Free plan | Y (1 location, up to 10 employees) | N (14-day free trial) |
| Shift scheduling & swaps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Time clock | ✓ | ✓ |
| Team messaging | Y (Essentials and up) | ✓ |
| Payroll | Add-on: $49/mo + $6 per employee paid | Via Rippling partner integration |
| Tip pooling | Tip Manager add-on $25/location/mo | Not highlighted |
| Sales-forecast scheduling | Y (All-in-One) | Y (forecast tools) |
| POS integration | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ = advertised on the vendor's official website (checked Oct 2026). "Not highlighted" means we didn't see it on the main product page. It may exist, so confirm with the vendor. We don't list prices here because they change often; check each vendor's official pricing page.
FAQ
Is Homebase or When I Work better?
Pick Homebase if you run one restaurant or bar with a big hourly team. Per-location pricing stays flat as headcount grows, small teams get a free plan, and payroll and tip pooling are add-ons in the same app. Pick When I Work if your team is small or spread across several locations and you'd rather pay per user, or you already run payroll in Rippling. With 30 staff, compare 30 × the per-user price against Homebase's per-location price.
Who should choose Homebase?
Single-location restaurants and bars with larger hourly teams.
Who should choose When I Work?
Small or multi-site teams that prefer per-user pricing.
How much do Homebase and When I Work cost?
Pricing changes often and many plans are quote-based. Check the official Homebase and When I Work pricing pages for current prices.