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.
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 | Yes | Yes |
| Time clock | Yes | Yes |
| Team messaging | Y (Essentials and up) | Yes |
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
✓ Yes = 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. Prices shown were read on each vendor's official pricing page (checked Oct 2026) and change often, so confirm current pricing with the vendor before you buy.
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?
The pricing rows in the table above were read on the official Homebase and When I Work pricing pages (checked Oct 2026). Prices change often and some plans are quote-based, so confirm on each vendor's official pricing page before you buy.