Homebase vs When I Work
Employee Scheduling pricing comparison · 2026 · Updated March 2026
Homebase pricing ranges from $0–$120/month, while When I Work ranges from $2.5–$5/month. These products use different pricing models ( vs ), so a direct price comparison isn't meaningful — costs depend on usage volume and mix.
Sources & confidence
Every dollar amount and contract clause below traces back to a sourced fact. We don't manufacture composite scores.
Plans at a glance
Every tier per product. Lock one to drive the cost row above and reveal a tier-specific outbound CTA.
What users say
Aggregated, with sample sizes. We use whichever review platform has data.
Homebase and When I Work are two of the most popular employee scheduling tools for small businesses with hourly workforces. Both offer free plans and are designed to be simple enough for owners and managers without dedicated HR staff. Homebase is priced per location (up to $100/location/month) making it ideal for single-location businesses. When I Work uses per-user pricing starting around $2.50/user/month, which can be more cost-effective for businesses with very few employees.
Beyond scheduling, Homebase extends into HR tools including hiring, onboarding, and team communication. When I Work focuses more narrowly on scheduling, attendance, and team messaging.
Plan-by-Plan Pricing
| Plan | Homebase | When I Work |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free /month | $2.50 /month |
| Essentials | $30 /month | $5 /month |
| Plus | $70 /month | — |
| All-in-One | $120 /month | — |
Market Intelligence
Homebase
- Median annual cost
- $500
- Based on
- 21 deals
When I Work
- Median annual cost
- $500
- Based on
- 159 deals
Continue researching
Our Verdict
Choose Homebase if you run a single-location business (restaurant, retail store, salon) and want an all-in-one HR and scheduling platform. Its per-location pricing model means you pay the same whether you have 5 or 50 employees at one site, making it extremely cost-effective for larger single-location teams.
Choose When I Work if you have a small, distributed team and want a simple, affordable scheduling tool. Per-user pricing starting at $2.50/user/month keeps costs low for very small teams. It's also well-suited for businesses with shift-swapping needs and employee self-service scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Homebase really free?
Homebase offers a free plan for one location with unlimited employees, covering basic scheduling and time tracking. Paid plans start at $24.95/location/month (Essentials) and go up to $99.95/location/month (All-in-one), which adds HR tools, hiring, and advanced compliance features.
02 How much does When I Work cost?
When I Work starts at approximately $2.50/user/month for basic scheduling. The Attendance add-on brings the cost closer to $5-$8/user/month. There is a free tier for teams of 5 or fewer. Pricing is billed annually for best rates.
03 Which is better for multi-location businesses?
Homebase's per-location pricing can become expensive for multi-location operators. When I Work is generally more cost-effective for businesses with multiple small locations since its per-user model doesn't multiply by location count. For large multi-location franchises, consider Deputy or 7shifts.
04 Do Homebase or When I Work integrate with POS systems?
Homebase integrates with major POS systems including Square, Clover, Toast, Lightspeed, and Revel. When I Work has fewer native POS integrations but connects to payroll platforms like ADP, Gusto, and QuickBooks via Zapier or direct integrations.
05 Which has better employee self-service scheduling?
Both offer mobile apps with shift swapping, availability setting, and schedule viewing. When I Work is frequently praised for its clean mobile UX and intuitive shift-swap approval workflow. Homebase's app covers more ground (HR documents, time-off requests) making it slightly more complex but more capable.