Homebase vs Deputy

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Our analysts compared Homebase vs Deputy based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Employee Scheduling Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Homebase is a cloud-based solution that helps manage employee schedules, maintain timesheets and streamline payroll processes. Managers can create staff shifts using drag-and-drop scheduling tools and pre-built templates. They can also define rules to put schedules on autopilot for recurring tasks based on employee availability, skills and labor budget.

The platform is mobile-optimized and offers a native app for employees to view schedules, communicate, set preferences and trade shifts. You can use a POS system to track employee attendance and work hours or use the app to let staff log time from their phones. The platform maintains timesheets while integrating with payroll modules for wage calculation.

Verify employee identity and location with the built-in photo capture or GPS time clock functionality. Additionally, you can automate break tracking and overtime calculations to comply with shift worker regulations. It sends automatic alerts for employee absences or late logins while allowing managers to record daily summaries using the manager log.


Pros
  • Ease of setup
  • Efficient scheduling and time tracking
  • Robust mobile app
  • Cost-effective
Cons
  • Limited customization
  • Customer service issues
  • System update bugs
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Deputy is a one-stop shop for hiring, training, scheduling, paying and managing time sheets of frontline and hourly workers. It offers an intuitive interface and various features to help manage employees, streamline scheduling operations and simplify internal communications.

You can easily create, edit and manage schedules while ensuring optimal staffing levels. The platform's drag-and-drop functionality allows quick adjustments to accommodate changes in staffing or workload. Time clock features enable employees to clock in and out accurately, minimizing the risk of time theft and simplifying payroll processing.

Also, Deputy provides a comprehensive suite of HR tools, including features for managing time off. Employees can easily request and track vacation, sick leave and other absences. A built-in messaging portal facilitates internal communication and records interactions to promote accountability.

You can also post job openings on popular online channels and create a branded portal to accept applications. The system lets you design a new hire’s onboarding workflow with embedded training materials and tips. Additionally, customizable automation helps businesses comply with fair workweek regulations, break rules, maximum work hours, consecutive workdays and other labor regulations.

One of the platform’s standout features is its pre-built integrations and extensibility with other third-party solutions. The vendor lets you add extra features such as payroll processing, business intelligence, demand forecasting, point of sale system and more.


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$24.95/Location, Monthly, Freemium
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$2.50/User, Monthly, Freemium
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Start Scheduling For Free: Homebase allows you to schedule up to 20 employees in one location at no cost. You get basic scheduling tools, a time tracker and POS integration to manage employee shifts from anywhere.
  • Streamline Team Communication: The platform excels in collaboration tools, helping managers run their teams efficiently. It includes everything you need, from one-on-one chats and team messaging to a bulletin board, newsfeed and even read receipts. Plus, you can recognize outstanding employees with shout-out cards and appreciation notices.
  • Go Mobile: The Homebase mobile app boasts impressive ratings — 4.4 on the Play Store and 4.8 on the Apple Store. Managers can create open shifts for qualified employees to claim, while features like geofencing and time tracking improve overall control. The app informs everyone with push notifications for upcoming events and alerts employees about late logouts or missed breaks.
  • Create the Perfect Software Stack: According to our analysis, Homebase ranks exceptionally well for its integration and extensibility with third-party solutions. It allows you to easily import or export data in CSV or Excel format. You can connect it with popular solutions like QuickBooks Online, Rippling, Gusto and ADP. It offers a native payroll integration at a cost. You can access its API with partner integrations and design custom connections with any tool!
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  • Create The Perfect Software Stack: Deputy won the SelectHub award for having the best integrations and extensibility options among employee scheduling tools, with 96 analyst score. It offers pre-built integrations with popular accounting solutions, online calendars, HRMS software, HCM tools and iPaaS platforms. You can easily import or export data and access the API to design custom integrations with external solutions.
  • Work From Anywhere: The platform offers one of the most robust scheduling mobile apps that lets you manage operations from any remote location. With a perfect 100 analyst rating, it supports offline scheduling, chat options, team news sharing, mobile time clocks, GPS tracking and customizable push notifications.
  • Streamline Scheduling: Another top-rated module is its scheduling toolkit, which has a 93 rating from our analysts. You get customizable templates and drag-and-drop tools to design schedules in minutes. The built-in AI sends conflict alerts for unavailable employees and compliance issues, ensuring schedules are accurate and efficient. The platform automatically updates employee calendars upon publishing a schedule and offers them the option of first refusal, shift swapping and bidding via their unique portals.
  • Manage Timesheets Efficiently: It offers a robust time and attendance management module that got a 92 rating from our analysts. Employees can track work hours via the mobile app, and the platform automatically prevents early clock-ins, sends break reminders, tracks overtime and maintains timesheets. It also automatically clocks out employees and prevents overtime based on your business’s budget and compliance regulations.
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  • Scheduling: Create, copy and save schedules that can be modified or reused later. View employee availability and time off requests, manage shift changes, and forecast labor costs.
  • Time Clock: Clock in and out from the web, a tablet or an integrated POS. The advanced subscription packages can prevent employees from clocking in early for their shifts and returning from breaks early. The time clock feature can also round time and allow for automatic clock-out.
  • Timesheets: Track clock-ins, breaks and overtime hours with online timesheets. Generate a daily summary of activities, track breaks and export timesheets to payroll, reducing time errors.
  • Team Communication: Send direct messages and broadcast messages to entire groups directly through the app.
  • Hiring: Streamline the hiring process by providing pre-written job descriptions, interview reminders and applicant tracking capabilities. Post open jobs to Craigslist and other job boards. Import new hires to the schedule automatically.
  • Reporting: Track and generate reports on labor costs as a percentage of sales, actual hours worked, employee performance and shift feedback summaries. The more advanced subscription plans also track labor costs by type and generate reports on the application programming interface, on-time arrival and other customized reports.
  • Drag-and-Drop Interface: Users can view and sort schedules by role, time period or employee hours with a drag-and-drop interface. Managers can also copy the previous week’s schedule and publish work changes directly through the mobile app.
  • HR and Compliance: Centralize employee information, eSign documents and send automated welcome packets for a smooth self-onboarding experience. Define clear PTO policies and approval workflows, set up black-out dates and define advance notice requirements for more control. The platform offers consultancy with external HR advisors for expert insights and policy reviews, helping comply with labor regulations.
  • Employee Benefits and Productivity Tools: Early access to earned wages allows staff members to avoid overdraft fees. Peer-to-peer recognition tools and automatic performance metric tracking help foster a productive environment. You can also gain valuable insights into employee sentiment through anonymous end-of-shift feedback.
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  • Scheduling: Create, manage and optimize schedules with AI. Use drag-and-drop scheduling tools while considering availability, skills and preferences to create partial, pre-assigned or open shifts.
  • Time Tracking: Turn staff phones into a time tracking solution using the mobile app or connect the platform to a POS system to allow employees to punch in and out of work. The platform sends alerts for break hours, overtime and budgetary conflicts. It also offers geofencing to help avoid time theft and buddy punching.
  • Mobile App: Managers can access their profiles from anywhere, create schedules, approve time off requests, communicate with team members and track task progress. Employees can view schedules, request PTO, chat with colleagues, swap shifts and bid on open shifts.
  • Demand Forecasting: Access your business’s historical sales data and seasonal trends on a centralized dashboard to make informed staffing decisions. Define business logic and benchmarks with demand-based rules to ensure minimum coverage while considering your budget. You can pull real-time wage-to-sales data on the mobile app to make scheduling adjustments on the go.
  • Shift Pulse: Send feedback forms and questionnaires to employees after every shift. Minimize staff fatigue by automating schedule assignments based on worked hours and overtime. Employees can express their work satisfaction using a staff sentiment bar and tracker.
  • Compliance Tools: Deputy helps comply with fair workweek regulations by providing tools to manage overtime, minimum rest periods and other labor laws. It also assists with reporting, managing employee records and ensuring adherence to minimum wage laws.
  • Leave Management: Employees can submit time-off requests directly through the platform, and managers can review and approve or deny them. You can also track leave balances and generate leave reports.
  • Document Management: The platform offers a centralized repository for storing and organizing employee documents, such as contracts, performance reviews and training certificates. Its search and filtering capabilities make it easy to find specific documents when needed.
  • Hiring: Post openings on online job forums and track their traction from within the software interface. You can track applicants, schedule interviews, send questions and receive applicant feedback.
  • Training and Onboarding: Design branded onboarding workflows for trainees and manage employee training programs by tracking attendance, assigning tasks and monitoring progress.
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Product Ranking

#6

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

#8

among all
Employee Scheduling Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

84
89
100
91
87
85
91
78
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Collaboration
Integrations and Extensibility
Mobile Capabilities
Leave and Absence Management
Schedule Management
Mobile Capabilities
Integrations and Extensibility
Schedule Management
Time and Attendance Management
Collaboration

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Homebase
Deputy
+ Add Product + Add Product
Collaboration Employee Management Leave And Absence Management Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Reporting And Analytics Schedule Management Security And Compliance Shift Management Time And Attendance Management 100 87 91 93 61 50 88 83 86 74 91 85 78 100 88 64 95 76 89 94 0 25 50 75 100
100%
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88%
0%
12%
83%
0%
17%
83%
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17%
88%
0%
12%
75%
0%
25%
93%
0%
7%
100%
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0%
67%
0%
33%
89%
0%
11%
50%
0%
50%
67%
0%
33%
85%
0%
15%
95%
0%
5%
78%
0%
22%
78%
0%
22%
84%
0%
16%
89%
0%
11%
74%
0%
26%
95%
0%
5%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

90%
0%
10%
90%
0%
10%

User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 1169 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 1504 reviews
91%
of users recommend this product

Homebase has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 91% when considering 1169 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

90%
of users recommend this product

Deputy has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 90% when considering 1504 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

4.6 (13)
4.3 (15)
4.2 (108)
4.7 (307)
4.6 (1027)
4.6 (720)
4.1 (21)
4.2 (462)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Homebase and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Collaboration. Homebase stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Collaboration Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Deputy and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Mobile Capabilities and Integrations and Extensibility. Deputy stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award
Mobile Capabilities Award
Integrations and Extensibility Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Ease of Setup and Use: Many users found Homebase easy to set up and navigate. The platform is intuitive, making it simple for both managers and employees to use.
Scheduling and Time Tracking: The platform simplifies employee scheduling, making it easy to create, modify and track schedules. It includes useful features like a time clock, timesheets and attendance tracking.
Integration with Other Tools: Users appreciated its integration with various payroll processors and POS systems.
Accessibility: You can access the software from various devices, including desktops, tablets and smartphones, enhancing flexibility for managers and employees on the go.
Cost-Effectiveness: Several reviews mentioned that the free basic plan suffices for smaller businesses, providing essential features without extra cost.
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User-Friendly Interface: Users appreciate the intuitive design, which makes it accessible for both managers and employees and easy to adopt with minimal training.
Robust Remote Workability: The mobile app is highly praised for allowing employees to clock in/out, manage shifts and receive notifications, making it convenient for on-the-go use.
Greater Flexibility and Accessibility: Deputy offers flexible shift management, allowing employees to swap or pick up shifts and work across multiple locations. Cloud-based hosting ensures access from anywhere with an internet connection.
Employee Empowerment: The software gives employees more control over their schedules, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for time management.
Streamline Scheduling: Deputy effectively manages scheduling, time tracking and attendance, reducing errors and improving overall efficiency. Reviews highlight valuable features like preventing early clock-ins and integrating with payroll systems.
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Undo and Modification Limitations: The lack of an undo feature can be problematic if accidental changes or deletions occur.
User Interface Issues: Some users found the new updates and interface changes cumbersome, with issues like light markings, lack of lines and frequent refresh rates. Others mentioned that the iPad app is not optimized and often mimics the mobile website, limiting its functionality.
Customer Support: Several reviews highlighted delayed responses from customer support and insufficient support hours, which can be challenging for businesses operating outside regular hours. Also, the platform heavily targets the U.S. market and offers limited support for international users.
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Support and Customer Service Issues: Several users reported poor customer service experiences, especially when dealing with technical support or canceling the service. The vendor primarily offers support via email, which some users found inadequate.
Performance and Speed: Some users experienced lag when accepting shifts or clocking in and out, causing delays and frustration.
Challenges With Multi-Location Tracking: For organizations with employees across multiple locations or states, keeping track of everyone’s whereabouts could be challenging as the platform doesn’t support multiple time zones across geographies.
Syncing Issues: Users noted that the inability to sync with external calendars (like Google or Apple Calendar) was a significant drawback.
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In my research, I was particularly impressed by the guided onboarding process. The intuitive setup allowed me to get the platform up and running within minutes, enabling easy scheduling without a steep learning curve. This ease of use also extends to onboarding employees.The auto-documentation request feature stood out to me. I could define the required documents for each employee, and the system automatically sent follow-up reminders. This automation significantly streamlined the process of maintaining up-to-date employee profiles with all the necessary paperwork.Homebase’s integration with other tools, such as payroll processors, accounting solutions and POS systems, is a huge plus. It saves time and reduces the hassle of manual data transfers, making the overall management process smoother. Additionally, the system can handle basic hiring, onboarding, payroll and compliance management, making it an all-in-one HR suite for small businesses.However, I encountered some drawbacks. One notable issue was the auto-scheduling feature. While the idea behind it is great, it proved complicated in practice and lacked customization options to meet my specific needs.Users have reported facing issues with the vendor’s customer support team. There were reports of delayed responses, and the support hours were insufficient for businesses operating outside regular U.S. business hours. Despite these issues, the platform’s cost-effectiveness, especially with the free basic plan, makes it a viable option for small and medium enterprises. It offers essential scheduling and time-tracking features without hidden costs and implementation complexities.

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Deputy is a valuable asset for businesses looking to streamline their scheduling operations and enhance employee productivity. During my research, I found it to be a highly effective and centralized tool for hiring, training and scheduling employees. Users consistently praise its performance, with many giving it a 4.5-star rating.One of Deputy's standout features is its AI-powered automation, which can significantly improve scheduling and shift break compliance. However, it may require some initial setup and learning to function optimally. The touchless facial recognition clock-in feature is particularly valuable in today's post-pandemic world.I appreciate Deputy's commitment to employee empowerment. Its accountability measures, such as GPS tracking and facial recognition, effectively prevent time theft without compromising employee autonomy. The Shift Pulse feature is another valuable tool that fosters open communication between employees and management.While Deputy is a powerful solution, it's not without its flaws. I encountered bugs and glitches that occasionally disrupted the user experience. Slow performance, particularly for mobile app users and non-desk staff, can be frustrating. Additionally, GPS challenges can be problematic for businesses with multiple locations as the platform doesn’t support multiple time zones.The HR functionality is also limited, but I believe it has the potential to expand over time. Adding more languages to the interface would also make it more inclusive. Overall, I recommend Deputy to small to mid-sized organizations seeking a reliable and feature-rich scheduling solution that also offers basic HR functionalities.

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