Homebase Reviews & Pricing

by Homebase | Founded 2014, San Francisco, CA

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What is Homebase?

Industry Specialties: Hospitality, Retail, Healthcare and Beauty

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

PRICE

COMPANY SIZE

DEPLOYMENT

PLATFORM

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User Sentiment

Based on 1169 reviews:

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Product Screenshots and Videos

Homebase Pricing

Based on our most recent analysis, Homebase pricing starts at $25 (Per Location, Monthly, Freemium).

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Starting From: $24.95
Pricing Model: Per Location, Monthly, Freemium
Free Trial: Yes, Request for Free

Training Resources

Homebase is supported with the following types of training:

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars

Support

The following support services are available for Homebase:

Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Help Desk
Knowledge Base
Tickets
Training
24/7 Live Support

Homebase Benefits and Insights

Why use Homebase?

Key differentiators & advantages of Homebase

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!

Industry Expertise

It has helped thousands of local companies across the U.S. go paperless in industries like healthcare, retail, beauty, hospitality, services and more.

Homebase Reviews

Average customer reviews & user sentiment summary for Homebase:

1169 reviews

91%

of users would recommend this product

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Based on an aggregate of Homebase reviews taken from the sources above, the following pros & cons have been curated by a SelectHub Market Analyst.

Pros

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.

Cons

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.

Researcher's Summary:

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.

Key Features

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.

Approach to Common Challenges

Inaccurate Schedules and Wasted Time: Eliminate manual processes and errors with drag-and-drop scheduling, pre-built templates and auto-scheduling tools.
Communication Chaos: Foster clear communication with a built-in messenger and a native mobile app. Employees can access schedules and request time off, while managers can send messages, post announcements and set approval workflows.
Unforeseen Coverage Gaps: Never miss a schedule. Pre-assign shifts to employees based on availability or allow them to claim open shifts through the mobile app. It ensures you meet last-minute staffing needs quickly and efficiently.
Inconsistent Time Tracking: The platform not only tracks time digitally but also avoids malpractices like early clock-ins and tracking time from outside the workplace. It uses an employee’s phone GPS or geofencing for POS system time trackers to ensure best practices.
Employee Disengagement: You can boost morale with features like peer-to-peer recognition and early access to earned wages. Gain valuable insights into employee sentiment with anonymous feedback tools.

Cost of Ownership

Frequently asked questions regarding Homebase pricing include:

Q: Is Homebase a free app?

A: Yes, you can manage your team's schedules for up to 20 employees in one location, track time and connect to your POS system for free with the Homebase mobile app. As your business grows, you can upgrade to paid plans for advanced features like manager logs, detailed reporting, hiring and onboarding tools, payroll integration, and compliance management.

Q: What are Homebase’s pricing options?

A: Homebase offers a 20-day trial period for its paid pricing plan. The plans are as follows:

Essentials: Charges $20 monthly per location to schedule unlimited employees. It offers auto-scheduling, advanced time tracking and team communication tools.
Plus: Charges $48 monthly per location for unlimited employee schedules. It adds hiring tools, PTO and time off controls, and departments and permission settings.
All-In-One: Charges $80 monthly per location for unlimited employee schedules. It offers employee onboarding, budgeting, and HR and compliance tools.

You can save 20% on each plan by paying annually.

Q: Does Homebase have any hidden fees?

A: Homebase is transparent about its pricing and doesn't have hidden fees. Their website outlines a free plan with basic features and paid plans with additional functionalities.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

Transaction Fees: While Homebase doesn't charge transaction fees, depending on the payment processor you connect with your POS system, they may apply.
Third-Party Integrations: Homebase doesn’t disclose its policy and fees for third-party integrations.

It's always best to double-check the specific pricing details and any potential fees associated with add-on features or integrations before committing to a paid plan.

Limitations

At the time of this review, these are the limitations according to user feedback:

It doesn’t allow users to hide the shift start and end time from employees.
The platform doesn’t automatically add holiday hours to timesheets; you need to enter them manually.
Employees cannot edit their schedules.
It doesn’t allow employees to request partial days off.

Demo Resources

Guided Onboarding: The platform offers an intuitive and guided onboarding experience that helps you set up your business, create employee profiles, set departments and permissions, and start scheduling in minutes.
Integrations: The vendor website offers detailed guides and how-to videos on integrating the platform with popular POS systems like Clover and Square.
Templates: The platform offers customizable schedule and timesheet templates for free.
Wage Calculator: You get an hourly salary and timecard calculator for free. It helps you calculate worked hours and salary, consider

FAQs

Frequently asked questions regarding Homebase include:

Q: How much does Homebase cost?

A. Homebase offers various paid plans with different features and pricing tiers. The cost depends on the number of employees you need to manage and the specific features you require. You can find detailed pricing information and plan comparisons on the Homebase website.

Q: Is Homebase secure?

A. Yes, Homebase takes security seriously. They use industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including encryption and access controls. You can learn more about their security practices on their website.

Q: What is Homebase Payroll?

A. Homebase Payroll is an integrated payroll service offered with its Plus and All-In-One paid plans. It simplifies the payroll process by automatically calculating wages based on timesheets, overtime and paid time off. You can also pay your employees directly through the platform.