Homebase vs 7shifts: 2025 Features, Pricing & Use Case Comparison

You’re running a growing business—maybe a restaurant, a retail shop, or a healthcare clinic. Scheduling shifts, tracking hours, and ensuring compliance feel like a full-time job. You’ve heard of Homebase and 7shifts—two scheduling and workforce management tools—but which one will streamline operations and fit your budget? In this comprehensive guide, we compare Homebase vs 7shifts for 2025 across features, pricing, use cases, and pros and cons. Let’s dive in to help you make an informed decision.

What Are Homebase and 7shifts?

Homebase: A workforce management platform designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers employee scheduling, time tracking, team communication, hiring tools, and payroll services. Homebase targets restaurants, retail shops, and service providers. Its mission is to reduce administrative work and improve team coordination.

7shifts: A scheduling platform focused on the hospitality industry, particularly restaurants. It provides scheduling, time clocking, labor budgeting, compliance tools, engagement features, and integrations with POS and payroll systems. 7shifts aims to optimize labor costs and streamline operations for shift-based teams.

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Feature Comparison: Homebase vs 7shifts

Feature	Homebase	7shifts	Commentary
📅 Scheduling	Drag-and-drop scheduler; templates; swap requests; auto-scheduling; shift reminders	Visual shift builder; AI shift recommendations; availability; shift trades; templates	Both offer robust scheduling. 7shifts excels in AI optimization for restaurants
⏱ Time tracking	Time clock (mobile/tablet); GPS & geofencing; wage compliance; overtime alerts	Time clock; mobile clock-in; POS integration; break tracking; compliance alerts	Both track hours; Homebase includes more compliance details
💬 Communication	Built-in chat; announcements; document sharing; shift feedback; HR messaging	In-app messaging; announcements; shift feedback; manager logbook	7shifts includes a logbook for manager notes
📊 Labor budgeting & forecasting	Forecasting based on sales; labor cost calculations; overtime prevention	Labor budgeting; sales integration; labor compliance alerts; performance insights	7shifts offers deeper restaurant-specific forecasting
🙌 Employee engagement	Scheduling gamification; recognition badges; shift feedback surveys	Engage with surveys; contests; shift feedback; engagement scores	7shifts emphasizes restaurant-focused engagement
📝 Hiring & onboarding	Job posting; applicant tracking; onboarding documents; e-signatures	Hiring module; applicant tracking; interview scheduling; onboarding tasks	Homebase’s hiring tools are integrated; 7shifts offers similar features
💵 Payroll	Payroll integrated with time tracking; tax filing; payments	No built-in payroll; integrates with Gusto, ADP, QuickBooks, Paycom	Homebase provides an all-in-one payroll solution
🔗 Integrations	POS (Square, Clover, Toast); payroll (Gusto, QuickBooks); calendars; communication tools	POS (Toast, Square, Clover); payroll (Gusto, ADP); accounting & HR systems	Both integrate widely; 7shifts focuses on restaurant POS connections
📱 Mobile apps	iOS & Android; employee scheduling, chat, clock-in/out	iOS & Android; scheduling, time clock, announcements	Both have feature-rich mobile apps
💰 Pricing (2025)	Free tier; Essentials ~$19.95/month/location; Plus ~$49.95; All-in-one ~$99.95; additional payroll fee	Comp Lite: free; Entrée ~$29.99/month/location; The Works ~$69.99; Gourmet $169.99	Pricing depends on plan and features; 7shifts charges per location
🏭 Industry focus	Restaurants, retail, salons, healthcare, hospitality, and more	Restaurants and hospitality	Homebase is broader; 7shifts is niche

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Scheduling Features & Flexibility

Homebase

• 🖱️ Drag-and-drop scheduler with color-coded shifts
• 📅 Templates & recurring shifts for weekly schedules
• ⚡ Auto-scheduling based on availability and labor laws
• 📲 Easy publishing via SMS, email, and mobile app
• 🔄 Shift swaps & time off requests handled in-app
• ⚖️ Compliance alerts for overtime and labor rules

7shifts

• 🍽️ Restaurant-focused scheduling with drag-and-drop interface
• 📊 Predictive scheduling using sales and labor data
• 📅 Scheduling templates & quick copy of previous weeks
• 🙋 Employee availability & swap requests built-in
• 📲 Multi-channel publishing: text, email, push notifications
• ⚖️ Labor compliance tracking for breaks and split shifts

Verdict: Both platforms offer strong scheduling. 7shifts uses AI and sales data to predict staffing levels, making it ideal for restaurants. Homebase offers more industry versatility with customizable scheduling.

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Time Tracking & Compliance

Homebase

• ⏱️ Clock-in/out options via mobile app, tablet, or computer
• 📍 GPS & geofencing to block off-site clock-ins
• 📸 Photo capture & facial recognition at clock-in
• 🕒 Break & overtime tracking with labor law alerts
• 💵 Payroll-ready timesheets — export or use built-in payroll

7shifts

• 📲 Time Clock app (iOS/Android) or POS integration
• 👤 Clock-in/out & break tracking with early punch prevention
• 📊 Labor cost calculations from aggregated punch data
• 📑 Timesheets exportable to payroll software
• ⚖️ Compliance alerts (breaks, split shifts, labor laws)

Verdict: Both excel at time tracking. Homebase makes payroll easier with built-in processing, while 7shifts offers broader restaurant POS integrations.

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Team Communication & Engagement

Homebase

• 💬 In-app messaging and group chats
• 📢 Team announcements for everyone at once
• ⭐ Shift feedback — employees rate shifts & leave notes
• 📄 Document sharing (e.g., training manuals)

7shifts

• 💬 Messaging & announcements inside the app
• 📊 Shift feedback surveys to track team sentiment
• 📘 Manager logbook for daily notes, issues, insights
• 🏆 Contests & recognition to motivate staff

Verdict: 7shifts leans into restaurant culture with tools like logbooks and contests, while Homebase focuses on general team communication.

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Labor Budgeting & Forecasting

Homebase

• 📈 Sales forecasting with POS integration to predict staffing needs
• 💵 Labor cost calculator for budgeting hours & wages
• ⏰ Overtime alerts to prevent extra costs
• 📊 Reports on labor percentage vs. sales

7shifts

• 📈 POS-driven forecasting with labor efficiency insights
• 💵 Dashboards for wage spending & labor percentages
• ⚖️ Compliance tools: break warnings & predictive scheduling

Verdict: Both offer forecasting, but 7shifts gives restaurants deeper labor cost optimization.

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Hiring & Onboarding

Homebase

• 📄 Job posting: Free and paid boards (Indeed, Craigslist, etc.)
• 📝 Applicant tracking: Set hiring stages, message candidates, store resumes
• ✅ Onboarding: Checklist, e-sign forms, W-4, I-9, and custom documents
• 🧑‍💼 HR support (Plus plan): Job description templates and HR guidance

7shifts

• 📄 Job posting: Templates tailored for restaurant positions
• 📝 Applicant tracking integrated with scheduling
• 📅 Interview & onboarding: Schedule interviews, send offer letters, manage onboarding tasks
• 🔗 HRIS/Payroll integration for onboarding

Verdict: Both streamline hiring. Homebase is great for small business HR support, while 7shifts focuses on restaurant-specific hiring.

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Payroll & HR

• 💰 Integrated payroll (All-in-One plan): Calculates wages, tips, overtime; files taxes; direct deposit
• 🧑‍💼 HR Pro add-on: Compliance documents, training resources, and expert consultations

7shifts

• 💳 No built-in payroll: Connects to Gusto, ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks
• 💵 Tip pooling: Manage tip distribution among staff

Verdict: Homebase is better if you want an all-in-one payroll solution. 7shifts depends on external payroll providers.

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Integrations & Ecosystem

Homebase

• 🛒 POS: Square, Clover, Toast, Lightspeed
• 💳 Payroll: Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, SurePayroll
• 📊 Accounting: QuickBooks, Xero
• 📅 Calendars: Google Calendar, iCal
• 💬 Communication: Slack

7shifts

• 🛒 POS: Toast, Square, Clover, Lightspeed, Micros, Aloha, Upserve
• 💳 Payroll: Gusto, ADP, Paycor
• 📊 HR & Accounting: Xero, Sage, Rippling
• 📈 Business Analytics: 7gears; loyalty programs; online ordering

Verdict: Both connect to POS and payroll. 7shifts integrates with more restaurant POS systems; Homebase integrates broadly across industries.

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Pricing & Plans

Plan	Homebase (2025)	7shifts (2025)	Commentary
Basic / Comp	Basic scheduling & time tracking; limited to 1 location; good for small teams.	Free scheduling for small restaurants (up to 30 employees).	Both are suitable for small teams with limited features.
Essentials	$24/month/location: Adds communication, performance tracking, and compliance tools.	$39.99/month/location: Shift swapping, basic forecasting, customer support.	Homebase is cheaper; both add essential management features.
Plus / Pro	$56/month/location: Hiring, HR, labor forecasting, and performance management.	$79.99/month/location: Labor budgeting, advanced reporting, integrations.	Both provide advanced tools for managing labor, reporting, and growth.
All-in-One / Premium	~$96/month/location: Includes payroll, advanced HR tools.	$134/month/location: Everything including tip pooling, API access, advanced analytics.	Homebase focuses on payroll & HR; 7shifts on restaurant-specific analytics and tips.
Add-ons	HR Pro: extra HR support.	—	Homebase offers optional HR support; 7shifts does not.

Verdict: Homebase’s pricing tiers align with increasing feature needs. 7shifts charges per location, which can be costly but offers deep restaurant-specific features.

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Use Cases

Homebase use cases

• 🛍 Retail & services: Manage part-time staff, create rotating schedules, track hours.
• 🏥 Healthcare & childcare: Schedule shifts for nurses and caregivers; monitor overtime and compliance.
• 🍽 Restaurants: General scheduling plus integrated payroll and HR support.

7shifts use cases

• 🍽 Restaurants & cafes: Tailored shift management and labor optimization, including tip pooling.
• 🚚 Food trucks & bars: Use forecasting to match staffing with rush hours.
• 🏨 Hospitality: Bars and hotels requiring shift feedback and specialized scheduling.

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Tips & Best Practices

• 📝 Define your needs: Restaurant with tip pooling? Choose 7shifts. Need payroll and HR? Go with Homebase.
• 💡 Start with a free plan: Both platforms offer free tiers—test them first.
• 🔗 Integrate with POS: Sync sales data to forecast staffing. Connect Square, Clover, or Toast for accurate labor budgeting.
• 📅 Use templates: Create reusable schedules for each role or day of the week to save time.
• 💬 Communicate: Encourage employees to use chat features for shift swaps and questions. Avoid miscommunications via texts.
• ⚖️ Stay compliant: Set alerts for overtime or break violations. Homebase offers compliance tools; 7shifts includes break tracking.
• 📊 Monitor engagement: Collect shift feedback, run surveys, and adjust schedules to improve morale.
• 👩‍💼 Train your managers: Provide training on scheduling, handling requests, and tracking labor costs effectively.
• 🚀 Plan for growth: Choose a platform that scales with your business—switching later is disruptive.

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FAQ: Homebase vs 7shifts

Is Homebase only for restaurants?

No. Homebase works for many industries—retail, healthcare, childcare, salons, and more. 7shifts is mainly for restaurants.

Does 7shifts offer payroll?

No. 7shifts connects with payroll tools but doesn’t run payroll itself. Homebase includes payroll services.

Can I use both Homebase and 7shifts?

Not really. Both handle scheduling and time tracking, so using both would just double the work.

Which is cheaper for one location?

Homebase Essentials is about $19.95/month per location. 7shifts Entrée is about $29.99. Cost depends on features.

Can employees swap shifts?

Yes. Both let employees request shift swaps or time off, with manager approval.

Do these tools track tips?

7shifts includes tip pooling. Homebase records tips but doesn’t manage pooling automatically.

Do they work offline?

Mobile apps need internet to sync. Employees can view schedules offline once downloaded, but clock-ins need connectivity.

Are there employee limits?

Most plans charge per location, not per employee, but some tiers cap headcount. Check plan details.

How secure are they?

Both use TLS encryption and standard security practices. Higher plans include advanced security options.

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Shifts by Everhour: An Alternative Scheduling Solution

If neither Homebase nor 7shifts feels like the perfect fit, take a look at Shifts by Everhour. Built by the team behind Everhour, Shifts is a modern scheduling tool with a clean, intuitive design. It’s made for teams that want simple and effective scheduling—without the extra complexity of enterprise platforms.

✨ Key features include:

• Drag-and-drop scheduling – Build and adjust shifts easily. Save time with reusable templates.

• Mobile-friendly access – Staff can check schedules, set availability, and request swaps right from their phone.
• Real-time updates – Any change instantly notifies employees, so everyone stays in sync.
• Time-off management – Handle vacation and sick leave requests with clear, trackable records.

• Compliance & fairness – Ensure rest breaks are respected and shifts are distributed evenly.

💡 Why choose Shifts?
It’s ideal for businesses that want just scheduling—without extra HR, payroll, or restaurant-specific modules. If your team values clarity, speed, and a modern interface, Shifts could be the best match.

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Homebase vs 7shifts: Final Thoughts

Deciding between Homebase and 7shifts depends on your industry and feature priorities. Homebase provides comprehensive tools for scheduling, time tracking, HR, and payroll across various industries. 7shifts caters specifically to the restaurant and hospitality sector, with AI-powered scheduling and tip management. If your needs are more streamlined and you prefer a dedicated scheduling solution, Shifts by Everhour is a viable alternative. Shifts offers a sleek interface, real-time updates, and fair, flexible scheduling without the extra complexity. Try the free versions of these tools and see which one best aligns with your workflow.

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Both Homebase and 7shifts are great software for franchise scheduling – make sure to check them out in more detail!