7shifts and Homebase both started in 2014 and both offer a free plan plus tiered paid plans, but they are built for different shaped businesses. 7shifts is…
| 7shifts | Homebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary category | Scheduling | Scheduling |
| Rating | Not documented | Not documented |
| Pricing model | Free plan + paid subscription tiers (per location/month) | Freemium |
| Starting price | Free (Comp plan) | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Team collaboration | Not documented | Not documented |
| AI features | Not documented | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Not documented |
Core industry focus
7shifts: 7shifts is built specifically for restaurants and food service, with tip pooling and per-shift labor cost tracking baked into its core features.
Homebase: Homebase targets a wider range of hourly, shift-based small businesses including restaurants, retail, salons, and gyms.
A tool tuned to one vertical usually maps more directly onto that industry terminology and workflows, while a broader tool can serve operators outside food service without a mismatch.
Entry-level paid pricing
7shifts: 7shifts paid plans start at roughly 30 dollars per month per location on the Entree tier.
Homebase: Homebase paid plans start at 24 dollars per month per location on the Essentials tier.
For multi-location operators, a lower starting price per location compounds into meaningful savings as locations are added.
Top-tier pricing transparency
7shifts: 7shifts' top tier, The Works, is custom priced rather than publicly listed.
Homebase: Homebase's top tier, All-in-one, is listed at 96 dollars per month per location.
Published pricing lets buyers budget and compare without a sales call, while custom pricing usually means negotiation and less upfront certainty.
Payroll handling
7shifts: 7shifts offers payroll integrations and, in some markets, a payroll add-on, but is not primarily a payroll platform.
Homebase: Homebase offers an integrated payroll add-on that runs directly off already-tracked hours.
Businesses that want scheduling and payroll to share the same hours data with less manual re-entry benefit from tighter payroll integration.
Tip management
7shifts: 7shifts includes Tip Pooling and Manager Log Book as a core listed feature for calculating and distributing tips by house rules.
Homebase: Homebase does not list tip pooling as a core feature, and its cons note tip management as an extra-fee add-on.
Tip distribution is central to restaurant labor operations, so having it built into the core plan versus paying extra changes total cost and setup complexity.
Labor cost forecasting depth
7shifts: 7shifts' Labor Cost Forecasting compares scheduled labor hours against POS sales data, available starting on the Gourmet tier.
Homebase: Homebase's Labor Cost Management dashboards compare scheduled and actual labor hours against sales, available on the All-in-one tier.
Both tie labor to sales, but each gates this behind its own higher-priced tier, so the real cost of forecasting should be compared at the tier where it unlocks, not the entry price.
Named POS partners
7shifts: 7shifts documentation describes POS integrations generally without naming specific partners.
Homebase: Homebase documentation names specific POS integrations including Square, Clover, and Toast.
Confirming a specific POS partner integration before buying reduces the risk of discovering a gap after signing up.
Compliance and HR scope
7shifts: 7shifts' Compliance Alerts focus on overtime risk and predictive scheduling or fair workweek requirements.
Homebase: Homebase's HR and Compliance Tools add document storage and general labor-law compliance guidance alongside PTO policy tracking.
Businesses that need broader HR documentation on top of scheduling compliance may need more than overtime alerts alone.
API access
7shifts: 7shifts is tagged with API access as part of its platform.
Homebase: Homebase documentation does not list API access as a tag or feature.
API availability matters for businesses wanting custom integrations beyond the built-in POS and payroll connections.
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Drag and drop schedule builder | Available | Available |
| Shift swap requests | Available | Available |
| Schedule templates and auto-scheduling | Not documented | Available |
| Employee availability settings | Available | Not documented |
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app clock-in | Available | Available |
| GPS-enabled clock-in | Not documented | Available |
| POS or tablet terminal clock-in | Available | Available |
| Overtime alerts | Available | Available |
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| In-app shift messaging | Available | Available |
| Group chat and team-wide announcements | Not documented | Available |
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll processing | Limited | Available |
| Paid time off request and approval | Available | Available |
| HR document storage and compliance guidance | Not documented | Available |
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Job posting and applicant tracking | Available | Available |
| New-hire onboarding paperwork | Available | Available |
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Labor cost forecasting versus sales | Available | Available |
| Labor and attendance reporting dashboards | Available | Available |
| Built-in tip pooling and distribution | Available | Limited |
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| POS integration for sales and labor data | Available | Available |
| Named POS partners disclosed | Not documented | Available |
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| iOS and Android mobile apps | Available | Available |
| Web-based manager dashboard | Available | Not documented |
| API access | Available | Not documented |
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Homebase's entry-level paid plan starts lower at 24 dollars per month per location on its Essentials tier, compared to 7shifts' Entree tier starting around 30 dollars per month per location, though both offer free plans for a single location and both gate their most advanced features behind higher-priced tiers.
7shifts is built specifically around restaurant workflows like tip pooling, manager log books, and POS-tied labor forecasting, making it more purpose-fit for restaurant operations than Homebase, which serves a broader mix of hourly, shift-based businesses.
Homebase covers the same core scheduling, time tracking, and messaging functions as 7shifts and adds integrated payroll and broader HR tools, but it does not list a dedicated tip-pooling feature the way 7shifts does.
Homebase offers payroll as an integrated add-on that runs directly off tracked hours, while 7shifts offers payroll integrations and, in some markets, a payroll add-on, but neither is primarily a standalone payroll platform.
Both 7shifts and Homebase offer a free plan for a single location with a small or capped team, covering basic scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging, with more advanced features reserved for paid tiers.
Homebase is designed for hourly, shift-based businesses across restaurants, retail, salons, and gyms, while 7shifts is built specifically around restaurant terminology and workflows, making Homebase the more natural fit for non-restaurant businesses.
Read the full 7shifts review · Read the full Homebase review