What it does
Homebase combines employee schedules, time clocks, team administration and optional payroll for hourly businesses. Its free Basic plan covers one location and up to ten employees. Staff join the team's account through an invitation from their manager.
Homebase covers transfer a shift; trades exchange two shifts. Eligibility can depend on role, skills, hours or pay. Send requests to selected teammates or everyone eligible; existing shifts and approved time off filter out unavailable staff.
Managers approve every cover or trade after checking pay and overtime flags. Approval updates the schedule. If nobody accepts, the original employee stays assigned. Someone who declined will not be offered the same request again.
Free and paid plans
| Plan | Scope |
|---|---|
| Basic | Free; one location, up to 10 employees; basic scheduling and time tracking |
| Essentials | Advanced scheduling, time tracking and team communication |
| Plus | Adds scheduling assistance, time-off controls and department permissions |
| All-in-One | Adds onboarding, labor-cost management and HR tools |
Paid plans charge per location and allow unlimited employees. Payroll is an add-on. The 14-day All-in-One trial requires no card; a temporary payroll promotion does not make payroll permanently free. Confirm the paid tier for ongoing shift-trading access.
Employees first ask their manager to add their phone number to the team account, then use that number to log in and set up their profile.
Strengths
- Managers can see estimated pay and overtime flags before approving changes
- Coverage transfers and reciprocal trades have separate request types
Watch out for
- Declining removes a teammate from that request's available recipients
- Basic is limited to one location and ten employees
Best for
- Hourly workplaces giving employees coverage choices while retaining final manager approval
Sources
- Official Homebase Pricing | Try Homebase Free Today (Oct 27, 2026)
- Shift Swapping and Trading Software for Hourly Teams (Oct 27, 2026)
- Download the Homebase App Here | Try Free Today (Oct 27, 2026)
- Homebase | All-in-One Employee Scheduling, Time Clocks, Payroll, & More (Oct 26, 2026)