Both have a free plan for one location. Homebase Basic covers up to 10 employees; 7shifts Comp covers up to 15. For a single small restaurant, start free with either. 7shifts is built only for restaurants, with labour targets and tip tools on paid plans. Homebase is broader, with cheaper entry paid plans and payroll as an add-on.
Quick answer
- Free plans: 7shifts Comp (1 location, up to 15 employees); Homebase Basic (1 location, up to 10 employees).
- 7shifts paid plans: Essentials US$44.99, Pro US$89.99, Premium US$149.99 per location per month, less on annual billing.
- Homebase paid plans: Essentials US$30, Plus US$70, All-in-One US$120 per location per month as listed.
- Both connect to POS systems so you can plan labour against sales.
- Prices are US, as of November 2026; check that payroll and compliance features apply in your country.
How this comparison was made: it is based on each company’s public pricing pages and documentation, checked in November 2026, and on what matters in the restaurants I work with. It is not a paid placement and not a hands-on lab test. This site may earn referral fees from some software companies in future; any such link will be labelled. Michael Clarke is a trained chef and runs Markedine, a restaurant marketing company in Bangkok. There are no affiliate links in this article.
What is the difference between 7shifts and Homebase?
7shifts is scheduling and team-management software made specifically for restaurants: bars, cafés, pizzerias, full and quick service. Homebase is scheduling, time tracking, hiring and payroll for small businesses in general, used by restaurants and many other hourly businesses. Both do the basics well: build a rota, share it on staff phones, handle availability, time-off requests and shift swaps.
At Avani Riverside I managed a rooftop bar and restaurant with 39 full-time and 17 part-time staff, and scheduling was part of the daily job alongside reservations, budgeting and inventory. The tool matters less than the discipline. But a good tool makes the discipline easier: it shows labour cost while you build the rota, not after the month closes.
How do 7shifts and Homebase compare on price?
| Plan | 7shifts (per location/month) | Homebase (per location/month, as listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Comp: free, 1 location, up to 15 employees | Basic: US$0, 1 location, up to 10 employees |
| Entry paid | Essentials: US$44.99 monthly or US$39.99 billed annually; up to 30 employees | Essentials: US$30; unlimited employees |
| Mid | Pro: US$89.99 monthly or US$79.99 annually; unlimited employees | Plus: US$70 |
| Top | Premium: US$149.99 monthly or US$134.99 annually | All-in-One: US$120 |
| Trial | 14 days of Pro, no card needed | 14 days of All-in-One, no card needed |
| Payroll | Separate product | Add-on: US$49/month base + US$6 per employee paid (first 6 months free offer at time of checking) |
Sources: 7shifts plans and pricing and Homebase pricing, US pricing as of November 2026. 7shifts marks its prices as new-customer pricing. Homebase’s page has annual and monthly billing options, so confirm which price applies to how you pay.
Which features matter for a restaurant?
| Feature | 7shifts | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Basic scheduling and shift trades | All plans | All plans |
| Time clock | Basic from Essentials; advanced from Pro | Basic on free plan; advanced from Essentials |
| Labour cost tools | Labour compliance and labour cost tools from Pro | Schedule with forecasted sales and labour targets; overtime alerts on higher plans |
| Tip management | Included in Premium | Tip Manager add-on, US$25/month per location |
| Task lists | Included in Premium | Task Manager add-on, US$13/month per location |
| Team messaging | From Essentials | From Essentials |
| POS integration | Yes | Yes, on all plans including free |
Feature placement is from each company’s pricing page at the time of checking. Plans change often, so confirm the exact feature you need is in the tier you are quoted.
Which is better for a small restaurant?
- One location, under 10 staff: either free plan will do. Homebase Basic includes basic time tracking and a POS integration.
- One location, 11 to 15 staff: 7shifts Comp still covers you for free; Homebase would need a paid plan.
- You want labour cost controls tied to sales: compare 7shifts Pro with Homebase Plus or All-in-One in a trial.
- You want payroll in the same tool: Homebase sells payroll as an add-on to any plan; check it covers your country.
- You already use Square: Square’s restaurant plans include shift scheduling, timecards and labour cost reporting on Plus and Premium, so you may not need a separate tool.
How do you run a two-week trial properly?
- Load your real staff, roles and wage rates.
- Connect your POS so sales appear next to labour.
- Build next week’s rota in both tools and time how long it takes.
- Ask three staff, including your least tech-friendly, to swap a shift and request leave on their phone.
- Check the labour cost report against your payroll for the same week.
- Pick the one your managers will actually open every day.
What makes a good restaurant rota, whichever tool you use?
- Start from sales, not habit. Look at covers by day and hour for the last four weeks and staff to that curve, not to last month’s rota.
- Stagger starts and finishes. One extra person from 7 pm to 9 pm is cheaper than one extra full shift.
- Publish early. A rota published a week or more ahead cuts last-minute swaps and no-shows.
- Set a labour budget for each day and check the rota against it before you publish.
- Review actual hours every week against the plan, and ask why when they differ.
- Keep skills in mind. A cheap rota with no one who can run the pass on a Saturday is not cheap.
Do 7shifts and Homebase work outside the US?
Both price in US dollars, and some features, especially payroll, tax and labour compliance, are built around specific countries. Scheduling and messaging work anywhere staff have a phone, but payroll, tax and social-security features are built for specific countries. If you are outside those markets, including Thailand, you will usually run payroll separately through your accountant or a local payroll provider. Check with each company before you rely on anything beyond scheduling.
For how to measure the result, see labour cost percentage: how to calculate and control it.
Frequently asked questions
Is 7shifts free?
7shifts has a free Comp plan for one location and up to 15 employees, with basic scheduling, announcements and time-off requests. Paid plans start at US$44.99 per location per month, or US$39.99 billed annually, as of November 2026.
Is Homebase free?
Homebase Basic is free for one location and up to 10 employees, with basic scheduling, basic time tracking and a POS integration, as of November 2026.
Which is cheaper, 7shifts or Homebase?
On listed prices, Homebase’s paid plans start lower, at US$30 per location per month for Essentials, compared with 7shifts Essentials at US$44.99 monthly. The free plans differ in employee limits: 15 on 7shifts, 10 on Homebase.
Does Homebase do payroll?
Yes, as an add-on to any plan, listed at a US$49 monthly base fee plus US$6 per employee paid. Check whether it covers your country.
Can I use 7shifts or Homebase outside the US?
Scheduling and team messaging can work anywhere, but payroll and compliance features are built for specific countries. If you are outside those markets, including Thailand, you will usually handle payroll and social security separately.
