Homebase Scheduling: Should You Use This Tool?

When it comes to managing hourly teams, Homebase promises a lot - from scheduling and payroll processing to team communication.

But is it the right tool for your small business, or does it fall short where it matters most?

Let’s look at Homebase's top features and pitfalls to help you decide if it’s worth your time - or if there’s a better option out there.

What is Homebase?

Homebase is a workforce management tool designed for hourly teams. It includes scheduling, time tracking, payroll processing, and team communication features.

Homebase - top features

Here are the top features offered by Homebase:

Employee scheduling

It includes scheduling tools with templates and auto-scheduling functions. Users can create and publish schedules and allow employees to trade shifts. The system integrates availability and labor budgets to fill shifts automatically.

Schedule creation and publishing
Shift trading functionality
Auto-fill based on employee availability and budget constraints

Time clock & hour tracking

Homebase turns devices into time clocks to track employee hours, breaks, and overtime.

Real-time hour tracking
Payroll integration for automated data transfer
Clock-in reminders for employees

Team communication

Built-in messaging allows managers and employees to communicate about schedules and work-related updates.

Shift updates and announcements
One-on-one and group messaging
Read receipts for message tracking

Payroll processing

Timesheets can be transferred directly to payroll for processing wages, tips, and taxes.

Direct payroll integration
Automatic calculation of wages, tips, and taxes
Record-keeping for labor law compliance

Hiring & onboarding

Homebase includes tools for job postings, applicant tracking, and digital onboarding.

Job board posting and applicant tracking
Digital onboarding packets
Storage of employee records

Check this out: 30 essential employee onboarding survey questions

Homebase - why it's not the best

Homebase is popular with small businesses, but it has its fair share of problems.

Here are some reasons why it might not be the best choice.

1. Customer support is unreliable

Several users mentioned how difficult it is to get help.

As one reviewer put it: "They were very helpful and interested in my needs prior to signing me up and now that we paid and signed up, it's all crickets on their end."

2. Payroll issues can be costly

Mistakes in payroll prep can be expensive, and some users have had money taken from their accounts unexpectedly.

One review states: "They happily took out $5.5k from our account, and guess what, they then took out another 5k from our account four days later!"

3. Scheduling is clunky

The tool is meant to help build schedules quickly, but many find it frustrating.

One reviewer wrote: "Scheduling is a pain and a half. [...] There is no way to upload a schedule from a flat file or CSV."

4. The system is buggy

Some users have had problems with duplicate shifts and missing updates.

One review calls out: "There are times when shifts are duplicated for no reason and when I remove one of the duplicated shifts—the entire shift disappears."

5. Pricing keeps increasing without added value

Many small businesses expect stable pricing, but some feel Homebase charges more without improving its service.

One reviewer shared: "They keep increasing the price but no added features and they spam employees with their ‘cash out’ program."

6. Lack of customization

Homebase tries to fit different industries, but it doesn’t always work.

As one reviewer said: "They're pretty limited on the number of 'roles' which a user can access, and the limitations for what these roles can do seems pretty cut and dry."

The best Homebase alternative - Unrubble

Homebase helps track hours and keep the whole team on the same page, but these issues make it less reliable for payroll prep, scheduling, and labor costs.

Businesses relying on a tool for hourly work need something that works in a few clicks - without these headaches.

That’s where Unrubble comes in.

Scheduling that actually works

Scheduling shouldn’t take hours. Unrubble helps instantly share shift plans, make last-minute changes, and organize shifts without the usual back-and-forth. No more manual fixes or missing schedules.

Accurate time tracking

Track hours in real time and keep payroll prep hassle-free. Every punch-in is recorded, breaks and overtime are logged, and all hours are ready for processing. No more guessing or fixing errors later.

Payroll without the extra work

Syncing hours with payroll is automatic. Unrubble removes manual data entry, making sure paychecks are right the first time. No unexpected deductions or long waits for refunds.

Smooth onboarding for new hires

Hiring is more than just paperwork. Unrubble helps new hires start quickly with digital forms, easy schedule access, and direct communication. No need to chase missing documents or explain the same thing twice.

Stay compliant without the guesswork

Keeping up with labor laws is tough, but Unrubble keeps everything in one place - work hours, time-off policies, and payroll records - so businesses can stay compliant without digging through files.

Employee information in one place

No more scattered spreadsheets. Store everything in one dashboard, from work history to shift preferences. Managers can check records, update details, and see availability in seconds.