Head to head

7shifts vs Homebase

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

7shifts

Quote Free tier 14 day free trial

Restaurant shift scheduling with a free Comp plan. Paid Essentials starts at $39.99/location/mo.

Where 7shifts fits

  • Restaurants and bars running FOH and BOH shifts
  • Multi-location groups on Toast or similar POS
  • Operators who want labor cost against sales
  • Teams that will start on the free Comp plan

Homebase

$30/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Scheduling, time clocks, and team messaging for hourly shops. Basic is free for 10 employees at 1 location. Essentials is $30/mo.

Where Homebase fits

  • Restaurants and retail with hourly shifts
  • Owners who want a free plan for one small location
  • Managers who need clock-in, schedules, and team chat
  • Shops adding payroll later as an add-on

At a glance

Detail7shiftsHomebase
Starting priceQuote$30/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trial14 day free trial14 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underTime & attendance, Workforce managementATS, HRIS, Texting, Time & attendance, Workforce management
Capterra4.7 from 1,212 reviews4.6 from 1,155 reviews

Where they pull apart

7shifts

Stands out: A kitchen-and-FOH scheduler with POS hooks and a genuine free Comp tier, then location-priced paid plans rather than per-user WFM seats.

Watch out: Time tracking, payroll ($39.99/location/mo plus $6/employee paid), tip management, tasks, and onboarding are add-ons or higher plans. AI course-building is on Pro and Premium only.

Not the right fit for

  • Non-restaurant hourly work (use Deputy or When I Work)
  • Enterprises that need a full HRIS
  • Buyers who thought the free plan included time clocks and payroll

Homebase

Stands out: A real free plan for tiny teams, plus a 14-day All-in-One trial with no card.

Watch out: Paid plans are per location. Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee paid. API access sits on All-in-One.

Not the right fit for

  • Multi-location brands that need a cheap flat rate
  • Teams that need the API below All-in-One

Pros and cons

7shifts

  • Real free Comp plan
  • Restaurant-specific labor versus sales
  • Public location pricing from $39.99/month
  • Time clocks and payroll are not in Comp
  • Per-location pricing gets expensive across many sites
  • Wrong product outside food service

Homebase

  • Free Basic for 10 staff at 1 location
  • 14-day All-in-One trial, no card
  • Payroll add-on on every plan
  • Paid plans bill per location
  • API only on All-in-One
  • Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee

What each one costs

7shifts

Quote

Permanent free tier covers scheduling only. Time tracking is paid. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 12 Sep 2026

Homebase

$30/mo

Basic is free for 1 location and up to 10 employees. Essentials is $30/location/mo. Plus is $70. All-in-One is $120. Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee paid. Hiring Assistant starts at $99/mo. 14-day All-in-One trial, no card. Annual billing is offered on paid plans. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try 7shifts or Homebase for free?
7shifts and Homebase carry a free tier on our listing. 7shifts offers a 14 day free trial. Homebase offers a 14 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 12 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?