Homebase
Homebase is a catalogue substitute when Small hourly businesses (retail, cafes, local services) that need scheduling + time in one app. Stay with When I Work when Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price. Reasons come from approved editorial assessments — not a ranked best-of list.
Better when
- Small hourly businesses (retail, cafes, local services) that need scheduling + time in one app
- Teams that want a free ≤10-employee starter before paying per location
Worse when
- Restaurant groups standardised on 7shifts
- Multi-entity mid-market WFM (Deputy) or deskless comms hubs (Connecteam)
Key tradeoff: Homebase fits Small hourly businesses (retail, cafes, local services) that need scheduling + time in one app; When I Work fits Hourly teams that mainly need scheduling and messaging at a low per-user price.

