Homebase Review

Homebase legitimacy and licensing

Yes. Homebase is made by Pioneer Works, Inc. in San Francisco and has been on the App Store for years, where its scheduling app has about 95,300 ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5. Payroll is offered in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and includes tax calculation, filing and payment.

Its outside reputation is weaker than its app rating. Trustpilot shows 3.8 out of 5 from 348 reviews, with 26% one star, and a BBB profile under Pioneer Works, Inc. shows a D+ rating with 10 complaints in three years. Most complaints involve payroll and billing rather than the scheduling tools.

Homebase pricing explained

Homebase charges per location, not per employee. The Basic plan is free for one location with up to 10 employees. Paid plans have unlimited employees: Essentials is $24 a month per location billed annually ($30 monthly), Plus is $56 ($70) and All-in-One is $96 ($120).

Payroll is an add-on to any plan at $49 a month plus $6 per active employee. A team of 12 on Essentials with payroll, billed monthly, would pay $30 plus $49 plus $72, or $151 a month. Through January 20, 2027, new customers who set up payroll can get Plus and Payroll free for six months, with payroll free for up to 50 employees; after that, standard prices apply.

What you get with Homebase

All plans include schedule building, a time clock that works on tablets, computers and POS devices, and an employee mobile app. Essentials adds overtime and break rules, shift trades, location-based mobile clock-in, photo capture at clock-in and team messaging. Plus adds an AI scheduling assistant, PTO policies and manager permissions. All-in-One adds onboarding paperwork (W-4, I-9, W-9), labor cost alerts and access to HR advisors.

Payroll includes direct deposit, W-2s and 1099s, wage garnishments, next day payroll and 401(k), workers’ comp and health benefit integrations. Employees can also use Cash Out to get part of their earned wages before payday at no cost to the business.

Homebase complaints and how to avoid problems

Negative reviews mostly come from payroll users who report tax filing errors and slow payroll support, plus billing problems such as unexpected or duplicate charges and charges after cancelling. Long-time free users also object to the free plan shrinking from 20 to 10 employees.

• Check each payroll tax filing and payment in your account, and keep your own records of what was filed.
• Confirm in writing when you downgrade or cancel, and watch the next statement.
• Remember each location is billed separately, so cancel or downgrade every location.
• If a tax notice arrives, contact Homebase right away and ask who covers penalties.

Cancelling or changing your Homebase plan

Homebase says you can change plans at any time and the new plan starts at the beginning of the next billing cycle. Payroll is billed monthly and Homebase says you can cancel anytime. If you leave a paid plan with one location and 10 or fewer employees, you can drop to the free Basic plan instead of closing your account. Homebase’s pricing page does not publish a refund policy, so ask support before paying for a year up front.

Labor law and payroll responsibilities

Homebase calculates overtime and breaks based on the settings you choose and sends state labor law updates, but you remain responsible as the employer for following wage and hour rules and for your payroll taxes, even when a provider files them. The U.S. Department of Labor and your state labor agency publish the rules for overtime, breaks and recordkeeping. For complex HR questions, talk to an employment attorney or accountant.