Shifty vs Homebase
Homebase is a strong all-in-one HR platform for US small businesses with per-location pricing. Shifty is a shift-scheduling app built mobile-first for cafes and restaurants worldwide β one flat price per team ($9.99/month), no per-location and no per-employee markup, 33 languages, AI schedule scanning. Here is an honest side-by-side.
β‘ Quick verdict
Pick Homebase if you run a multi-location US business and want one tool for scheduling, hiring, payroll, and HR. Pick Shifty if you run a single cafe, bar, or restaurant (or a small chain) and want fast, mobile-first scheduling without paying per location.
| Feature | Shifty | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $9.99/month flat, any team size | Free for 1 location; $24.95β$99.95/location/month |
| Best for | Cafes, restaurants, bars (1β30) | US businesses wanting HR + scheduling bundle |
| Setup time | Under 5 minutes | 30β60 min |
| Shift scheduling | β | β |
| Shift swaps & requests | β | β |
| GPS time tracking | β | β |
| Push notifications | β | β |
| Open shifts | β | β |
| PDF/CSV export | β Free | Paid plans only |
| AI schedule scanning | β Unique | β |
| Multi-language (33) | β | EN+limited |
| Payroll calculation | β | β |
| Calendar sync | β Apple & Google | β |
Why teams switch from Homebase to Shifty
π° No per-location fees
Homebase paid plans run $24.95β$99.95 per location per month. A 3-location restaurant on Homebase Plus pays $180/month β flat, regardless of team size, but doubles when you open a 4th location. Shifty charges one flat $9.99 a month for the team, with no per-location and no per-employee markup β three locations or one, fifteen people or fifty, the bill does not move.
β‘ 5-minute setup, not 5-day onboarding
Shifty is download β create team β first shift live, in five minutes. No sales calls, no implementation timeline, no required HR setup. Your team understands the app the first time they open it. No training session needed.
π Built for international teams
Homebase is US-focused. Shifty supports 33 languages out of the box: Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Hebrew, Korean, Chinese, Russian, French, German, Italian and more. Every employee sees the app in their own language without any config.
πΈ AI schedule scanning
Already have a schedule on paper, in a spreadsheet, or on a whiteboard? Take a photo. Shifty's AI reads it and creates the digital shifts automatically. Homebase has nothing like this β and it saves the first hour of switching tools.
π€ Open shifts that fill themselves
Mark a shift as open β every available employee gets a push notification and the first to claim it gets the shift. No more group-chat scramble when someone calls out on Friday night.
Real-world pricing comparison
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Homebase Essentials (3 locations) | $74.85 | ~$898 |
| Homebase Plus (3 locations) | $179.85 | ~$2,158 |
| Homebase All-in-One (3 locations) | $299.85 | ~$3,598 |
| Shifty Pro (15 employees, unlimited locations) | $59.85 | ~$599 |
For a single-location operator with a handful of people, the Homebase free tier works. Once you have a real team or a second site, a flat $9.99 a month stays cheaper than per-location pricing β and opening another site does not change it.
How to switch from Homebase in three steps
-
1
Snapshot your current Homebase schedule
Open last week's schedule in Homebase and take a screenshot. That single image is your migration source β no exports, no CSVs.
-
2
Use Shifty's AI scan
In Shifty, tap Add Shift β camera icon, upload the screenshot. Shifty reads employee names, dates, and shift times automatically and creates the schedule.
-
3
Invite your team
Generate an invite code in Shifty and send it by SMS or print it. Employees download Shifty, enter the code, and see their schedule immediately. No accounts to provision manually.
The whole migration usually takes under 20 minutes for a small team.
When Homebase might be the better choice
We're honest: Homebase is a good product. It may be the better choice if:
- β’ You need fully integrated US payroll runs (Shifty calculates payroll but does not process tax filings).
- β’ You need formal hiring workflows: job postings, application tracking, onboarding paperwork.
- β’ You operate exclusively in the US and want bundled labor-law compliance features.
- β’ You strongly prefer a desktop web dashboard (Shifty's web dashboard is in development, expected H2 2026).
But if you run a small cafe, restaurant, or bar with under 30 people and want something that just works β Shifty is built exactly for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shifty free?
It is free for 7 days with every feature unlocked and no card required. After that the schedule becomes read-only β you can still see it, but editing needs Shifty Pro at $9.99/month or $49.99/year. That price is per team, not per employee, so headcount never changes the bill.
Can I import my Homebase schedule?
Take a screenshot of your Homebase schedule and Shifty's AI converts it into digital shifts β names, dates, and times. No CSV exports required.
Does Shifty work on Android?
Yes β Shifty is on both iOS and Android. The iOS app is currently more mature; the Android app is best for employee use (viewing shifts, swaps, check-in), and full manager features are coming in 2026.
What about GPS time tracking?
Included in Shifty's free and paid tiers. Employees check in only when they are physically at the work location, the same as Homebase's GPS time clock.
Does Shifty calculate payroll?
Yes β Shifty calculates wages from worked hours including breaks and shift rates. Shifty does not process payroll runs or file taxes β pair it with your existing payroll provider for that.
Can I export to PDF or CSV?
Yes β PDF and CSV export are free, no paid plan required. Homebase reserves several export features for paid tiers.
Do I need a credit card to start?
No β the 7-day trial asks for nothing. You only enter payment details if and when you subscribe to Pro.
Ready to try the simpler alternative?
Build your first schedule in under 5 minutes. Free for small teams, no credit card needed.