Staffing & HR comparison
Homebase vs When I Work
How Homebase and When I Work compare for wellness franchise operators — side-by-side specs and our verdict on which fits which concept.
Short answer
Both schedule hourly staff and run a time clock; they diverge on price model and scheduling complexity. Homebase's free tier covers up to 20 employees at one location, which is the entire staff of most single studios, with paid tiers around $30 to $120 per month per location. When I Work charges roughly $2.50 to $5.00 per user per month with no permanent free plan, and earns it through rotating roles, shift templates, open-shift claiming, and stronger multi-location controls. For a first studio with a small stable roster, Homebase costs nothing and does the job. Once you are scheduling staff who are certified for some services and not others, or who float between locations, When I Work expresses those rules where a simpler calendar cannot. Model Homebase's per-location pricing before assuming free stays free at six units.
Side-by-side
| Homebase | When I Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Service type | Scheduling & time tracking | Scheduling & time tracking |
| Multi-location | Partial | Yes |
| Pricing from | Free for up to 20 employees at one location; ~$30–$120/mo per location | ~$2.50–$5.00 per user/mo; free trial, no permanent free plan |
| Best for | First-studio franchisees getting instructors and front-desk staff onto a real schedule and time clock | Multi-location operators scheduling role-certified staff who float between studios |
| Differentiator | A genuinely free tier that covers the entire staff of most single-unit studios | Rotating roles, shift templates, and open-shift claiming that simpler calendars cannot express |
Full profile
Homebase
Scheduling, time clock, and team messaging for hourly staff, with a genuinely free tier.
Full profile
When I Work
Shift scheduling built for rotating roles, shift templates, and multi-location teams.
See more options in our roundup of the best staffing & hr for wellness franchises.