Homebase vs When I Work vs Deputy
By the FirstHire Team · Last updated Nov 2026
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Once you have hourly staff, you need a schedule and a time clock. Homebase, When I Work and Deputy are three popular choices for small teams. Their pricing works very differently, so the cheapest one depends on your headcount.
How we wrote this: we read each vendor's public pricing and product pages (linked at the bottom) and compared them for a business with 1 to 10 people. We have not run a long-term hands-on test of these products, and we will say so on this page when we have.
The short answer
- Pick Homebase if you have one location and up to 10 employees: its Basic plan is $0.
- Pick When I Work if you want a low per-user price for a single location.
- Pick Deputy if you want more advanced automation and are fine paying per user with a monthly minimum.
Published prices (Nov 2026)
| Tool | How it charges | Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Homebase | Per location | Basic $0 (1 location, up to 10 employees); Essentials $30; Plus $70; All-in-One $120 per location per month. Payroll add-on: $49/month + $6 per employee paid |
| When I Work | Per user | Essentials $2.50, Pro $5, Premium $8 per user per month |
| Deputy | Per user | Lite $5, Core $6.50, Pro $9 per user per month; minimum monthly spend of $30 on monthly plans |
Example: 5 hourly employees
On list prices: Homebase Basic is $0 if it covers your needs; When I Work Essentials is about $12.50/month (5 × $2.50); Deputy Lite would be $25 but the $30 monthly minimum applies. Count managers as users where the vendor does.
Our take
Most first-time employers with one location should try Homebase's free plan first. If you outgrow it or need multi-location tools, compare When I Work and Deputy per-user prices for your headcount.
FAQ
Do I need a time clock for hourly employees?
Federal law requires employers to keep accurate records of hours worked for non-exempt employees. A digital time clock is an easy way to do that.
Does scheduling software run payroll?
Homebase and Deputy sell payroll add-ons; otherwise export timesheets to your payroll provider.
Sources: Homebase pricing, When I Work pricing, Deputy pricing. Prices and features as of Nov 2026. Check the vendor site before you buy, because prices and promotions change. Not tax or legal advice.