SimpleStaff vs Homebase
Homebase is a genuinely cheap, flat-rate scheduler for a single location. The moment you run more than one — or you're a Canadian business — SimpleStaff's pooled, one-bill pricing pulls ahead.
Homebase is a strong choice for a single location: unlimited employees on a flat rate, plus a capable free tier. SimpleStaff wins in two clear cases — you run more than one location, where Homebase charges for each separately while we pool them into a single bill, and you're in Canada, where Homebase's payroll and much of its product are US-first.
What you'd actually pay
| Scenario | Homebase | SimpleStaff · Team | SimpleStaff · Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
15 staff · 1 location | $24.95 Essentials | $19/mo −24% | $29/mo |
2 locations · 40 staff | $49.90 Essentials × 2 | $37.75/mo −24% | $54/mo |
4 locations · 80 staff | $99.80 Essentials × 4 | $67.75/mo −32% | $94/mo |
Homebase Essentials list price per location (unlimited employees), from joinhomebase.com/pricing (July 2026); it bills separately for each location. SimpleStaff figures are computed live from our plans and pool all locations into one bill. On a single large location Homebase's flat rate can beat our per-user pricing — that's where they shine; we pull ahead as soon as you add a second location or need CAD billing and Canadian payroll.
Where the difference shows up
Per location stacks up
Homebase charges a flat rate for each location. SimpleStaff pools every location under one owner into a single subscription — so a second or third site barely moves your bill instead of doubling or tripling it.
Built for Canada
SimpleStaff is priced in CAD and built around Canadian scheduling and payroll. Homebase's payroll is US-only and its product leans US-first, which matters if your team is north of the border.
Simple either way
Neither of us charges per head the way the big platforms do. Homebase is flat per location; SimpleStaff is a low base plus a small per-user rate — both stay readable, and ours scales gently across locations.
Feature by feature
| SimpleStaff | Homebase | |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop scheduling | ||
| Staff-run shift swaps | ||
| Availability & time-off requests | ||
| Mobile app (iOS & Android) | ||
| One pooled bill across locations | ||
| Priced in CAD | ||
| Time & attendance | Add-on | |
| Seniority-based shift picking | Pro | |
| Built-in payroll | Pro | US only |
| Starting paid price | $19 / mo | $24.95 / location |
When Homebase might be the better fit
- You run a single location and want the lowest possible flat rate with unlimited employees.
- You're a US business that wants Homebase's built-in payroll and US hiring and compliance tooling.
- You lean on Homebase's free tier and don't need multi-location pooling or Canadian billing.
Common questions
Is SimpleStaff cheaper than Homebase?
It depends on how many locations you run. For a single location Homebase's flat rate is very competitive and can be cheaper on a large team. As soon as you run two or more locations, SimpleStaff is usually cheaper, because we pool every location into one bill while Homebase charges for each separately.
Does SimpleStaff work for multi-location businesses?
Yes — that's where it's strongest. Every location an owner runs is pooled into a single subscription with one per-user rate, so adding a second or third site barely changes your bill. Homebase charges a separate flat fee per location.
Is SimpleStaff better than Homebase for Canadian businesses?
For most Canadian teams, yes. SimpleStaff is priced in CAD and built around Canadian scheduling and payroll, while Homebase's payroll is US-only and its product is US-first.
Can I try SimpleStaff before switching from Homebase?
Yes. It's free for up to 15 staff and takes minutes to set up, so you can build a week and publish it beside Homebase before you commit. No credit card required.
The cheapest way to find out is to try it
Set up your team, build the week, publish. Free for up to 15 staff — run it beside your current tool before you spend a dollar.
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