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Planday vs Shift Agent vs Homebase Comparison

Last updated:

Planday

4.5(288 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Planday is employee scheduling software built specifically for small business owners. The software allows to easily update hourly staffing needs across the entire business including employees, groups, schedules, time off…

Shift Agent

4.4(13 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Freelancers / Consultants

Shift Agent - Employee Scheduling Software - is a web based and very easy to use employee scheduling software. With this employee scheduling software business owner can easily plan, reschedule, send messages, input time…

Homebase

4.4(131 reviews)

Starting at $0 / location / month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, and payroll management, reducing…

Planday leads on user satisfaction with a 4.5-star rating across 288 reviews.

Planday vs Shift Agent vs Homebase — at a glance

FeaturePlandayShift AgentHomebase
Rating4.5 / 54.4 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews28813131
Starting priceContact for pricingContact for pricing$0 / location / month
Free trial Yes Yes Yes
Free version No No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large EnterprisesLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryEmployee Scheduling SoftwareEmployee Scheduling SoftwareEmployee Scheduling Software
Integrations11+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOSSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Browser Based (Cloud)
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modes24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, OnlineOnline24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsSOC 2, GDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyUSUSUS

Key differences between Planday and Shift Agent

  • Target audience: Planday is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Shift Agent targets Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants.
  • User satisfaction: Planday scores higher with a 4.5-star average.
  • Deployment: Planday supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS; Shift Agent supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare Planday vs Shift Agent vs Homebase — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Employee Scheduling Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

Planday - Employee Scheduling Software
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Shift Agent - Employee Scheduling Software
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Talk to an expert

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

Planday

Best for small to mid-sized businesses needing simple, efficient employee scheduling.

Choose if
  • You manage a 50-1000 employee operation in hospitality, retail, or healthcare.
  • You want easy schedule updates, time off tracking, and labor cost reporting.
  • You value responsive customer support and a user-friendly, low-complexity setup.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your business requires advanced messaging or team communication features.
  • You need seamless integration with external calendar systems like iCal.

Shift Agent

Best for

Individuals, Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises

Homebase

Best for simple, streamlined scheduling and payroll in small to mid-sized teams.

Choose if
  • You manage retail, hospitality, or food service teams with up to 500 employees.
  • You need an easy-to-use platform for shift scheduling, time tracking, and payroll integration.
  • You want built-in team communication tools like chat boards to improve collaboration.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your organization requires highly advanced schedule customization beyond basic features.
  • You have complex scheduling needs that demand a more intuitive and flexible interface.

Planday typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Shift Agent tends to fit Individuals and Freelancers / Consultants better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

Planday is employee scheduling software built specifically for small business owners. The software allows to easily update hourly staffing needs across the entire business including ... Read More about Planday

Shift Agent - Employee Scheduling Software - is a web based and very easy to use employee scheduling software. With this employee scheduling software business owner can easily plan, ... Read More about Shift Agent

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, ... Read More about Homebase

Entry Level Pricing

  • Not Available
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $0 , monthly

Free Trial Availability

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.7/10

8.3/10

9.7/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

4.47

(288)

4.4

(13)

4.41

(131)

Best Company Size

50-500 employees501-1,000 employees
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

Planday

  • Streamlined Scheduling: With Planday, managers can easily create and adjust employee schedules in real-time, ensuring that staffing levels are optimized without the hassle of manual adjustments. You’ll appreciate how this saves time and reduces scheduling conflicts.
  • Enhanced Communication: Planday fosters seamless communication between team members and management. Your employees can receive updates, swap shifts, and ask questions directly through the platform, which cultivates a more engaged and informed workforce.
  • Powerful Analytics: Leverage Planday’s robust reporting tools to gain insights into labor costs, employee performance, and attendance trends. You can make data-driven decisions that enhance operational efficiency and ultimately improve your bottom line.

Homebase

  • Streamlined Communication: Homebase fosters seamless communication among team members, allowing managers to send updates and receive feedback in real-time. You’ll find that keeping everyone on the same page has never been easier.
  • Efficient Scheduling: With Homebase, scheduling shifts is a breeze. The intuitive interface enables you to create schedules quickly, reducing the headache of manual planning. Your team will appreciate the clarity and predictability in their work hours.
  • Time Tracking Made Simple: Say goodbye to manual time sheets! Homebase offers robust time tracking features that help you monitor employee hours accurately, ensuring compliance and simplifying payroll processing.
Best fit

Best fit

Planday

  • 50 to 1,000 employees
  • Hospitality, Retail, Healthcare, and Construction
  • Operations Managers, Shift Supervisors, HR Managers, and Team Leaders

Homebase

  • 1 to 500 employees
  • Retail, Hospitality, Food Service, Healthcare, and Construction
  • Managers, Shift Leaders, HR Personnel, and Business Owners
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

Planday

  • Users may seek alternatives to Planday if they require more customizable scheduling options, allowing for tailored workflows that better fit their unique business needs and employee preferences.
  • Some businesses might find Planday's pricing structure less favorable, prompting them to explore cost-effective solutions that provide similar functionalities without compromising on features.
  • Companies with specific industry requirements may look for alternatives that offer specialized tools or integrations, ensuring seamless operations within their existing systems and processes.

Homebase

  • Users may seek alternatives to Homebase if they require more advanced scheduling features or integrations with other software, as some businesses have unique operational needs that Homebase may not fully address.
  • Companies with larger teams or more complex workforce management requirements might find that Homebase lacks scalability, prompting them to explore solutions that better accommodate growth and diverse employee roles.
  • Businesses prioritizing robust reporting and analytics tools may look for alternatives, as Homebase’s reporting capabilities might not meet the depth of insight required for informed decision-making.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do Planday, Shift Agent and Homebase Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

9 Features

32 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare Planday, Shift Agent and Homebase on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        • $0 , monthly

        Pricing Plans

        • Not Available
        • Not Available
        • Basic

          $0

          / location / month

          • Basic scheduling

          • Basic time tracking

          • Point-of-sale integration

          Show more +

        • Essentials

          $25

          /location/month

          • Everything in Basic and:

          • Advanced Scheduling

          • Advanced Time Tracking

          Show more +

        • Plus

          $60

          / location / month

          • Everything in Essentials and

          • Hiring

          • PTO & time-off controls

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans

        Pricing Page

        Planday pricing
        Shift Agent pricing
        Homebase pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - Android
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Available
        • Not Available
        • Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        SOC 2

        ✓ Yes

        HIPAA

        ✗ No
        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✓ Yes

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        ✓ Yes

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✓ Yes

        Data Residency

        🇺🇸 US
        🇺🇸 US

        Planday vs Shift Agent User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        220

        40

        3

        3

        22

        1

        1

        0

        0

        0

        70

        33

        5

        3

        3

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall positive sentiment highlights Planday's ease of use, helpful support, and effective scheduling features, tempered by some usability and integration limitations.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Customer support responsiveness
        • Reporting and payroll efficiency

        Common complaints

        • Performance issues on mobile
        • Limited external calendar integration

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is positive across 2 reviews, with strong overall satisfaction.

        What buyers like

        • Web-based platform
        • Easy to use
        • Organized data management

        Common complaints

        • Limited mobile functionality
        • Basic reporting features
        • Customization options may be lacking

        Buyer sentiment

        Overall positive sentiment highlights ease of scheduling, communication features, and payroll integration, tempered by some interface usability concerns.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Streamlined scheduling
        • Effective team communication

        Common complaints

        • Limited free version features
        • Confusing interface for complex scheduling

        Pros and Cons

        • User-friendly interface that simplifies schedule planning and communication

        • Responsive and helpful customer support team

        • Robust reporting tools that streamline payroll and labor cost management

        • Occasional lagging and loading issues, especially on mobile devices

        • Limited integration with external calendar applications

        • User-friendly web interface simplifies scheduling tasks.

        • Organized data management enhances operational efficiency.

        • Effective communication tools streamline team interactions.

        • Mobile functionality may be limited.

        • Basic reporting features might not meet all needs.

        • Streamlines scheduling processes with easy shift management

        • Centralized platform for time tracking, shift swapping, and covers

        • Facilitates team communication via chat boards and messaging

        • Limited customization options in the free version

        • App interface can be confusing for new users or complex schedules

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Integrations

        Integration with other apps

        No Integration information available.

        No Integration information available.

        List of Customers

        Customers

        Best Western

        Best Western

        ELLARY’S GREENS

        ELLARY’S GREENS

        International SOS

        International SOS

        Duo

        Duo

        Limbitless

        Limbitless

        Antique Taco

        Antique Taco

        Woodhouse

        Woodhouse

        Souvla

        Souvla

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        No screenshots available.

        Easy Scheduling

        9 Screenshots

        Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        6 Videos

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        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, Planday or Shift Agent?
        Planday edges out the other on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.4). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do Planday and Shift Agent offer a free trial?
        Yes, both Planday and Shift Agent offer a free trial.
        What is the starting price of Planday vs Shift Agent?
        Planday starts at Contact for pricing. Shift Agent starts at Contact for pricing.
        What are the top alternatives to Planday?
        Top alternatives to Planday include Homebase, 7shifts, Findmyshift, TrackSmart Scheduling, eSchedule.
        What are the top alternatives to Shift Agent?
        Top alternatives to Shift Agent include Homebase, 7shifts, TrackSmart Scheduling, eSchedule, MakeShift.

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