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Evolia vs Homebase in Brief
Evolia and Homebase both handle scheduling and time clocking for hourly employees. Homebase charges per location with unlimited employees, which favours a single store with a large staff. Evolia charges per employee and applies overtime rules by Canadian province, which favours multi-location organizations in Canada.
Scheduling software billed per location can’t be compared directly with software billed per employee, and that difference in model completely changes how you calculate the real cost. Homebase, an American platform built for restaurants and retail, is a good example. Evolia, designed for Canadian frontline teams, uses a different model. This comparison covers pricing, labour standards compliance, payroll, time clocking and scheduling for both solutions.
Evolia and Homebase at a Glance
The table below compares Evolia and Homebase on eight criteria, with prices collected from both providers’ official websites on August 17, 2026.
| Criteria | Evolia | Homebase |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price shown | $3.50 per employee, per month (Essentials plan) | Free plan for one location, then about US$24.95 per location per month |
| Pricing model | Per employee, no long-term commitment | Per location, unlimited employees |
| Target business type | Frontline and shift-based teams, mid-size to large organizations | Small businesses with one or a few locations: restaurants, retail, hospitality |
| Origin and language | Quebec, available in English, French and Spanish | United States, English |
| Labour standards | Overtime and premium rules applied automatically by Canadian province | Not documented by Canadian province |
| Payroll integration | Customizable integration module, partnerships with major North American payroll providers | Built-in payroll as a paid add-on, geared to the American market |
| Clock-in methods | Fixed console, mobile, GPS geofencing and photo validation | Mobile, tablet, photo verification, GPS depending on the plan |
| Best for | Canadian multi-location organizations with complex scheduling rules | Single-location store or restaurant with many employees |
Per-Employee Pricing at Evolia or Per-Location Pricing at Homebase
Homebase’s per-location model works in favour of a single store with a large staff, since the number of employees doesn’t affect the bill. The same model becomes expensive for a multi-location organization, since every separate physical address is a separate subscription, even within the same city. Evolia charges per employee, which keeps the bill predictable no matter how many locations there are, as long as total headcount stays stable. The right model therefore depends less on the industry than on the company’s physical structure.
How Much Do Evolia and Homebase Cost for a Business With 8 Locations
For a chain of 8 locations with 12 employees each, or 96 employees in total, Homebase would charge 8 separate subscriptions on the Essentials plan, bringing the monthly bill to more than US$200 before even adding built-in payroll. Evolia, with its per-employee model, would charge about $336 for the 96 employees on the Essentials plan, no matter how many locations there are. The gap narrows or reverses depending on the number of employees per location, which makes the calculation essential before choosing. Managers can check their own scenario on the Evolia pricing page.
Canadian Labour Standards Compliance at Evolia and Homebase
Homebase is designed for the American market and does not document native rules by Canadian province for calculating overtime and premiums. Evolia applies these rules automatically based on the province where each employee works, which reflects, among others, the requirements set out by the CNESST’s overtime rules in Quebec. For a strictly Canadian business, this difference has a direct impact on the manual configuration time required at setup.
Payroll: Homebase Replaces Your System, Evolia Connects to It
Homebase offers a built-in payroll module as a paid add-on, designed to replace an American business’s existing payroll system. Evolia instead offers a customizable integration module that connects to the payroll system the business already uses, without requiring it to be replaced. For a Canadian organization happy with its current payroll provider, this approach avoids a full migration. For an American store looking to centralize everything in a single tool, Homebase’s approach can simplify operations.
Shift Scheduling at Evolia and Homebase
Both platforms offer scheduling with templates and recurring shifts, with photo verification at Homebase and GPS clock-in depending on the plan. Evolia adds automatic shift assignment based on each employee’s qualifications, which becomes relevant when roles require specific skills. Both solutions let employees request replacements and swap shifts directly from the mobile app.
When to Choose Evolia and When to Choose Homebase
Choose Evolia
- Canadian organization with several modest-sized locations
- Business that needs to apply overtime rules by province
- Organization that wants to keep its current payroll system
- Team whose roles require specific qualifications for shift assignment
Choose Homebase
- Single-location store or restaurant with a large staff
- American business that wants to centralize scheduling and payroll in a single tool
- Organization starting out with no software budget, thanks to the free plan
- Team that already uses a point-of-sale system compatible with Homebase
For other angles, see also Evolia vs Connecteam and Evolia vs When I Work.
Conclusion
Choosing between Evolia and Homebase depends mostly on the company’s physical structure and location. Homebase favours a single-location store with many employees, particularly in the United States. Evolia favours a multi-location Canadian organization that needs to follow precise provincial rules and keep its payroll system. To confirm which model fits your structure, book a demo with Evolia.
