Quick takeaway
Research-backed reviews of employee scheduling tools: compare editor ratings, real pricing and features to find the right fit for your team.
Employee Scheduling Software
Best Employee Scheduling Software
Independently reviewed
Updated
Research-backed reviews of employee scheduling tools: compare editor ratings, real pricing and features to find the right fit for your team.
9 Best Employee Scheduling Software at a Glance
#3
Connecteam
45
Needs work
Free+PaidFrom $29
Deskless and frontline teams - construction, cleaning
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Connecteam
45
Needs work
Free+PaidFrom $29
Deskless and frontline teams - construction, cleaning
Visit
#5
7shifts
46
Needs work
Free+PaidFrom $39.99/location/mo
Independent restaurants and small hospitality groups, Multi-location restaurant operators needing labor compliance and forecasting
Visit
7shifts
46
Needs work
Free+PaidFrom $39.99/location/mo
Independent restaurants and small hospitality groups, Multi-location restaurant operators needing labor compliance and forecasting
Visit
Best Employee Scheduling Software by use case
9 Best Employee Scheduling Software Tools in 2026 — Full Reviews
47
Overview
What is When I Work?
All-in-one employee scheduling, time tracking and team messaging for hourly teams When I Work is a workforce management app built specifically for hourly, shift-based teams.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
When I Work earns its rating by doing the hourly-team essentials exceptionally well rather than trying to be everything. Scheduling, time tracking and team messaging live in one mobile-first app that employees adopt without training, the pricing is transparent and affordable for small businesses, and the 14-day full-access trial makes evaluation risk-free. That focus shows in details like GPS clock-in, shift-swap workflows and labor sharing between locations.
Audience
Best for
- Restaurants
- cafes
- bars
- Retail shops and franchises
- Healthcare providers and clinics
- Multi-location service businesses
- Any hourly
- shift-based team of 5 to 500
Plans
Pricing
Paid SubscriptionFrom $2.5014-day trial
Summary
Final verdict
When I Work earns its rating by doing the hourly-team essentials exceptionally well rather than trying to be everything. Scheduling, time tracking and team messaging live in one mobile-first app that employees adopt without training, the pricing is transparent and affordable for small businesses, and the 14-day full-access trial makes evaluation risk-free.
47
Overview
What is Deputy?
AI-powered employee scheduling, HR and payroll software for shift-based teams Deputy is a workforce management platform built around shift work: employee scheduling, time and attendance, leave management, team communication, and connections into payroll, with an AI layer (Deputy AI) bundled into every plan.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
Deputy earns its rating on feature depth and maturity. Scheduling, time clocking, leave, compliance and team messaging live in one platform, Auto-Scheduling and demand forecasting go beyond basic rostering, and Deputy AI is included on every plan rather than gated behind an enterprise tier. Pricing is published and starts at $5 per user per month, the trial runs up to 31 days without a credit card, and payroll/HR integrations plus a public API make it fit into existing stacks. It is used by more than 320,000 workplaces internationally.
Audience
Best for
- Hospitality businesses - restaurants
- cafes
- pubs
- hotels
- Retail stores and multi-location chains
- Healthcare and aged-care providers with rotating rosters
- Growing hourly workforces that need compliance and labor-cost controls
- Managers who want AI-assisted scheduling and demand forecasting
Plans
Pricing
Paid SubscriptionFrom $531-day trial
Summary
Final verdict
Deputy earns its rating on feature depth and maturity. Scheduling, time clocking, leave, compliance and team messaging live in one platform, Auto-Scheduling and demand forecasting go beyond basic rostering, and Deputy AI is included on every plan rather than gated behind an enterprise tier.
45
Overview
What is Connecteam?
Scheduling, time tracking, communication and HR in one app for deskless teams Connecteam is an employee management app built for deskless and frontline teams – the construction crews, cleaners, security guards, retail staff and healthcare workers who do not sit at a desk with a company laptop.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
Connecteam earns its rating for packing scheduling, time tracking, communication and genuine HR tooling into one mobile-first app aimed squarely at deskless teams. The free-forever Small Business Plan for up to 10 users stands out for very small teams, flat per-hub pricing stays affordable as teams grow past 30 users, GPS time clock and geofencing cover field accountability, and the 14-day no-card trial makes evaluation simple.
Audience
Best for
- Deskless and frontline teams - construction
- cleaning
- security
- field services
- Restaurants
- retail and hospitality businesses
- Small businesses under 10 employees wanting a full-featured free plan
- Managers who want scheduling
- communication and HR in one app
- Multi-site teams needing GPS time clock and geofencing
Plans
Pricing
Free planPaid from $2914-day trial
Summary
Final verdict
Connecteam earns its rating for packing scheduling, time tracking, communication and genuine HR tooling into one mobile-first app aimed squarely at deskless teams. The free-forever Small Business Plan for up to 10 users stands out for very small teams, flat per-hub pricing stays affordable as teams grow past 30 users, GPS time clock and geofencing cover field accountability, and the 14-day no-card trial makes evaluation simple.
#4
Homebase
All-in-one employee scheduling, time clocks, payroll and HR for small business hourly teams.
46
Overview
What is Homebase?
All-in-one employee scheduling, time clocks, payroll and HR for small business hourly teams. Homebase is a team management app built for the hourly workforce of small businesses: it combines employee scheduling, a time clock, hiring, team messaging and an optional payroll add-on in one mobile-first product.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
Homebase earns its rating by covering the full hourly-team workflow - scheduling, time clock, hiring, messaging and optional payroll - with a genuinely free plan for single locations and transparent per-location pricing above it. The mobile-first design is built for employees who do not sit at desks, and the POS and payroll integrations match the systems small businesses already run.
Audience
Best for
- Restaurants
- cafes
- bars and hospitality venues
- Retail shops and boutiques
- Health
- beauty and wellness businesses
- Single-location small businesses wanting a free scheduling plan
- Hourly teams that want scheduling
- time clock and payroll in one app
Plans
Pricing
Free planPaid from $30/location/mo14-day trial
Summary
Final verdict
Homebase earns its rating by covering the full hourly-team workflow - scheduling, time clock, hiring, messaging and optional payroll - with a genuinely free plan for single locations and transparent per-location pricing above it. The mobile-first design is built for employees who do not sit at desks, and the POS and payroll integrations match the systems small businesses already run.
#5
7shifts
Restaurant employee scheduling, time clocking, payroll and team messaging in one platform.
46
Overview
What is 7shifts?
Restaurant employee scheduling, time clocking, payroll and team messaging in one platform. 7shifts is an employee scheduling and payroll platform built specifically for restaurants.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
7shifts earns its rating as the restaurant specialist of employee scheduling: scheduling, time clock, messaging, tip management and payroll in one platform, with deep POS integrations and a free plan for single-location teams. Per-location pricing and the restaurant-only focus are the trade-offs.
Audience
Best for
- Independent restaurants and small hospitality groups
- Multi-location restaurant operators needing labor compliance and forecasting
- Operators wanting scheduling
- tips and payroll in one system
- Restaurants already on Toast
- Square
- Clover or Lightspeed POS
Plans
Pricing
Free planPaid from $39.99/location/mo14-day trial
Summary
Final verdict
7shifts earns its rating as the restaurant specialist of employee scheduling: scheduling, time clock, messaging, tip management and payroll in one platform, with deep POS integrations and a free plan for single-location teams. Per-location pricing and the restaurant-only focus are the trade-offs.
50
Overview
What is Planday?
Shift scheduling, time tracking and payroll-ready workforce management for hourly teams Planday is an employee scheduling and workforce management platform built for shift-based teams.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
Planday earns its rating as the scheduling pick for shift-based teams in or near the Xero ecosystem: deep rota, time-tracking and payroll-reporting features at a genuinely low per-user price, backed by polished iOS and Android apps. The minimum user counts are the main watch-out.
Audience
Best for
- Restaurants
- hotels
- care homes and retail teams of 10+ staff who live by the weekly rota
- Businesses already running Xero accounting or payroll
- Managers who need punch-clock time tracking tied to payroll reporting
- Multi-site operators wanting revenue-versus-wage forecasting
Capabilities
Key features
Shift scheduling
Drag-and-drop schedule builder with templates, copy-week workflows and shift swapping.
Time tracking
GPS-located punch clock and timesheets, with working-time rules and compliance warnings.
Leave and absence management
Staff request leave in-app and balances are tracked alongside the rota (Plus plan).
Payroll reporting and integrations
Payroll-ready reporting with integrations, plus API access on the Plus plan.
Revenue forecasting
A revenue-forecast view weighs staffing costs against expected takings before publishing a week.
Pros
- Entry plan at $2.99 per user per month with a 30-day free trial (official pricing page)
- Polished iOS and Android apps for staff self-service
- Scheduling, time tracking and payroll reporting in one tool
- Part of the Xero group, acquired in 2021 (official site)
Cons
- Starter requires a minimum of 5 users; Plus requires a minimum of 10 users plus a $15 monthly subscription fee (official pricing page)
- Leave management, payroll integrations and API access require the Plus plan (official pricing page feature lists)
Plans
Pricing
Paid Subscription$2.99/user/mo30-day trial
Starter
$2.99/user /mo
Plus
$4.49/user /mo
Pro
Summary
Final verdict
Planday earns its rating as the scheduling pick for shift-based teams in or near the Xero ecosystem: deep rota, time-tracking and payroll-reporting features at a genuinely low per-user price, backed by polished iOS and Android apps. The minimum user counts are the main watch-out.
#7
Agendrix
Canadian employee scheduling and HR software with shift planning, time tracking and team communication
49
Overview
What is Agendrix?
Canadian employee scheduling and HR software with shift planning, time tracking and team communication Agendrix is an employee scheduling and HR software platform made in Canada and used by more than 14,000 workplaces, according to the company’s official about page.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
Agendrix earns its rating as a scheduling-first pick for shift-based teams: drag-and-drop schedules, open shifts and availability, timesheets and time clock, time-off management, onboarding and team messaging in one product. It is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, GDPR compliant, bilingual (English and French) and starts at $2.93 per user per month billed annually with a 21-day no-card trial.
Audience
Best for
- Restaurants
- retail and hospitality teams building weekly shift schedules
- Clinics
- pharmacies and care providers coordinating rotating staff
- Canadian SMBs wanting scheduling
- time tracking and core HR in one bilingual tool
- Managers who want time-off requests and team messaging in the same app
Capabilities
Key features
Shift scheduling
Drag-and-drop schedule builder with open shifts, swap requests and staff availability collection.
Time clock and timesheets (paid add-on)
Employees clock in from mobile apps or a shared kiosk app; approved hours flow into timesheets for payroll.
Request management
Time-off and other staff requests are submitted in-app and approved with balances tracked.
Team communication
Built-in messaging keeps schedule updates, announcements and shift notes in one place.
HR management and onboarding
Employee records, digital onboarding and permission customization on the Plus plan.
Pros
- Made in Canada, used by more than 14,000 workplaces
- Entry plan from US$2.93 per user per month billed annually, with up to 21 days of free trial and no credit card required
- Scheduling, requests, messaging and core HR in one tool, with time tracking available as a paid add-on
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified
Cons
- Time and attendance tracking is priced separately at US$2.25 per user per month as an add-on
- HR management, surveys and permission customization require the Plus plan
Plans
Pricing
Paid Subscription$2.93/user/mo annual21-day trial
Essential
$3.25/user /mo
$2.93/user/month billed annually
Plus
$5.25/user /mo
$4.73/user/month billed annually
Enterprise
Summary
Final verdict
Agendrix earns its rating as a scheduling-first pick for shift-based teams: drag-and-drop schedules, open shifts and availability, timesheets and time clock, time-off management, onboarding and team messaging in one product. It is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified, GDPR compliant, bilingual (English and French) and starts at $2.
43
Overview
What is Sling?
Free employee scheduling, time clock and team messaging for hourly teams, by Toast. Sling, now Sling by Toast, is an employee scheduling and team communication app that has staked its position on price: core shift scheduling is free for up to 30 users, and paid plans start lower than almost any competitor in this category.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
Sling earns its rating as the value leader in employee scheduling: a free plan that covers real scheduling and team messaging for up to 30 users, paid plans from $1.70 per user per month, and a clean mobile experience. The Toast backing adds restaurant-grade POS integrations and long-term stability.
Audience
Best for
- Restaurants
- cafes and hospitality venues
- especially Toast customers
- Small hourly businesses wanting a free scheduling plan for up to 30 users
- Teams that need scheduling plus built-in team messaging
- Budget-conscious operators comparing per-user costs
Plans
Pricing
Free planPaid from $1.70/user/mo15-day trial
Summary
Final verdict
Sling earns its rating as the value leader in employee scheduling: a free plan that covers real scheduling and team messaging for up to 30 users, paid plans from $1.
40
Overview
What is ZoomShift?
Work schedule maker and time clock for hourly teams, free for up to 20 employees. ZoomShift is a work schedule maker and time clock aimed squarely at hourly teams, and its pitch is simplicity at the lowest price in this category: a free plan that covers up to 20 employees, with paid plans from $2 per active team member per month.
Editorial
Why we recommend it
ZoomShift earns its rating as the simplest low-cost scheduler for hourly teams: a real free plan for 20 employees, paid plans from $2 per active member per month, and a clean scheduling plus time-clock core. The trade-offs are a thin integration list, no native payroll and limited company transparency.
Audience
Best for
- Small businesses that need free scheduling for up to 20 employees
- Restaurants and retail shops wanting simple scheduling plus time clock
- Seasonal businesses that pause subscriptions in off months
- Budget-conscious teams comparing per-user costs
Plans
Pricing
Free planPaid from $2/user/mo14-day trial
Summary
Final verdict
ZoomShift earns its rating as the simplest low-cost scheduler for hourly teams: a real free plan for 20 employees, paid plans from $2 per active member per month, and a clean scheduling plus time-clock core. The trade-offs are a thin integration list, no native payroll and limited company transparency.
Our ranking methodology
Transparent criteria and editorial standards behind every score in this guide.
How we ranked these apps
We evaluate each app on features, ease of use, value for money, integrations, and real user feedback. Apps are ranked by overall editor score within this category, with manual adjustments when hands-on testing reveals a clear winner.
What we looked for
- Features and core capabilities
- Ease of use and onboarding
- Pricing and value for money
- Integrations and ecosystem
- User reviews and editor rating
Compare top Employee Scheduling Software apps
| Feature | When I Work | Deputy | Connecteam | Homebase | 7shifts | Planday | Agendrix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Editor rating | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Pricing | Paid Subscription | Paid Subscription | Free+Paid | Free+Paid | Free+Paid | Paid Subscription | Paid Subscription |
| Starting price | From $2.50 | From $5 | From $29 | From $30/location/mo | From $39.99/location/mo | $2.99/user/mo | $2.93/user/mo annual |
| Free plan | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Free trial | Yes (14 days) | Yes (31 days) | Yes (14 days) | Yes (14 days) | Yes (14 days) | Yes (30 days) | Yes (21 days) |
| Platforms | Web app, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android | Web app, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android | Web app, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android | Web app, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android | Web app, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android | Web app, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android | Web app, iOS (iPhone & iPad), Android |
Employee Scheduling Software FAQ
Quick answers about the best Employee Scheduling Software software.
What is the best Employee Scheduling Software app in 2026?
Our editors rank When I Work #1 for most teams in Employee Scheduling Software based on features, value, and user feedback. See the full ranked list above for alternatives.
Are there free Employee Scheduling Software tools?
Yes — many Employee Scheduling Software apps offer free plans or trials. Use the pricing filter in our directory to browse free and freemium options.
How do we rank Employee Scheduling Software software?
We evaluate each app on features, ease of use, value for money, integrations, and real user feedback. Apps are ranked by overall editor score within this category, with manual adjustments when hands-on testing reveals a clear winner.
#4 All-in-one employee scheduling, time clocks, payroll and HR for small business hourly teams. Homebase is a team management app built for the hourly workforce of small businesses: it combines employee scheduling, a time clock, hiring, team messaging and an optional…
PricingFree planPaid from $30/location/mo14-day trialBest forRestaurants cafes bars and hospitality venuesAppsInsight Score Needs work46#1 All-in-one employee scheduling, time tracking and team messaging for hourly teams When I Work is a workforce management app built specifically for hourly, shift-based teams.
PricingPaid SubscriptionFrom $2.5014-day trialBest forRestaurants cafes barsAppsInsight Score Needs work47#2 AI-powered employee scheduling, HR and payroll software for shift-based teams Deputy is a workforce management platform built around shift work: employee scheduling, time and attendance, leave management, team communication, and connections into payroll, with an AI layer (Deputy AI) bundled…
PricingPaid SubscriptionFrom $531-day trialBest forHospitality businesses - restaurants cafes pubsAppsInsight Score Needs work47#5 Restaurant employee scheduling, time clocking, payroll and team messaging in one platform. 7shifts is an employee scheduling and payroll platform built specifically for restaurants.
PricingFree planPaid from $39.99/location/mo14-day trialBest forIndependent restaurants and small hospitality groups Multi-location restaurant operators needing labor compliance and forecasting Operators wanting schedulingAppsInsight Score Needs work46#6 Shift scheduling, time tracking and payroll-ready workforce management for hourly teams Planday is an employee scheduling and workforce management platform built for shift-based teams.
PricingPaid Subscription$2.99/user/mo30-day trialBest forRestaurants hotels care homes and retail teams of 10+ staff who live by the weekly rotaAppsInsight Score Average50#7 Canadian employee scheduling and HR software with shift planning, time tracking and team communication Agendrix is an employee scheduling and HR software platform made in Canada and used by more than 14,000 workplaces, according to the company’s official about page.
PricingPaid Subscription$2.93/user/mo annual21-day trialBest forRestaurants retail and hospitality teams building weekly shift schedules ClinicsAppsInsight Score Needs work49#3 Scheduling, time tracking, communication and HR in one app for deskless teams Connecteam is an employee management app built for deskless and frontline teams – the construction crews, cleaners, security guards, retail staff and healthcare workers who do not sit…
PricingFree planPaid from $2914-day trialBest forDeskless and frontline teams - construction cleaning securityAppsInsight Score Needs work45#8 Free employee scheduling, time clock and team messaging for hourly teams, by Toast. Sling, now Sling by Toast, is an employee scheduling and team communication app that has staked its position on price: core shift scheduling is free for up…
PricingFree planPaid from $1.70/user/mo15-day trialBest forRestaurants cafes and hospitality venues especially Toast customersAppsInsight Score Needs work43#9 Work schedule maker and time clock for hourly teams, free for up to 20 employees. ZoomShift is a work schedule maker and time clock aimed squarely at hourly teams, and its pitch is simplicity at the lowest price in this…
PricingFree planPaid from $2/user/mo14-day trialBest forSmall businesses that need free scheduling for up to 20 employees Restaurants and retail shops wanting simple scheduling plus time clock Seasonal businesses that pause subscriptions in off monthsAppsInsight Score Needs work40
Our winners
Popular Employee Scheduling Software comparisons
Recently added
Agendrix
Canadian employee scheduling and HR software with shift planning, time tracking and team communication
Paid Subscription$2.93/user/mo annual21-day trial
- Web app
- iOS (iPhone & iPad)
- Android
Planday
Shift scheduling, time tracking and payroll-ready workforce management for hourly teams
Paid Subscription$2.99/user/mo30-day trial
- Web app
- iOS (iPhone & iPad)
- Android
ZoomShift
Work schedule maker and time clock for hourly teams, free for up to 20 employees.
Free planPaid from $2/user/mo14-day trial
- Web app
- iOS (iPhone & iPad)
- Android
7shifts
Restaurant employee scheduling, time clocking, payroll and team messaging in one platform.
Free planPaid from $39.99/location/mo14-day trial
- Web app
- iOS (iPhone & iPad)
- Android