Quick Overview
- 1#1: Homebase - Comprehensive employee scheduling, time tracking, and communication platform for hourly workforces.
- 2#2: Deputy - Workforce management software offering scheduling, time tracking, and labor compliance tools.
- 3#3: When I Work - Flexible employee scheduling and time tracking app with shift notifications and availability management.
- 4#4: Connecteam - All-in-one employee app combining scheduling, time clock, tasks, and communication features.
- 5#5: Sling - Free shift scheduling software with integrated time tracking and team messaging.
- 6#6: 7shifts - Restaurant-specific scheduling, time tracking, and labor management platform.
- 7#7: ZoomShift - Cloud-based employee scheduling and time tracking with GPS and PTO management.
- 8#8: Agendrix - Simple employee scheduling and time tracking tool with messaging and availability features.
- 9#9: Hubstaff - Time tracking, scheduling, and productivity monitoring software for remote and on-site teams.
- 10#10: Workforce.com - Integrated workforce management system for scheduling, time tracking, and compliance.
Tools were selected based on key metrics: robust functionality (scheduling flexibility, time tracking precision), user-centric design (ease of use, integration compatibility), and tangible value (cost, scalability), ensuring a curated list suited to both small and large organizations.
Comparison Table
Employee scheduling and time tracking software simplify managing team workflows, and comparing tools like Homebase, Deputy, When I Work, Connecteam, Sling, and more equips businesses to find the ideal solution. This table outlines key features, usability, and unique strengths to help readers make informed choices for optimizing workforce efficiency.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homebase Comprehensive employee scheduling, time tracking, and communication platform for hourly workforces. | enterprise | 9.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.7/10 |
| 2 | Deputy Workforce management software offering scheduling, time tracking, and labor compliance tools. | enterprise | 9.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 3 | When I Work Flexible employee scheduling and time tracking app with shift notifications and availability management. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 8.9/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 4 | Connecteam All-in-one employee app combining scheduling, time clock, tasks, and communication features. | enterprise | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.3/10 | 8.2/10 |
| 5 | Sling Free shift scheduling software with integrated time tracking and team messaging. | enterprise | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 6 | 7shifts Restaurant-specific scheduling, time tracking, and labor management platform. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.3/10 |
| 7 | ZoomShift Cloud-based employee scheduling and time tracking with GPS and PTO management. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 8 | Agendrix Simple employee scheduling and time tracking tool with messaging and availability features. | enterprise | 8.6/10 | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.7/10 |
| 9 | Hubstaff Time tracking, scheduling, and productivity monitoring software for remote and on-site teams. | enterprise | 8.1/10 | 8.6/10 | 7.9/10 | 7.5/10 |
| 10 | Workforce.com Integrated workforce management system for scheduling, time tracking, and compliance. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
Comprehensive employee scheduling, time tracking, and communication platform for hourly workforces.
Workforce management software offering scheduling, time tracking, and labor compliance tools.
Flexible employee scheduling and time tracking app with shift notifications and availability management.
All-in-one employee app combining scheduling, time clock, tasks, and communication features.
Free shift scheduling software with integrated time tracking and team messaging.
Restaurant-specific scheduling, time tracking, and labor management platform.
Cloud-based employee scheduling and time tracking with GPS and PTO management.
Simple employee scheduling and time tracking tool with messaging and availability features.
Time tracking, scheduling, and productivity monitoring software for remote and on-site teams.
Integrated workforce management system for scheduling, time tracking, and compliance.
Homebase
enterpriseComprehensive employee scheduling, time tracking, and communication platform for hourly workforces.
GPS-enabled mobile time clock with geofencing for precise, tamper-proof time tracking on the go.
Homebase is an all-in-one workforce management platform tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, specializing in employee scheduling and time tracking for hourly workers in industries like retail, restaurants, and hospitality. It offers drag-and-drop scheduling, shift trading, availability management, and mobile time clocks with GPS geofencing to ensure accurate clock-ins. The software also includes team communication, labor forecasting, hiring tools, and performance reports, streamlining frontline team operations.
Pros
- Intuitive mobile-first interface with drag-and-drop scheduling
- Reliable GPS time tracking to prevent buddy punching
- Generous free plan for small teams up to 20 employees
Cons
- Advanced reporting and forecasting limited to paid plans
- Fewer integrations than enterprise competitors
- Multi-location management requires higher tiers
Best For
Small businesses with hourly shift workers in retail, food service, or hospitality needing simple, affordable scheduling and time tracking.
Pricing
Free for one location up to 20 employees; Essentials at $29.99/month per location (billed annually), Premium at $59.99/month with advanced features.
Deputy
enterpriseWorkforce management software offering scheduling, time tracking, and labor compliance tools.
AI-driven Auto-Schedule that optimizes shifts based on forecasted demand, skills, and labor rules
Deputy is a robust workforce management platform specializing in employee scheduling and time tracking, designed for shift-based industries like retail, hospitality, and healthcare. It enables managers to create drag-and-drop schedules, automate shift assignments, and track hours via mobile clock-ins with geofencing and photo verification. The software also facilitates shift swaps, compliance alerts, and integrations with payroll systems for streamlined operations.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling with AI-powered auto-scheduling
- Accurate time tracking via mobile app with GPS geofencing and fatigue detection
- Strong mobile accessibility and real-time notifications for employees and managers
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams or premium features
- Steeper learning curve for advanced compliance and forecasting tools
- Limited free trial and some integrations require higher plans
Best For
Medium to large businesses in shift-heavy industries needing automated scheduling, precise time tracking, and labor compliance.
Pricing
Starts at $3.50/active user/month (Essential), $5/user/month (Plus), with Enterprise custom pricing; billed monthly or annually.
When I Work
enterpriseFlexible employee scheduling and time tracking app with shift notifications and availability management.
Employee-driven shift trading marketplace that allows workers to swap or drop shifts with manager approval via the app
When I Work is a cloud-based employee scheduling and time tracking platform tailored for hourly workforces in industries like retail, restaurants, and healthcare. Managers can build schedules using a drag-and-drop interface, forecast labor needs, and handle shift trades, while employees access everything via a mobile app for clocking in/out, requesting time off, and communicating. It integrates time tracking with geofencing, photo verification, and payroll systems for accurate attendance and compliance.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling and auto-scheduling tools
- Robust mobile app for employee self-service and real-time communication
- Accurate time tracking with GPS, geofencing, and photo verification
Cons
- Pricing scales per active user, getting costly for large teams
- Advanced reporting and forecasting locked behind higher tiers
- Limited customization for complex enterprise needs
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses with hourly shift workers in retail, hospitality, or healthcare seeking mobile-first scheduling and time tracking.
Pricing
Free for basic use (1 location); Essential at $2/active user/month, Professional $3.50, Elite $5; annual discounts and free trial available.
Connecteam
enterpriseAll-in-one employee app combining scheduling, time clock, tasks, and communication features.
GPS geofencing and time clock to ensure accurate, location-based time tracking and prevent time theft.
Connecteam is an all-in-one mobile-first platform tailored for deskless and frontline teams, offering comprehensive employee scheduling and time tracking capabilities. It features drag-and-drop scheduling, shift templates, availability management, and automated notifications to streamline workforce planning. Time tracking includes GPS-enabled clock-in/out, geofencing to prevent buddy punching, timesheets, and overtime alerts for accurate payroll compliance.
Pros
- Highly intuitive mobile app for employees and managers
- Integrated scheduling, time tracking, and communication tools
- Free plan available for small teams up to 10 users
Cons
- Advanced reporting and custom features require premium plans
- Pricing scales quickly for larger teams
- Web dashboard is functional but less polished than the mobile experience
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses with deskless or frontline workers needing seamless mobile scheduling and GPS time tracking.
Pricing
Free for up to 10 users; paid plans start at $29/month (Basic for 30 users), $49/month (Advanced), $99/month (Expert), billed annually with per-user scaling.
Sling
enterpriseFree shift scheduling software with integrated time tracking and team messaging.
Unlimited free scheduling and time tracking for any number of employees and locations
Sling is a mobile-first employee scheduling and time tracking platform designed for shift-based businesses, enabling managers to create drag-and-drop schedules, track shift availability, and facilitate trades or swaps. It includes a GPS-enabled time clock for accurate clock-ins/outs, labor cost forecasting, and team messaging to streamline operations. With real-time updates and mobile accessibility, it's particularly suited for restaurants, retail, and hospitality managing hourly workers.
Pros
- Generous free plan supporting unlimited employees and locations
- Intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling with mobile app
- Robust time tracking with GPS geofencing and break management
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations (e.g., no QuickBooks sync on free plan)
- Basic reporting and analytics without premium upgrade
- Some advanced features like overtime alerts require paid plans
Best For
Small to medium shift-based businesses like restaurants and retail needing a cost-effective, easy-to-use tool for scheduling and time tracking.
Pricing
Free forever plan for core features; Premium starts at $2/user/month, Standard at $4/user/month (billed annually).
7shifts
specializedRestaurant-specific scheduling, time tracking, and labor management platform.
AI-powered AutoSchedule that uses real-time POS sales data to optimize staffing and minimize labor costs
7shifts is a workforce management platform tailored for restaurants, offering drag-and-drop scheduling, real-time time tracking, and labor cost optimization tools. It integrates with over 100 POS systems to forecast labor needs based on actual sales data, enables shift trading among employees, and provides communication features like team chat and announcements. The software helps managers reduce overtime, handle time-off requests, and gain insights into employee performance to streamline restaurant operations.
Pros
- Deep POS integrations for sales-driven scheduling and forecasting
- Intuitive mobile app for employees to clock in/out and manage shifts
- Comprehensive labor cost controls and overtime alerts
Cons
- Primarily designed for restaurants, less ideal for other industries
- Pricing scales up quickly for multi-location businesses
- Advanced AI features locked behind higher-tier plans
Best For
Restaurant managers and multi-location chains seeking integrated scheduling, time tracking, and labor forecasting tied to POS sales data.
Pricing
Starts at $29.99/location/month (Essentials), $43.99 (Pro), $59.99 (Elite), with custom Enterprise pricing; billed annually.
ZoomShift
enterpriseCloud-based employee scheduling and time tracking with GPS and PTO management.
Employee shift trading marketplace for seamless peer-to-peer shift swaps without manager intervention
ZoomShift is a cloud-based employee scheduling and time tracking software tailored for small to medium-sized businesses with hourly workers, particularly in retail, hospitality, and services. It enables managers to create drag-and-drop schedules, track time via a mobile app with geofencing, and manage shift swaps through an employee marketplace. The platform offers labor costing, payroll integrations, and communication tools to optimize workforce management and reduce administrative overhead.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling interface
- Mobile-first time tracking with GPS verification
- Affordable pricing with strong value for hourly workforces
Cons
- Basic reporting and analytics lacking depth
- Limited integrations compared to enterprise tools
- No desktop time clock option
Best For
Small to medium businesses in retail, restaurants, or field services needing simple, mobile-friendly scheduling and time tracking for hourly employees.
Pricing
Starts at $1.75 per active user/month (billed annually) for Basic plan; Pro at $2.50 and Elite at $3.25, with a 10-user minimum.
Agendrix
enterpriseSimple employee scheduling and time tracking tool with messaging and availability features.
Real-time availability-based auto-scheduling that matches shifts to employee preferences automatically
Agendrix is an employee scheduling and time tracking software that simplifies shift planning, time clock management, and workforce communication for businesses. It features a drag-and-drop scheduler, mobile time tracking with geofencing, shift trading, and availability-based auto-scheduling. The platform also supports time-off requests, messaging, and overtime alerts to optimize operations.
Pros
- Intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling interface
- Strong mobile app for clock-ins and shift swaps
- Automated notifications and availability matching
Cons
- Limited advanced analytics and reporting
- Fewer integrations compared to enterprise competitors
- No native payroll processing
Best For
Small to medium-sized businesses with hourly or shift workers needing straightforward scheduling and time tracking.
Pricing
Free for up to 10 employees; Pro plan at $2.95/user/month (annual), Advanced at $4.95/user/month (annual).
Hubstaff
enterpriseTime tracking, scheduling, and productivity monitoring software for remote and on-site teams.
Automated screenshots and activity rate tracking for visual proof of work
Hubstaff is a robust employee monitoring and time tracking platform with integrated scheduling tools designed for remote, hybrid, and field teams. It tracks time via desktop, web, and mobile apps, captures automated screenshots, monitors keystroke/mouse activity, and enables GPS location for fieldwork. The scheduling feature allows shift creation, assignment, and notifications, while payroll integrations streamline invoicing and payments.
Pros
- Precise time tracking with screenshots, activity levels, and GPS for accountability
- Effective scheduling for shifts and teams with reminders and approvals
- Strong integrations with payroll, QuickBooks, and project tools like Asana
Cons
- Monitoring features like screenshots raise privacy concerns for some teams
- Pricing can become expensive for larger teams or advanced plans
- Steeper learning curve for customizing reports and alerts
Best For
Remote or distributed teams needing strong monitoring and basic scheduling to ensure productivity and compliance.
Pricing
Free for 1 user; paid plans from $7/user/month (Starter, annual billing) to $20+/user/month (Enterprise) with features scaling by monitoring depth.
Workforce.com
enterpriseIntegrated workforce management system for scheduling, time tracking, and compliance.
AI Demand Forecasting that uses historical data, sales trends, and external factors to predict optimal staffing levels.
Workforce.com is a robust workforce management platform tailored for hourly and shift-based workforces in industries like retail, hospitality, and healthcare. It provides drag-and-drop scheduling, real-time time tracking with geofencing, and automated compliance for breaks and overtime. The software integrates AI-driven demand forecasting and auto-scheduling to optimize labor costs and staffing efficiency.
Pros
- AI-powered demand forecasting and auto-scheduling
- Accurate geofenced time clock with photo verification
- Strong integrations with payroll systems like Gusto and QuickBooks
Cons
- Pricing can be steep for very small teams
- Steeper learning curve for advanced compliance features
- Mobile app occasionally experiences sync delays
Best For
Medium to large businesses with hourly shift workers needing automated scheduling and compliance tools.
Pricing
Starts at about $3 per active user/month (Basic plan), scaling to $5+ for advanced tiers; custom enterprise pricing available.
Conclusion
After examining 10 leading employee scheduling and time tracking tools, Homebase emerges as the top choice, offering a comprehensive platform for hourly workforces. Deputy and When I Work follow closely, each bringing unique strengths—Deputy's strong compliance tools and When I Work's flexible shift management—making them excellent alternatives for specific needs. Ultimately, while the right tool depends on individual workflows, Homebase stands apart as the most well-rounded option.
Take the first step in streamlining your team's operations: explore Homebase today to experience its intuitive scheduling, time tracking, and communication features firsthand.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison