Discover the Top 5 Best Employee Scheduling Software solutions in Australia to streamline workforce management, enhance efficiency, and improve team coordination.
Employee scheduling software is crucial for businesses looking to optimize workforce management, prevent scheduling conflicts, and ensure compliance with Australian labor laws. Without the right rostering software, creating schedules, handling shift swaps, and tracking employee availability can become a time-consuming headache.
To help you find the best option for your needs, I’ve compared the top 5 employee scheduling solutions in Australia.
If you don’t have the time to read through our research, jump down to our quick comparison table.
Our Top Picks
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Best all-in-one employee scheduling software in Australia
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Good for ease of use
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Good for cost tracking
Why trust us?
Our team of unbiased software reviewers follows strict editorial guidelines, and our methodology is clear and open to everyone.
See our complete methodology
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Tools considered
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Tools reviewed
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Best tools chosen
How I Chose the Best Scheduling Software for Australia
Here are the key factors I considered when evaluating each solution:
Must-have features
- Intuitive scheduling system: Whether manual or automatic, the scheduling interface should be simple and efficient, enabling managers to create and adjust shifts effortlessly.
- Conflict detection and error alerts: The system should automatically flag overlapping shifts, double bookings, and non-compliant schedules, helping managers to reduce errors and correct mistakes before finalizing shifts.
- Compliance: Ideally, it should include comprehensive award interpretation capabilities to ensure compliance with Australian Modern Awards and Enterprise Agreements—automatically calculating the correct pay rates, penalties, overtime, and entitlements to ensure payroll accuracy.
- Instant notifications & updates: Employees should receive real-time alerts for new schedules, shift changes, and approvals, ensuring seamless communication.
- Leave and absence tracking: An integrated leave management system should allow employees to input availability and preferences and request time off. Managers should be able to view real-time availability and preferences when building schedules.
- Employee self-management tools: The best scheduling software should empower employees with features like shift swapping and real-time availability updates.
I also made sure the software is:
- Scalable & affordable: A great scheduling tool should cater to businesses of all sizes without excessive costs.
- Easy to use: The platform should be user-friendly for both managers and employees, minimizing the learning curve and allowing quick adoption.
- Accessible on mobile: A well-designed mobile app is essential for remote and on-the-go workers to check schedules, request changes, and update availability effortlessly.
Finally, I checked for features that make employee scheduling even more effective:
- GPS-enabled time tracking: Businesses with mobile or field teams benefit from GPS-based time tracking, ensuring accurate attendance records and compliance with labor regulations.
- Integrations: The best tools sync directly with payroll and HR software, ensuring accurate wage calculations and reducing administrative workload.
- Shift attachments: A great scheduling tool should let you attach important documents or task instructions directly to shifts.
The 5 Best Employee Scheduling Software in Australias of 2025
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Connecteam — Best all-in-one employee scheduling software in Australia
Key Features
Drag-and-drop scheduler
Auto-scheduling
Conflict alerts
Shift reminders
Forms, templates and checklists for shift management
Compliance tools
Pros
1-click scheduling
Customizable notifications
Ability to schedule tasks, breaks, and more
Great value for money
Cons
Needs Wi-Fi access to work
Connecteam is an all-in-one employee scheduling software with time tracking, employee rostering, and communication features.
Why I chose Connecteam: Its intuitive shift scheduling software, full-featured mobile app, and seamless time tracking are ideal for Australian businesses with remote or deskless teams. Plus, its free plan is perfect for small businesses.
Let’s take a closer look at some key features:
Effortless scheduling with smart automation
I like that Connecteam makes scheduling effortless with its drag-and-drop interface and smart automation. Employees can set their availability and shift preferences directly in the app, so managers can align schedules with workforce needs.
You can quickly build schedules from scratch with the employee scheduler or save time and reduce administrative burden by using templates, duplicating past schedules, or letting the auto-scheduler assign shifts based on employee availability, preferences, and qualifications. You can also recur and rotate shifts.
I love how easy it is to create shifts—just hover over the calendar grid, click the plus (+) sign, and enter the details or apply a template.
The platform also reduces errors with automatic conflict detection—detecting double-bookings, workers who aren’t qualified for the shifts they’re assigned to, and more.
Plus, it allows employees to trade shifts, claim open shifts, and update their availability. They can also request time off using the integrated time off app.
Easy shift swaps without manager overload
Unexpected changes happen, but with Connecteam, employees don’t have to rely on managers to find shift replacements. Instead, they can swap shifts with eligible teammates in just a few taps.
I appreciate that the system only allows swaps between employees with the right skills, ensuring smooth operations. If you prefer oversight, managers can approve or deny swaps before they’re finalized, keeping everything fair and organized.
Automatic notifications keep everyone in sync
Managers don’t waste time sending reminders—Connecteam automates shift notifications. When schedules are published, changed, or updated, employees receive instant alerts.
Even better, managers get notified when an employee accepts a shift swap, ensuring they’re never left scrambling to find coverage.
Task assignments, checklists, and digital forms
A shift isn’t just about showing up—it’s about getting things done. Connecteam helps managers attach tasks to shifts, ensuring employees know exactly what’s expected of them.
I love that you can also attach custom checklists and other digital forms. Whether it’s a pre-shift equipment inspection or a safety compliance form, everything can be completed and submitted through the app. With customizable templates, reminders, and real-time tracking, it’s far more efficient than paperwork.
Compliance features
Staying compliant with Australia’s break and overtime laws is a challenge, but Connecteam makes it easy. You can automatically schedule mandatory breaks and set up custom overtime pay rules (like holiday pay) to match local labor laws.
The system will also alert you if you’re scheduling an employee for overtime. This helps you stay ahead of labor costs and avoid compliance issues before they arise.
There’s also an employee time clock that enables employees to clock in and out directly from their devices and tracks breaks, overtime, and shift duration, ensuring accurate pay calculations. You can use this feature for calculating broken shift allowances, too.
There’s more…
Connecteam offers many more features to help you manage your staff.
For instance, the time clock doubles as a real-time GPS tracker, so you can track employee locations at clock-ins and clock-outs—ensuring they’re in the right places during their scheduled hours. More advanced GPS features let you track employee locations throughout their shifts and prevent them from tracking time outside designated GPS boundaries.
Connecteam also compiles time data into timesheets and exports these directly to payroll providers like QuickBooks, Gusto, Paychex, and Xero.
There’s also a dedicated online team chat. You can message individuals or entire teams, send voice notes, share files, and keep all communication work-related. This is great for relaying shift-related info.
Get started with Connecteam for free now!
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Try Connecteam here!
Pricing
Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Start your free trial -
ShiftCare — Good for ease of use
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduling
- Mobile app
- Compliance tracking
- Recurring shift scheduling
Pros
- Easy-to-use schedule editor
- Automated attendance tracking
Cons
- Only for businesses in the care sector
- Pricing may be prohibitive for smaller businesses with basic scheduling needs
ShiftCare is an Australian software platform that streamlines staff operations for the healthcare industry.
Why I chose ShiftCare: Its user-friendly drag-and-drop scheduling, mobile access for both managers and employees, and built-in compliance features make ShiftCare an excellent choice for businesses, specifically in the care sector, that need to manage complex schedules and adhere to regulatory requirements.
Let’s discuss some of ShiftCare’s core features:
Drag-and-drop scheduling
ShiftCare makes scheduling shifts easy with its intuitive drag-and-drop feature. I found it straightforward to quickly assign staff based on their availability, skills, and client needs.
The ability to set up recurring shifts also saves time for businesses with regular staff schedules.
However, the platform lacks auto-scheduling and may require more manual adjustments for larger teams or more complex scheduling needs. I was also surprised that the platform doesn’t allow for employee shift swaps, which may add additional administrative burden to employees and managers.
Mobile access for managers & employees
The ShiftCare mobile app allows both employees and managers to access schedules on the go.
Employees can check their shifts, update their availability, and track attendance, making it an excellent option for businesses that need flexibility.
However, while employees can view schedules on the go, I find it frustrating that managers can’t schedule shifts directly on the app.
Compliance tools
For businesses in the care industry, ShiftCare offers built-in compliance tools specifically designed for scheduling, such as automated shift management, staff certifications tracking, and reminders for document renewals. These features help ensure that shifts are scheduled according to The Privacy Act 1988 and regulatory requirements—and that all staff members are qualified and compliant with necessary certifications.
I was disappointed that the platform didn’t offer more customizable reporting options to meet specific business needs, as it might not suffice for businesses that need more granular data. Also, while it has time-tracking capabilities, it lacks overtime alerts and the ability to auto-prevent overtime clock-ins, which may make overtime tracking trickier for managers.
What users say about ShiftCare
Shiftcare was by far, the best decision we made. It not only cut my costs to a fraction of the last company but the customer service is amazing and the software is seamless.
When using on a volume scale, it becomes costly quickly. I’d also love to see a chat function integrated dow the track, to allow staff to communicate in team chats about clients etc.
Pricing
Starts at $8.00/user/month Trial: Yes — 7-day Free Plan: No
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Deputy — Good for cost tracking
Key Features
- Auto-scheduler
- Drag-and-drop scheduling
- Rule-setting
- Shift swaps
Pros
- AI-powered scheduling
- Accurate labor cost tracking
Cons
- No free plan
- No offline mode
Deputy is a powerful workforce management tool that can help businesses in Australia optimize staff scheduling and labor costs.
Why I Chose Deputy: I chose Deputy for its AI-powered auto-scheduling, compliance tracking, and demand forecasting, which ensures businesses have the right staff at the right time.
Here are some key features worth highlighting.
Scheduling
I’m impressed by Deputy’s AI-powered auto-scheduler, which creates optimized rosters based on staff availability, qualifications, and demand. However, I did notice that the initial setup can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the system.
The drag-and-drop scheduling tool is intuitive, and I like that you can manually assign shifts or leave them open for employees to claim, either with or without approval. Deputy also makes it easy to check team members’ availability, taking into account any approved leave, which helps avoid scheduling conflicts—this is something I really appreciate.
Another great aspect is the integration of employees’ certifications and qualifications into the scheduling process. This ensures you won’t accidentally assign someone to a shift they’re not qualified for.
Deputy’s ability to set rules for shift lengths, breaks, and overtime is also great for staying compliant with labor laws, keeping costs in check, and providing your team with the necessary downtime.
However, I found that the mobile app’s layout can feel a bit cluttered, and I struggled to navigate it easily. Plus, the tool doesn’t warn you if you’re scheduling someone who’s requested leave but hasn’t had it approved yet.
Labor cost management
Deputy provides real-time insights into wage costs, helping businesses stay within budget. It flags potential overtime while users are building schedules and helps ensure compliance with Australian labor laws.
Businesses can also set custom pay rates, including penalty rates and allowances, for accurate payroll calculations.
Time tracking and compliance
With Deputy’s time clock, employees can clock in and out via the app. The system automatically tracks breaks, shift durations, and overtime.
However, there’s no offline mode, which may prove inconvenient in areas with poor connectivity.
What users say about Deputy:
Really simple interface, which allowed majority of colleagues to learn the system without too much onboarding. The mobile app allowed easy clocking in/out.
It’s expensive, as you pay per active user and there is a base charge as well. It adds up quickly!
Pricing
Starts at $4.5/user/month, for Scheduling or Time & Attendance Trial: Yes — 31-day Free Plan: No
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Homebase — Good for value for money
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduling
- Mobile time tracking with GPS
- Team messaging tools
- Compliance and labor cost tracking
Pros
- Easy to use
- Strong analytic abilities
Cons
- Some advanced features require higher-tier plans
- Some inefficiencies
Homebase is a scheduling platform designed to help businesses manage employee shifts and track time with ease.
Why I Chose Homebase: I like how the platform seems to be built with ease of use in mind, making employee management more efficient.
Here’s more about its features.
Intuitive scheduling tools
One feature I appreciate is Homebase’s straightforward drag-and-drop scheduling system. It lets you easily create schedules from scratch, replicate previous ones, or use templates for recurring shifts. The platform also makes it simple to share schedules with employees.
I also like the auto-scheduling tool. It automatically generates optimal schedules based on factors like sales forecasts, labor targets, and employee availability—saving lots of time.
Homebase’s scheduling tool showing assigned shifts, total hours, and projected labor costs for the week. The platform also offers flexibility for employees. For instance, they can pick up open shifts based on their preferences, making scheduling smoother.
That said, users have reported issues with setting recurring availability and preferences. For instance, my colleague who tested the system set recurring availability from a future date, but the system showed her being available immediately, and her availability didn’t recur.
Accurate time and attendance tracking
Homebase makes clocking in and out easy with its mobile time clock, which even includes GPS tracking to ensure employees are in the right location. It tracks breaks and overtime.
I found the process of correcting missed clock ins and clock outs quite cumbersome, though. Employees must leave a note to their manager to make a correction, which feels somewhat inefficient.
Seamless team communication
The built-in messaging system allows managers to share scheduling updates, send reminders, and communicate with employees in real time.
What users say about Homebase
It is a great App. It is helping us to keep track of our employees working time. It is easy to manage. Thanks Homebase team!
Homebase “updated” their online scheduling and now its more cumbersome to use – multiple refreshes are necessary to keep up with changes (its frustrating).
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Pricing
Starts at $20/location/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes — For a single location & up to 20 employees
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RosterElf — Good for simplified rostering tools & scheduling
Key Features
- Smart rostering with templates
- Mobile and online time tracking
- Employee self-service
- Payroll integration with Xero & MYOB
Pros
- Saves time on scheduling
- Integrates with payroll
Cons
- Lack of communication tools
- Limited advanced reporting options
RosterElf is an employee scheduling software that automates rosters and integrates with other workforce management tools.
Why I Chose RosterElf: RosterElf caught my attention because of its strong integration capabilities. It offers a streamlined, cloud-based solution for managing staff scheduling.
Simplified rostering tools & scheduling
With RosterElf, managers can create rosters using templates, copy previous schedules, and quickly fill shifts with available staff. Plus, the live cost calculator helps businesses control labor expenses with real-time visibility.
I appreciate the auto-scheduling: Rosters can be generated based on staff availability, role requirements, and business demand—without any manual effort.
RosterElf’s Rostering feature lets you view schedules in a calendar format by employee, site, or position. Employee self-management
RosterElf empowers employees by allowing them to swap shifts, update availability, and sync their work schedules to their personal calendars.
Managers can approve or decline requests easily, keeping everything organized without unnecessary micromanagement. This flexibility enhances staff satisfaction and ensures shift coverage remains smooth.
One drawback, however, is the lack of a chat feature on RosterElf, which means employees and managers can’t send quick updates on shifts or other work-related matters.
Cost control & compliance
With real-time labor cost tracking—which is available to you when you build schedules—RosterElf can help you stay within budget by preventing unnecessary overtime and ensuring compliance with workplace regulations.
As an Australian-based platform, RosterElf is set up to automatically calculate pay rates, penalties, and entitlements based on Australian Modern Awards, ensuring compliance with Fair Work Commission regulations.
Accurate time tracking & payroll integration
I like how RosterElf’s clock-in-out system ensures employees log their hours accurately, with photo verification and comments for added accountability.
Data can be directly integrated with accounting software like Xero and MYOB.
What users are saying about Rosterelf
Pros: How easy it was to implement and use. No problems incurred during the integration and user experience was fantastic.
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Pricing
Starts at $6 AUD Trial: Yes — 15 days Free Plan: No
Compare the Best Employee Scheduling Software in Australias
| Topic |
Start for free
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| Reviews |
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| Pricing |
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
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Starts at $8.00/user/month
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Starts at $4.5/user/month, for Scheduling or Time & Attendance
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Starts at $20/location/month
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Starts at $6 AUD
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| Free Trial |
yes
14-day
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yes
7-day
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yes
31-day
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yes
14-day
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yes
15 days
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| Free Plan |
yes
Free Up to 10 users
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no
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no
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yes
For a single location & up to 20 employees
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no
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| Use cases |
Best all-in-one employee scheduling software in Australia
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Good for ease of use
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Good for cost tracking
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Good for value for money
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Good for simplified rostering tools & scheduling
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| Available on |
What Is Scheduling Software?
Scheduling software is a digital tool that helps businesses efficiently manage employee work schedules.
In Australia, this software helps businesses comply with labor laws, such as the Fair Work Act 2009 and the National Employment Standards, often by automating shift assignments based on rules or flagging shifts that don’t meet rules.
This software can also track availability and streamline time-off requests, reducing the need for spreadsheets or manual scheduling.
Many platforms offer real-time notifications, shift-swapping, and more, making workforce management easier.
How Does Scheduling Software Work?
Scheduling software provides a centralized platform for managing work schedules. Managers can assign shifts, automate scheduling, and communicate updates instantly, while ensuring compliance with local award rates and workplace regulations. Employees access schedules via mobile or desktop, request time off, and swap shifts seamlessly.
Many platforms integrate with time-tracking and payroll systems, ensuring accurate attendance records and compliance with Australian laws.
Features like real-time notifications and automated reminders prevent missed shifts. By reducing manual scheduling efforts and improving operational efficiency, scheduling software helps businesses optimize workforce management and ensure smooth day-to-day operations.
The Benefits of Employee Scheduling Software for Australian businesses
Streamlined scheduling process
Manually organizing employee schedules can be a logistical nightmare, leading to errors, double-bookings, and wasted time. Scheduling software automates much or all of this process, allowing managers to create, edit, and distribute schedules effortlessly.
More reliable attendance management
Last-minute absences and shift changes can disrupt operations. Employee scheduling software provides tools like automated shift reminders, attendance tracking, and real-time notifications for late or missed clock-ins. This ensures managers can quickly address scheduling gaps and maintain smooth daily operations.
Better compliance with workplace regulations
Managing compliance with labor laws can be challenging, especially for businesses with multiple locations or complex shift structures. Scheduling software helps businesses stay compliant with critical aspects of Australian regulations, such as the Fair Work Act 2009, National Employment Standards, and relevant Modern Awards.
The software automatically tracks and enforces break times, maximum shift lengths and penalty rates for overtime, and weekend and public holiday shifts. It also generates reports that simplify audits and ensure compliance with award-based pay rates and leave entitlements, reducing the risk of non-compliance and potential fines.
Increased employee satisfaction
When employees have more visibility and control over their schedules, they can better plan their personal lives. Features like self-service shift swaps, availability and preference management, and time off requests reduce scheduling conflicts and improve overall job satisfaction.
Actionable workforce insights
Beyond scheduling, these tools provide valuable data on labor costs, shift performance, and productivity trends. By analyzing real-time workforce data, managers can optimize staffing levels, reduce inefficiencies, and make smarter scheduling decisions.
How Much Does Employee Scheduling Software Cost?
Pricing for employee scheduling software varies based on features, business size, and subscription plans. Most providers charge either a flat monthly fee or a per-user rate. For example, Deputy charges around $4.90/user/month, while Homebase starts at $24.95/month.
Connecteam stands out by offering a 100% free Small Business Plan for up to 10 users, making it one of the most cost-effective solutions available. Its paid plans are also affordable—it starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users, plus $.50 per additional user.
FAQs
Connecteam offers one of the best free plans for small businesses, while other options typically start at $20/month or charge per user.
Final Thoughts on Employee Scheduling Software in Australia
For businesses in Australia, a scheduling tool can be a game-changer. It minimizes administrative headaches, reduces labor costs, and enhances employee satisfaction.
If you’re looking for an affordable, feature-packed solution, Connecteam is the best option, offering a free plan for small teams and all the tools needed to manage scheduling efficiently.