Building staff schedules and tracking your workers can eat up large chunks of your time, not to mention cognitive bandwidth.
Workforce management software helps you streamline these tedious processes so you can spend more time working on the business than in it.
Below, I review the 5 best workforce management solutions for employee rostering, onboarding, time tracking, and other business needs.
Our Top Picks
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The best alternative to Ento for all-in-one workforce management
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Good for leave management with basic award compliance
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Good for real-time labor cost control
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
17
Tools considered
10
Tools reviewed
5
Best tools chosen
What Is Ento?
Ento is a cloud-based workforce management platform that helps businesses efficiently manage staff scheduling, onboarding, time and expense tracking, and other HR-related processes. It’s designed to boost workforce productivity, optimize rosters, and improve compliance by automating administrative tasks.
Key features of Ento include its drag-and-drop roster creation, automated scheduling based on AI demand forecasting, employee self-service for shift swaps and availability updates, time clock functionality, and reporting tools.
Ento also integrates popular payroll tools and HR systems to simplify wage calculations and compliance with labour regulations.
Its customer base consists primarily of Australian businesses operating in retail, hospitality, healthcare, and other industries with complex scheduling needs and shift-based teams.
Why Are People Moving Away From Ento?
Ento was acquired by HumanForce in 2022, so current or potential users wanting Ento must now go with HumanForce.
Some users have reported issues that are prompting them to switch to other workforce management platforms. Since its acquisition by Humanforce in 2022, some users have noticed changes in support quality and product direction, while others say the platform hasn’t kept pace with the growing complexity of their operations.
One user on Capterra noted, “I have found it difficult to add in penalty rates for weekends and public holidays which means my budget is not correct.” Others have flagged problems with the HR side of the software. “The HR component does not integrate with other apps, is constricting and does not play well with employees when updating or creating new contracts,” wrote an administrator in the social services sector. These kinds of issues can make it harder for businesses to stay compliant or scale effectively.
Even satisfied users have acknowledged that Ento is best suited for basic scheduling and attendance. One reviewer mentioned that while “Ento simplifies our large rostering needs,” they still faced limitations when trying to manage other parts of the employee lifecycle. As companies grow and require better payroll compliance, integration with HR systems, or tools for internal communication and task management, many find themselves looking for more flexible, all-in-one alternatives.
The Best Ento Alternatives for Workforce Management
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Connecteam — The best alternative to Ento for all-in-one workforce management
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop shift scheduler
- Automated scheduling based on qualifications & preferences
- Time off and break management
- GPS-powered time clock with geofencing
- Digital timesheets and automated payroll
- Shift-specific tasks, forms and notes
Pros
- Detailed reports and analytics
- Easy to use and set up
- In-app chat feature
- Integrates with popular payroll software
Cons
- Requires internet or wifi to function
Connecteam is an all-in-one workforce management solution with an easy-to-use scheduling toolkit that serves the complex rostering needs of deskless and remote teams.
Why I chose Connecteam: In addition to its employee scheduling and time tracking features, Connecteam also offers tools for timesheet management, employee training, internal communication and HR—all in one platform. This versatility makes it a great replacement for Ento and a well-rounded platform for all your workforce management needs.
Drag-and-drop scheduler for manual scheduling
Connecteam’s drag-and-drop employee scheduler allows managers to easily create, manage, and share schedules.
From the dashboard, you can quickly get an overview of employee availability and work preferences. Then you can create shifts and drag names to them. I like how you can also add tasks, files, notes and other elements to shifts.
Before publishing a schedule, you’ll even see estimated labour costs (which are automatically calculated) so you can ensure the schedule is cost-effective.
To save you from having to always create new shifts, Connecteam enables you to copy shifts from past weeks, set shifts as recurring, and use its library of pre-built shift templates. I like how you can also set open shifts that employees can claim on the mobile app.
The visual interface enables managers to spot roster gaps and fill them quickly. Plus, if you’ve assigned tasks to a shift, you can track in real time whether the employee is completing them.
I also appreciate Connecteam’s automatic alert system, which warns you if you’ve, for instance, double-booked a shift or assigned an employee who’s on vacation.
Automated scheduling
My favourite scheduling feature is Connecteam’s auto-scheduling feature, which lets you create a schedule in seconds rather than hours with just a click.
You can generate a schedule automatically based on employee availability, work preferences, time off and business needs. I love how you can run a bunch of different schedules and test them before hitting publish.
Mobile app with a GPS time clock, shift swapping, and more
In the mobile app, employees can review their schedules on the go. I like how they can also set and change their availability, request time off, and trade shifts with peers (with or without admin approval).
With the GPS time clock app, they can clock in and out of their shifts from the mobile app. (There’s also a kiosk mode that lets you turn various devices into centralized time clocks.)
On their account, managers can track work hours and employee locations.
Managers also get alerts when employees are late or miss a shift. The hours worked will automatically transfer over to your digital timesheets, making payroll a breeze. I love how Connecteam directly integrates with many popular payroll providers, including Xero.
Connecteam also has built-in geofencing, which reduces time theft by making it so employees can only clock in once they’re at the job site, and the feature will automatically clock them out once they leave.
You can also create, track, and manage paid and unpaid breaks, plus track and manage overtime. I like how employees can clock in and out of breaks directly from the mobile app and how managers have visibility into where and when each employee took their breaks.
These features help you stay compliant, avoid payroll errors, and give your employees the rest they deserve.
Employee engagement and onboarding
Connecteam isn’t just for attendance tracking, comprehensive PTO management, scheduling, and task management.
As an all-in-one workforce management solution, it also offers tools that help you engage your employees, including an in-platform work chat app, company-wide updates, rewards and recognition, and so much more.
For instance, I love how Connecteam provides features to streamline employee onboarding, such as the ability to create and host training courses for your employees.
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Get Started Now!
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 -
RosterElf — Good for leave management with basic award compliance
Why I chose RosterElf: RosterElf offers extensive rostering capabilities that help you quickly create rosters. It also has a shift alert system that prevents double booking and other scheduling mistakes.
Rostering
RosterElf offers basic and intuitive staff scheduling software.
It’s easy to create a shift in the platform. Simply choose the shift length, determine the rest breaks and link the shift to the associated work site and position. You can then move them around using the drag-and-drop editor to build out a roster.
I like how you can save your old rosters as templates and reuse them to make new ones. It’ll even notify you of potential conflicts when you try to upload a template.
What I don’t like is that you can’t edit a shift once its date has passed.
As for automations, RosterElf offers an AI-driven staff-matching tool called Perfect Match. The tool suggests employees who fit a shift’s requirements based on factors like their skill set, availability, and proximity to the job site.
I like how this prevents managers from having to search their directory to find the right person for each shift. However, I would’ve liked to see some more advanced automations. For example, RosterElf can’t auto-build schedules like other platforms can.
Time and attendance tracking
RosterElf’s GPS-powered time clock app enables employees to clock in from their mobile devices at approved locations. This is great, but I was sad not to see a way to clock in through a desktop or shared kiosk.
Managers can track where employees are located in real time from the time clock system. To get a clear picture of their hours worked, however, you must go into the payroll app, where you can view and approve employee time cards.
RosterElf also offers tools to help businesses avoid time theft and buddy punching, including photo verification and geofencing. I was discouraged to find no way to turn off the geofence. If employees move around a lot (like a private chef might), they’d be punched out during the billable drive to the next client.
Key Features
- Rostering software
- Leave management
- Time tracking
- Payroll integrations
Pros
- Various payroll integrations
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- Can’t turn off geofencing
- Limited scheduling automation
Pricing
Starts at $6 AUD Trial: Yes — 15 days Free Plan: No
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Deputy — Good for real-time labor cost control
Key Features
- Meal and break management
- Employee scheduling
- Shift swapping
- Compliance tools
Pros
- Advanced compliance management tools
- AI-powered auto-scheduling
Cons
- No built-in payroll software
- Needs WiFi or internet to use app
Deputy is a workforce management software for employee scheduling, time and attendance tracking, HR management and communications.
Why I chose Deputy: Deputy has a clean, easy-to-use scheduler with auto-scheduling, shift swapping and break management.
Scheduling software
Deputy’s scheduling software enables managers to build and share rosters, which employees can view on their desktop or mobile devices.
The auto-scheduling feature helps you build schedules in minutes. The AI-powered scheduler accounts for staff availability, training and budgeted wage costs when creating the schedule.
Deputy’s scheduler gives a clear overview of your staff and their scheduled work times. I like the ability to set your priorities when auto-scheduling. For example, you could choose to generate the lowest cost schedule possible. Before publishing, you can play with different schedule options until you find the one that fits your needs.
Deputy also offers shift swapping that helps managers cover empty shifts and enables employees to easily pick up and trade shifts. I like that when you have an empty shift, the app will automatically surface a few names that fit the training and budget requirements. You can then send them an invite to pick up the shift with the click of a button.
Unfortunately, to access both the employee scheduling and the time clock management features, you must buy the premium tier. Otherwise, you must select one or the other.
Break management and compliance
Deputy’s meal and break management software allows managers to schedule and track breaks automatically. It also has great break enforcement tools to help you comply with local laws.
Users can also set up break notifications that alert employees when breaks are due. And if they try to clock out of a break early, the app won’t let them. Lastly, if a break is missed, the system flags it and alerts you.
I like how the platform monitors when breaks are taken and for how long. I imagine this function would be useful for creating a record to prove compliance with local break time mandates.
Something unique I found: Deputy has pre-made shift templates that have compliant break times baked into them. For example, the California shit template contains break slots that comply with state requirements. On the downside, Deputy currently lacks shift templates for complying with Australian regulations.
Pricing
Starts at $4.5/user/month, for Scheduling or Time & Attendance Trial: Yes — 31 days Free Plan: No
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Tanda — Good for automated penalty-rate calculations
Tanda is a leading Australian workforce management platform with HR and payroll functionality.
Why I chose Tanda: Tanda is a wide-ranging workforce management solution, helping businesses manage rosters, timesheets, payroll, onboarding, and compliance. It also includes a versatile mobile app with time-saving features for both employees and managers.
Rostering software
Tanda’s rostering software gives managers various tools for quickly building optimized rosters, including roster templates, copy-and-paste scheduling, and a drag-and-drop editor. You can also create reusable shifts and label them by name, title, or team.
Designed to help you stay compliant, Tanda helps you identify potential issues with your roster by flagging potential overtime or qualification risks.
I was sad to see that Tanda has no auto-rostering feature, meaning managers must manually create their rosters. To me, this is a missed opportunity that could save time for business owners.
Mobile app
Tanda offers a mobile app, which employees can use to access information about their shift schedules, such as estimated wages, locations, and the other staff members assigned to their shifts.
Users can also digitally clock in and out of their shifts, request shift replacements, apply for leave, and record breaks from the app.
I appreciate how the app also offers a staff self-service feature, which allows employees to submit and update their banking and contact information directly from the app. By making this easy for employees, you’re more likely to have accurate employee details on hand for payroll and other HR tasks.
The mobile app helps you run an organized operation and communicate with direct reports. For example, with the communications feature, you can post company-wide or team announcements, and employees can respond to these. If an employee can’t make a shift, you can easily alert available staff, asking them to pick up the shift.
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop roster builder and roster templates
- GPS time clock and timesheet management
- Automated payroll
- Leave management
Pros
- Includes payroll automation
- Easy to use
Cons
- Initial roster set up can be time-consuming
- No auto-rostering
Pricing
Contact vendor for a quote Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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Roubler — Good for built-in payroll
Key Features
- Payroll software
- Time tracking and attendance
- Roster management and creation
- Shift swapping
Pros
- Built-in payroll solution
- Easy to use
Cons
- No task management
- No geolocation or geofencing
Roubler is a workforce management and payroll solution for retail, hospitality, manufacturing and other businesses with shift-based teams.
Why I chose Roubler: In addition to offering tools for roster management, onboarding, and time and attendance tracking, Roubler’s workforce management system has built-in payroll management software.
Employee rostering
Roubler’s employee rostering feature enables managers to create schedules and notify staff about their shifts. With demand-based rostering, the platform automatically creates schedules based on estimated demand, plus factors like staff seniority and specialization.
The mobile app also offers various ways for employees to manage and track their shifts, such as shift swapping, notifications for upcoming shifts and the ability to accept or deny new shift bids.
One problem I have? There’s no real task management functionality in Roubler, which is vital for improving employee productivity. I couldn’t even find a way to add tasks to shifts.
Payroll software
Roubler’s payroll feature automatically pulls attendance and leave data captured in the platform via the time tracking app, helping you get accurate payroll without data entry or integrations.
The payroll software comes with various tools for accurately managing payroll, including customizable payment conditions, automatic pay adjustments, payroll auditing and pay rate templates.
I find this built-in payroll software unique and helpful. Most workforce management platforms simply offer integrations to separate payroll platforms. With Roubler, you can do it all in one centralized platform.
However, I see why businesses would want separate payroll software. While Roubler offers some nifty payroll tools, it lacks the customization, feature depth and reporting capabilities of a standalone payroll or accounting platform.
Pricing
Contact vendor for pricing Trial: No Free Plan: No
Compare the Best Ento Alternatives for Workforce Management
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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 $6 AUD
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Starts at $4.5/user/month, for Scheduling or Time & Attendance
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Contact vendor for a quote
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Contact vendor for pricing
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| Free Trial |
yes
14-day
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yes
15 days
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yes
31 days
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yes
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no
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yes
Free Up to 10 users
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The best alternative to Ento for all-in-one workforce management
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Good for leave management with basic award compliance
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Good for real-time labor cost control
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Good for automated penalty-rate calculations
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Good for built-in payroll
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The Bottom Line On the Best Alternatives to Ento for Managing Your Workforce
Ento is a workforce management solution that helps you quickly build optimized rosters, track time and attendance, manage payroll and facilitate shift swaps among your employees. But it was recently acquired by HumanForce, so some current and potential users are looking for alternatives.
In my search, I found some great contenders. Tanda has excellent demand-based scheduling automations. And Roubler comes with built-in payroll software. However, I think Connecteam is the best alternative, as it offers an all-in-one workforce management system that’s easy to use and highly affordable.
Try Connecteam for free to learn more about how it can help your business’s unique rostering requirements.