Team scheduling software makes it easy to assign your employees to shifts and run your operations smoothly. We review the 6 best team scheduling software platforms for 2023.
Assigning your employees to shifts can be one of the most challenging aspects of managing a large team. Each member has different qualifications and scheduling preferences. And if you’re scheduling by hand, it’s only a matter of time until an important detail is missed and your operations slam to a halt.
Team scheduling software automates many of the most difficult parts of assigning employees to shifts. It can save managers time by creating ready-to-share schedules. It also enables employees with similar qualifications to quickly swap shifts when there’s a conflict.
If you’re excited to save time and money on team scheduling, this article is for you. We’ll take a look at the 6 best team scheduling software products for 2023 and explain how to choose the right one for your business.
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 team scheduling software
Learn more -
Good for automated scheduling
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Good for Small teams
What to Look For in a Team Scheduling Software
Team schedule software isn’t just a better spreadsheet. Here are some of the key features to look for in the best employee scheduling software:
- Drag-and-drop scheduling: Quickly and flexibly build schedules with a drag-and-drop user interface.
- Templates: Create reusable schedule templates and recurring shifts to make scheduling even faster in the future.
- Automated scheduling: Assign employees to shifts automatically based on their qualifications and work preferences.
- Shift swapping: Allow employees to trade shifts among themselves with manager approval.
- Paid time off (PTO) management: Keep track of when employees are on leave so there’s never a conflict.
- Mobile app: Enable employees to check their schedules on the go and receive push alerts if their schedule changes.
The 6 Best Team Scheduling Softwares of 2023
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Connecteam — Best all-in-one team scheduling software
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
We’re proud to say that we think Connecteam is the best team schedule software for 2023. Our all-in-one operations platform offers tons of smart tools for managers and employees. In addition, we offer best-in-class customer support and affordable pricing.
Let’s take a closer look at how Connecteam can save your company time and money on scheduling.
Drag-and-drop scheduler
Connecteam offers a drag-and-drop scheduling app that’s intuitive and fast. It’s cloud based and available on the web or through the Connecteam mobile app. So managers can easily adjust schedules on the go.
All you have to do is create shifts and then drag and drop employees onto them. If you need to rearrange shifts, just drag employees’ names around until you’ve found the optimal schedule.
You can create customizable templates for individual days or weeks, or even for specific projects. Connecteam also makes it easy to duplicate schedules or create recurring shifts.
Qualifications management
Managers can easily differentiate shifts based on job role or required qualifications. Connecteam can even alert you if you try to assign an unqualified employee to a shift. This feature makes it easy to get the right employees for the right jobs.
As a manager, you can also decide whether or not their approval is required for employees to assign themselves to open shifts.
Smart alerts
If you have to change employees’ schedules at the last minute, you’ll need to tell them about it. Good to know, then, that Connecteam can send alerts to employees when their schedule is modified. Alerts include push notifications for the Connecteam app, so team members who are already in the field know to check their schedules.
Connecteam can also alert managers when an employee is about to go into overtime. Managers can approve or decline overtime or simply force approval for any shifts that would require overtime to complete. This makes it easy to balance work across employees and reduce labor costs.
Shift swapping
Once the schedule for the week is published, Connecteam makes it easy for employees to swap shifts among themselves. Our platform automatically enforces job role and qualification requirements when shifts are traded. In addition, managers are alerted to all shift swaps.
Shift instructions
Managers can add notes, photos, attachments, and instructions to any shift. That way, employees know exactly what they’re supposed to be doing when they start their shift.
GPS time clock
Connecteam doubles as a GPS time clock app. Employees can use our software to clock in and out of shifts. Managers can track employees to see when they show up to a job site and when they leave. If an employee doesn’t clock in when a shift is supposed to start, managers are notified right away.
Our time clock software creates timesheets for each employee and integrates with a variety of payroll software. So, you’ll also save time and money approving the hours that employees worked over each pay period.
Connecteam’s workforce scheduling software is free for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. It starts at just $29 per month for up to 30 employees. You can try out our software free for 14 days to see how it streamlines your team scheduling process.
Key Features
Drag-and-drop scheduler with customizable templates
Push alerts for schedule changes
Enables employees to swap shifts
Add instructions or notes to any shift
GPS-enabled time clock app
Team chat for employees and managers
Pros
Tons of customization options
All-in-one solution with time clock and messaging tools
Restrict shifts based on job roles or qualifications
Very affordable pricing
Cons
Doesn’t support demand forecasting
Pricing
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users Free 14-day trial Free plan available
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Start your free trial -
Skedulo — Good for: Automated scheduling
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Skedulo is a team scheduling app designed for mobile workforces. It allows you to not only schedule employees but also dispatch them to jobs in real time. That makes it potentially useful for logistics services where managers need to constantly adapt to changing demands.
Skedulo is especially good at automated scheduling. The software can continuously update schedules as employees complete jobs and become available for more work. It also enables managers to create rules based on qualifications, employee work preferences, and project requirements.
Skedulo’s platform can be complex to use, so expect a steep learning curve. The company provides detailed tutorials to help new users get started with it.
Learn more about SkeduloKey Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduler
- Dispatch employees to jobs throughout the day
- Push notifications to alert workers to schedule changes
- Supports custom scheduling rules
Pros
- Many features for schedule automation
- Update schedules in real time as demands change
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Does not include time clock
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
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QuickBooks Time — Good for: Small teams
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
- Mac
QuickBooks Time is employee time tracking software that also includes scheduling tools. The scheduler is very simple to use and works well for small teams. You can drag and drop employees onto shifts and see who’s available when urgent jobs come up.
The scheduler doesn’t offer any automated features, so QuickBooks Time doesn’t scale up as well as other scheduling software. However, it does send mobile alerts to employees to tell them about schedule changes.
QuickBooks Time is somewhat expensive. Most of the value is in the platform’s time tracking features, which integrate seamlessly with QuickBooks payroll and accounting software.
Learn more about QuickBooks TimeKey Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduling app
- See which employees are available at any time
- Mobile alerts for shift changes
- Integrated time tracking software
Pros
- Easy to use
- Works with QuickBooks payroll and accounting software
Cons
- Very few automated scheduling features
- Expensive
Pricing
Starts at $8.5/user/month Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: No
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Buddy Punch — Good for: Flexible scheduling
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
- Mac
BuddyPunch offers a drag-and-drop employee scheduling app with a number of flexible features. Managers can easily assign and reassign shifts, while employees can swap shifts with a manager’s approval. BuddyPunch uses job roles to ensure you always have the right employee for each job.
BuddyPunch’s scheduling tools are deeply integrated with its time tracking features. Managers are alerted when an employee doesn’t clock in for a shift or forgets to clock out. You can also add location tags to each shift, making it easier to track how much time each employee spends on different projects.
Managers can enable employees to self-assign themselves to open shifts in BuddyPunch. This creates more flexibility for employees to take on additional work when they have extra time.
Learn more about Buddy PunchKey Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduler
- Enables shift swapping with approval
- No-show alerts
- Allows employees to take open shifts
Pros
- Integrates with time tracking tools
- Mobile app for scheduling on the go
Cons
- No in-app communication tools
- Cannot add shift instructions
Pricing
Starts at $2.99/user/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: No
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Zoho People — Good for: Rotating schedules
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Zoho People is an all-in-one workforce management platform that streamlines employee onboarding, time off requests, shift scheduling, documents management, and more. The shift scheduler is relatively basic compared to dedicated scheduling software solutions, but it can work well for small teams.
The scheduler offers a set of default shifts to which you can assign employees. You can also create custom shifts, but it’s time-consuming since there’s no drag-and-drop functionality. One benefit for restaurants and warehouse businesses is that managers can schedule breaks within each shift.
Zoho People also allows managers to rotate schedules automatically from one week to the next. This can be very helpful if all employees are equally suited for all shifts. However, shift rotation is less desirable when your employees have different qualifications or work on different projects.
Learn more about Zoho PeopleKey Features
- Schedule breaks for each shift
- Automatically rotate schedules
- All-in-one HR software
- Attendance tracking tools
Pros
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
Cons
- No drag-and-drop scheduling tools
- Cannot classify employees by job role or qualifications
Pricing
Starts at $1/user/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes
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Shiftboard — Good for: Demand forecasting
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Shiftboard is shift planning software with very advanced features. With this platform, managers can forecast both immediate-term and long-term labor demand. The software converts production and service targets into shift requirements and helps managers decide how many workers to schedule. Shiftboard also supports on-call scheduling so that managers can have employees in reserve.
This software can also help you avoid paying for excessive overtime. Managers can reschedule workers to assign more work to underutilized employees. They can also split shifts to minimize the number of overtime hours employees need to work. When overtime is unavoidable, Shiftboard can help distribute it fairly based on seniority, overtime balance, and more.
Shiftboard can be pricey and has a steep learning curve. That said, it’s a powerful solution for businesses that want to scale up their scheduling capabilities.
Learn more about ShiftboardKey Features
- Forecast short-term and long-term labor demand
- On-call employee scheduling
- Distribute overtime based on custom criteria
- Integrated time-off management
Pros
- Powerful features for enterprise-scale businesses
- Minimizes overtime costs
Cons
- Complex user interface
- Expensive
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No
Compare the Best Team Scheduling Softwares
Topic |
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Reviews |
4.8
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4.3
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4.7
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4.8
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4.3
|
5
|
Pricing |
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
|
Contact vendor for price
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Starts at $8.5/user/month
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Starts at $2.99/user/month
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Starts at $1/user/month
|
Contact vendor for price
|
Free Trial |
yes
14-day
|
no
|
yes
30-day
|
yes
14-day
|
yes
|
no
|
Free Plan |
yes
Up to 30 users
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
no
|
What Is Team Scheduling Software?
Team scheduling software enables managers to create work schedules for their employees. It is typically used for hourly employees or shift workers who don’t have the same schedule every day.
Team schedule software can be used to create shifts and assign employees to them. Once a schedule is published, employees can see when they need to be at work. Schedules can also include information about where an employee is supposed to be or what they will be working on.
How Does Team Scheduling Software Work?
Team scheduling software often uses a drag-and-drop interface. Managers can view a daily, weekly, or monthly calendar and create shifts on it. If they need to move shifts, they simply click and drag them to another time. Once shifts are in place, managers can assign employees to them.
Importantly, work scheduling apps prevent managers from double-scheduling employees. Many scheduling tools also enforce requirements around job roles or employee qualifications. This ensures that managers schedule the right employee for each shift. Managers can also see at a glance whether they have full shift coverage for any schedule.
Managers can publish finished schedules for employees to access on the web or through mobile schedule apps. Many platforms enable employees to swap shifts among themselves or request any shifts that remain open. If managers make changes to a schedule after it’s published, employees are notified right away.
The Benefits of Team Scheduling Software
Team scheduling software can dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes to create staff schedules. If you’re scheduling employees by hand or with Excel, it could take hours to figure out how to fit each employee into the schedule. If you need to make a change or add a shift, there’s no easy way to do that.
In contrast, team schedule software allows you to create shifts on a calendar and assign employees to them with a click. If you need to make changes, you simply drag and drop. The best platforms let you create templates and recurring shifts to save even more time.
Shift scheduling software also prevents costly mistakes. If you’re scheduling by hand, it’s likely that sooner or later, you’ll accidentally schedule a conflict. Maybe you assign an employee who’s on vacation to a job or you schedule an employee to be in two places at once.
Employee scheduling software prevents these kinds of mistakes. The software alerts managers to conflicts so they can be fixed before they end up in the published schedule.
Team scheduling software also helps managers reschedule employees to avoid overtime. This can save your business a significant amount of money.
How Much Does Team Scheduling Software Cost?
The cost of team scheduling software varies widely. Scheduling tools are often included with time-tracking software or all-in-one business software packages. For example, Zoho People includes scheduling as part of an HR software suite. This scheduling software starts at just $1.25 per employee per month.
Standalone team schedule software can be more expensive, but it also offers more features. Companies like Shiftboard and Skedulo offer pricing by quote only.
Connecteam offers team scheduling software as part of our all-in-one operations management software. It’s completely free for businesses with up to 10 employees and starts at just $29 per month for businesses with up to 30 employees. Considering all the scheduling features you’ll find in Connecteam, we think it provides excellent bang for your buck.
FAQs
Can I create employee schedules in Excel?
While you could create employee schedules in Excel, it’s not a great idea. Manually scheduling employees in Excel takes a lot of time and can result in schedule conflicts. We recommend using dedicated team scheduling software instead.
How do I create a schedule for multiple employees?
Team scheduling software can help you create schedules for any number of employees. This software creates schedules quickly and offers automated tools to prevent conflicts.
Is there free team scheduling software?
Connecteam offers free team scheduling software for businesses with up to 10 employees. Larger businesses can use Connecteam starting from $29 per month for up to 30 employees.
The Bottom Line On Team Scheduling Software
Team scheduling software makes it significantly easier to assign your hourly employees to shifts. It can save managers time, prevent costly scheduling conflicts, and even cut down on overtime.
Connecteam is the best team scheduling software to use in 2023. Our platform offers a drag-and-drop scheduler, customizable templates, alerts for schedule changes, and much more.