The 9 Best Work Schedule Apps of 2023

The 9 Best Work Schedule Apps of 2023

1. Connecteam — Best for: Best all-in-one work schedule app

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Connecteam recognizes that work scheduling doesn’t happen in a vacuum. This is why the all-in-one app is feature rich, linking scheduling to every part of your business, including employee communication, a knowledge base, onboarding and training, an employee directory, and more.

   At a glance, you can see what shifts are scheduled and whether there are any blank spots coming up you need to fill. Assigning or swapping shifts is as simple as dragging and dropping. You can set up templates or repeat schedules if your shifts look the same week after week. You can also set up open shifts that anyone can claim. 

   Connecteam takes math out of the equation, too. The free timecard calculator does all the tallying for you. Just enter the start times and end times and the app figures out total hours worked and overtime as well as pay for every worker. 

   Connecteam also lets you connect to team members—even those working in the field—in real time. You can send notifications, reminders, or team or individual chat requests. You’re always in touch with your team, no matter where they are, so you can make shift changes and updates fast.

   Connecteam’s mobile app enables you to easily attach maps, notes, videos, and files. This way, workers have everything they need for work tasks, whether that’s a map to get to their work location or a checklist to get the job done right. There’s even task management options to help you communicate and manage what your workers need to do once they get to their shift.

   Your employees can access Connecteam right from their mobile phones, no matter where they are. From the app, they can not only check their schedules, but they can do many other work-related tasks. They can ask for changes to their work schedules, contact managers, clock in and out, submit time off requests, and more.

   Your team can manage work tasks, submit completed forms, and get rewards for work well done. Connecteam also has geofencing options, so you can make sure your team is where they need to be at the start of their work schedule.

   Connecteam is considered the best time clock for small businesses because work scheduling isn’t just about organizing time. It’s about organizing your teams and setting them up for success. Connecteam’s features let you sort out schedules, see any problems—such as overtime—and fix them before they happen. You don’t have to worry about leaving shifts unstaffed or double-booking, as Connecteam will alert you to these common mistakes.

   Once you have schedules locked in, you can easily communicate with every worker in seconds. Connecteam is designed to work for all industries, and companies in the hospitality, restaurant, healthcare, utility, logistics, manufacturing, and other sectors turn to Connecteam every day.

   Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Join Connecteam!

   Key Features

   • Automated scheduling

   • Visual schedules that help you avoid common mistakes, like double-booking workers

   • Automatic reminders to let employees know about the schedules

   • Customizable templates to help you set up schedules fast

   • Overtime notifications

   • Ability to set up open shifts

   Pros

   • Set up shifts fast by dragging and dropping them into a calendar

   • Manage the schedules of many workers at multiple locations

   • Integrate with QuickBooks and Gusto Payroll for seamless payroll

   • Intuitive and easy to use

   Cons

   • Free version only supports up to ten workers

   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
2. 

   Humanity — Good for: Companies who want to reduce scheduling mistakes

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Humanity makes it easy to set up and change schedules from any mobile device. The app can generate reports of where your time has gone and predict what you may need from shifts in the future, including how many workers you’ll need for each day and timeframe.

   Using the dashboard, you can message your team and see who’s currently at work and who’s scheduled to work on the next shift. With the scheduling feature, you can view and organize all your shifts for the day, week, next two weeks, or month, by individual employee or role. 

   You can work with schedules in list view or visual view to see who should be working when. Click on a cell inside the calendar to create a schedule, type in the start and end time and who’s working, and press enter. If there are any conflicts or mistakes in your schedules, an error message appears.

   Learn more about Humanity

   Key Features

   • Dashboard to help employees see when their next shift is, who is on shift, and more
   • In-app communication with teams and managers
   • View schedules for a single day, week, two weeks, or a month at a time
   • Easily edit a shift by seeing who’s available to work, who has overlapping shifts, and what roles you’re filling for the shift

   Pros

   • Drag and drop shifts to reschedule or assign to another employee
   • It’s easy to copy shifts and repeat them within your schedule

   Cons

   • Some users have reported it’s difficult to switch shifts on the mobile apps
   • No free version available

   Pricing

   Contact vendor for price Trial: Yes Free Plan: No

3. 

   Calendly — Good for: Companies who want to allow clients to book appointments

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Different organizations have different scheduling needs. For businesses who need to book client appointments or meetings, Calendly is a great option. Simply share your Calendly link through a website or email so prospects, clients, and customers can choose a time to meet with you that works for them. The app does automatic time zone calculations, so you always know when your meetings are.

   Both you and your meetings or prospects can get reminders about upcoming appointments. You can glance over your open times and upcoming appointments. You can even include meeting details, such as an agenda, to keep everyone on the same page.

   Learn more about Calendly

   Key Features

   • Schedule when you’re available for meetings and when you’re not
   • Clients and prospects can set up meetings without email addresses or lengthy discussions
   • Easily schedule different-length meetings
   • Schedule one-on-one or team meetings

   Pros

   • Integrations with Zoom, Google, Slack, Microsoft, and other common meeting software
   • Available in English, French, German, & Spanish

   Cons

   • Support is only available through chat
   • App does not schedule work shifts

   Pricing

   Starts at $10/user/month Trial: Yes — Yes, 14-day Free Plan: Yes

4. 

   Sling — Good for: Companies with hourly employees across multiple locations

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Sling combines shift scheduling with easy team messaging, a newsfeed for team-wide and company-wide messages, and a task organizer to manage work duties. Even if you have employees across multiple locations, Sling works to get everyone scheduled easily: just drag and drop scheduled shifts around the calendar. If you need to make last-minute changes, it’s easy to do so because you can message your team to find out who’s available, then update the schedule live.

   Sling also lets you easily compare labor costs, scheduled hours, and overtime costs as you schedule. You can generate reports and get alerts for overtime so you can avoid paying extra. You can even schedule multiple locations across different time zones on the same platform.

   Learn more about Sling

   Key Features

   • Get notifications when work tasks are completed
   • Share videos, photos, and notes in-app
   • Get overtime notifications
   • You can provide directions to work locations in the work app

   Pros

   • Review labor costs of your schedule before you finalize shifts
   • Geofencing feature to make sure workers are where they need to be

   Cons

   • Mobile time tracking and calendar synchronization only available with Premium version
   • Limited customization

   Pricing

   Starts at $1.70/user/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes

5. 

   WorkTime — Good for: Organizations who want to monitor remote employees
   

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   WorkTime lets you set up employees for success while fighting absenteeism. With the app, you can view logins and logouts, idle times, and when workers are on the job. 

   WorkTime monitors employee computer activity, software and internet use, and productivity, so you can make sure employees are on track. WorkTime only monitors the data needed to measure employee productivity, so private messages and private online activity stay safe. The app can also help you identify distractions at work, computers left on after hours, and overtime in your schedules.

   Learn more about WorkTime

   Key Features

   • Monitor employee activity and productivity
   • Monitor software and internet use of remote, deskless, and on-site workers
   • Visual reports show you how much idle time and productive time you have at work
   • Track the number of meetings and time spent on each specific app

   Pros

   • Software use tracking lets you see whether you have underused apps you can cancel
   • HIPPA compliant and no recording of keystrokes or screenshots

   Cons

   • No system for easily setting up shifts
   • No integrations

   Pricing

   Starts at $5.99/month + $5.99/user Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes

6. 

   Shiftboard ScheduleFlex — Good for: Shift-based workers, especially in manufacturing, corrections, and healthcare

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Shiftboard is a solution for complex industry scheduling, especially for healthcare, corrections, manufacturing, and utilities. The schedule can accommodate job rotations and production line changes. It can also help you schedule emergency response teams, on-call workers, and turnarounds.

   Shiftboard scheduling can also help you automate scheduling so it meets the requirements of union agreements and internal procedures. For example, you can make sure workers get a specific amount of break time between shifts or specify a minimum number of hours. 

   Workers can use their mobile devices to pick up or trade shifts, volunteer to take work shifts, request time off, or turn down scheduled shifts. If you need to schedule overtime, the app makes sure you can do so fairly, based on seniority, overtime already worked, job role, and employees’ history of refusing shifts.

   Learn more about Shiftboard ScheduleFlex

   Key Features

   • Monitor employee preferences for work so you can create schedules workers want
   • Overview of schedules lets you spot staffing and scheduling gaps
   • Schedule contingent or temp staff by allowing them to bid on or volunteer for shifts
   • In-app list of available workers is available as you schedule

   Pros

   • Automated calls, texts, or mobile notifications let workers know when shifts have been changed or are available
   • Ability to split shifts

   Cons

   • Implementation fees are charged
   • The company does not list its subscription costs

   Pricing

   Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: No

7. 

   Google Calendar — Good for: Organizations looking for a simple, flexible way to schedule

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   Google Calendar is available to any workplace or individual with Gmail. While it’s free to use, businesses can choose a paid Google Workspace account, which comes with more collaboration and productivity tools. 

   Google Calendar lets you lview schedules by the day, week, or month. You can see all your workers on one calendar or look at everyone who is booked to work.

   Google Calendar automatically sends reminders when workers have meetings or upcoming tasks. The calendar also syncs with personal calendars, so you can see when workers aren’t available before you schedule any shifts.

   Scheduling is as simple as clicking a square on the calendar and filling in the details of the shift or meeting with workers, durations, and details. An email will sent to workers, letting them know they have been invited to a shift or meeting. They can respond to let you know they will be there.

   Learn more about Google Calendar

   Key Features

   • Integrations with Outlook, Apple Calendar, Office 365, Google Workspace, Facebook, Twitter, and Calendly
   • Create shared calendars so teams can see what others are doing and when colleagues are available
   • Choose calendars that show national holidays
   • Include notes with Google Calendar invitations, including meeting agendas and links to video conference meeting rooms

   Pros

   • Available in 41 languages
   • Used globally, so most internet users are familiar with Google products

   Cons

   • Lacks the features of many other scheduling programs, such as labor cost management
   • Employees may double-book themselves if they don’t sync their personal Google calendar with their work calendar

   Pricing

   Contact vendor for price Trial: No Free Plan: Yes

8. 

   ZoomShift — Good for: Small and medium-sized companies

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   ZoomShift is designed to make it simple to set up schedules and make changes fast. You can copy shifts and schedules easily, and if someone calls out sick or you need a replacement, you don’t have to contact employees. You can send out a notification of an open shift and empower employees to claim it.

   When you create a schedule in ZoomShift, the top of the web page automatically shows you the labor cost and hours worked. This way, you can see how moving team members around affects your budget. 

   When you’re ready to share your schedule, you can send it to everyone who’s working with one click. Employees can send messages or request time off right in the app.

   Learn more about ZoomShift

   Key Features

   • Schedule templates let you set up repeating shifts
   • Drag and drop shifts into place on a calendar to quickly set up a schedule
   • Send schedule updates through push notifications, text, or email
   • Workers are automatically reminded before their shifts start

   Pros

   • View calendar daily, weekly, or monthly
   • See company events, employee availability, time off, and swapped shifts

   Cons

   • Overtime warnings only available in Premium plan
   • Not ideal for freelancers or large companies

   Pricing

   Starts at $2/active team member/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: No

9. 

   Fourth (Previously called: HotSchedules) — Good for: Restaurant and hospitality businesses

   Available on

   • Web
   • iOS
   • Android

   

   For busy restaurants that need a lot of flexibility, Fourth lets managers easily review and manage shifts. If there is a sudden need for more workers, the app lets owners send out an SOS emergency notice so available workers can come in.

   Fourth can manage multiple restaurant locations and set up schedules that focus on the breakfast, lunch, or dinner rush. Forecasting features let managers predict what staff will be needed and when. For example, if past data shows that bartenders are most needed Saturdays at 7 PM, managers can see this report and choose to schedule accordingly, such as scheduling more bartenders at this time.

   Learn more about Fourth (Previously called: HotSchedules)

   Key Features

   • Analytics dashboards after every shift evaluate labor costs
   • Rotas update automatically once a schedule is updated
   • Shifts can be approved with one click
   • Template schedules to make scheduling faster

   Pros

   • HotSchedules feature prompts managers to ensure they comply with local and state labor laws, such as mandatory breaks
   • Minor workers feature ensures minors aren’t shown shifts available during school hours

   Cons

   • Many features may not be relevant outside the restaurant industry
   • No pricing available on the website

   Pricing

   Pricing is not publicly available Trial: No Free Plan: No