Scheduling breaks down fast when availability changes, shifts overlap, and managers are left fixing coverage gaps at the last minute.
I reviewed 6 employee scheduling apps and evaluated them by auto-scheduling, availability tracking, compliance controls, mobile access, and real-world reliability.
Employee scheduling apps help you avoid that stress before the week even starts. The right scheduling app gives you structure, cuts down on miscommunication, and makes sure your team always knows where they need to be.
Use this guide to choose a tool that fits your team’s structure and prevents scheduling mistakes before they impact payroll or coverage.
| App | Best for | Starting Price | Key Considerations |
| Connecteam | Frontline and mobile teams with multiple roles that work across locations | $29/month (up to 30 users) | One app for scheduling, timesheets, chat, and tasks, so frontline teams don’t have to switch platforms |
| Deputy | Regulated industries that need strict labor law compliance | $5/user/month | Built-in compliance tools for overtime, breaks, and certifications |
| 7shifts | Food & beverage businesses controlling labor costs | $39.99/location/month | Labor forecasting tied to sales data and demand planning |
| Homebase | Small retail/service teams that want integrated payroll | $24/location/month | Built-in payroll processing without third-party provider |
| ZoomShift | Managers who want a basic scheduler | $2/user/month | Simple scheduling without added complexity |
| Sling | Startups and single-location teams on a tight budget | $1.70/user/month | Affordable per-user pricing with generous free plan |
What’s New in This Update (February 2026)
- Re-verified all pricing, free plan limits, and plan structures across every app.
- Updated feature details to reflect current auto-scheduling capabilities, break and overtime controls, and mobile functionality.
- Replaced QuickBooks Time and ClockShark with 7shifts and ZoomShift to reflect the shift toward purpose-built employee scheduling tools.
Our Top Picks
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1
Best employee scheduling app for frontline teams managing multiple roles across locations
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2
Good for regulated industries
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3
Good for food & beverage businesses that need tight 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
How I Ranked the Best Employee Scheduling Apps
Must-have scheduling features
At a minimum, a scheduling app needed to make it fast to build and adjust weekly schedules without creating extra admin work.
I prioritized:
- Fast schedule building: Drag-and-drop editing, shift templates, recurring shifts, and copy-last-week functionality. If rebuilding a schedule felt manual or repetitive, the tool didn’t rank highly.
- Auto-scheduling: The ability to generate shifts based on availability, roles, and business rules. For teams managing multiple roles or locations, manual-only assignment isn’t realistic.
- Coverage flexibility: Shift swaps, open shifts, and manager approvals so teams can handle call-outs without relying on texts or group chats.
- Availability and time off: Built-in availability settings and PTO requests that sync directly to the schedule. Approved time off should prevent accidental shift assignments.
- Compliance guardrails: Overtime alerts, break rules, and certification tracking. Missing these controls increases payroll errors and compliance risk.
- Multi-location and role support: The ability to schedule by role, job, or location without losing visibility across teams.
If a tool lacked these fundamentals, it didn’t compete in this category.
I also evaluated operational reliability
Beyond core scheduling features, I looked at how each tool performs in day-to-day operations.
- Mobile usability: Frontline teams rely on their phones. Employees need to view shifts, swap coverage, and receive updates without logging into a desktop system.
- Real-time notifications: Schedule changes and approvals should trigger instant alerts so nothing gets missed.
- Approval controls and change history: Clear records of who changed what, especially when multiple managers are editing schedules.
- Ease of use: If a tool requires heavy setup or training, your employees won’t use it, and managers revert to spreadsheets.
Finally, I looked at how scheduling connects to the rest of your workflow
Scheduling doesn’t exist in isolation, so I considered how well each app integrates with daily operations.
- Time clock alignment: GPS-enabled clock-ins and geofencing help verify coverage and ensure worked hours match scheduled shifts.
- Timesheets and payroll flow: Simple timesheet review, overtime visibility, and payroll-ready exports reduce end-of-pay-period cleanup.
- Operational add-ons: Built-in chat, task management, or HR tools aren’t mandatory, but they matter if you want to reduce the number of separate systems your team relies on.
These features don’t define a scheduling app on their own, but they often determine whether the tool scales with your team or becomes another system you outgrow.
The 6 Best Employee Scheduling Apps
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Connecteam — Best employee scheduling app for frontline teams managing multiple roles across locations
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduler
- Auto-scheduling with custom rules
- Shift swapping and approvals
- PTO and availability management
- GPS time clock with geofencing
- Multi-location scheduling
Pros
- Reduces manual schedule adjustments
- Keeps payroll hours aligned with shifts
- Handles multi-location complexity
- Replaces separate scheduling and chat tools
Cons
- No native payroll processing
- Requires internet connectivity
Connecteam is a strong fit for frontline teams that need structured scheduling without juggling multiple systems. It works especially well for businesses managing multiple roles or locations where availability, compliance rules, and last-minute changes all need to stay aligned.
Why I chose Connecteam: I ranked Connecteam #1 because it handled the full scheduling workflow more consistently than the other tools on this list. It stood out for its auto-scheduling logic, built-in compliance controls, multi-location flexibility, and how tightly scheduling connects to time tracking, which reduces payroll cleanup at the end of the week.
Drag-and-drop shift scheduler
Connecteam’s drag-and-drop employee scheduler lets you create shifts and assign them to employees in seconds. The color-coded layout makes it easy to understand schedules at a glance, especially when managing multiple roles or locations. You can set recurring shift patterns and copy successful schedules across weeks, which reduces the need to rebuild schedules manually.
To speed up the process, you can save schedules as templates for specific roles, shifts, or full weeks and reuse them whenever needed. For teams with repeat coverage patterns, this cuts down weekly admin time.
Connecteam also lets you add notes, tasks, checklists, and attachments to each shift, so employees know what’s expected before they clock in. Once you publish a schedule, employees are notified instantly and can view their shifts from their mobile devices.
You can also share read-only schedules with external stakeholders, such as clients or project managers, through a secure link.
Connecteam’s color-coded drag-and-drop scheduler makes it easy to view the full week at a glance and quickly reassign shifts between employees.
AI-powered scheduling
With Connecteam, you can set custom rules so schedules stay accurate from the start. For example, you can require certain roles, certifications, or managers to be present for specific shifts. Once those rules are in place, the auto-scheduler assigns open shifts based on availability, qualifications, and your business requirements.
If a manager schedules overlapping shifts or double-books an employee, Connecteam flags the conflict before the schedule goes live. Instead of catching mistakes later, issues are surfaced upfront, which reduces midweek schedule edits and compliance risk.
Connecteam’s AI scheduler automatically assigns shifts based on employee availability, qualifications, and business needs, flagging conflicts before schedules go live. Shift swapping
Connecteam gives employees a structured way to manage shift changes without relying on text messages or side conversations. If someone can’t make a shift, they can request a swap or offer it in the app so other qualified team members can claim it.
Once a manager approves the change, the schedule updates automatically and everyone involved is notified. Managers can also post open shifts for employees to claim, which helps fill gaps faster without manually calling team members.
To help prevent last-minute issues, Connecteam sends automatic shift reminders so employees show up prepared and on time.
Employees can request time off directly in Connecteam, and managers receive instant notifications to approve or deny requests from the app. Time off and availability
I liked how Connecteam handles availability and time off management in one place. Employees can set when they’re available, mark preferred hours, and submit PTO requests right in the app. I found it easy to set up time off policies for vacation, sick leave, and personal days, and I appreciated that balances update automatically as time accrues.
When an employee submits a request, managers are notified instantly and can approve or decline it from the mobile or desktop app. Approved time off reflects on the schedule, so you can stay properly staffed. This makes it easier to plan coverage, track time off usage, stay compliant, and support your team.
GPS time clock and geofencing
Connecteam’s GPS-enabled employee time clock links directly to your schedule, so hours worked match your planned shifts. Employees can clock in and out directly from the mobile app wherever they work, switch between roles or locations without clocking out, and have hours calculated automatically using your custom pay, break, and overtime rules.
All worked hours flow directly into timesheets for payroll that managers can review, edit, and approve, with every change tracked for audit-ready records.
Integrations
Connecteam offers API access and integrates with tools you already use, including RUN Powered by ADP®, QuickBooks, Xero, PrismHR, and Wix Bookings.
And so much more…
Besides being a flexible employee scheduler, Connecteam offers a set of HR, operations, and communications tools to help you manage your day-to-day:
- Online team chat: Keep work conversations organized and easy to manage. Share updates, files, and shift details in one-on-one or group chats.
- Training and onboarding: Use the AI Course Creator to build custom training materials in seconds, helping employees get up to speed.
- Employee task tracking: Attach recurring or one-off tasks to the schedule, assign them to team members, add subtasks, and track progress in real-time.
- Automatic reports: Get real-time insight into attendance, task completion, and form submissions to spot issues and make better staffing decisions.
- Staff documents: Store certifications, licenses, and contracts in one place and receive reminders before documents expire, so you only schedule qualified employees.
When Connecteam may not be the best fit
Connecteam isn’t ideal if you’re looking for scheduling software with fully built-in payroll processing, since payroll runs through integrations rather than natively inside the platform. It’s also designed to connect scheduling with time tracking and approvals, so if you only need a very basic shift calendar with no operational workflows attached, a simpler tool may feel lighter.
Like most cloud-based platforms, it requires internet access to work, which may be limiting in environments with no connectivity.
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Try Connecteam here!
0Pricing
Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users
See Connecteam’s Scheduling App in Action
Request a Free Demo -
Deputy — Good for regulated industries with complex scheduling and strict compliance needs
Key Features
- Automated scheduling
- Leave management
- Shift swapping
- Task assignments
Pros
- Biometric time clock
- Built-in compliance tools
Cons
- Doesn’t work offline
- Lacks native payroll software
What’s new with Deputy
Deputy recently raised its base price from $4.50 per user/month to $5 per user/month with a minimum monthly spend of $30 (on monthly plans) starting September 1, 2025.
Deputy is a cloud-based workforce management software designed to streamline employee scheduling, time tracking, and workplace communication.
Why I chose Deputy: What I liked most about Deputy is that it combines scheduling and time tracking with powerful compliance tools so scheduling stays efficient, accurate, and aligned with labor regulations.
This breakdown is based on our full in-depth review of Deputy, where we tested its scheduling interface, compliance features, and time tracking capabilities.
Deputy’s scheduling interface shows how managers can view employee availability, set compliance rules, and build schedules with built-in labor law guardrails. Scheduling and availability
Deputy’s scheduling tools are strong. You can create shifts with drag-and-drop, reuse templates, or copy past schedules. Shifts can be assigned directly to employees or left open for team members to claim, with or without manager approval.
Employees can mark unavailable times and submit leave requests directly in the app, while managers can review balances, approve requests, and see availability at a glance when they’re building schedules. The leave data flows directly into the scheduler, so approved time off is automatically accounted for.
The standout feature for me was definitely the auto-scheduler, which builds schedules for you based on demand, sales data, labor budgets, and working hour rules. You can also set guardrails, such as shift length limits or fairness rules, to prevent noncompliance.
That said, the mobile scheduling interface felt pretty cluttered to me. I also noticed that the system doesn’t flag pending leave requests that haven’t been reviewed yet, which means a manager could accidentally assign a shift to someone who has already requested time off, leading to potential coverage gaps or last-minute scrambles.
Shift swaps and certification tracking
Employees can request to trade shifts or claim open shifts if their availability changes. Once schedules are published, employees can sync shifts to their personal calendars so they know when and where they’re working.
Deputy also includes built-in tools to support labor law compliance, which I appreciated. You can apply break rules, overtime thresholds, and rest requirements directly to schedules, reducing compliance risks without adding manual checks. The scheduler verifies employee certifications and licenses before assigning shifts, helping prevent unqualified employees from being scheduled for certain roles.
Deputy’s timesheet export feature lets managers review, edit, and approve worked hours with automatic wage and overtime calculations. Biometric time clock
Deputy lets employees clock in from their phones, a web browser, or a shared kiosk. Mobile clock-ins can capture GPS location and enforce geofences around job sites. I liked that shared kiosks support photo capture or facial recognition, which can help prevent buddy punching.
You can also set rules to block clock-ins outside scheduled shifts and automatically apply overtime policies, so time tracking and schedules are aligned. While these controls are solid, Deputy doesn’t support offline clock-ins, which is limiting for field teams that work in areas without reliable internet.
Deputy doesn’t include built-in payroll, so you need to use a separate payroll provider. Timesheets can be exported or synced with one of Deputy’s payroll integrations. All worked hours are automatically converted into timesheets you can review, edit, and approve from desktop or mobile, with wages, overtime, and premium rates clearly calculated, which was helpful.
What users say about Deputy
I really like Deputy for work purposes. It’s very simple to use and user-friendly, which makes it easy to keep track of my timesheets, clock in and clock out, and approve my staff’s rosters, leave, and timesheets.
Sometimes the app can be a bit slow to load, especially when checking schedules or swapping shifts. Also, a few features could be more customizable, like notifications or report settings.
0Pricing
Starts at $5/user/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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7shifts — Good for food & beverage businesses that need tight labor cost control
Key Features
- Auto-scheduler
- Shift swapping
- Availability tracking
- Labor forecasting
Pros
- Features to support compliance
- Tips management and pooling
Cons
- No break reminders for employees
- Separate time tracking app
7shifts is an employee scheduling and workforce management app designed specifically for the food & beverage industry.
Why I chose 7shifts: I liked that 7shifts uses sales forecasts and labor targets to build schedules, helping businesses staff according to demand while keeping labor costs under control.
Our full review of 7shifts goes into more depth about how 7shifts handles scheduling, time tracking, and tip management.
7shifts helps managers monitor expenses as they build schedules. Scheduling and labor forecasting
7shifts offers a clean, drag-and-drop scheduler that lets you move shifts between employees, adjust start and end times, and make changes quickly. I liked that labor targets and real-time labor costs are built into the scheduling view, so you can really monitor costs as you plan your shifts.
I was really impressed by the auto-scheduler, which uses historical scheduling patterns, seasonality, and guest traffic trends to build labor-optimized schedules. You can set labor targets based on projected sales, which helps keep staffing consistent with demand and your budget.
The scheduler also considers employee availability, qualifications, and preferences, so you don’t have to build schedules from scratch. I liked that this also helps reduce overstaffing during slow periods and understaffing during rushes.
Managers can approve employee time-off requests directly in the 7shifts app. Shift swapping and availability
7shifts lets employees offer up shifts, request swaps, claim open shifts, and submit time-off requests directly from the mobile app. Managers can approve changes before they’re finalized, and updates sync automatically with the schedule.
Availability and time-off requests are tightly integrated into scheduling, which helps prevent conflicts. I also liked the time-off notice feature, which limits last-minute requests and helps managers maintain coverage and control.
Time tracking and breaks
When it comes to time tracking, 7shifts tracks regular hours, breaks, and overtime, and supports geofencing and facial recognition. However, time tracking isn’t built directly into the main app. Instead, employees need to clock in using 7punches, a separate app that requires its own management and setup.
Even though time data syncs quickly and there’s no additional cost for 7punches, I still wasn’t a big fan of the split experience. It was also frustrating that the platform doesn’t send employees break reminders or prevent them from ending breaks early. That can lead to employees missing or shortening legally required breaks, inaccurate time records, overtime miscalculations, and potential labor law violations, especially in states with strict meal and rest break compliance laws.
That being said, 7shifts does a good job documenting breaks and tracking overtime. I liked that managers get alerts when employees are close to hitting overtime limits, and breaks can be scheduled directly into shifts. But since the platform doesn’t actively enforce breaks, these tools are better at flagging issues after the fact than preventing them upfront.
What users say about 7shifts
The platform makes scheduling fast, intuitive, and accurate. I love how easy it is to forecast labor costs, track punches, and communicate with the team all in one place.
There were times that the information was not up to date regarding shift availability that led to some shifts getting mixed up.
0Pricing
Starts at $29.99/month/location, up to 30 employees Trial: Yes — 14 days Free Plan: Yes — Up to 1 location & 15 employees
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Homebase — Good for small retail or service teams that want built-in payroll
Key Features
- Employee scheduler
- Shift swapping
- Time tracking
- Labor forecasting
Pros
- Auto-payroll
- GPS and geofencing
Cons
- Payroll is a paid add-on
- Location-based pricing
Homebase is an employee scheduling application that helps small businesses manage shifts, track hours, and communicate.
Why I chose Homebase: I chose Homebase because of its clean interface and free plan that gives small teams access to basic scheduling tools and time tracking.
In our full in-depth review of Homebase, we go deeper into its usability and features, including time tracking, payroll, scheduling, and hiring.
Homebase’s weekly calendar view lets managers click into specific days and times to create shifts, with built-in auto-scheduling based on availability and sales forecasts. Scheduling and time off
For scheduling, Homebase uses a weekly calendar view where you can click into specific days and times to create shifts. I liked that you can use the auto-scheduler to assign shifts based on employee availability, sales forecasts, and labor budgets. You can build shifts from scratch, save scheduling templates for recurring shifts, and employees can swap shifts or pick up open ones.
Homebase lets managers set policies for time off, blackout periods, breaks, and overtime, but these tools are limited to higher-tier plans. I ran into a few issues with recurring availability. When I set availability to start on a future date, it took effect immediately instead of on the selected date, and recurring preferences didn’t repeat as expected. If you’re not careful, this could lead to coverage gaps, scheduling mistakes, and frustrated employees.
GPS time clock
Homebase’s time clock works on smartphones, tablets, desktops, and POS systems. I liked that this gives employees plenty of ways to clock in and out. You can use a live timer or manually add time entries if you need. Homebase can also capture GPS location information at clock-in and supports geofencing, which was helpful for verifying work hours.
That said, there are a few limitations. Time is tracked to the nearest minute, instead of seconds. This may seem minor, but time can add up fast and cost employers more for the unexpected rounded hours. I also didn’t like that you can only use photo identification on a tablet or POS system, making it less useful for mobile teams.
Managers can edit, add, and approve time cards and run payroll automatically. Payroll and timesheets
Homebase offers its own payroll solution, which definitely sets it apart. Once timesheets are approved, you can run payroll or enable auto-payroll to automate the process entirely. Homebase handles tax calculations and filings, issues W-2s and 1099s, and notifies employees when they’ve been paid.
The downside is cost. Payroll starts at $49 per month plus $6 per employee, which can add up quickly for growing teams. If you don’t want to use Homebase’s payroll, the platform integrates with providers like Gusto and Paychex, so there’s some flexibility.
What users say about Homebase
Homebase is a easy software to learn. It covers the basics of what we need to do to schedule our team and communicate with them.
The mobile app can be a bit glitchy or slow at times, and more useful features are only available on the paid plans. So while the free version is great for basics, you might need to upgrade as your team grows.
0Pricing
Starts at $24/location/month Trial: Yes — 14 days Free Plan: Yes — For a single location & up to 20 employees
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ZoomShift — Good for managers that prioritize ease of use and want a basic scheduler
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduler
- Scheduling templates
- Shift swaps and requests
- Time tracking
Pros
- Labor forecasting
- Easy-to-use
Cons
- Lacks auto-scheduling
- No integrations
ZoomShift is an employee scheduling tool that helps teams with shift management and attendance tracking.
Why I chose ZoomShift: ZoomShift stood out for its simple scheduler and built-in forecasting tools to help control labor costs.
Our full review of ZoomShift covers our experience creating schedules, tracking time, and managing time-off and staff availability in the app.
ZoomShift’s scheduler with labor forecasting tools helps managers build schedules while tracking costs against sales in real-time. Scheduler and labor forecasting
ZoomShift’s scheduling tools are pretty straightforward and easy to use. The drag-and-drop scheduler and copy-shift function made it easy to build daily, weekly, or monthly schedules. I appreciated that you can reuse past schedules or apply templates to recurring shifts. ZoomShift doesn’t offer auto-scheduling so you’d have to rely on these shortcuts to speed things up.
Managers can access labor forecasting tools to keep schedules within budget. I liked that as you build schedules, you can track labor hours and costs against sales, monitor overtime, and see how staffing decisions affect payroll in real time. While helpful, forecasting seemed more like a suggestion than an automation. The platform doesn’t automatically assign shifts, so you still need to manually adjust schedules to stay within budget.
Availability, time off, and shift swaps
ZoomShift keeps time-off requests and availability easy to manage. Employees can submit requests, and managers can approve or deny them. I liked that you can also require advance notice to reduce last-minute requests. Approved time off appears directly on the schedule, making it easier to plan coverage and avoid conflicts. Availability tracking is built in, so managers always know who’s able to work.
Employees can request shift swaps, which notifies all qualified team members and alerts managers once the shift is covered. I liked that employees can offer shifts to specific coworkers and add notes for context. Managers get a clear view of which shifts are covered and which still need attention, making it easier to step in when needed.
ZoomShift’s time clock captures employees’ locations and lets employees clock out for breaks and leave shift-related notes. Time tracking
Employees can clock in and out from ZoomShift’s web or mobile app, and GPS tracking verifies their location. Time tracking is reliable for regular hours and overtime, but I found break enforcement pretty limited. The platform doesn’t remind employees to take breaks or prevent early break endings, which could be an issue for businesses in compliance-heavy industries. For more control, the Premium plan includes overtime alerts, geofencing, and restrictions for early or late clock-ins.
ZoomShift tracks missed shifts, late and early punches, extra shifts, and overtime, and blocks employees from clocking in without being scheduled. Timesheets break down hours worked and gross pay by location, role, or employee, making payroll prep easier. Since ZoomShift doesn’t offer any integrations, you have to export timesheets and manually import them into your payroll system, which was a letdown for me.
What users say about ZoomShift
Read review here.Zoomshift allows us to create, adjust, and keep a staff schedule that is changing daily. It notifies employees when changes happen and we are able to customize the schedule to exactly how we need it.
Read review here.Sometimes, the system can lag when multiple people are editing shifts simultaneously. Also, exporting reports or schedules could be made a bit more flexible with custom filters.
Pricing
Starts at $2/active team member/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes
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Sling — Good for startups and single-locations teams on a tight budget
Key Features
- Drag-and-drop scheduling
- Labor optimization
- Auto-scheduler
- Time tracking
Pros
- Affordable per-user pricing
- User-friendly interface
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Mobile app has limited functionalities
Sling is an employee scheduling app that offers shift management, time tracking, and labor costing.
Why I chose Sling: Sling offers a generous free plan and competitive pricing, making it a good option for businesses that need a scheduling app on a tight budget.
Read our full review of Sling to learn what we thought about its ease of use, shift planning, and time tracking.
Sling’s drag-and-drop scheduler with labor cost tools lets managers see how scheduling decisions impact expenses and flags “clopening” shifts automatically. Scheduling and labor costing
Sling’s drag-and-drop scheduler makes creating and adjusting shifts quick and manageable. I liked how easy it was to spot and fix “clopening” shifts, those times when an employee closes late and is scheduled to open early the next day. Sling flags short turnaround times and includes templates for recurring shifts.
There’s also an auto-scheduling feature that generates schedules based on employee availability and business needs. The built-in labor cost tools let you see how scheduling decisions impact expenses as you build schedules, which I found helpful. However, the auto-scheduler isn’t as advanced as some more modern alternatives.
Sling also lacks a day-rate pay option alongside hourly rates, which could be a drawback for construction crews, field service teams, event staff, or any workforce paid per shift or per day rather than by the hour.
Shift swaps and time-off
Sling gives employees a few ways to manage shift coverage and time off. Employees can request shift swaps with coworkers whose shifts fall within a two-week window, and managers can approve swaps. I liked that Sling separates ongoing unavailability from one-time time-off requests, so it’s easier to build a more accurate schedule.
Employees can request full or partial days off, make multi-day requests, and offer shifts up for coverage. When a shift is available, Sling notifies team members in the same location and role, but employees can also offer shifts directly to specific coworkers, which I found helpful.
I wish there were more specific filters, because you can only sort employees by role and location, rather than skills or experience. This could be limiting for healthcare teams or multi-location hospitality teams that need to schedule based on certifications, specialties, or seniority.
Sling’s mobile app and kiosk mode let employees clock in and out from approved locations using GPS-based geofencing to prevent time theft. Time clock and geofencing
Employees can use Sling’s mobile app to clock in and out. For fixed locations, there’s also a kiosk mode that lets you use shared devices as time clocks, such as an iPad or tablet. I liked that Sling offers GPS-based geofencing to ensure that employees only clock in from approved locations.
Sling can prevent early clock-ins and automatically end shifts before overtime starts, which is helpful for controlling labor costs. One limitation I noticed is that you can’t view total employee hours on the mobile app, so you have to switch to the desktop version, which isn’t ideal for busy managers who need to check hours on the go.
What users say about Sling
Sling is simple and easy to use for scheduling. It makes shift planning and communication more efficient. Notifications help employees stay updated on schedule changes.
Views of schedule get a little wonky when you try to look longer than week. Some functions like call-ins can be cumbersome to go back to roster view.
0Pricing
Starts at $1.7/user/month Trial: Yes — 15 days Free Plan: Yes — Up to 30 users
Compare the Best Employee Scheduling Apps
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Start for free
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Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
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Starts at $5/user/month
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Starts at $29.99/month/location, up to 30 employees
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Starts at $24/location/month
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Starts at $2/active team member/month
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Starts at $1.7/user/month
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yes
14-day
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yes
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yes
14 days
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yes
14 days
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yes
14-day
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yes
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yes
Free Up to 10 users
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yes
Up to 1 location & 15 employees
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For a single location & up to 20 employees
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yes
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yes
Up to 30 users
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| Use cases |
Best employee scheduling app for frontline teams managing multiple roles across locations
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Good for regulated industries with complex scheduling and strict compliance needs
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Good for food & beverage businesses that need tight labor cost control
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Good for small retail or service teams that want built-in payroll
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Good for managers that prioritize ease of use and want a basic scheduler
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Good for startups and single-locations teams on a tight budget
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| Available on |
What is an Employee Scheduling App?
Employee scheduling apps are tools that help businesses create, manage, and share work schedules in one centralized place. They replace manual scheduling methods like spreadsheets, emails, or paper schedules, making shift planning faster and more reliable.
With an employee scheduling app, managers can build schedules based on roles, availability, and staffing needs, while employees can view their assigned shifts directly from their phones.
Most apps also support features like shift swaps, time-off requests, and instant schedule updates, helping teams stay aligned and reducing scheduling errors. Employee scheduling apps aim to help businesses save time, improve coverage, and keep teams informed.
How Do Employee Scheduling Apps Work?
Employee scheduling apps work by giving managers a digital platform to plan shifts and manage availability in real-time. Managers enter employee details, set availability rules, and assign shifts using drag-and-drop tools or automated scheduling features.
Once schedules are published, employees can access them through a mobile or web app. They can receive notifications when changes are made, request time off, submit availability, or swap shifts based on manager approval. Many apps also connect scheduling with time tracking, allowing employees to clock in and out directly from their schedules.
Most apps generate reports on hours worked, coverage gaps, and labor trends, helping managers optimize schedules and control labor costs.
Benefits of Using an Employee Scheduling App
Employee scheduling apps can support your business operations in multiple ways. Here’s how they can help:
Fewer issues
Employee scheduling apps reduce the stress caused by last-minute changes and coverage gaps. With clear visibility into availability and staffing needs, managers can build schedules that hold up. As a result, fewer shifts go unfilled and fewer emergencies derail the week.
Higher productivity
When schedules are clear and reliable, employees know exactly when and where they’re expected to work. That consistency decreases absenteeism, limits confusion, and helps teams stay focused on their actual jobs instead of dealing with scheduling problems.
Better control
Employee scheduling apps help you staff the right number of people at the right times. By avoiding overstaffing, unnecessary overtime, and reactive scheduling decisions, managers can keep labor costs predictable and aligned with demand.
Clearer communication
Instead of missed messages and outdated schedules, employee scheduling apps let everyone work off of the same source of truth. Schedule changes, shift coverage, and updates are shared instantly, reducing miscommunication and frustration across your teams.
Improved accuracy
Accurate schedules improve operations and reduce risk. Employee scheduling apps help ensure shifts align with availability, role requirements, and labor rules, lowering the chance of errors that lead to compliance issues or employee burnout.
How Much Do Employee Scheduling Apps Cost?
The cost of employee scheduling apps really depends on the pricing model used. Many platforms charge either per user or per location, with per-user pricing starting around $1.70 to $5 per user per month, depending on features and plan. Per-location pricing usually starts between $24 and $40 per location per month, offering more predictable costs as teams grow.
Connecteam offers a Small Business Plan that is completely free for up to 10 users. Paid plans start at just $29 per month for up to 30 users, and go up to $49/month for Advanced and $99/month for Expert, both also covering up to 30 users.
FAQs
Employee scheduling is the process of planning and assigning shifts, roles, and hours to staff while considering business needs, employee availability, and labor requirements. It ensures that the right number of people are working at the right times while balancing coverage, labor costs, and employee management.
Employee scheduling apps often have user-friendly mobile interfaces and guided onboarding, making them easy to learn and use.
Users can expect 24/7 customer support from employee scheduling apps through live chat, email, phone, and help centers. Connecteam offers dedicated onboarding, in-app tutorials, and responsive support teams.
Most employee scheduling apps use encryption, secure cloud storage, and access controls to protect employee data. Platforms like Connecteam follow GDPR and SOC 2 compliance standards to ensure privacy and security. Admins can set permission levels and monitor data access logs for accountability.
Implement employee scheduling apps by setting up user roles, importing employee data, and configuring schedules. Platforms like Connecteam require minimal training with tutorials, mobile walkthroughs, and customer support.
The Bottom Line on Online Employee Scheduling Apps
Employee scheduling doesn’t have to mean constant changes, missed shifts, and hours spent fixing avoidable mistakes. When schedules are built manually, it’s easy for gaps, confusion, and errors to slow teams down and frustrate employees.
Employee scheduling apps bring structure to the process by keeping schedules accurate, accessible, and easy to update in real-time. With everything in one place, managers spend less time reacting to problems and more time running their business.
Connecteam is the best choice for real-world teams that need a reliable employee scheduling app. With a mobile-first design and a flexible feature set built to simplify day-to-day operations, it works well for teams of any size. If you’re looking for a scheduling app that’s easy to use, fits within your budget, and actually helps, start with Connecteam.
