Employee Scheduling Software Pricing Comparison 2026
5 products · dataset dated April 21, 2026 · Prices may have changed
In our April 21, 2026 pricing snapshot, Sling had the lowest recorded USD starting rate at $2/mo. This excludes unavailable prices and other currencies; billing units and included services can differ. The snapshot includes 5 employee scheduling software products: 7shifts, Deputy, Homebase, Sling, When I Work. Current vendor prices may differ. 3 of 5 had listed free plans.
Employee Scheduling Software in 2026: What the Data Shows
Market Overview
Scheduling products use different billing units. Deputy, When I Work and Sling list per-user rates; Homebase and 7shifts list per-location subscriptions. Free tiers have separate staff, location and feature limits. Restaurants may need POS and tip workflows, while other teams may prioritize time capture, approvals or access controls. The product names alone do not establish legal compliance or payroll inclusion.
Key Buying Criteria
Count both employees and locations, then price the features required by your actual scheduling process. Test shift swaps, availability, time capture, approvals and payroll export. For restaurants, verify your POS connection and tip workflow. For complex labor rules, check the specific rules supported and who maintains the configuration. Compare payroll as a separate service unless the current offer explicitly includes it.
Comparison notes
Compare Homebase when per-location billing fits your staffing pattern, and 7shifts when restaurant workflows are central. Evaluate Deputy for demand-based scheduling and wage-budget controls. When I Work offers a per-user approach with higher-tier reporting and access features; Sling has a free scheduling allowance and paid time-tracking options. Select a tier based on required features and a complete employee/location calculation, not a generic company-size recommendation.
What to Watch Out For
Deputy's snapshot includes a $30 monthly minimum, so multiplying a small roster by the headline user rate can understate the bill. Homebase and 7shifts rates are per location, while annual fields represent monthly equivalents under annual billing. Unlimited employee capacity does not mean free seats on a per-user plan. Payroll, tips, tasks and other services can add separate charges. Verify current terms and supported labor rules; scheduling software does not guarantee compliance.
| | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||||
| Starting Price | $34.99/mo | $5/mo | $30/mo | $2/mo | $2.5/mo |
| Renewal Price | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Free Plan | Recorded | Not established | Recorded | Recorded | Not established |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | 14 days | 15 days | 14 days |
| Pricing Model | per-location-restaurant-focused | per-user-tiered | per-location-tiered-with-freemium | per-user-freemium | per-user-tiered |
| Plans | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| | | | | | |
| Features | |||||
| | | | | | |
How We Track Prices
This comparison uses a category snapshot dated 2026-04-21. Prices and terms may have changed. Check each vendor's current offer before buying.
Each amount uses its recorded currency; no currency conversion is applied. Prices in your region may differ due to local pricing and taxes. We show the lowest recorded paid tier unless otherwise noted. Billing units and plan limits differ; confirm current terms before buying. Some products offer introductory pricing that increases on renewal - we show both where applicable.
Affiliate links may earn us a commission. Product order is not a recommendation.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
See how employee scheduling software products stack up against each other - plans, pricing, and features side by side.
Explore Alternatives
Explore Individual Product Pricing
Deep dive into each employee scheduling software product - full plan breakdowns, renewal prices, features, and comparison notes.
More Ways to Explore Employee Scheduling Software
Quick Pricing Summary
| Product | From | Free Plan | Pricing check |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2/mo | Recorded; confirm terms | 2026-04-21 | |
| $2.5/mo | Not established | 2026-04-21 | |
| $5/mo | Not established | 2026-04-21 | |
| $30/mo | Recorded; confirm terms | 2026-04-21 | |
| $34.99/mo | Recorded; confirm terms | 2026-04-21 |
Employee Scheduling Software analysis on the StackScored blog
Building Your Business Stack?
Decision-makers comparing tools often need more than one category. Here are related comparisons:
HR & Payroll
Compare base fees and per-worker rates by service.
Employee Engagement & Performance Management
Recorded from $4/mo (15Five)
Time Tracking
Recorded from $4.99/mo (Clockify)
Restaurant POS Software
Recorded from $69/mo (Lightspeed Restaurant)
Field Service Management Software
Recorded from $79/mo (Housecall Pro)
Frequently Asked Questions
- How should I compare employee scheduling software costs?
- Match the plan, billing unit, included usage and commitment length before comparing numbers. A starting price is not a quote for your team. Check required add-ons, taxes and any renewal rate with the vendor.
- Which employee scheduling software products list a free plan?
- Homebase, 7shifts, Sling list free plans in this snapshot. Check current eligibility and feature or usage limits before signing up.
- Are these hands-on product reviews?
- These pages compare recorded pricing and features. They do not establish hands-on testing, customer satisfaction or which product is best for your business.
- How current are these prices?
- Use the dataset date shown on this page. Plans, limits and billing terms may have changed; confirm the total for your requirements on the linked vendor site.