10 Best in 2024, Reviewed!

When I Work, starting at $1.50 per user per month, is a top choice for small to midsize businesses (SMBs) seeking intuitive and affordable employee scheduling solutions. With a user-friendly interface accessible via desktop and mobile apps, it simplifies scheduling, shift trading, time-off requests, and attendance tracking. Notably, it’s free for teams of up to 75 employees, making it one of the most cost-effective options in the market. The software also supports seamless management of employee availability and includes dedicated Android and iOS apps, ensuring on-the-go access for teams.

Connecteam takes the hassle out of employee scheduling with powerful tools designed to save managers time and streamline operations. Its intuitive platform enables effortless shift planning, allocation, and monitoring, supported by features like reusable schedule templates and automatic alerts to notify employees of upcoming shifts or changes. The standout auto-scheduling feature aligns shifts with employee availability, distributes work equitably, and ensures proper staffing by assigning jobs based on qualifications. With just a few clicks, managers can create ongoing or recurring shifts, assign open slots, and handle conflicts efficiently.

Homebase stands out because of its user-friendly scheduling tools that make the process so much easier and more flexible. The drag-and-drop feature, combined with automatic scheduling, allows users to quickly create schedules while considering employee availability and time-off requests. Real-time notifications keep teams updated on any schedule changes, and the customizable templates help users set up recurring shifts in no time, saving hours of work. Additional features like color-coded roles, shift notes, and daily earnings visibility for employees make Homebase a go-to solution for managing schedules smoothly and keeping everyone on track.

QuickBooks Time is an excellent scheduling solution for businesses already leveraging QuickBooks for accounting or payroll, offering seamless integration to streamline workforce management. With its Workforce app, employees can clock in and out from their mobile devices or a kiosk, while employers benefit from task scheduling, real-time updates, and payroll synchronization—all within the QuickBooks interface. The Elite plan adds advanced features like geofencing, mileage tracking, and timesheet signatures, making it ideal for field-based teams. While it doesn’t support importing data from external calendars, it can sync schedules with Google Calendar and Outlook for better accessibility. Flexible pricing options and a 30-day free trial make QuickBooks Time a strong contender for businesses seeking efficient scheduling and payroll integration in one platform.

ShiftBoard is a robust employee scheduling and shift planning solution, starting at $3 per user per month—an affordable choice for small business budgets. While its calendar view may lack the sleek intuitiveness of competitors like Deputy, ShiftBoard compensates with a feature-rich platform that addresses the core scheduling needs of growing teams. Though it could benefit from enhancements like a user help forum, ShiftBoard’s strengths lie in its reliability and affordability. It remains a competitive option for businesses seeking a cost-effective, comprehensive scheduling tool. Despite a few areas for improvement, ShiftBoard holds its place as one of the strongest contenders in the scheduling software market.

ClockShark is the ultimate scheduling and time-tracking solution for businesses in construction and field services, offering tools tailored to the complexities of managing field teams. Its all-in-one employee scheduling app functions as a work calendar, time clock, and job manager, enabling managers to create and adjust work schedules, assign jobs, and notify employees of changes in real time. Field workers can clock in and out, view detailed task assignments, and track job site locations directly from their schedule, ensuring seamless communication and accountability. Optimized for both desktop and mobile devices, ClockShark simplifies workforce management, making it an indispensable tool for field-based industries.

Buddy Punch streamlines time tracking and employee scheduling for businesses managing distributed teams across multiple locations and time zones. Its innovative Time Clock Locations feature allows managers to create and assign specific locations to employees, who can then log onto their work site directly on timecards. This enables real-time visibility into hours spent at each site, simplifying productivity tracking and improving accountability. Additionally, Buddy Punch generates detailed reports for single or multiple locations, empowering managers to assess workloads and optimize resource allocation effectively. For businesses seeking a flexible and intuitive scheduling solution, Buddy Punch delivers efficiency and control across diverse work environments.

TCP Humanity stands out in the crowded employee scheduling and shift planning software market by offering unparalleled flexibility and ease of use. Unlike niche solutions tailored to specific industries or rigid frameworks that complicate customization, Humanity adapts seamlessly to the needs of small to midsize businesses (SMBs) across various sectors. Starting at just $2 per user per month, it combines affordability with a robust feature set, making it a top choice in the shift scheduling category. Moreover, recent user interface (UI) updates have further enhanced Humanity’s functionality, delivering an integrated yet intuitive platform for attendance and shift planning.

Rippling stands out in workforce management by seamlessly integrating HR, IT, and finance functions into one platform, streamlining business operations. Its scheduling feature is highly intuitive, offering a drag-and-drop interface to quickly assign shifts, copy patterns, and include breaks with ease. What sets Rippling apart is its real-time integration of employee data—like availability and pay rates—ensuring conflict-free scheduling and adherence to labor laws for enhanced compliance. The Rippling mobile app empowers employees to manage their schedules on the go, allowing them to request time off, swap shifts, or update availability effortlessly, while managers receive instant notifications about attendance issues. With automated processes to prevent over-scheduling and ensure fairness, Rippling delivers a robust, user-friendly solution that excels in efficiency and adaptability, making it a leading choice for modern businesses.

Deputy is a top-tier employee scheduling and shift planning tool, earning an Editors’ Choice award for its exceptional features and usability. What sets Deputy apart is its additional human resource (HR) functionalities, offering SMBs an all-in-one solution for scheduling and basic HR needs. While its HR capabilities may not rival specialized platforms like BambooHR or Zenefits, it provides excellent value for businesses seeking a dual-purpose tool. Its standout strengths include an intuitive user interface (UI), robust mobile support, extensive integrations, and a wide range of customization options. Backed by 24/7 customer support, Deputy ensures smooth operations for businesses of all sizes, placing it among the best scheduling solutions alongside competitors like Humanity.