Best Consultant Scheduling Software Compared

Sling is a low cost way for a small consulting team to move rosters off spreadsheets and into a shared schedule. Staff can see shifts, request swaps and receive updates in one place, and managers can build a week from templates and availability. The free tier covers scheduling for up to 30 users, which is enough for many small firms to run a full roster without a monthly charge for the core scheduling function.

The Premium plan starts at $1.70 per user per month billed annually, or $2 billed monthly, and adds features such as time tracking and extra controls. A firm that only needs to publish shifts and manage swaps may stay on the free tier. Sling fits consultants who want a simple roster first and a low monthly cost.

Price: $1.70 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: getsling.com

When I Work fits consulting teams that want a clear weekly roster with messaging built in, so staff can confirm shifts and ask for swaps without a separate chat app. Managers can create shifts, copy a roster from a prior week and publish it to the team in a few steps. The interface stays focused on the schedule, which helps a small team that does not need a full operations suite.

The Essentials plan starts at $2.50 per user per month, and a 14-day trial is available. Time tracking needs a higher tier, so a firm that bills by the hour should check the cost of adding that function before choosing the entry plan.

Price: $2.50 per user/month

Free plan: No (14-day trial)

Website: wheniwork.com

Connecteam combines scheduling with team chat, forms and task lists, which can suit a consulting firm that wants one app for field staff and office staff. Managers can publish shifts, send updates and collect forms from the same place, and staff can check a shift, message a manager and complete a checklist from a phone. That breadth helps firms where consultants work on site and need more than a roster alone.

The Operations Basic plan costs $29 per month billed annually and covers the first 30 users, while a free tier covers up to 10 users. A team of 11 to 30 users pays the same flat $29, which can be good value for a mid size team. A very small team should weigh the flat charge against per user tools.

Price: $29 per month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: connecteam.com

Homebase suits a consulting firm with one office that needs scheduling, time tracking and messaging in a single system. Managers can build a roster, track hours and send team updates without moving between tools. The free tier covers one location with up to 10 employees, which lets a small firm run scheduling and time tracking before it commits to a monthly plan.

The Essentials plan starts at $24 per location per month billed annually, or $30 billed monthly. Per location pricing means a firm with two offices pays for two locations, so a multi-site firm should add up the full cost before it compares Homebase with per user tools.

Price: $24 per location/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: joinhomebase.com

7shifts is built for shift teams and gives managers a view of labour costs as they build a roster, which helps a consulting firm that staffs client sites by the hour. Managers can set availability, approve time off and publish shifts, while staff can view the roster, request swaps and check shift details from a phone. The focus on shift work keeps the roster clear when many staff cover different sites in one week.

The Essentials plan starts at $39.99 per location per month billed annually, and a free Comp tier covers one location. Per location pricing suits a firm with one main site, but a firm with several client sites should check how each location is counted.

Price: $39.99 per location/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: 7shifts.com

Hubstaff combines scheduling with time tracking, so a consulting firm can plan shifts and then track the hours worked against each shift. Managers can view activity, compare scheduled hours with tracked hours and build reports for billing and payroll. That link between the roster and the hours worked helps firms that bill clients by the hour and need a clear record of time.

The Starter plan starts at $4.99 per seat per month billed annually, with a two-seat minimum, and a 14-day trial is available. There is no free plan, so even a small team starts on a monthly charge.

Price: $4.99 per seat/month (billed annually)

Free plan: No (14-day trial)

Website: hubstaff.com

Clockify is known for time tracking, and its scheduling function lets a small consulting team plan shifts and track hours in the same place. Staff can log time against a client or project, and managers can view hours, compare them with the roster and build reports for billing. The free tier covers up to 5 users, which suits a very small firm that wants to start without a monthly charge.

The Basic plan starts at $3.99 per seat per month billed annually. Scheduling in Clockify is lighter than in a specialist roster tool, so a firm with complex shift rules, overtime limits and many sites may need more depth.

Price: $3.99 per seat/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: clockify.me

TimeCamp combines time tracking with scheduling, billing and invoicing views, which can help a consulting firm that turns tracked hours into client invoices. Managers can schedule work, track time against projects and view billable hours in reports. The free tier covers unlimited users, which is rare among the tools in this guide and lets a larger small team start without a per user charge for the core functions.

The Starter plan starts at $3.99 per user per month billed annually. Scheduling is lighter than in a specialist roster tool, so firms with strict shift rules should check the roster controls in detail.

Price: $3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: timecamp.com

Buddy Punch combines scheduling with time tracking and overtime alerts, so managers can see when a shift plan is likely to run past a limit. Staff can clock in and out, request time off and view the roster, while managers can approve hours and build reports for payroll. The setup stays simple, which helps a small consulting team that wants to start quickly without a long configuration step.

The Starter plan costs $19 per month as a base charge plus $4.99 per user per month billed annually. That base charge applies before any user fees, so a team of five pays $43.95 per month in total. There is no free plan, and a 14-day trial is available.

Price: $19 per month base plus $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: No (14-day trial)

Website: buddypunch.com