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Time Tracking · Researched comparison

8 Best Deputy Alternatives for Shift Teams in 2026

By the TaskReports Editorial Team
Published 14 Nov 2026 · Updated 14 Nov 2026Last verified 14 Nov 2026How we score

TaskReports may earn a fee from some links on this page, and some placements are paid and labelled. Neither one decides the order. See our disclosure.

The short answer

Homebase is the top pick for most shift teams. Its free Basic plan covers scheduling and a time clock for one location and up to 10 employees at no cost. Essentials costs $24 per location per month billed annually, with unlimited employees, so the bill stays flat as headcount grows. That flat per-location price makes Homebase the best value.

Best overall When I Work $2.50 per user/month Also great Homebase Free Basic plan; Essentials $24 per location/month (billed annually) Also great 7shifts Free Comp plan; Essentials $39.99 per location/month (billed annually)
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Key takeaways

  • Homebase is the top pick, because its free plan covers one location and up to 10 employees, and Essentials stays flat at $24 per location per month.
  • When I Work and Sling have the lowest per-user entry prices, at $2.50 and $1.70 per user per month.
  • Per-location pricing beats per-user pricing once a roster passes about 15 to 20 people at one site.
  • ClockShark and QuickBooks Time fit crews that need GPS, job costing, or a link to QuickBooks payroll.
  • Deputy Lite at $5 per user per month costs $125 a month for 25 users, while Homebase Essentials costs $24 for the same team at one location.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
When I WorkLow-cost scheduling for hourly teams$2.50 per user/monthFree trial (14 days)
HomebaseFree scheduling and time clock for one locationFree Basic plan; Essentials $24 per location/month (billed annually)Yes, Basic plan free
7shiftsRestaurant scheduling and labor cost controlFree Comp plan; Essentials $39.99 per location/month (billed annually)Yes, Comp plan free
SlingFree scheduling for teams up to 30 usersFree plan; Premium $1.70 per user/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 30 users
ConnecteamAll-in-one operations for frontline teams$29 per hub/month (billed annually)Yes, up to 10 users
ClockSharkGPS time tracking for construction crews$42 per month base plus $9.50 per user/monthFree trial (14 days)
Buddy PunchVerified punches with photo and GPS$19 per month base plus $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
QuickBooks TimeCrews already on QuickBooks Online$20 per month base plus $10 per user/monthFree trial (30 days)

How we choose

We reviewed vendor pricing pages, product docs, and feature lists for Deputy and the eight tools in this guide, and we compared the plans side by side on price, free plan limits, scheduling depth, time clock features, and integrations. We noted where each feature sits, on the entry plan or a higher plan. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we did not use customer counts, awards, or review scores to rank the tools. The top pick reflects the lowest cost for a typical single-location shift team.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

When I Work

Best for Low-cost scheduling for hourly teams

  • Auto-scheduling on every plan
  • lowest entry price in this guide at $2.50 per user per month
Price$2.50 per user/month
See When I Work pricing

When I Work is the cheapest way into scheduling for an hourly team. The entry plan starts at $2.50 per user per month, with auto-scheduling included on every plan, so a manager can build a week of shifts from availability and demand without hand-placing each slot. Higher plans step up to Pro at $5 and Premium at $8 per user per month, adding more reporting and team messaging as the roster grows.

Watch the time tracking setup. The vendor page FAQ says every plan includes it, while the plan cards show it as a toggle, so confirm before buying whether clock-ins are included or billed as an add-on at $1.50 to $2 per user per month. Payroll is a separate add-on, and managers count as users, so include supervisors in your headcount.

Price: $2.50 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: wheniwork.com

Watch out for

  • Time tracking is an add-on at $1.50 to $2 per user per month
  • no free plan
2

Homebase

Best for Free scheduling and time clock for one location
Free Basic plan; Essentials $24 per location/month (billed annually)

Homebase is the only option here that gives a small shift team scheduling and a time clock for nothing. The free Basic plan covers one location and up to 10 employees, which suits a single cafe, salon, or retail shop that needs published shifts and clock-ins without a monthly bill. Essentials costs $24 per location per month billed annually, with unlimited employees, so a team can grow from 10 to 40 people at one site without the price moving.

Higher plans add hiring and more HR tools, with Plus at $56 and All-in-One at $96 per location per month billed annually, and monthly billing at $30, $70, and $120. Payroll is an add-on at $49 per month plus $6 per employee. The limit to know is the free plan cap: once you pass 10 employees or open a second location, you move to a monthly plan.

Price: Free Basic plan; Essentials $24 per location/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, Basic plan free

Website: joinhomebase.com

What we like

  • Free plan covers scheduling and time clock
  • payroll add-on available in the same app

Watch out for

  • Free plan caps at 1 location and 10 employees
  • payroll costs $49 per month plus $6 per employee
See Homebase pricing
3

7shifts

Best for Restaurant scheduling and labor cost control
Free Comp plan; Essentials $39.99 per location/month (billed annually)

7shifts is built for restaurants, and that focus shows in the way it handles labor costs. The free Comp plan covers one location and up to 15 employees, enough for a small cafe or a single restaurant floor team to run schedules and time-off requests at no cost. Essentials costs $39.99 per location per month billed annually, or $44.99 on monthly billing, and adds labor cost controls plus integrations with point-of-sale systems and payroll.

Pro costs $79.99 and Premium costs $134.99 per location per month billed annually, and those plans add labor forecasting and deeper reporting for multi-unit operators. The free plan cap of 15 employees is the main limit, but for a restaurant that lives by its labor cost percentage, 7shifts is the most focused choice here.

Price: Free Comp plan; Essentials $39.99 per location/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, Comp plan free

Website: 7shifts.com

What we like

  • Free plan for 1 location and up to 15 employees
  • POS and payroll integrations

Watch out for

  • Free plan caps at 15 employees
  • labor forecasting needs a higher plan
See 7shifts pricing
4

Sling

Best for Free scheduling for teams up to 30 users
Free plan; Premium $1.70 per user/month (billed annually)

Sling has the most generous free plan in this guide, covering up to 30 users, which makes it a strong pick for a mid-size shift team that wants scheduling, messaging, and shift swaps without paying anything at first. Premium costs $1.70 per user per month billed annually, and Business costs $3.40 per user per month billed annually, or $4 on monthly billing, so even a 30-person team on Premium pays about $51 a month. Trials on the higher plans run for 15 days.

The trade-off is that the time clock sits on the Premium plan, so a team that needs verified clock-ins must move off the free plan. Reporting is basic compared with the restaurant or construction tools here, and there is no payroll module, so hours still need to be exported or entered elsewhere.

Price: Free plan; Premium $1.70 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, up to 30 users

Website: getsling.com

What we like

  • Free plan covers up to 30 users
  • low Premium price of $1.70 per user per month

Watch out for

  • Time clock sits on the Premium plan
  • reporting is basic
See Sling pricing
5

Connecteam

Best for All-in-one operations for frontline teams
$29 per hub/month (billed annually)

Connecteam is an all-in-one app for frontline teams, with scheduling, time tracking, forms, checklists, and chat under one roof. The free plan covers up to 10 users, enough for a small crew to test scheduling and the time clock. The Basic hub costs $29 per hub per month billed annually, and the first 30 users are included, with extra users at $0.80 each on Basic. Advanced costs $49 and Expert costs $99 per hub per month billed annually.

The pricing model needs care, because each hub is a separate subscription. A team that wants the operations hub, the communications hub, and the HR hub together pays for all three, so the total can climb well past the $29 starting point. Payroll integrations need a higher plan too. Connecteam fits best when one hub covers most of the need.

Price: $29 per hub/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, up to 10 users

Website: connecteam.com

What we like

  • Free plan for up to 10 users
  • scheduling, forms, and chat in one app

Watch out for

  • Each hub is a separate subscription, so full setup multiplies the cost
  • payroll integrations need a higher plan
See Connecteam pricing
6

ClockShark

Best for GPS time tracking for construction crews
$42 per month base plus $9.50 per user/month

ClockShark is aimed at construction and field service crews, and its feature set matches that audience. GPS tracking, geofencing, and job costing sit at the center, so a manager can see where crews clock in and which job each hour belongs to. Drag-and-drop scheduling is included, and the standard plan starts at a $42 per month base plus $9.50 per user per month. Pro costs $63 base plus $11.50 per user per month, and adds time off, multi-office controls, advanced job costing, and compliance forms.

Two limits deserve attention before signing up. There is no free plan, only a 14-day trial, and every plan carries a three-year contract term. The per-user fee can also rise each anniversary by CPI-U plus up to 5 percent. For a construction crew that needs proof of location and clean job costs, ClockShark is a strong fit.

Price: $42 per month base plus $9.50 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: clockshark.com

What we like

  • GPS, geofencing, and job costing
  • drag-and-drop scheduling

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14-day trial
  • three-year contract term on all plans
See ClockShark pricing
7

Buddy Punch

Best for Verified punches with photo and GPS
$19 per month base plus $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Buddy Punch is built around verified clock-ins. Staff can clock in with a photo, face scan, or QR code, and GPS can be added for $2 per user per month, which cuts down on buddy punching for teams spread across sites. The standard plan costs $19 per month base plus $4.99 per user per month billed annually, and admin users are free and unlimited, so supervisors and office staff do not add to the bill. Pro costs $6.99 and Advanced costs $12.99 per user per month billed annually.

Scheduling needs the Pro plan, so a team that wants shifts and clock-ins in one place should price Pro rather than the entry plan. There is no free plan, only a 14-day trial, and the base fee means a very small team pays more per head than the per-user rate suggests. For a team that has had trouble with unverified punches, the verification tools are the reason to pick Buddy Punch.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: buddypunch.com

What we like

  • Photo, face, and QR verification at clock-in
  • admin users are free and unlimited

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14-day trial
  • scheduling needs the Pro plan at $6.99 per user per month
See Buddy Punch pricing
8

QuickBooks Time

Best for Crews already on QuickBooks Online
$20 per month base plus $10 per user/month

QuickBooks Time, formerly TSheets, is the natural pick for a team already running QuickBooks Online. Hours flow into QuickBooks payroll and invoicing without re-keying, and the app tracks mileage and GPS alongside clock-ins. Premium costs $20 per month base plus $10 per user per month, and Elite costs $40 base plus $12 per user per month. Geofencing and mileage tracking are Elite only, so a crew that needs location limits should price that plan. The trial runs for 30 days, longer than most tools here.

The main cost to check is the QuickBooks Online subscription itself, which is required and billed separately, and there is no annual-billing discount on QuickBooks Time. A team that does not use QuickBooks would be paying for an ecosystem it does not need, and a cheaper scheduling tool would fit better.

Price: $20 per month base plus $10 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: quickbooks.intuit.com

What we like

  • Hours flow into QuickBooks payroll and invoicing
  • mileage and GPS tracking in the app

Watch out for

  • Requires a QuickBooks Online subscription at extra cost
  • no annual-billing discount
See QuickBooks Time pricing

What to check before you buy

Check how managers are counted, since some tools charge for every user including supervisors, while Buddy Punch makes admin users free and unlimited. Check whether time tracking is included or sold as an add-on, because When I Work and Sling both put parts of the time clock on a higher tier. Check the free plan caps on locations and employees, since Homebase stops at 10 employees, 7shifts at 15, and Sling at 30 users. Check the contract length and renewal terms, since ClockShark carries a three-year term and a per-user fee that can rise each anniversary. Check whether payroll or a QuickBooks Online subscription is required, since those costs sit outside the headline price. Finally, run the trial with a real week of shifts, and confirm exports match your payroll format.

FAQ

Is there a free alternative to Deputy for shift scheduling?

Yes. Homebase, 7shifts, Sling, and Connecteam all offer a free plan for shift scheduling. Homebase covers one location and up to 10 employees, 7shifts covers one location and up to 15 employees, Sling covers up to 30 users, and Connecteam covers up to 10 users. Check the caps before you commit.

Which Deputy alternative is cheapest for a 25-person team?

Homebase Essentials is the cheapest option in this guide for 25 people at one location, at a flat $24 per month billed annually. Sling Premium is next at $42.50 per month, and When I Work Essentials follows at $62.50 per month before any time tracking add-on. Deputy Lite would cost $125 per month for the same 25 users.

Does When I Work include time tracking on every plan?

The vendor page gives two different answers, so confirm before buying. Its FAQ says every plan includes time tracking, while the plan cards show time tracking as a toggle priced at $1.50 to $2 per user per month. Ask the vendor in writing, and budget for the add-on if the answer is no.

Can I switch from Deputy without losing my schedule history?

Most tools in this guide let you export schedules and time records, but the format differs by vendor, so plan the move in advance. Export past schedules, timesheets, and employee lists from Deputy first, then import staff and shifts into the new tool during a quiet week.

Which alternative is best for restaurant teams?

7shifts is the best fit for restaurant teams in this guide, because it is built around restaurant scheduling and labor cost control, with POS and payroll integrations. Its free Comp plan covers one location and up to 15 employees, and Essentials adds labor cost controls at $39.99 per location per month billed annually.

Sources we checked

  • https://wheniwork.com/pricing (When I Work pricing)
  • https://www.joinhomebase.com/pricing (Homebase pricing)
  • https://www.7shifts.com/pricing (7shifts pricing)
  • https://getsling.com/pricing (Sling pricing)
  • https://connecteam.com/pricing/ (Connecteam pricing)
  • https://www.clockshark.com/pricing (ClockShark pricing)
  • https://buddypunch.com/pricing (Buddy Punch pricing)
  • https://quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/pricing/ (QuickBooks Time pricing)

Related guides

How we score

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When I Work#1 PICK
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