Best Free Employee Scheduling Software in 2021

The field of human resources management is one that’s largely left to chance. With the rise of cloud-based software, these tasks are now much more manageable and efficient than they were before. If you’re looking for a new employee scheduling platform in 2021, try out some of these options!

You can create, maintain, and publish staff schedules with free employee scheduling software that is both web-based and mobile. These free solutions are meant to simplify and automate scheduling operations, eliminating the need to maintain and print spreadsheets containing your workers’ work schedules.

Time tracking, leave management, team communications, shift shifting, and an online plan creator are all included in most employee scheduling systems. Some even provide AI-powered auto-scheduling features and mobile applications that enable workers to use the software from anywhere as long as they have an internet connection.

How We Picked the Best Free Employee Scheduling Apps

We looked at a number of trustworthy companies that provide free software for establishing and maintaining staff schedules. Overtime planning, shift shifting, time tracking, and reporting tools were among the elements we looked for. After that, we gave each one a score based on the following criteria:

25% of the overall score

Features of scheduling software

15% of the overall score

We investigated whether the provider’s scheduling solution can be accessed or bought apart from the provider’s other software products, in addition to if its premium plans have clear pricing.

25% of the overall score

Shift shifting, overtime, break, and paid time-off planning are all included in the finest scheduling software. Additionally, having team communications, multi-location scheduling, mobile applications, and a self-service portal are all beneficial.

15% of the overall score

Geofencing, geolocation monitoring, and a variety of clock-in/out choices (including fingerprint, badge, and pin code) are just a few of the crucial features we looked for. We also checked to see whether the program allows us to set up approvals and prohibit early clock-ins.

25% of the overall score

It’s critical to have an employee scheduling tool that’s simple to use and understand. We looked at whether the vendor provides live phone assistance, training, speedy system installs, and payroll, point-of-sale (POS), and timekeeping system connection possibilities.

10% of the overall score

We looked at reviews on third-party sites like G2 and Capterra written by real people.

Homebase was judged to be the best alternative for small companies based on our assessment criteria. Its free version allows you to set schedules and monitor time for an infinite number of workers who work in the same place. Unlike other scheduling software, you receive free recruiting and team chat capabilities, as well as possibilities for POS and payroll software connection.

Homebase

PROS

• Employee scheduling, attendance monitoring, online time clocks, job advertising, and application tracking are all included in the free plan.
• An interface that is simple to use
• Can manage an infinite number of staff

CONS

• The free plan is only available in one area.
• From time to time, software glitches occur..

Total Points 4.13 OUT OF 5

What I like about Homebase is that its free plan has a lot of features. You may utilize its platform to advertise positions, manage applications, and interact with team members in addition to scheduling and time tracking capabilities. This is why Homebase is a wonderful choice for small companies, such as retail shops and restaurants, since it offers basic recruitment capabilities that other scheduling software doesn’t—all for free.

Its platforms may also be used to combine POS and payroll systems. This is beneficial for small firms that wish to simplify employee pay processing since it eliminates the need for manual time data uploading for payroll runs. However, if you’re utilizing a payroll provider that can submit this data, you may obtain Homebase’s timesheets as CSV files.

While Homebase does not have a restriction on the number of employees it may hire, the free plan only covers one location. If your company has many locations, you will need to upgrade to one of Homebase’s premium plans. It’s worth noting that the monthly price (which begins at $19.95) is payable per location. Furthermore, premium services such as job post boosts and professional guidance from its “HR Pro” staff must be paid for separately.

Pricing

• Staff scheduling, time tracking, recruiting tools, basic reports, PTO requests, payroll and POS interfaces, mobile applications (for iOS and Android), and online time clock choices are all included in the free plan (for smartphones, tablets, computers, and POS devices)
• Paid plans: Three tiers (Essentials, Plus, and All-in-One); monthly fees range from $19.95 to $99.95 per location; premium tiers include budgeting and labor cost controls, PTO policies and accruals tracking, and onboarding tools; premium tiers include budgeting and labor cost controls, PTO policies and accruals tracking, and onboarding tools.
• Job posting boosts (starting at $79 per job post) and access to HR experts and resources (starting at $99 per month for non-All-in-One plan customers) are two add-on services.

Features

• With drag-and-drop capabilities, you can create a timetable online.
• Shift coverings, shift swaps, and open shifts
• Schedule templates, auto-scheduling, and shift preferences and availability
• Requests for paid time off, rules, and accrual tracking (PTO requests included in free plan)
• For your state, you may specify automatic standard breaks and overtime settings.
• Digital time sheets are used to monitor employee time.
• Early time-ins are restricted (available in paid plans)
• Tablets, desktop PCs, cellphones, and point-of-sale devices all have time clock applications.
• Time-ins/outs depending on pin codes
• Geofencing and geolocation monitoring were used to verify time entries (available in paid plans)
• Employees who are clocking in are asked health screening questions.
• Mode for use when you’re not connected to the internet (In the event that Wi-Fi is unavailable, Homebase will record time-ins/outs and sync them to the virtual clock whenever the connection is restored.)
• Applicant tracking, interview questions, and job advertising on the most popular job boards
• Onboarding new employees, electronic signatures, and document storage (available in premium tiers)
• HR advisors and an HR resource library are accessible to you (available in premium tiers)
• Messages may be sent to groups or individuals through the built-in messenger.

Integrations with Third-Party Software

• POS systems: Square, Clover, Vend, Toast, Shopify, Revel Systems, and Lightspeed.
• Payroll systems: ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, and Square Payroll.
• Job boards: Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter
• Business applications: Restaurant365, Shopventory, Ctuit Software, and BevSpot.

7shifts

PROS

• An interface that is simple to use
• Has all of the essential time-tracking and scheduling functions that small eateries need.
• For paying programs, it offers a 14-day free trial.

CONS

• Only one location and ten staff are included in the free plan.
• Paid subscriptions include schedule templates, POS and payroll interfaces, and shift data exports.
• Occasionally, there are software issues.

Total Points 3.83 OUT OF 5

7shifts provides a cloud-based tool for managing employee schedules and tracking time. It offers extensive scheduling and communication facilities that both workers and supervisors can utilize even while on the move, and it was designed exclusively for enterprises in the fast food and restaurant sectors.

However, you can only use its minimal scheduling and time clocking solutions with its free “Comp” plan. Notifications about staff scheduling, shift swapping, PTO requests, basic reporting, staff availability tools, and mobile app access are all included. It is likewise restricted to a single location with a maximum of ten workers. If you need multi-location scheduling or more user seats, you’ll need to switch to a premium subscription.

Advanced reporting, payroll and POS connections, overtime and break alarms, and employee clock ins/outs using mobile applications are all included in the subscription plans (iOS and Android). In addition, if you want account setup support, sales data import, a monthly operations overview report, or task management, you’ll have to pay extra.

Pricing

• The “Comp” plan is free and covers one location with ten workers. It includes basic scheduling and time tracking options.
• Paid plans: There are four choices (Appetizer, Entree, The Works, and Gourmet), with monthly rates ranging from $19.99 for 20 workers to $19.99 for an infinite number of employees.
• Add-ons include account setup ($150 one-time fee), sales data import ($100 one-time fee), task management ($12.99 per location, per month), and operations overview ($6.00 per location, per month) to help you track and compare sales, labor, and employee engagement data across multiple business locations.

Features

• With drag-and-drop capabilities, you can create a timetable online.
• Management of employee availability
• Templates for schedules, shift swaps, and alerts
• Auto-scheduling tool using artificial intelligence (included in highest tier)
• Digital time sheets are used to monitor employee time.
• Early time-ins are restricted (included in highest tier)
• Apps for clocks on tablets and smartphones
• Time-ins/outs depending on pin codes
• Face recognition time-in verifications with a mobile clock in/out (included in highest tier)
• Employees who are clocking in are asked health screening questions.
• Questions for a health screening that are unique to you (included in highest tier)
• Messaging for individuals and groups

Integrations

• POS systems: Clover, Brink POS, Bypass, CAKE, Heartland Dinerware, Lightspeed, POSitouch, Revel Systems, Aloha, Square, Toast, TouchBistro, Squirrel Systems, SilverWare POS, and Micros POS systems.
• Payroll systems: Gusto, Paychex, Paycor, Paycom, QuickBooks Payroll, Paylocity, Toast Payroll, Ultipro, Ceridian Powerpay, Wagepoint, and ADP.
• Business applications: ExpandShare, HigherMe, and Speakap.

OpenSimSim

PROS

• Simple to use
• Tools for effective scheduling and shift reminders
• Provides a free online demo that may be accessed for 24 hours.

CONS

• Only one department, one location, and up to ten workers are covered under the free plan.
• There is no live phone assistance.
• Payroll integration options are limited.

Total Points

3.73 OUT OF 5

With SocialSchedules (previously OpenSimSim), you receive a position-based cloud-based employee scheduling platform. This implies that before you can construct and allocate shifts, you must first identify each employee’s role.

Its free plan, on the other hand, includes a restricted set of features. You may establish schedules and monitor employee time for up to ten employees as long as they all work in the same department and in the same area. While PTO management, time sheets, in-app chat, and a tablet time clock are all available for free, premium features need a paid subscription to one of SocialSchedules’ paid plans (like shift confirmations, multi-location scheduling, POS integrations, advanced reporting, and a mobile time clock).

Pricing

• Basic: Free; one location, one department, up to ten workers, and 28 days of cloud storage
• Starter: $15.99 per month per location; includes two departments, unlimited workers, and seven years of cloud storage.
• Premium: $39.99 per month per location; includes five departments, unlimited workers, and seven years of cloud storage.
• Enterprise: Priced individually; includes an unlimited number of departments and workers, as well as seven years of cloud storage.
• Assist with setup: System setup, staff data import, business position creation, and manual format and import of up to 12-weeks historical sales data are all included in the Ruby package ($149 per location). Training sessions, compliance rule setting, and integration to support POS/payroll systems are all included in the Sapphire package ($299 per site).

Features

• With drag-and-drop capabilities, you can create a timetable online.
• Position-by-position planning
• Scheduling across many locations and shift confirmations (available in paid plans)
• PTO management, staff availability, and scheduling templates
• Schedule templates, shift swaps, and open shifts
• Create shifts for employees who work from a different location or who work remotely.
• Digital time sheets are used to monitor employee time.
• Early time-ins are restricted (available in higher tiers)
• Apps for clocks on tablets and smartphones
• Disclaimers about clocking in and out (available in higher tiers)
• Mobile clock in/out with geofencing and time-in verifications using face recognition (available in higher tiers)
• For the tablet time clock, there is an offline mode.
• Unlimited chat history and in-app messaging (private and group conversations).

Integrations

• POS systems: Square POS, Heartland Restaurant POS, Future POS, Restaurant Manager, Harbortouch, Heartland Retail POS, and POSitouch.
• Payroll solutions: ADP Workforce Now, Coastal Payroll, and Heartland Payroll.

Free Employee Scheduling Software Alternatives

The three free employee scheduling software we suggested may give you with all of the capabilities you need to easily organize and manage employee shifts. Tick, on the other hand, is a good option if you need an online application to schedule personnel based on projects and customers.

Tick is suitable for businesses that work with several customers on a project basis. It offers time-tracking features that enable workers to clock in and out of duties connected to their projects. It also includes budget monitoring, timers, extensive reporting capabilities, and mobile applications for projects (for iOS and Android).

Tick provides a free subscription that includes unlimited users and a single project limit, similar to Homebase and the other employee scheduling software in our list. You must upgrade to a premium membership (fees start at $19 per month) if you need to prepare for more than one project.

Conclusion

Employee scheduling software allows you to establish and distribute work schedules to your employees, ensuring that you’re well-prepared during peak hours. Employees may switch shifts and keep in contact with free cloud-based scheduling systems that include communication and messaging features. You must examine the size of your organization, the number of workers, and any other aspects that impact your scheduling demands when deciding which tool is ideal for you.