Compare/Alternatives

7shifts alternatives

4 tools our write-ups put next to 7shifts, with starting price, free tier, MCP and API side by side.

7shifts from QuoteFree tier14 day free trial

Closest alternatives

See the 7shifts listing

The short answer

  • Deputy : Cross-industry hourly WFM if you are not a restaurant. From $5/user/mo
  • Harri : Hospitality ATS plus scheduling when hiring is the bigger pain. From Quote-based
  • When I Work : Cheaper per-user scheduling for a single non-restaurant location. From $2.50/user/mo
  • Homebase : SMB hourly ops and hiring for small US food and retail shops. From $30/mo

Why people look past 7shifts

Time tracking, payroll ($39.99/location/mo plus $6/employee paid), tip management, tasks, and onboarding are add-ons or higher plans. AI course-building is on Pro and Premium only.

What we noted

  • Time clocks and payroll are not in Comp
  • Per-location pricing gets expensive across many sites
  • Wrong product outside food service

Not the right fit for

  • Non-restaurant hourly work (use Deputy or When I Work)
  • Enterprises that need a full HRIS
  • Buyers who thought the free plan included time clocks and payroll

Worth keeping in mind: A kitchen-and-FOH scheduler with POS hooks and a genuine free Comp tier, then location-priced paid plans rather than per-user WFM seats.

7shifts alternatives compared

ToolFree tierFromMCPAPIHead to head
7shifts (the one you are on) ✓YesQuote–No–No
Deputy Cross-industry hourly WFM if you are not a restaurant. –No$5/user/mo–No–NoHead to head
Harri Hospitality ATS plus scheduling when hiring is the bigger pain. –NoQuote-based–No✓YesHead to head
When I Work Cheaper per-user scheduling for a single non-restaurant location. –No$2.50/user/mo–No✓YesHead to head
Homebase SMB hourly ops and hiring for small US food and retail shops. ✓Yes$30/mo–No–NoHead to head

What each one does differently

Deputy

$5/user/mo Free trial

Why it comes up: Cross-industry hourly WFM if you are not a restaurant.

Stands out: A public $5/user/month Lite seat that already covers basic rosters, clocks, and labor-law rules, with payroll connectors in the same conversation.

Watch out: Auto-scheduling, biometrics, and SSO sit on Core or Pro. Payroll via Paycor is $8/user/month plus a $49 monthly base.

Best for

  • Multi-location hourly employers
  • Hospitality, retail, and healthcare rosters
  • Teams that need Fair Workweek-style rules

4.6 on Capterra from 773 reviews

Read the Deputy write-up 7shifts vs Deputy

Harri

Quote-based API

Why it comes up: Hospitality ATS plus scheduling when hiring is the bigger pain.

Stands out: Hospitality-specific hiring with scheduling attached, rather than a generic tracker.

Watch out: No published price, and no MCP.

Best for

  • Restaurants and quick-service groups
  • Hotels and hospitality operators
  • Teams that want scheduling next to hiring

4.3 on Capterra from 43 reviews

Read the Harri write-up 7shifts vs Harri

When I Work

$2.50/user/mo Free trial API

Why it comes up: Cheaper per-user scheduling for a single non-restaurant location.

Stands out: A public $2.50/user/month seat for single-location scheduling, with payroll and POS connectors on paid plans.

Watch out: Multi-location work jumps to Pro at $5/user/month. Premium at $8 is the scaled tier. This is not an ATS.

Best for

  • Single-location hourly employers
  • Small retail, food, and healthcare teams
  • Managers who want clocks next to the roster

4.5 on Capterra from 1,300 reviews

Read the When I Work write-up 7shifts vs When I Work

Homebase

$30/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Why it comes up: SMB hourly ops and hiring for small US food and retail shops.

Stands out: A real free plan for tiny teams, plus a 14-day All-in-One trial with no card.

Watch out: Paid plans are per location. Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee paid. API access sits on All-in-One.

Best for

  • Restaurants and retail with hourly shifts
  • Owners who want a free plan for one small location
  • Managers who need clock-in, schedules, and team chat

4.6 on Capterra from 1,155 reviews

Read the Homebase write-up 7shifts vs Homebase

Common questions

What is the best 7shifts alternative?
It depends on what sent you looking. We compare 4 alternatives to 7shifts: Deputy, Harri, When I Work and Homebase. Each one's "Why it comes up" line says what it does differently, and the table above shows all 4 on price, free tier, MCP and API.
Is there a free alternative to 7shifts?
Yes. Homebase carries a free tier on our listing, so you can try the product without a card. Free tiers are capped, so check the limits against your volume before you move a team across.
What is the cheapest 7shifts alternative?
Of the published starting prices here, When I Work is lowest at $2.50/user/mo. Starting price is the entry plan, not the seat count you will end up on, so read the plan table on each listing.
Does 7shifts have a free trial?
7shifts offers a 14 day free trial on our listing. Trial terms move, so confirm on the vendor site before you plan around it.

Keep looking

Back to the 7shifts write-up Every Time & attendance tool we list Search the whole directory

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 12 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?