Compare/Head to head

7shifts vs ActivTrak

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

7shifts

Quote Free tier 14 day free trial

Restaurant shift scheduling with a free Comp plan. Paid Essentials starts at $39.99/location/mo.

Where 7shifts fits

Restaurants and bars running FOH and BOH shifts
Multi-location groups on Toast or similar POS
Operators who want labor cost against sales
Teams that will start on the free Comp plan

ActivTrak

$10/worker/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

ActivTrak is workforce analytics software for companies that want data on productivity, capacity and AI adoption without heavy surveillance features. Paid plans run from $10 to $21 per worker per month, billed annually, and there is a free plan for up to 3 workers. A 14-day trial covers the Workforce Management plus Productivity Optimization bundle.

Where ActivTrak fits

Operations leaders sizing team capacity and workload
Companies measuring AI tool adoption across staff
Hybrid teams tracking schedule adherence
Small teams starting on the free 3-worker plan

At a glance

Detail	7shifts	ActivTrak
Starting price	Quote	$10/worker/mo
Free tier	✓Yes	✓Yes
Free trial	14 day free trial	14 day free trial
MCP server	–No	✓Yes
Public API	–No	✓Yes
Listed under	Time & attendance, Workforce management	People analytics, Workforce management
Capterra	4.7 from 1,212 reviews	4.5 from 591 reviews

Where they pull apart

7shifts

Stands out: 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.

Watch out: 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.

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

ActivTrak

Stands out: Pricing is public and granular, from $10 Work Activity Tracking to $21 Workflow, with a free 3-worker plan. ActivTrak also ships its own hosted MCP server for Claude, so managers can ask productivity and utilization questions in plain language while their ActivTrak permissions still apply.

Watch out: Many useful pieces are add-ons: screenshots and full URLs need Screen Details, API and BI access need ActivConnect, and AI Insights and HRIS sync cost extra. Contracts are annual only, and more than 50 licenses requires a paid support plan.

Not the right fit for

Security teams that need DLP, keystroke logging or blocking
Buyers who want month-to-month billing

Pros and cons

7shifts

Real free Comp plan
Restaurant-specific labor versus sales
Public location pricing from $39.99/month

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

ActivTrak

Public per-worker pricing and a free 3-worker plan
14-day trial of the top workforce bundle
Vendor-built MCP server for Claude

Screenshots, API and HRIS sync are paid add-ons
Annual contracts only
Paid support required above 50 licenses

What each one costs

7shifts

Quote

Permanent free tier covers scheduling only. Time tracking is paid. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 12 Sep 2026

ActivTrak

$10/worker/mo

ActivTrak has a Free plan for up to 3 workers with 30 days of data history. Paid plans are billed annually per worker per month: Work Activity Tracking $10, Workforce Management $15, Productivity Optimization $17 and Workflow $21. Bundling Workforce Management with Productivity Optimization saves 30%. Add-ons include Screen Details, ActivConnect API, HRIS integration, AI Insights and extra data history at $1 per worker per month. Only annual contracts are offered, and a paid support plan is required above 50 licenses. The 14-day free trial unlocks the Workforce Management plus Productivity Optimization bundle, then drops to the Free plan. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Can you try 7shifts or ActivTrak for free?

7shifts and ActivTrak carry a free tier on our listing. 7shifts offers a 14 day free trial. ActivTrak offers a 14 day free trial.

Does 7shifts or ActivTrak have an MCP server?

ActivTrak ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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