Compare/Head to head

7shifts vs ADP Workforce Now

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

ADP Workforce Now

Sales-quoted

Mid-market HCM for payroll, HR, time, and benefits. Pricing is sales-quoted.

Where ADP Workforce Now fits

  • US mid-market employers consolidating payroll and HR
  • Teams that already bank with ADP payroll tax filing
  • HR leaders who want time and benefits in the same suite
  • Companies willing to run an implementation project

At a glance

Detail7shiftsADP Workforce Now
Starting priceQuoteSales-quoted
Free tier✓Yes–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underTime & attendance, Workforce managementBenefits administration, HR compliance, HRIS, Payroll, Time & attendance
Capterra4.7 from 1,212 reviewsNot enough 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

ADP Workforce Now

Stands out: One ADP suite for payroll, talent, time, and benefits aimed at companies that have outgrown starter payroll.

Watch out: There is no public per employee menu. Implementation and modules are scoped in a sales cycle, and API and MCP access need the separately billed API Central add on.

Not the right fit for

  • Five-person shops that want a published $29 payroll plan
  • Buyers who need same-day self-serve checkout

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

ADP Workforce Now

  • Payroll, HR, time, and benefits together
  • ADP tax filing network
  • Built for mid-market, not only enterprise
  • No public per-employee prices
  • Implementation is a project
  • Not a lightweight ATS

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

ADP Workforce Now

Sales-quoted

Sales-quoted. No public rate card on the vendor site. Modules cover payroll, HR, time, talent, and benefits. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 21 Oct 2026

Common questions

Can you try 7shifts or ADP Workforce Now for free?
7shifts carries a free tier on our listing. 7shifts offers a 14 day free trial.
Does 7shifts or ADP Workforce Now have an MCP server?
ADP Workforce Now ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

All 7shifts alternatives All ADP Workforce Now alternatives Every Time & attendance tool

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