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

$39.99/location/mo 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 price$39.99/location/moSales-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

$39.99/location/mo

The Comp plan is free for a single location with up to 15 employees and covers basic scheduling. Paid plans are per location per month: Essentials $39.99 billed annually or $44.99 monthly (up to 30 employees), Pro $79.99 annually or $89.99 monthly (up to 60 employees, adds time clocking and labor compliance), and Premium $134.99 annually or $149.99 monthly (unlimited employees, includes payroll, tip and task management). 7shifts Payroll adds $6 per employee paid per month. Every new account gets a 14-day free trial of Pro. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 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 4 Nov 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.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?