Compare/Head to head

7shifts vs Sling

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

Sling

$1.70/user/mo Free tier

Sling is SMB shift scheduling and team messaging with a Free plan for up to 30 users. Paid starts at $1.70/user/mo on annual Premium ($2/user/mo monthly). Business is $3.40/$4. Toast-owned since 2022.

Where Sling fits

  • Restaurants, retail, and hospitality teams under 30 people that want free scheduling
  • Managers who need labor-cost and overtime tracking on Premium at $1.70/user/mo annual
  • Shops already on Toast, Square, Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, or Paychex
  • Multi-location SMBs that will message and swap shifts in the same app

At a glance

Detail7shiftsSling
Starting price$39.99/location/mo$1.70/user/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underTime & attendance, Workforce managementWorkforce management
Capterra4.7 from 1,212 reviews4.6 from 212 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

Sling

Stands out: Free includes shift scheduling, time-off requests, available shifts, news, and private messaging. Premium adds mobile time tracking, labor cost, and overtime. Business adds a kiosk clock, no-show tracking, and PTO.

Watch out: Free stops at 30 users. Kiosk time clock, payroll reports, and PTO management wait for Business at $4/user/mo ($3.40 annual). Toast customers can buy through Toast Shop instead of getsling.com.

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprises that need AI forecasting and FLSA rule engines (see UKG Dimensions)
  • Teams over the Free 30-user cap that also need advanced WFM analytics

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

Sling

  • Free plan for up to 30 users with real scheduling and messaging
  • Published Premium at $1.70/user/mo annual or $2 monthly
  • Integrations: Square, Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex, Google Calendar
  • Free cap of 30 users. The 31st forces Premium or Business
  • Kiosk clock and PTO sit on Business, not Premium
  • Not built for enterprise forecasting or union rules

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

Sling

$1.70/user/mo

Free covers up to 30 users (shift scheduling, time-off, messaging). Premium is $2/user/mo monthly or $1.70/user/mo billed annually. Business is $4/user/mo monthly or $3.40/user/mo billed annually. Annual billing saves 15%. Toast customers can view plans in Toast Shop. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is 7shifts cheaper than Sling?
Sling starts lower, at $1.70/user/mo against $39.99/location/mo for 7shifts. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try 7shifts or Sling for free?
7shifts and Sling carry a free tier on our listing. 7shifts offers a 14 day free trial.

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