Head to head

Connecteam vs When I Work

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

Connecteam

$29/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Deskless operations, comms, and HR app. Free for up to 10 users; paid Operations starts at $29/mo for the first 30 users.

Where Connecteam fits

Deskless and field teams
Small businesses under 10 people (free)
Companies that want time clock plus chat in one app
Operators who will not buy a full HRIS

When I Work

$2.50/user/mo Free trial

Shift scheduling and time clocks for hourly teams. Essentials starts at $2.50/user/mo.

Where When I Work fits

Single-location hourly employers
Small retail, food, and healthcare teams
Managers who want clocks next to the roster
Teams feeding timesheets to Gusto, ADP, or QuickBooks

At a glance

Detail	Connecteam	When I Work
Starting price	$29/mo	$2.50/user/mo
Free tier	✓Yes	–No
Free trial	14 day free trial	Yes
MCP server	–No	–No
Public API	✓Yes	✓Yes
Listed under	Engagement, HRIS, Internal communications, Time & attendance, Workforce management	Time & attendance, Workforce management
Capterra	4.6 from 5,311 reviews	4.5 from 1,300 reviews

Where they pull apart

Connecteam

Stands out: A true free plan for teams of 10 or fewer, then hub-priced paid plans so you can buy operations without paying for HR or comms you will not use.

Watch out: The $29 Operations hub covers the first 30 users; extra users are per head, and Communications and HR are separate hubs. 14-day trial, no card.

Not the right fit for

Office-first knowledge workers
Enterprises that need Workday-grade HR
Teams that only want a dedicated ATS

When I Work

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.

Not the right fit for

Multi-brand restaurant groups that need 7shifts-style labor vs sales
Enterprise Fair Workweek programs
Buyers who need recruiting in the same app

Pros and cons

Connecteam

Free for up to 10 users
Hubs so you are not forced to buy HR with the time clock
14-day trial with no card

Extra users and extra hubs stack on the $29 base
Not a serious ATS
Office knowledge-work teams will find it the wrong shape

When I Work

Public start at $2.50/user/mo
Scheduling and clocks in one seat
Payroll connectors including ADP, Gusto, and QuickBooks

Paid seats begin at $2.50/user/mo rather than a free forever plan
Multi-location is a higher tier
No recruiting or ATS

What each one costs

Connecteam

$29/mo

Each hub is priced for the first 30 users: Basic is $29 per month on annual billing ($35 monthly), Advanced $49 and Expert $99. Extra users cost from $0.80 each per month on Basic. Enterprise is quoted. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 20 Sep 2026

When I Work

$2.50/user/mo

Essentials from $2.50/user/mo, with a free trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Connecteam cheaper than When I Work?

When I Work starts lower, at $2.50/user/mo against $29/mo for Connecteam. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.

Can you try Connecteam or When I Work for free?

Connecteam carries a free tier on our listing. Connecteam offers a 14 day free trial. When I Work offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Connecteam alternatives All When I Work alternatives Every Engagement tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 20 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?