Compare/Alternatives

Deputy alternatives

4 tools our write-ups put next to Deputy, with starting price, free tier, MCP and API side by side.

Deputy from $5/user/moFree trial

Closest alternatives

See the Deputy listing

The short answer

When I Work : Simpler public start at $2.50/user/mo for single-location scheduling. From $2.50/user/mo
7shifts : Restaurant-specific labor, tips, and POS if the workforce is FOH/BOH. From Quote
Connecteam : Deskless app with comms and HR hubs if scheduling is only one of the jobs. From $29/mo
Homebase : SMB hourly scheduling and hiring for small US locations. From $30/mo

Why people look past Deputy

Auto-scheduling, biometrics, and SSO sit on Core or Pro. Payroll via Paycor is $8/user/month plus a $49 monthly base.

What we noted

Auto-scheduling and SSO are not on Lite
Payroll is a paid add-on with a base fee
Not an ATS or HRIS of record

Not the right fit for

Salaried office teams with no shifts
Restaurants that want a kitchen-specific product like 7shifts
Buyers who need an ATS in the same login

Worth keeping in mind: A public $5/user/month Lite seat that already covers basic rosters, clocks, and labor-law rules, with payroll connectors in the same conversation.

Deputy alternatives compared

Tool	Free tier	From	MCP	API	Head to head
Deputy (the one you are on)	–No	$5/user/mo	–No	–No
When I Work Simpler public start at $2.50/user/mo for single-location scheduling.	–No	$2.50/user/mo	–No	✓Yes	Head to head
7shifts Restaurant-specific labor, tips, and POS if the workforce is FOH/BOH.	✓Yes	Quote	–No	–No	Head to head
Connecteam Deskless app with comms and HR hubs if scheduling is only one of the jobs.	✓Yes	$29/mo	–No	✓Yes	Head to head
Homebase SMB hourly scheduling and hiring for small US locations.	✓Yes	$30/mo	–No	–No	Head to head

What each one does differently

When I Work

$2.50/user/mo Free trial API

Why it comes up: Simpler public start at $2.50/user/mo for single-location scheduling.

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.

Best for

Single-location hourly employers
Small retail, food, and healthcare teams
Managers who want clocks next to the roster

4.5 on Capterra from 1,300 reviews

Read the When I Work write-up Deputy vs When I Work

7shifts

Quote Free tier 14 day free trial

Why it comes up: Restaurant-specific labor, tips, and POS if the workforce is FOH/BOH.

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.

Best for

Restaurants and bars running FOH and BOH shifts
Multi-location groups on Toast or similar POS
Operators who want labor cost against sales

4.7 on Capterra from 1,212 reviews

Read the 7shifts write-up Deputy vs 7shifts

Connecteam

$29/mo Free tier 14 day free trial API

Why it comes up: Deskless app with comms and HR hubs if scheduling is only one of the jobs.

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.

Best for

Deskless and field teams
Small businesses under 10 people (free)
Companies that want time clock plus chat in one app

4.6 on Capterra from 5,311 reviews

Read the Connecteam write-up Deputy vs Connecteam

Homebase

$30/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Why it comes up: SMB hourly scheduling and hiring for small US locations.

Stands out: A real free plan for tiny teams, plus a 14-day All-in-One trial with no card.

Watch out: Paid plans are per location. Payroll is $49/mo plus $6 per employee paid. API access sits on All-in-One.

Best for

Restaurants and retail with hourly shifts
Owners who want a free plan for one small location
Managers who need clock-in, schedules, and team chat

4.6 on Capterra from 1,155 reviews

Read the Homebase write-up Deputy vs Homebase

Common questions

What is the best Deputy alternative?

It depends on what sent you looking. Our write-ups put When I Work closest to Deputy. Why it comes up: Simpler public start at $2.50/user/mo for single-location scheduling. The table above shows all 4 on price, free tier, MCP and API.

Is there a free alternative to Deputy?

Yes. 7shifts, Connecteam and Homebase carry a free tier on our listing, so you can try the product without a card. Free tiers are capped, so check the limits against your volume before you move a team across.

What is the cheapest Deputy alternative?

Of the published starting prices here, When I Work is lowest at $2.50/user/mo. Starting price is the entry plan, not the seat count you will end up on, so read the plan table on each listing.

Does Deputy have a free trial?

Deputy offers a free trial on our listing. Trial terms move, so confirm on the vendor site before you plan around it.

Keep looking

Back to the Deputy write-up Every Time & attendance tool we list Search the whole directory

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 18 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?