Head to head

Deputy vs Hubstaff

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

Deputy

$5/user/mo Free trial

Shift scheduling, time clocks, and labor compliance for hourly teams. Lite starts at $5/user/mo.

Where Deputy fits

  • Multi-location hourly employers
  • Hospitality, retail, and healthcare rosters
  • Teams that need Fair Workweek-style rules
  • Desks exporting timesheets to ADP, Paycor, or Square

Hubstaff

$5/user/mo 14 day free trial

Time tracking with screenshots, GPS, and payroll hooks, plus a 1-seat free plan and paid seats from $5/user/mo.

Where Hubstaff fits

  • Remote agencies that need screenshots and client invoices
  • Field teams that add GPS Locations on Team or Enterprise
  • Desks that want MCP or API access to time data
  • Solo freelancers who can live on the 1-seat free plan

At a glance

DetailDeputyHubstaff
Starting price$5/user/mo$5/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialYes14 day free trial
MCP server–No✓Yes
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underTime & attendance, Workforce managementTime & attendance
Capterra4.6 from 773 reviews4.5 from 1,613 reviews

Where they pull apart

Deputy

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

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

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

Hubstaff

Stands out: First-party MCP server and a public REST API at developer.hubstaff.com, with a 14-day trial and no credit card.

Watch out: Starter caps screenshots and app/URL tracking at 500 per seat per month and allows only 5 clients. Grow allows one integration.

Not the right fit for

  • Restaurant Fair Workweek shift scheduling
  • Companies that refuse activity monitoring and screenshots

Pros and cons

Deputy

  • Public Lite price at $5/user/mo
  • Labor-law rules in the WFM rather than a separate product
  • Payroll and POS connectors including ADP, Paycor, Toast, and Square
  • 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

Hubstaff

  • 1-seat free plan plus a 14-day trial with no credit card
  • First-party MCP server and documented REST API
  • GPS Locations and payroll inside the same product on Team and above
  • Starter screenshot and client caps are tight for agencies
  • Grow is limited to one integration
  • Paid plans have a 2-seat minimum

What each one costs

Deputy

$5/user/mo

From $5/user/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 18 Sep 2026

Hubstaff

$5/user/mo

A 1-seat free plan covers individual freelancers. Paid seats start around $5/user/mo. Small Business Essentials is $144/year for 3 paid seats plus a free owner seat, annual only, with no add-ons. Insights is $2.50/seat/mo on Starter and Grow. Locations is $3.33/seat/mo on Team and included on Enterprise. Starter caps screenshots at 500 per seat per month. Paid plans have a 2-seat minimum. 14-day trial, no credit card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Deputy cheaper than Hubstaff?
Deputy starts lower, at $5/user/mo against $5/user/mo for Hubstaff. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Deputy or Hubstaff for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Deputy offers a free trial. Hubstaff offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Deputy or Hubstaff have an MCP server?
Hubstaff 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 18 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?