Head to head

Deputy vs OnTheClock

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

OnTheClock

$4/user/mo 30 day free trial

OnTheClock is an SMB time clock with scheduling and PTO at $5 per month plus $4 per active user. Payroll is an add-on at $40 per month plus $6 per employee after a $250 enrollment fee. A 30-day trial needs no credit card.

Where OnTheClock fits

  • US small businesses that want a cheap time clock with scheduling and PTO in one bill
  • Hourly teams punching from phone, kiosk, or GPS
  • Owners who may add OnTheClock Payroll later without switching time clocks
  • Shops under 100 employees that will cancel anytime, no contract

At a glance

DetailDeputyOnTheClock
Starting price$5/user/mo$4/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialYes30 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underTime & attendance, Workforce managementTime & attendance
Capterra4.6 from 773 reviews4.7 from 792 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

OnTheClock

Stands out: One all-in time, PTO, and scheduling plan instead of a feature-gated starter SKU. Active users are anyone on the employee list within 20 days of the bill.

Watch out: Payroll is a separate product with a $250 setup fee, a $40 monthly base, and industry exclusions (non-US workers, cannabis, firearms, gambling, government). Time tracking above 100 employees is enterprise quote.

Not the right fit for

  • Global or multi-country workforces. Payroll and many edge cases are US-only
  • Enterprises that need UKG-class labor law rules engines

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

OnTheClock

  • Simple $5 + $4/user math with no contract
  • 30-day trial without a credit card
  • Optional payroll that uses the same timecards and PTO balances
  • Payroll setup is $250 plus $40/$6 ongoing, so all-in cost jumps once you run pay
  • Payroll excludes several industries and non-US employees
  • No free-forever plan on the current pricing page

What each one costs

Deputy

$5/user/mo

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

Checked 18 Sep 2026

OnTheClock

$4/user/mo

Time tracking, scheduling, and PTO are $5 per month plus $4 per active user. An active user is anyone on the employee list within 20 days of the bill. Payroll is an add-on at $40 per month plus $6 per paid employee, with a $250 one-time enrollment fee. Accounts over 100 employees are quoted. A 30-day trial requires no credit card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Deputy cheaper than OnTheClock?
OnTheClock starts lower, at $4/user/mo against $5/user/mo for Deputy. 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 OnTheClock for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Deputy offers a free trial. OnTheClock offers a 30 day free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

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