Head to head

Deputy vs When I Work

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

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

DetailDeputyWhen I Work
Starting price$5/user/mo$2.50/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trialYesYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underTime & attendance, Workforce managementTime & attendance, Workforce management
Capterra4.6 from 773 reviews4.5 from 1,300 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

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

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

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

Deputy

$5/user/mo

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

Checked 18 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 Deputy cheaper than When I Work?
When I Work starts lower, at $2.50/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 When I Work for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Deputy offers a free trial. When I Work offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Deputy alternatives All When I Work alternatives Every Time & attendance tool

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