Compare/Alternatives

Sling alternatives

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

Sling from $1.70/user/moFree tier

Closest alternatives

See the Sling listing

The short answer

  • Deputy : Shift scheduling and time from $5/user/mo. Paid-from-first-seat versus Sling's 30-user free plan. From $5/user/mo
  • When I Work : Hourly scheduling and time with a different free/paid mix. Strong SMB peer to Sling. From $2.50/user/mo
  • 7shifts : Restaurant shift scheduling plus time tracking with a free tier. Restaurant-specialized versus Sling's broader SMB. From Quote
  • Homebase : Hourly hiring plus team comms from a free-tier / $30/mo path. Hiring tools versus Sling's scheduler-first free plan. From $30/mo

Why people look past Sling

Free stops at 30 users. Kiosk time clock, payroll reports, and PTO management wait for Business at $4/user/mo ($3.40 annual). Toast customers can buy through Toast Shop instead of getsling.com.

What we noted

  • Free cap of 30 users. The 31st forces Premium or Business
  • Kiosk clock and PTO sit on Business, not Premium
  • Not built for enterprise forecasting or union rules

Not the right fit for

  • Enterprises that need AI forecasting and FLSA rule engines (see UKG Dimensions)
  • Teams over the Free 30-user cap that also need advanced WFM analytics

Worth keeping in mind: Free includes shift scheduling, time-off requests, available shifts, news, and private messaging. Premium adds mobile time tracking, labor cost, and overtime. Business adds a kiosk clock, no-show tracking, and PTO.

Sling alternatives compared

ToolFree tierFromMCPAPIHead to head
Sling (the one you are on) ✓Yes$1.70/user/mo–No–No
Deputy Shift scheduling and time from $5/user/mo. Paid-from-first-seat versus Sling's 30-user free plan. –No$5/user/mo–No–NoHead to head
When I Work Hourly scheduling and time with a different free/paid mix. Strong SMB peer to Sling. –No$2.50/user/mo–No✓YesHead to head
7shifts Restaurant shift scheduling plus time tracking with a free tier. Restaurant-specialized versus Sling's broader SMB. ✓YesQuote–No–NoHead to head
Homebase Hourly hiring plus team comms from a free-tier / $30/mo path. Hiring tools versus Sling's scheduler-first free plan. ✓Yes$30/mo–No–NoHead to head

What each one does differently

Deputy

$5/user/mo Free trial

Why it comes up: Shift scheduling and time from $5/user/mo. Paid-from-first-seat versus Sling's 30-user free plan.

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.

Best for

  • Multi-location hourly employers
  • Hospitality, retail, and healthcare rosters
  • Teams that need Fair Workweek-style rules

4.6 on Capterra from 773 reviews

Read the Deputy write-up Sling vs Deputy

When I Work

$2.50/user/mo Free trial API

Why it comes up: Hourly scheduling and time with a different free/paid mix. Strong SMB peer to Sling.

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 Sling vs When I Work

7shifts

Quote Free tier 14 day free trial

Why it comes up: Restaurant shift scheduling plus time tracking with a free tier. Restaurant-specialized versus Sling's broader SMB.

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 Sling vs 7shifts

Homebase

$30/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Why it comes up: Hourly hiring plus team comms from a free-tier / $30/mo path. Hiring tools versus Sling's scheduler-first free plan.

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 Sling vs Homebase

Common questions

What is the best Sling alternative?
It depends on what sent you looking. We compare 4 alternatives to Sling: Deputy, When I Work, 7shifts and Homebase. Each one's "Why it comes up" line says what it does differently, and the table above shows all 4 on price, free tier, MCP and API.
Is there a free alternative to Sling?
Yes. 7shifts 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 Sling 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.

Keep looking

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?