Compare/Head to head

Sling vs When I Work

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

Starting price

Sling

$1.70/user/mo Free tier

Sling is SMB shift scheduling and team messaging with a Free plan for up to 30 users. Paid starts at $1.70/user/mo on annual Premium ($2/user/mo monthly). Business is $3.40/$4. Toast-owned since 2022.

Where Sling fits

  • Restaurants, retail, and hospitality teams under 30 people that want free scheduling
  • Managers who need labor-cost and overtime tracking on Premium at $1.70/user/mo annual
  • Shops already on Toast, Square, Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, or Paychex
  • Multi-location SMBs that will message and swap shifts in the same app

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

DetailSlingWhen I Work
Starting price$1.70/user/mo$2.50/user/mo
Free tier✓Yes–No
Free trialNot on recordYes
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No✓Yes
Listed underWorkforce managementTime & attendance, Workforce management
Capterra4.6 from 212 reviews4.5 from 1,300 reviews

Where they pull apart

Sling

Stands out: 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.

Watch out: 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.

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

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

Sling

  • Free plan for up to 30 users with real scheduling and messaging
  • Published Premium at $1.70/user/mo annual or $2 monthly
  • Integrations: Square, Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex, Google Calendar
  • 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

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

Sling

$1.70/user/mo

Free covers up to 30 users (shift scheduling, time-off, messaging). Premium is $2/user/mo monthly or $1.70/user/mo billed annually. Business is $4/user/mo monthly or $3.40/user/mo billed annually. Annual billing saves 15%. Toast customers can view plans in Toast Shop. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 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 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Sling cheaper than When I Work?
Sling starts lower, at $1.70/user/mo against $2.50/user/mo for When I Work. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Sling or When I Work for free?
Sling carries a free tier on our listing. When I Work offers a free trial.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Sling alternatives All When I Work alternatives Every Workforce management tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?