Compare/Alternatives

When I Work alternatives

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

When I Work from $2.50/user/moFree trialAPI

Closest alternatives

See the When I Work listing

The short answer

  • Deputy : Stronger labor-law and auto-scheduling if you will pay $5/user and up. From $5/user/mo
  • 7shifts : Restaurant labor, tips, and POS when the team is FOH/BOH. From Quote
  • Connecteam : Deskless comms plus scheduling if the roster is only part of the app. From $29/mo
  • Homebase : US SMB hourly ops with a hiring add-on for small locations. From $30/mo

Why people look past When I Work

Multi-location work jumps to Pro at $5/user/month. Premium at $8 is the scaled tier. This is not an ATS.

What we noted

  • Paid seats begin at $2.50/user/mo rather than a free forever plan
  • Multi-location is a higher tier
  • No recruiting or 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

Worth keeping in mind: A public $2.50/user/month seat for single-location scheduling, with payroll and POS connectors on paid plans.

When I Work alternatives compared

ToolFree tierFromMCPAPIHead to head
When I Work (the one you are on) –No$2.50/user/mo–No✓Yes
Deputy Stronger labor-law and auto-scheduling if you will pay $5/user and up. –No$5/user/mo–No–NoHead to head
7shifts Restaurant labor, tips, and POS when the team is FOH/BOH. ✓YesQuote–No–NoHead to head
Connecteam Deskless comms plus scheduling if the roster is only part of the app. ✓Yes$29/mo–No✓YesHead to head
Homebase US SMB hourly ops with a hiring add-on for small locations. ✓Yes$30/mo–No–NoHead to head

What each one does differently

Deputy

$5/user/mo Free trial

Why it comes up: Stronger labor-law and auto-scheduling if you will pay $5/user and up.

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 When I Work vs Deputy

7shifts

Quote Free tier 14 day free trial

Why it comes up: Restaurant labor, tips, and POS when the team is FOH/BOH.

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 When I Work vs 7shifts

Connecteam

$29/mo Free tier 14 day free trial API

Why it comes up: Deskless comms plus scheduling if the roster is only part of the app.

Stands out: A true free plan for teams of 10 or fewer, then hub-priced paid plans so you can buy operations without paying for HR or comms you will not use.

Watch out: The $29 Operations hub covers the first 30 users; extra users are per head, and Communications and HR are separate hubs. 14-day trial, no card.

Best for

  • Deskless and field teams
  • Small businesses under 10 people (free)
  • Companies that want time clock plus chat in one app

4.6 on Capterra from 5,311 reviews

Read the Connecteam write-up When I Work vs Connecteam

Homebase

$30/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Why it comes up: US SMB hourly ops with a hiring add-on for small locations.

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 When I Work vs Homebase

Common questions

What is the best When I Work alternative?
It depends on what sent you looking. We compare 4 alternatives to When I Work: Deputy, 7shifts, Connecteam 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 When I Work?
Yes. 7shifts, Connecteam 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 When I Work alternative?
Of the published starting prices here, Deputy is lowest at $5/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.
Does When I Work have a free trial?
When I Work offers a free trial on our listing. Trial terms move, so confirm on the vendor site before you plan around it.

Keep looking

Back to the When I Work write-up Every Time & attendance tool we list Search the whole directory

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