Best Pick-Up Shift Apps: Flexibility at Your Fingertips

If you’re wondering what is shift work or if your business involves actual shift work, a good pick-up shifts app could be a game-changer for your scheduling workflow. It makes picking up shifts for employees easier and gives managers a bird’s eye view of everything happening within the team. That said, there are many apps available today to pick up shifts. To help you find exactly what you need, we’ll look at some of the most important features of apps for picking up shifts and take a closer look at some of the best pick-up shift software on the market today.

📅 Why Pick-Up Shift Apps Matter in 2025

Shift work isn’t new, but managing it efficiently in a hybrid or remote-first world is a growing challenge. Whether you’re managing a cafe, a retail store, or a remote customer support team, a pick-up shift app keeps scheduling clean, clear, and collaborative.

Instead of endless emails or spreadsheets, these apps allow employees to self-schedule, view open shifts, and even get real-time notifications, so no one misses a beat.

🎯 Must-have features in a pick-up shifts app

To qualify as the best pick-up shift software, it should include these key features:

• 👩 User profiles: Let team members log in, view open shifts, and track who’s picking up what—no manual data entry for managers.
• 🔔 Notifications: Automatically alert employees when a shift becomes available, is booked, or is about to start.
• 🎫 Shift reservations: Empower employees to claim open shifts and build schedules they’re happy with.
• 👍 Approvals: Let managers approve or auto-confirm picked-up shifts based on your team’s needs.
• 🔄 Integrations: Sync with other tools to streamline scheduling and reduce platform switching.

❗ Our assessments remain unbiased, untouched by any payments from specific tools. We are dedicated to offering truthful recommendations and fostering trust in our insights as you delve into pick-up shift apps.

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🛠️ How to Choose the Right App for Your Team

Before you pick any app:

• Define your team size
• Decide if you want approval-based shift pickup
• Determine if mobile accessibility is critical
• Know your budget—many great tools start free!

From there, it will be much easier to determine what features are necessary and what features you can skip out on. This might take some work, but rest assured that once you figure out what you need from a pickup shift app, you’ll easily determine which app is right for you.

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🚀 6 Best Pick-Up Shift Apps

There are tons of shift pick-up apps out there, and most cover the basics. To help you find the ones that truly improve your workflow, we’ve rounded up six of the best free options—each with its own unique strengths.

Shifts by Everhour (🏆 Editor’s Pick)

Why it stands out: Real-time shift visibility, task-based scheduling, and seamless integration with time tracking and payroll tools.

Key features

• Drag-and-drop shift assignment
• Open shift visibility in real time
• Shift tagging + task breakdown
• Team availability management
• Integrates with Everhour tools

Best for: Remote or hybrid teams needing flexible, structured scheduling.

• Free plan included
• Fully syncs with Everhour time tracking
• Ideal for project-based teams

Shifts by Everhour helps teams manage schedules with clarity, flexibility, and project-level detail:

• Real-time availability tracking: Shifts by Everhour gives a clear view of who’s available and when, making it easy to pick up open shifts without overcommitting.
• Manager controls: Only team managers can assign and edit shifts—helping maintain order and prevent scheduling conflicts.
• Task-linked shifts: Attach shifts to specific projects and tasks, set deadlines, and block time—great for structured, efficient scheduling.

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Shifts by Snagajob

Best for: Part-time & hourly gig workers

Why it works: Users can claim open shifts listed by businesses in real time, without committing to a fixed job.

Employers can use Shifts by Snagajob and post any job openings they have that need to be filled. Then, freelancers can browse through the different jobs that are available and schedule themselves for any shifts that are suitable for them.

• Completely free
• Ideal for hospitality & retail

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Zelos

Best for: Volunteer-based and hybrid teams

Why it’s unique: Lets managers choose which employees can view or claim each shift. Simple UI but strong logic settings.

Zelos gives managers control over who gets a shift. If multiple employees request the same one, you can choose the best fit—helping keep workloads fair while still offering flexibility.

The app is free for teams with a low shift volume. For higher volumes, a monthly subscription is required.

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Shiftbase

Best for: Small-to-medium-sized businesses

Shiftbase stands out for its auto-updating open shift lists. Managers can send the list to eligible employees, and team members can claim shifts based on availability—no manual updates needed.

The app is free for small teams, but larger teams will need a paid plan. Still, with its ease of use and helpful features, it may be worth the investment.

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Sling

Best for: Simple, lightweight scheduling

Why it works: Great entry-level scheduling app that allows employees to view and claim open shifts, swap schedules, and chat in-app.

Sling lets managers build a schedule and mark specific shifts as open. Employees can then pick them up, filtered by tags or roles for better control and clarity.

It also empowers employees with more flexibility. They can swap shifts, chat with teammates, and stay updated via a community news feed.

The basic version is free for unlimited employees, but premium features come at a cost.

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Connecteam

Connecteam barely requires an introduction. This is because it comes with all the features you need for scheduling and picking up shifts while adding extra functions like a learning platform, feedback forum, and even building a mini social network for your employees.

Connecteam makes it easy for employees to see and apply for open shifts. You can also customize how the platform works—for example, choose whether shift approval is needed or allow full scheduling freedom.

The downside? Connecteam’s many features are spread across several different plans, which can make selecting the right one a bit confusing.

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❓ FAQs About Pick-Up Shift Apps

Can employees really pick their own shifts with these apps?

Yes! Most offer real-time open shift claiming, plus optional manager approvals.

Does a pick up shifts app handle payroll too?

Some (like Everhour + Shiftbase) integrate with payroll tools. Others are strictly for scheduling.

Are pick-up shift apps free to use?

Many offer free plans with core features. Premium plans unlock analytics, integrations, or user limits.

What’s the best app for large teams?

Connecteam or Zelos – due to permission controls and team segmentation.

Which app works best with Everhour?

Shifts by Everhour – it’s natively integrated and tailored for team shift management.

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Best Pick Up Shifts App: Conclusion

For most businesses, Shifts by Everhour delivers unmatched clarity, task alignment, and scheduling speed. It allows employees to self-manage while giving managers full control where needed.

• If your team is large with compliance needs → Connecteam
• If you’re starting and need quick wins → Sling or Shiftbase
• In case you’re an hourly freelancer → Snagajob