9 Best Shift Schedule Makers: Flexible Tools to Meet Your Needs

Creating an effective shift schedule is crucial for maintaining productivity and ensuring smooth operations in any workplace. A well-organized shift schedule not only helps in balancing workloads but also ensures that employees are engaged and satisfied with their work hours. In this article, we’ll explore how to create a shift schedule that meets the needs of your team and business, the benefits of using a shift schedule maker, and tips for optimizing your scheduling process to maximize efficiency.

Key Features of Shift Schedule Makers

• 🕒 Customizable scheduling options: Employee schedule makers offer flexibility in creating schedules that fit your team’s specific needs, allowing you to customize shifts, break times, and rotation patterns.
• 📊 Real-time updates: These tools often provide real-time updates, ensuring that everyone is on the same page, even when last-minute changes are made.
• 📅 Integration with calendars: Many work schedule builders seamlessly integrate with popular calendar apps, making it easy for employees to access their schedules from any device.
• 💬 Communication features: Built-in messaging and notifications help keep everyone informed about their shifts, reducing the chances of missed shifts or miscommunication.
• 📈 Analytics and reporting: Advanced analytics tools help managers track labor costs, monitor attendance, and optimize scheduling decisions.
• 🔒 Data security: Ensuring the privacy and security of employee data is a priority, with many tools offering robust encryption and access controls.
• 🛠 User-friendly interface: A simple and intuitive interface ensures that both managers and employees can easily navigate the tool, making the scheduling process more efficient.
• 🔄 Automated shift rotation: Automate the process of rotating shifts to ensure fairness and avoid burnout among employees.

❗ Our recommendations are based solely on the quality and utility of the tools, with no paid promotions influencing our selections.

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Schedule Makers for Employees Compared

Tool	Pricing	Best For	Free Trial
Shifts by Everhour	Free	Simple shift management and tracking	Yes
Connecteam	Starts at $29 per user per month	Comprehensive team communication and task management	Yes
Sling	Free Plan, Premium: $1.70 per user per month, Business: $3.40 per user per month	Flexible scheduling and time tracking	Yes
Homebase	Basic Plan: Free, Essentials: $20 per month per location, Plus: $48 per month per location, All-In-One: $80 per month per location	Shift creation, availability tracking, and shift swaps	Yes
Findmyshift	Free for 5 team members and 1 manager	Flexible scheduling and time-off management	No
Shiftboard	Free trial available, contact for pricing	Customizable scheduling and labor forecasting	Yes
When I Work	Essentials: $3 per user per month, Pro: $5 per user per month, Premium: $7 per user per month	Employee scheduling, time tracking, and labor cost forecasting	Yes
Deputy	Scheduling: $3.50 per user per month, Time and Attendance: $3.50 per user per month, Premium: $4.90 per user per month, Enterprise: Customized	Intuitive scheduling and employee communication	Yes
OnTheClock	Free for 1-2 employees, paid plans available	Time tracking and scheduling with geofencing	Yes

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9 Best Shift Schedule Makers

Shifts by Everhour

Shifts by Everhour is a powerful shift scheduling tool designed to simplify workforce management for small and tabung4d medium-sized businesses. With its intuitive interface and robust feature set, Shifts by Everhour helps you efficiently manage employee schedules, track time, and optimize labor costs—all in one place.

Key features

• Easy shift creation: Quickly create, edit, and assign shifts with just a few clicks, ensuring that your team is always up to date with their work schedules.
• Mobile clock-in/out: Employees can use their mobile devices to track working hours and view their schedules.
• Open shifts availability: Allow employees to schedule themselves based on availability, promoting flexibility and autonomy in shift assignments.
• Real-time updates: Automatically notify your team of any changes to their shifts, reducing the risk of miscommunication and ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
• Attendance tracking: Monitor who’s clocked in, who’s on break, and who’s late with real-time attendance tracking, helping you stay on top of workforce management.
• Comprehensive reporting: Generate detailed reports on shift patterns, labor costs, and employee performance, giving you the insights needed to make informed decisions.

Pricing

Shifts by Everhour is free to use, offering a budget-friendly solution for managing employee schedules.

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Connecteam

Connecteam is a versatile employee management software designed to streamline communication, task management, and workforce management, particularly for businesses with mobile or remote teams. Its comprehensive features make it a valuable tool for enhancing organizational efficiency.

Key features

• Communication hub: Features like group chats, announcements, and feedback forms ensure effective communication within the organization.
• Task and project management: With features like task lists, checklists, and project timelines, Connecteam enhances productivity in a structured manner.
• Mobile workforce management: Mobile clock-in/out, location tracking, and scheduling flexibility empower businesses to manage remote or field employees effectively.
• Training and knowledge base: An integrated training module enables organizations to create and deliver training materials. Connecteam empowers businesses to build a knowledge base, ensuring employees have access to essential resources for skill development.

Pricing

Connecteam’s pricing starts at $29 per user per month when billed annually

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Sling

Sling offers a robust set of tools designed to streamline shift scheduling and attendance management. Ideal for businesses of all sizes, Sling helps simplify scheduling processes, enhance communication, and effectively manage labor costs.

Key features

• Shift planning: Create, edit, and manage shifts effortlessly, allowing you to set up regular schedules or customize shifts to meet specific business needs.
• Shift notifications: Sling sends automatic shift notifications to employees, reducing absenteeism and ensuring punctuality.
• Time clock functionality: Accurately track employee hours with built-in time clock features, supporting clock-in and clock-out capabilities.
• Time off requests: Employees can submit time off requests directly through the app, streamlining the request and approval process.
• Labor cost monitoring: Gain insights into labor costs with Sling’s reporting and analytics tools, helping you manage labor expenses effectively.

Pricing

• Free Plan
• Premium Plan: $1.70 per user per month
• Business Plan: $3.40 per user per month

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Homebase

Homebase provides a comprehensive solution for managing shift schedules and employee time tracking. With features designed to streamline scheduling and enhance workforce management, Homebase helps businesses maintain smooth operations and effective communication.

Key features

• Flexible shift creation: Create, assign, and manage shifts effortlessly. You can set regular schedules or create customized shifts to match your business’s unique requirements.
• Availability tracking: Employees can update their availability, helping managers schedule shifts that align with individual preferences and constraints.
• Shift reminders: Homebase sends automatic shift reminders to employees, reducing absenteeism and late arrivals.
• Time off requests: Employees can request time off directly through the app, streamlining the request and approval process.
• Shift swaps: Homebase enables employees to initiate shift swaps with their colleagues, reducing managerial workload and ensuring adequate shift coverage.

Pricing

• Basic Plan: Free
• Essentials Plan: $20 per month per location
• Plus Plan: $48 per month per location
• All-In-One Plan: $80 per month per location

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Findmyshift

Findmyshift offers a user-friendly platform designed to simplify scheduling and time management for businesses of all sizes. Its versatile features cater to various staffing needs, ensuring that scheduling is efficient and straightforward.

Key features

• Flexible scheduling: Findmyshift allows you to create flexible schedules that can accommodate both full-time and part-time employees, making it suitable for businesses with diverse staffing needs.
• Shift patterns: Easily create recurring shift patterns and templates to save time when scheduling repeating shifts or rotations.
• Time-off management: Employees can request time off directly through the app, and managers can approve or deny requests with ease.
• Availability management: Employees can specify their availability, ensuring that schedules align with their preferences and constraints.
• Notifications and reminders: Stay organized with automated notifications and reminders for shift changes, upcoming schedules, and time-off requests.

Pricing

Free Plan: Includes essential features for 5 team members and 1 manager

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Shiftboard

Shiftboard delivers a robust scheduling solution designed to streamline workforce management. It caters to diverse scheduling needs and helps organizations maintain compliance and efficiency.

Key features

• Flexible scheduling: Shiftboard offers an intuitive interface for creating and managing work schedules. Customize schedules to match your organization’s unique needs, including shift rotations, split shifts, and on-call staffing.
• Labor forecasting: Use Shiftboard’s forecasting tools to predict staffing needs based on historical data and future demand. This helps ensure you have the right number of employees scheduled at any given time.
• Shift bidding: Implement a fair and transparent shift bidding process that allows employees to request and bid on shifts based on their availability and preferences. This increases employee engagement and satisfaction.
• Compliance and certifications: Ensure compliance with labor laws and industry regulations by tracking employee certifications and qualifications. Shiftboard sends automated alerts for expiring certifications, reducing compliance risks.

Pricing

Shiftboard often offers a free trial or demo. For more detailed pricing information, contact the team

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When I Work

When I Work simplifies employee scheduling and management with a focus on flexibility and ease of use. It offers a range of features to help businesses effectively manage their workforce.

Key features

• Employee availability: Easily track and manage employee availability and time-off requests. Ensure you’re scheduling the right people for the right shifts.
• Time and attendance: Accurately track employee work hours with the Time Clock feature. Employees can clock in and out using their mobile devices, helping reduce time theft and simplify payroll.
• Shift swapping and pickup: When I Work enables employees to swap shifts, request time off, and pick up available shifts through the mobile app. This fosters greater scheduling flexibility.
• Labor cost forecasting: Forecast labor costs based on your schedule, and keep your labor expenses in check. Understand your budget and manage labor expenses effectively.

Pricing

• Essentials: $3 per user per month
• Pro Plan: $5 per user per month
• Premium Plan: $7 per user per month

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Deputy

Deputy offers a powerful suite of features designed to simplify workforce management and enhance operational efficiency. From intuitive scheduling to effective communication tools, Deputy supports businesses in managing their teams with ease.

Key features

• Intuitive scheduling: Deputy’s user-friendly interface makes creating and managing schedules a breeze. Drag-and-drop shifts, assign tasks, and view schedules at a glance.
• Employee communication: Keep your team informed and engaged with the Deputy’s communication tools. Send messages, notifications, and updates directly through the platform.
• Forecasting and budgeting: Plan your labor costs effectively with Deputy’s forecasting and budgeting tools. Predict future labor needs and optimize schedules to meet your budget.
• Employee self-service: Empower your employees with self-service features. They can access schedules, request time off, and swap shifts using the Deputy mobile app or web portal.

Pricing

• Scheduling: $3.50 per user per month
• Time and Attendance: $3.50 per user per month
• Premium: $4.90 per user per month
• Enterprise: Customized pricing

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OnTheClock

OnTheClock provides a comprehensive set of features to streamline time tracking and scheduling for businesses. Its intuitive platform helps manage employee hours, schedules, and compliance efficiently.

Key features

• Time tracking: Employees can clock in/out, record breaks, and track hours worked accurately.
• Scheduling: Create and manage employee schedules, ensuring proper coverage and adherence to labor laws.
• Overtime calculations: Automatically calculate overtime based on labor laws and policies.
• Time-off management: Manage time-off requests, accruals, and approvals within the app.
• Geofencing: Set location-based restrictions to ensure employees are at the designated worksite when clocking in/out.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Available for 1-2 employees
• Paid Plans: Competitively priced, with additional features like geofencing and payroll integrations

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FAQ: Shift Schedule Maker

What is a schedule maker for work?

A schedule maker for work is a tool that helps businesses and organizations create, manage, and optimize employee schedules. It allows you to assign shifts, track working hours, and ensure proper coverage efficiently.

How does an employee schedule generator work?

A shift schedule maker automates the process of creating work schedules based on various inputs such as employee availability, shift requirements, and labor laws. It simplifies scheduling by generating optimal schedules with minimal manual intervention.

Can I use a schedule maker for multiple employees?

Yes, many schedule makers are designed to handle scheduling for multiple employees. They provide features that allow you to assign shifts, track attendance, and manage availability for large teams easily.

What are the benefits of using an employee schedule creator?

A shift schedule maker streamlines the scheduling process by automating shift assignments and tracking. It helps reduce scheduling conflicts, improve communication, and ensure that staffing needs are met efficiently.

How can a staff schedule maker improve workforce management?

A free work schedule maker improves workforce management by providing a centralized platform to create and manage schedules. It allows for better planning, reduces administrative work, and enhances overall productivity by ensuring that the right number of employees are scheduled for each shift.

What features should I look for in a work schedule maker online?

When choosing a shift schedule maker that works online, look for features such as shift scheduling, employee availability tracking, time-off management, notifications, and integration with other tools. These features help ensure that the scheduling process is efficient and effective.

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Conclusion: Shift Schedule Maker

A well-designed work schedule planner is crucial for effective workforce management. By leveraging the right scheduling tools, businesses can streamline shift planning, ensure proper coverage, and enhance overall productivity. Shifts by Everhour stands out as a powerful solution, offering easy shift creation, seamless integration, real-time updates, and comprehensive reporting. With its user-friendly interface and customizable features, Shifts simplifies the scheduling process and helps organizations manage their workforce efficiently. Embracing such tools can significantly improve scheduling practices and contribute to smoother operations in your business.

If you’re looking for a seamless way to improve shift planning, Shifts by Everhour is the perfect solution. With features like real-time monitoring, easy scheduling, and mobile accessibility, managing your workforce has never been simpler.