21 Best Free Employee Shift Scheduling Software

Free employee shift scheduling software offers a cost-effective solution for businesses to streamline their workforce management processes. In this article, we explore the world of free scheduling tools, highlighting their key features and benefits for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small startup or a large enterprise, these free task-scheduling software tools can help you optimize your scheduling tasks without draining your budget.

Evaluation Criteria for the Best Free Employee Scheduling App 

• 🎨 Ease of use: Intuitive interface and user-friendly features that simplify scheduling tasks for managers and employees alike.
• 📱 Mobile accessibility: Availability of mobile apps for both managers and employees, allowing them to access schedules, make changes, and clock in/out from anywhere.
• ⏰ Time tracking: Seamless time tracking functionality to accurately record employee hours worked, including clock-in/out options and attendance monitoring.
• 🕒 Availability insights: Insights into employee availability and preferences, enabling managers to create schedules that align with individual needs.
• 🔄 Integration: Compatibility with other software systems commonly used in the business, such as payroll or HR management software.
• 📈 Scalability: Ability to scale with the growth of your business, accommodating changes in team size and scheduling complexity.

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Best Free Employee Shift Scheduling Software Compared

Tool	Free trial	Standout feature	Pricing
Shifts	Yes	Intuitive interface & easy scheduling	Free
Homebase	No	Automatic shift reminders	Free plan available
Connecteam	Yes	GPS tracking	Free trial only
Sling	Yes	Shift swapping	Free plan available
Acuity	No	Customizable booking pages	Free trial only
Findmyshift	No	Drag-and-drop scheduler	Free
OnTheClock	Yes	Overtime management	Free plan available
Inch	Yes	Shift templates	Free plan available
ABC Roster	No	Shift rotation	Free
TeamUltim	No	Shift scheduling	FFree plan available
ZoomShift	Yes	Mobile clock-in/out	Free trial only

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11 Best Free Employee Shift Scheduling Software

Shifts by Everhour

best for simple scheduling & availability/attendance management & payroll

Managing employee schedules can be challenging, but Shifts by Everhour simplifies the process with its intuitive interface and robust features. From real-time updates to mobile clock-in/out, Shifts is the best free online staff scheduling tool that empowers managers to streamline scheduling tasks and enhance workforce management.

Key features

• Intuitive interface: Effortlessly create, edit, and distribute schedules with Shifts’ sleek and user-friendly interface.
• Real-time updates: Stay informed of schedule changes instantly with real-time updates and notifications.
• Mobile clock-in/out: Enhance flexibility and accuracy in attendance tracking with convenient mobile clock-in and out capabilities.

• Open shifts: Promote transparency and flexibility by managing open shifts and allowing employees to view and request available shifts.
• Reporting and analytics: Gain valuable insights into labor costs, employee performance, and scheduling efficiency through Shifts’ comprehensive reporting and analytics features.
• Attendance tracking: Monitor employee attendance and hours worked with ease using Shifts’ robust tracking functionalities.

Pricing

Shifts by Everhour is available for free, providing businesses with cost-effective scheduling solutions to optimize operations and drive success

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Homebase

best for scheduling with GPS tracking

With Homebase’s flexible shift creation and powerful features, it simplifies workforce management for various businesses. From tracking availability to sending automatic shift reminders, Homebase helps managers optimize scheduling and ensure smooth operations.

Key features

• Flexible shift creation: Effortlessly create, assign, and manage shifts to match your business’s unique requirements.
• Availability tracking: Allow employees to update their availability, enabling managers to schedule shifts that align with individual preferences and constraints.
• Shift reminders: Reduce absenteeism and late arrivals with automatic shift reminders sent directly to employees.
• Time off requests: Streamline the time-off request and approval process by allowing employees to request time off directly through the app.
• Shift swaps: Empower 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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Connecteam

best for mobile workforce management

Connecteam seamlessly integrates with Excel, offering an enhanced employee scheduling experience. It empowers businesses to streamline staff management while leveraging the familiarity and versatility of Excel for scheduling tasks.

Key features

• Communication hub: Centrally manage team communication with group chats, announcements, and feedback forms, fostering seamless interaction and collaboration.
• Task and project management: Organize and prioritize assignments efficiently with task lists, checklists, and project timelines, empowering teams to excel in task and project management.
• Mobile workforce management: Cater to remote or field employees with mobile clock-in/out, location tracking, and scheduling flexibility, ensuring effective management of your mobile workforce.
• Training and knowledge base: Create and deliver training materials to your team, and build a knowledge base for skill development and resource access, enhancing employee growth and development.

Pricing

Starts at $29 per user per month when billed annually

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Sling

best for big group scheduling

Sling offers a robust free scheduling app that provides a comprehensive suite of tools to streamline employee scheduling for businesses of all types and sizes. It simplifies workforce management, making it a top choice for businesses seeking efficient scheduling solutions.

Key features

• Shift planning: Effortlessly create, edit, and manage shifts to set up regular schedules or customize shifts to meet specific business needs.
• Shift notifications: Reduce absenteeism and ensure punctuality with automatic shift notifications sent to employees, keeping everyone informed and on track.
• Time clock functionality: Accurately track employee hours with built-in time clock features, supporting clock-in and clock-out capabilities for seamless attendance tracking.
• Time off requests: Streamline the time off request and approval process with the ability for employees to submit requests directly through the app.
• Labor cost monitoring: Gain valuable insights into labor costs with Sling’s reporting and analytics tools, helping you effectively manage labor expenses.

Pricing

• Free Plan
• Premium Plan: $1.25 per user per month
• Business Plan: $3.40 per user per month

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Acuity Scheduling

best for customizable booking pages and automated reminders, for businesses offering appointment-based services

Acuity Scheduling is a solution for appointment scheduling, designed to simplify the booking process and enhance client engagement. With its intuitive platform and robust features, Acuity Scheduling empowers businesses to streamline their scheduling operations and provide a seamless experience for clients.

Key features

• Customizable booking pages: Tailor your booking pages to create a branded experience for clients. The user-friendly platform ensures a seamless booking process, reinforcing your business identity.
• Automated reminders: Reduce no-shows with email and SMS reminders that keep clients informed about upcoming appointments, enhancing client engagement.
• Time zone auto-adjustment: Simplify scheduling for a global clientele with auto-adjustment for different time zones.
• Video conferencing integrations: Effortlessly join online appointments with seamless integrations with popular video conferencing software.
• Payment integrations: Streamline the financial aspect of your services with integrations with Stripe, Square, and PayPal. Acuity Scheduling allows businesses to accept payments when customers book appointments, ensuring a seamless transaction process.

Pricing

• Emerging: $16 per month
• Growing: $27 per month
• Powerhouse: $49 per month

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Findmyshift

best for drag-and-drop scheduling

Findmyshift presents a holistic solution for businesses in search of flexible and efficient employee scheduling. With an array of features aimed at streamlining scheduling processes and improving workforce management, Findmyshift stands out as an ideal option for businesses of any size.

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 with essential features for 5 team members and 1 manager

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OnTheClock

best for overtime management

OnTheClock delivers a robust solution for both time tracking and employee scheduling, serving as a comprehensive toolset to optimize workforce management. With its suite of essential features, OnTheClock oversees employee schedules and tracks their time accurately. From managing shifts to monitoring attendance, OnTheClock equips businesses with the necessary tools to enhance operational efficiency and productivity.

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 for 1-2 employees

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Inch

best for simplifying shift scheduling for businesses of all sizes

Inch presents an intuitive employee scheduling software solution crafted to streamline workforce management and simplify scheduling procedures. From creating and managing employee schedules to facilitating shift swaps and managing time-off requests, Inch provides a comprehensive solution to meet the diverse needs of modern businesses.

Key features

• Intuitive interface: Inch provides an easy-to-use interface for creating and managing employee schedules.
• Shift templates: Save time by creating reusable shift templates for common scheduling patterns.
• Shift swaps: Employees can request shift swaps, and managers can approve them, ensuring flexible scheduling.
• Availability tracking: Monitor employee availability and preferences to create conflict-free schedules.
• Time-off requests: Handle time-off requests and approvals within the app, reducing administrative tasks.

Pricing

Free plan with essential scheduling features

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ABC Roster

best for intuitive scheduling

ABC Roster is free employee scheduling software for small business that can greatly help your business if you look for simplicity and no learning curve with functionality intact.

Key features

• Shift planning: Create employee schedules based on availability, skills, and labor requirements.
• Shift rotation: Easily set up shift rotations and patterns to cover all shifts efficiently.
• Time-off management: Manage time-off requests and approvals, ensuring proper staffing.
• Reporting: Access reports to analyze labor costs, scheduling efficiency, and compliance.
• Export options: Export schedules and reports in various formats for easy sharing and integration.

Pricing

Free

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TeamUltim

best for streamlining shift scheduling and human resources management for businesses of all sizes

TeamUltim simplifies workforce organization and enhances scheduling procedures, catering to the varying needs of businesses across different industries. From creating and managing employee schedules to facilitating leave management and centralizing employee information, TeamUltim offers a comprehensive solution to elevate workforce management efficiency.

Key features

• Shift scheduling: effortlessly create and manage employee schedules, taking into account availability and shift preferences.
• Leave management: simplify time-off requests and approvals, effectively managing vacations, sick days, and other leave types.
• Employee database: maintain a centralized database of employee information, facilitating HR management tasks.
• Notifications and reminders: send automated notifications and reminders to employees for shifts and time-off requests, ensuring timely communication.
• Reporting and analytics: access detailed reports and analytics to gain valuable insights into workforce performance and scheduling efficiency.

Pricing

Free plan with essential features only

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ZoomShift

best for restaurant scheduling

While ZoomShift is particularly adept at meeting the unique demands of the restaurant industry, its versatility extends far beyond this sector, catering to the scheduling needs of various businesses across different industries.

Key features

• Scheduling: Effortlessly create, edit, and assign shifts using ZoomShift’s intuitive scheduling tools.
• Mobile clock-in/out: Enable employees to conveniently clock in and out using the mobile app, ideal for remote or field workers.
• Communication: Foster collaboration among team members with built-in communication features for messaging and shift swapping.
• Reporting and analytics: Gain valuable insights into labor costs and workforce performance with ZoomShift’s reporting and analytics tools.

Pricing

Free trial or demo for users to evaluate the platform. Pricing starts at $2 per active team member per month

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10 More Scheduling Software Options

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Benefits of Free Employee Shift Scheduling Software

Efficient employee scheduling is critical for businesses to optimize productivity, reduce labor costs, and enhance employee satisfaction. Free employee shift scheduling software offers several advantages, including:

1️⃣ Cost savings: By opting for free software, businesses can save on the costs associated with traditional scheduling methods or premium software subscriptions, allowing them to allocate resources to other areas of operation.

2️⃣ Streamlined scheduling process: Free scheduling software automates the scheduling process, eliminating the need for manual scheduling spreadsheets or paperwork. This streamlines the process, saving time and reducing errors.

3️⃣ Improved communication: Many free scheduling tools offer built-in communication features, enabling seamless communication between managers and employees. This helps clarify shift schedules, address concerns, and foster a collaborative work environment.

4️⃣ Enhanced employee engagement: With features like shift swapping, time-off requests, and mobile accessibility, free scheduling software empowers employees to take control of their schedules. This autonomy can lead to increased job satisfaction and higher levels of engagement.

5️⃣ Better compliance: Free scheduling software often includes features to help businesses comply with labor laws and regulations, such as tracking employee hours, managing overtime, and ensuring adequate rest between shifts.

6️⃣ Data-driven insights: Some free scheduling tools offer reporting and analytics features that provide valuable insights into labor costs, scheduling efficiency, and employee performance. These insights can inform strategic decision-making and optimize scheduling practices.

7️⃣ Scalability: Free scheduling software may offer scalable solutions that cater to businesses of all sizes, from startups to larger enterprises. This scalability ensures that businesses can continue to use the software as they grow and expand.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Free Employee Scheduling Software

1. Is there free job scheduling software available?

Yes, many providers offer free job scheduling software with basic features. However, for advanced functionalities, you may need to consider paid options.

2. What are some features of a free scheduling app for contractors?

Free scheduling apps for contractors typically offer features such as shift planning, time tracking, mobile accessibility, and communication tools tailored to meet the unique needs of contractors and freelancers.

3. Can I find a free restaurant scheduling app?

Yes, several free restaurant scheduling apps are available, offering features like shift management, employee communication, and labor cost tracking specifically designed for the restaurant industry.

4. How does free employee scheduling software help businesses?

Free employee scheduling software helps businesses streamline scheduling processes, improve communication, reduce errors, and enhance overall efficiency. It also enables better compliance with labor laws and regulations.

5. Are there any limitations to using free scheduling software?

While free scheduling software offers many benefits, it may have limitations compared to paid options, such as fewer advanced features, limited customization options, and restrictions on the number of users or employees.

6. Can I upgrade from free to paid scheduling software later?

Yes, many free scheduling software providers offer paid plans with additional features and capabilities. Businesses can usually upgrade to these plans as their needs grow or change.

7. How do I choose the best employee scheduling software for free?

When choosing free employee scheduling software, consider factors such as your industry, business size, required features, user interface, customer support, and scalability to find the best fit for your needs.

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Free Employee Shift Scheduling Software: Final Thoughts

In closing, among the array of free employee shift scheduling software options available, Shifts by Everhour emerges as a standout choice for businesses seeking streamlined and efficient workforce management solutions. With its intuitive interface, robust features, and seamless integration, Shifts empowers businesses to effortlessly create, manage, and optimize employee schedules. By leveraging Shifts, businesses can enhance productivity, improve communication, and ensure optimal staffing levels, ultimately driving success in today’s fast-paced business landscape. Make the shift to Shifts by Everhour and experience the difference in your scheduling efficiency today.

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.