Sling is a well-known scheduling and communication platform used by restaurants, retail shops, and hospitality teams. It offers powerful scheduling tools, but many users find the free version limited and the premium tiers cluttered with extras they don’t always need.
If you want a tool that focuses purely on scheduling, time tracking, and communication - without unnecessary complexity - Shifts by Everhour is a cleaner, faster alternative that helps small and mid-sized teams stay organized effortlessly.
Meet Shifts by Everhour
Shifts is a modern scheduling and time tracking app from the creators of Everhour. It unites scheduling, attendance, time-off management, and messaging into one seamless workspace for growing teams.
Whether you manage a restaurant, retail team, or a hotel staff, Shifts helps you create, publish, and adjust rosters in minutes.
Shifts by Everhour
Best for unified scheduling + time tracking with clean mobile experience
- Free plan available
- From $5/user/month
Shifts by Everhour combines scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging in a single intuitive tool. It’s designed for clarity, not clutter - helping teams stay aligned and productive without juggling multiple systems.
Explore employee shift scheduling, time clock tracking, and team communication.
- Clean, minimal interface
- Transparent, flat pricing
- Free plan for small teams
- Built-in time tracking + PTO management
- Seamless scheduling + communication integration
Limitations
- Not aimed at enterprise-scale workforce systems
- Limited third-party integrations (by design - simplicity first)
Sling vs Shifts by Everhour
Sling
Best for scheduling and internal communication in hospitality and retail
- Free plan with limited features
- Pro and Premium plans for advanced tools
Sling is built primarily for hospitality and service industries, offering solid scheduling and team communication. The platform allows managers to create shifts, message employees, and handle time-off requests from a central hub.
However, many users mention that the free plan lacks essential features like reports or advanced scheduling automation. Upgrading to Pro or Premium unlocks more control - but also introduces complexity and higher monthly costs.
The interface, while functional, can feel cluttered with tabs and nested menus, and mobile navigation isn’t always as seamless as expected. Users switching to Shifts often cite fewer distractions, faster setup, and simpler pricing.
Overall, Sling remains a strong option for larger hospitality operations, but for teams seeking a lighter, more focused tool, Shifts offers the same scheduling power without the bloat.
- Great scheduling and communication tools
- Clear shift visibility and time-off tracking
- Trusted by restaurants and retail chains
Common pain points
- Free plan is limited and lacks reporting
- Pricing increases quickly across plans
- Cluttered UI and slower mobile experience
What makes Shifts different
While Sling mixes scheduling with extras like news feeds and side widgets, Shifts keeps things simple - focusing on scheduling, time tracking, and communication in one fast, intuitive interface.
1. Simpler workspace. No side widgets or extra modules - just clear scheduling and time tracking.
2. Unified experience. Combine schedules, messages, attendance, and PTO in one app.
3. Transparent pricing. One free plan (up to 5 users) and one paid plan - no upsells or hidden bundles.
4. Clean mobile app. Built for quick check-ins, shift swaps, and time clocking - without clutter.
5. Fast setup. Invite your team and publish schedules in under 30 minutes.
6. Reliable time tracking. Track hours and breaks directly from each shift - synced automatically to timesheets.
7. No distractions. Shifts keeps focus on work, not feeds or pop-ups.
8. Real-time updates. Schedule changes sync instantly across all devices.
9. Built for growing teams. From 5 to 500 users, pricing stays simple and predictable.
10. Made for modern teams. Streamlined, focused, and built for daily use across any device.
Pricing comparison
Sling offers a free plan with limited features, followed by Pro and Premium tiers starting around $1.70–$3.40 per user/month (billed annually). However, to unlock reporting or advanced scheduling, most teams must upgrade - often increasing costs as they grow.
Shifts by Everhour keeps pricing simple and transparent: one free plan (up to 5 users) and one paid plan at $5 per user/month with unlimited seats. No upsells, no hidden tiers.
Example:
• Sling Premium (50 users) ≈ $200/month
• Shifts (50 users) = $250/month flat - all features included
• Transparent and predictable
Ease of use
Sling offers a wide feature set but can feel cluttered, especially for small teams. Shifts delivers a lighter experience - one that’s quick to learn, pleasant to use, and focused only on what matters: shifts, time, and people.
No steep learning curve and no maze of pricing tiers - just one clear workflow for your team.
What real users say
According to verified Capterra and G2 reviews, Sling is praised for its ease of use, built-in communication, and efficient scheduling capabilities. However, users also mention limitations in customization and challenges with mobile navigation.
- Powerful communication features that enhance team collaboration
- Easy to use - scheduling and communication feel intuitive
- Effective time tracking with clock-in and attendance notifications
- Reliable shift management and attendance tracking
Common pain points
- Limited customization and team-building options
- Interface can feel outdated and less intuitive on mobile
- Navigation on mobile devices is often slower and harder to use
“Sling is great for creating and managing shifts, but the mobile version feels heavy and not as responsive as desktop.”
“The communication tools are strong, but customization and design could be improved.”
“We use Sling for attendance and scheduling - it works, but it can be clunky to navigate on smaller screens.”
- Based on aggregated Capterra and G2 reviews
Why switch from Sling
Sling works - but Shifts makes it easier. No upgrade traps and no confusion about features. Just clean scheduling, time tracking, and communication in one app.
For teams tired of toggling between plans or paying extra for basic tools, Shifts offers a simpler path forward.
The bottom line
Sling has been a dependable tool for years, but modern teams expect speed, transparency, and focus. Shifts by Everhour combines scheduling, time tracking, and communication in one place - without distractions or complex pricing.
Try it free today and see why more teams are choosing Shifts as their simpler Sling alternative.
