Best free employee scheduling apps
Several good scheduling apps have genuinely free plans — but the limits differ a lot. Here is what each free plan includes, what it costs when you outgrow it, and which one fits your team.
Prices and limits from each company's published plans, checked October 2026. Plans change, so confirm on the vendor's site. We don't accept payment for placement in this comparison.
Quick picks
- Up to 10 people, want everything free: Connecteam.
- One restaurant or shop, up to 10 staff: Homebase.
- Up to 30 people, mainly need a shared schedule: Sling.
- Restaurant with up to 15 staff: 7shifts (Comp plan).
- No app, no account, any team size: the free ShiftRotations schedule maker (PDF and Excel; no time clock).
Free plans compared
| App | Free plan | Free plan limit | Paid from | Time clock | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecteam | Yes | Up to 10 users, all features | $29/month for the first 30 users (billed annually) | Yes | Small teams that want everything free: scheduling, GPS time clock, chat and forms |
| Homebase | Yes | 1 location, up to 10 employees | $30 per location/month (Essentials) | Yes | Single-location restaurants and shops, especially with a POS |
| Sling | Yes | Up to 30 users, scheduling and messaging | $1.70/user/month (Premium, billed annually) | Yes | Bigger teams that mainly need a shared schedule |
| 7shifts | Yes (Comp plan) | 1 location, up to 15 employees | $39.99 per location/month (Essentials) | Yes | Restaurants |
| When I Work | No (14-day trial) | — | $2.50/user/month (Essentials) | Yes | Hourly teams that want a simple, popular app and don't mind paying |
| Deputy | No (free trial) | — | $5/user/month (Lite) | Yes | Multi-location businesses and compliance-heavy industries |
| ShiftRotations schedule maker | Yes | No limit, no account | Free | No | Making and printing schedules fast |
Connecteam
Free plan: Yes — Up to 10 users, all features. Paid from: $29/month for the first 30 users (billed annually). Payroll: Payroll integrations.
Good
- Free plan includes every feature for up to 10 users
- GPS time clock, job scheduling, checklists and team chat in one app
- Flat price for the first 30 users on paid plans
Watch out for
- The 11th user moves you to a paid plan
- Paid prices are per "hub" (operations, communications, HR), so costs add up if you need several
Homebase
Free plan: Yes — 1 location, up to 10 employees. Paid from: $30 per location/month (Essentials). Payroll: Built-in payroll (add-on).
Good
- Free scheduling and basic time tracking for one location
- POS integrations for restaurants and retail
- Priced per location, not per employee
Watch out for
- Free plan is limited to one location and 10 employees
- Advanced scheduling, team chat and PTO policies are on paid plans
Sling
Free plan: Yes — Up to 30 users, scheduling and messaging. Paid from: $1.70/user/month (Premium, billed annually). Payroll: Payroll integrations (paid plans).
Good
- Free for up to 30 users
- Shift scheduling, time-off requests, open shifts and messaging on the free plan
- Low per-user price when you upgrade
Watch out for
- Time clock, labor cost and overtime tracking need a paid plan
- Per-user pricing grows with headcount
7shifts
Free plan: Yes (Comp plan) — 1 location, up to 15 employees. Paid from: $39.99 per location/month (Essentials). Payroll: Restaurant payroll (add-on).
Good
- Built for restaurants: tip pooling, POS integrations, labor targets
- Free plan for one small location
Watch out for
- Free Comp plan capped at 15 employees since January 2026
- Less suited to non-restaurant businesses
When I Work
Free plan: No (14-day trial). Paid from: $2.50/user/month (Essentials). Payroll: Payroll integrations.
Good
- Easy for employees to pick up and swap shifts
- Low starting price per user
Watch out for
- No free plan anymore
- Time clock and some features cost more per user
Deputy
Free plan: No (free trial). Paid from: $5/user/month (Lite). Payroll: Payroll integrations.
Good
- Strong compliance features (breaks, overtime, fair workweek)
- Auto-scheduling and demand forecasting on higher plans
Watch out for
- No free plan
- More than a very small team needs
How to choose
- Count your people and locations. Free plans are capped (10, 15 or 30 users; often one location). Pick one you won't outgrow in six months.
- Decide if you need a time clock. If you already use a POS or payroll time clock, a scheduling-only free plan may be enough.
- Check what employees get. Shift swaps, availability and notifications on their phones are what save managers the most time.
- Look at the upgrade price. Per-user pricing (Sling, When I Work, Deputy) grows with headcount; per-location pricing (Homebase, 7shifts) suits larger single sites.
When you don't need an app
If you post one schedule a week and changes are rare, an app can be more hassle than it saves. Build the week in the free schedule maker, download a schedule template, track hours with the time card calculator, and use PTO and overtime calculators as needed. Running 24/7 shifts? See our shift patterns first — the right rotation matters more than the app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free employee scheduling app?
For teams of up to 10, Connecteam's free plan includes every feature, and Homebase is free for one location with up to 10 employees. For up to 30 people, Sling's free plan covers scheduling and messaging. Restaurants with up to 15 staff can use 7shifts' free Comp plan.
Is Sling really free?
Yes. Sling's free plan covers up to 30 users with shift scheduling, time-off requests, open shifts and messaging. Time clock, labor cost and overtime tracking are on paid plans.
Does When I Work have a free plan?
No. When I Work no longer has a free plan; it offers a 14-day free trial and paid plans from $2.50 per user per month.
Is there a free tool to create shift schedules without an app?
Yes. The ShiftRotations schedule maker is free with no account or user limit: build the schedule in your browser and download a PDF or Excel file. It does not include a time clock, shift swaps or payroll.
Do I need a scheduling app for a small team?
Not always. If you post one schedule a week and rarely change it, a printed or shared schedule works. Apps pay off when you need shift swaps, availability, a time clock, labor cost tracking or payroll.
Independent comparison by ShiftRotations. If we add partner links in the future, they will be clearly labeled and won't change our picks.