7Shifts Alternatives: Top 10 Options for Managers in 2024

What is 7Shifts? A Quick Overview

7Shifts began its journey as a leading scheduling platform, carving a niche in the restaurant industry. 

These days, while it retains its leadership in shift scheduling, it has expanded its horizons to become an all-in-one operations and team management platform. 

Their expertise shines particularly in HR functions, streamlining processes like onboarding, training, and payments with finesse.

7Shifts Features:

• Employee Scheduling: Craft and manage employee schedules with ease, factoring in availability, time-off requests, and labor regulations.
• Time Clocking (*7Shifts Clock In): Accurately monitor employee hours, breaks, and overtime with an integrated time clocking system.
• Communication Tools: Foster seamless team communication with built-in chat and announcement functionalities.
• Labor Compliance: Stay ahead of potential pitfalls by ensuring schedules align with labor laws and regulations.
• Performance Reporting: Dive deep into labor costs, sales, and other pivotal metrics, driving informed decision-making.
• Integrations: Integrate effortlessly with popular POS and payroll systems, centralizing all crucial data.
• Mobile App: Empower employees with on-the-go access to schedules, time-off requests, and team communication.

7Shifts Pricing Details: 

• 7Shifts offers a range of pricing plans designed to cater to small eateries or expansive chains. 
• For detailed pricing information, you would need to visit the 7Shifts pricing page directly. 7Shifts Pricing Page

Top 10 7Shifts Alternatives in 2024

7Shifts is a leader in employee scheduling and resource management, but lacks the in-depth operations and maintenance functionality necessary to scale consistent operations. 

The following list provides alternatives to 7Shifts competitors that provide a different approach to restaurant operations, and the overall 7 shifts scheduling processes.

• Xenia
• Homebase
• HotSchedules
• Deputy
• ClickUp

1. Xenia - Overall Best 7Shifts Alternative

While 7Shifts has carved a niche in employee scheduling, they lack food safety functionality and robust task management features. Xenia fills these gaps as a restaurant operations platform that unifies operational execution, facilities maintenance and safety compliance.

This tool has integrated sensors for continuous temperature monitoring of freezers and refrigerators, as well as bluetooth probes and pens for efficient line checks. 

The platform has a robust template builder with logic driven automations for each step to create smart inspections, checklists and SOPs. Xenia provides equipment management with work orders, maintenance calendars, requests and approvals. 

Key Features:

• Operations Template Builder: Drive standardization with custom operating procedures, data logs, and top-tier inspection templates powered with workflow automations.
• Task Management: Assign tasks and track progress in real-time, ensuring efficient operational execution.
• Scheduled Work: Create recurring tasks with clear due dates and times, ensuring timely task completion.
• Temperature Monitoring: Achieve error-free temperature logging with continuous monitoring, Bluetooth probes, and automated alerts.
• Work Order Management: Create work orders with priority, category, location and asset for clear assignment.
• Automation Workflows: Harness the power of automation: from logic-based template responses to corrective action completion.

Pricing:

• Xenia offers a range of team-based plan options tailored to fit the diverse needs of operations, from individuals to larger teams. 
• Pricing structure includes a free tier for beginners, progressing to more advanced plans that encompass a broader set of features. 
• For detailed information and pricing specifics, visit Xenia's pricing page.

2. Homebase

Up next, we’ve got Homebase, a reliable 7Shifts alternative that is crafted with small businesses in mind, zeroes in on hourly work.

Focusing on the intricacies of hourly work, Homebase offers a comprehensive suite of tools aimed at streamlining operations and enhancing team communication. 

For managers and owners, it serves as a centralized system, simplifying various aspects of workforce management and ensuring efficient business operations.

Key Features:

• Time Clocks: Transform devices into precise time-tracking tools.
• Employee Scheduling: Ensure always-accessible and current team schedules.
• Payroll Integration: Automate payroll processes, from calculations to tax filings.
• Team Communication: Facilitate seamless interactions among team members.
• Hiring & HR Management: Streamline hiring processes and ensure HR compliance.
• Labor Cost Controls: Monitor and optimize labor expenses effectively.
• Integrations: Integrate effortlessly with popular POS and payroll systems.

Pricing:

• Homebase provides a variety of pricing tiers as an alternative to 7Shifts plan, starting with a free option and scaling up to include advanced HR and management features. 
• For specific details and costs, visit Homebase's pricing page.

3. HotSchedules

Moving on with our list of the best 7Shifts alternatives to date, HotSchedules brings over 20 years of dedicated experience to the hospitality sector. 

The program stands out not just for its intuitive scheduling tools but also for its unwavering commitment to customer support, evident in its 24/7 bilingual assistance.

HotSchedules is tailor-made for the hospitality sector. Whether it's a cozy cafe or a sprawling hotel chain, HotSchedules is the trusted partner for managers and owners who seek a blend of efficiency and employee-centric features. 

Its deep roots in the industry ensure that it understands the unique challenges and demands of the hospitality world.

Key Features:

• Intuitive Scheduling Interface: Incorporate demand forecasting for intelligent scheduling.
• Shift Transactions: Simplify shift approvals while staying alert with compliance notifications.
• Labor Law Compliance: Equip managers with tools to navigate labor compliance intricacies.
• Team Communication: Enhance team interactions with built-in messaging capabilities.
• Performance Insights: Dive deep into restaurant and regional performance metrics.
• Mobile App Experience: Empower staff with on-the-go access to schedules and communication tools.
• Above Store Insights: Access customized KPI dashboards and automated reports.

Pricing: 

• HotSchedules offers a range of pricing structures, tailored to meet the diverse needs of the hospitality industry. From establishments just starting out to expansive chains, there's a plan that fits. 
• For detailed pricing information, you would need to visit theHotSchedules Pricing Page.

4. Deputy

Deputy emerges as a holistic workforce management platform, designed with a singular vision: to elevate business efficiency while ensuring unwavering compliance.

As an alternative to 7 Shifts plan that you might be used to, it is particularly favored by industries with dynamic staffing requirements, such as retail, hospitality, and healthcare. 

Overall, Deputy’s features cater to managers and business owners who prioritize both operational efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Key Features:

• Team Scheduling: Ditch the spreadsheets for a seamless scheduling experience.
• Demand Planning: Fine-tune staffing levels to align perfectly with demand, optimizing labor costs.
• Labor Law Compliance: Navigate the maze of local, state, and federal regulations with confidence.
• Time Tracking: Capture precise work hours, ensuring accurate payroll and adherence to regulations.
• Software Integration: Seamlessly blend Deputy with your existing tech stack for a unified experience.
• Employee Engagement: Foster a positive work environment with efficient scheduling and communication tools.
• Workplace Communication: Keep the team connected and informed, ensuring smooth operations.

Pricing: 

• Deputy offers a tiered pricing model, catering to businesses of all sizes and complexities. Whether you're a small startup or a sprawling enterprise, Deputy has a plan tailored for your needs.
• For a comprehensive breakdown, visit Deputy's pricing page.

5. ClickUp

Finally, we’ve got Clickup as one of the coolest and the best 7 shifts alternatives to date.

Clickup is an overall versatile work management platform, aiming to be the one-stop solution for tasks, docs, chat, goals, and more. 

Designed primarily for teams looking to centralize their work and communication, ClickUp offers a comprehensive suite that caters to project managers, content creators, developers, and virtually any professional seeking organized collaboration. 

Key Features:

• Project & Tasks Management: Navigate work with a versatile tool that allows planning, tracking, and execution with ease.
• Docs: Dive into robust documentation features, fostering seamless team collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Whiteboards: Unleash creativity with a dedicated space for brainstorming, ideation, and strategic planning.
• Chat: Facilitate real-time communication, ensuring teams stay connected and aligned.
• Goals: Set, monitor, and achieve team milestones, driving productivity and focus.
• Automations: Streamline repetitive tasks with customizable workflows and processes.
• Integrations: Connect ClickUp with your favorite tools, creating a cohesive work ecosystem.

Pricing: 

• ClickUp offers a diverse pricing structure, from a free tier for individual users to more advanced plans catering to teams and businesses of varying sizes. 
• For detailed features and costs, visit the ClickUp Pricing Page.

6. Calamari

If you want a robust 7shifts alternative, our next recommendation is Calamari.

The cloud-based software, Calamari, is offering a full HR management system which includes a clock-in/Out service and an in-depth leave management system; very similar to 7shifts for the SMB market.

The Leave Management system provides a simple and intuitive way to track employee PTO, leave, and absence. Calamari Leaves has Google Apps, Jira and Slack integrations that are one click away and let you connect with your favorite office tools. Calamari provides instant PTO and Leave calculation and helps with all subsequent document approval workflow

Calamari allows tracking time using multiple clocking methods – by browser button, QR code scanning, Slack commands, and iBeacon for location-based self-attendance. This not only caters to varying team sizes but provides much-needed flexibility to integrate efficiently into your company’s existing processes.

Key Features 

• Attendance Tracking: Use comprehensive tracking solutions to properly manage staff attendance. 
• Alerts: Receive timely alerts for leave requests, approvals, and other critical developments.
  Customize approval procedures to fit your organization's structure and needs. 
• Employee Database Management: Keep a consolidated database of employee information for quick access and management. 
• Activity Tracking: Advanced tracking features allow you to gain insights into staff activity and productivity.
• Time Tracking: Use precise time tracking technologies to accurately record and manage employees' working hours. 

Pricing 

• Time off –$1.7
• Time & Attendance-$2
• Core HR -$1.7

7. Workforce.com

Workforce.com is designed to automate time and attendance, employee scheduling, labor compliance, reporting, and labor forecasting for businesses with over 20 employees.

The platform reportedly specializes in simplifying even the most complex workforce management requirements from small to very large organizations by taking a WFM-first approach. 

While other solutions might work in restaurants and bars, Workforce.com is trusted to build a better working world in diverse sectors. The implementation team customizes our forecasting, scheduling, compliance, and reporting to your industry and size for optimal functionality and efficiency.

Plus, you’ll get seamless integration with leading POS, payroll, HCM, and HR systems which means you can fit Workforce.com into your software stack and get better workflow efficiency, better forecasting accuracy, and better reporting capabilities. More importantly, the tool covers ALL the essential WFM (workforce management) areas including shift feedback, leave management, shift swap, and employee onboarding – all available on desktop and mobile – on iOS and Android.

Key Features

• Demand-based scheduling uses past sales data, foot traffic, reservations, weather, seasonality, events, and economic trends to correctly estimate consumer demand, resulting in optimal staffing levels. 
• One-click Scheduling: Uses machine learning technology to generate schedules with a single click, taking into account demand estimates, personnel availability, and historical patterns, allowing for seamless shift assignment optimization.
• Agile Shift Replacement: Enables efficient shift replacements for last-minute absences by allowing employees to exchange shifts with management consent or by offering vacant shifts to available personnel. 
• Live Shift input: Allows managers to collect input from employees on crucial parameters such as staffing levels and communication, hence improving operational efficiency and employee engagement.
• Seamless Timesheet Export: Offers seamless timesheet export features, allowing for easy connection with payroll providers. 

Pricing 

• Contact Vendor 

8. Jolt

Jolt comes up as a strong contender for 7shifts alternatives.

The website states that Jolt is a one-stop shop for companies in all deskless industries from Restaurants, Retail, Cinemas, and many more.

By taking a slightly different approach to how businesses are run Jolt excels in making businesses better through team accountability, scheduling efficiency, and employee performance management. Jolt gives businesses of all sizes the tools they need to optimize operations and achieve success.

Key Features 

• Employee Task List: Makes task management easier by giving staff clear instructions and priority, ensuring activities are performed quickly and on schedule.
• Basic Employee Scheduling: Simplifies the scheduling process by allowing managers to simply generate and maintain employee schedules, guaranteeing enough coverage while reducing disputes and overtime.
• Time and Attendance recording: Provides tools for precisely recording staff attendance and work hours, allowing firms to manage labor expenditures and maintain compliance with labor rules.

Pricing 

• Contact Vendor 

9. Sling

If you’re researching the most cost effective method to optimize the way you schedule your staff, manage tasks, and track time for your business or organization, must opt for Sling.

It also boasts a whole lot of other features to streamline your operations and free up your time for things that can help your organization grow.

Sling offers business owners employee scheduling software that also includes shift management, time clock, payroll, overtime calculations, employee communication, task management, news feeds, file sharing, and an employee shift sign-in/sign-out function, all for free.

With Sling’s user-friendly schedule builder, you can create and edit schedules quickly and simply, allowing you to build rotating schedules, industry-standard fixed schedules, or permanently set schedules for multi-location environments.

Key Features 

• Task Management: Create tasks, add checklists, assign teams, and track project progress. 
• Employee Messaging and Newsfeed: An integrated messaging platform and newsfeed can help employees communicate and connect. 
• Employee Scheduling: Using a single dashboard, you can create custom shift templates, manage work hours, and handle time off or shift swap requests. 
• Available Shift Claiming: Allow employees to claim available shifts based on their availability and preferences, which increases scheduling flexibility. 
• Seamless integration with Toast POS: Work easily with Toast POS systems to improve operations and data synchronization.

Pricing 

• Premium -$1.70
• Bussiness -$3.40

10. WhenIWork

Next on our list of best 7shifts alternatives is When I Work, boasting a full sweep of workforce management tools that are sure to fit any shift-based business.

With easy-to-use employee scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging, the When I Work app is available to use on the web, apps, tablets, and mobile for real-time access to schedules and is accessible anywhere.

This is convenient and powerful for both managers and employees. With When I Work, employees are easily able to manage their time by seeing when they can and cannot work to reduce conflicts. Employees can also swap shifts with other co-workers under their decision.

The employee can get a schedule change alert by mobile alert. Moreover, a person can also request shift changes or request that a day be off through the app. The manager will receive the notification and then accept it.

Key Features 

• Employee Scheduling: Easily build and manage employee schedules to optimize staffing levels and ensure enough coverage. 
• Timeclock: Use digital timeclocks, which are accessible via mobile devices or web browsers, to correctly track employee work hours. 
• Messaging: Group email services and specialized messaging tools can help team members communicate and collaborate more effectively. 
• Digital timesheets: Help to streamline payroll processing by capturing correct employee work hours and allowing for easy connection with payroll systems.

Pricing 

• Standard –$4/user/month
• Advanced -$8/user/month 

Summing It Up

The aforementioned 7shifts alternatives aren’t the only ones out there. 

If your favorite software isnt listed in this post, feel free to reach out to us. We will be updating this article with new recommendations for you look forward to.

Until then, good luck out there, champ!