Research-based guide. Compared on the vendors' official pricing pages, documentation and help centers. We have not tested these products hands-on yet; results will be added when we do. How we test
On this page
The best employee scheduling and time tracking software depends on how many locations you run, how many people you schedule and whether you need payroll in the same tool. On vendor pages checked November 7, 2026, Homebase, Sling, Connecteam and Clockify each list a free plan with limits, while Deputy and When I Work start at paid per-user prices.
Small single-location teams should start with Homebase Basic, Sling Free or the Connecteam Small Business plan. Hourly teams that need auto-scheduling and labor-law rules will find more depth in Deputy. Teams that bill by the hour may prefer Clockify.
This list covers six products using what each vendor documents. For broader context, see our Scheduling & Booking Software Guide (2026).
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links. It never affects our recommendations. Read our affiliate disclosure.
Shortlist: Best Fit by Team Type
These are fits based on documented features and price, not test winners.
- Best fit for one-location shops on a tight budget: Homebase Basic is $0 for one location and up to 10 employees. Sling Free covers scheduling for up to 30 users, but its time tracking starts in Premium.
- Best fit for hourly teams that want auto-scheduling: Deputy, whose Core plan lists auto-scheduling, demand forecasting and advanced labor law compliance.
- Best fit for low per-user scheduling prices: When I Work Essentials at $2.50 per user per month, or Sling Premium at $1.70 on annual billing.
- Best fit for field teams: Connecteam, which lists GPS clock-in in Basic and geofence sites from Advanced.
- Best fit for client billing: Clockify, which lists scheduling and GPS tracking in Pro.
Comparison Table
Prices are in USD. Homebase is per location per month; Connecteam is per hub per account per month for the first 30 users; the rest are per user per month.
| Product | Starting price | Paid plans | Free plan | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homebase | $24/month billed annually; $30/month billed monthly | Essentials, Plus, All-in-One | 1 location, 10 employees | 14 days, no card |
| Deputy | $5/user/month billed annually; $5.50/user/month billed monthly | Lite, Core, Pro | None listed | See vendor site |
| When I Work | $2.50/user/month | Essentials, Pro, Premium | None listed | 14 days, no card |
| Connecteam | $29/month billed annually; $35/month billed monthly | Basic, Advanced, Expert, Enterprise | Up to 10 users (active and archived) | 14 days, no card |
| Sling | $1.70/user/month billed annually; $2.00/user/month billed monthly | Premium, Business | Up to 30 users | 15 days |
| Clockify | $3.99/seat/month billed annually; $4.99/seat/month billed monthly | Basic, Standard, Pro, Enterprise | Up to 5 users | 7 days of Pro, no card |
Pricing checked November 7, 2026. Feature placement follows each vendor’s own page; confirm tier details before you buy.
How We Evaluated
This is a research-based guide comparing products through their official pricing pages, documentation and help centers, checked November 7, 2026. We have not yet run our hands-on test scenario on these products; when we do, the results will be added and the page will be marked as tested. Our full approach is on the how we test page.
The Best Employee Scheduling and Time Tracking Software, Reviewed
Homebase
Homebase prices per location. Basic is $0 for one location and up to 10 employees, with basic scheduling and time tracking and 90 days of timesheet storage. Essentials is $24 per location per month on annual billing ($30 monthly) with unlimited employees. It adds advanced scheduling, location-based mobile clock-in and photo capture at clock-in on tablets and POS devices.
Plus is $56 per location per month on annual billing ($70 monthly) and adds an AI scheduling assistant, PTO controls and custom overtime and break preferences. All-in-One is $96 per location per month on annual billing ($120 monthly) and adds onboarding, labor cost management and HR tools. Best fit: small shops that want a free start. Limitations: cost multiplies by location, and standard payroll pricing is an add-on at $49 per month plus $6 per employee paid per month.
Deputy
Deputy lists Lite at $5, Core at $6.50 and Pro at $9 per user per month on annual billing ($5.50, $7.25 and $10 monthly). Lite covers basic scheduling, timesheets, time clocking, shift swaps and labor law compliance. Core adds auto-scheduling, demand forecasting, wage budgets, biometric clocking and timesheet auto-approval. Pro adds custom access levels, location hierarchies, single sign-on and 24/7 live chat.
Payroll through Paycor is advertised as an add-on at $8 per user per month plus a $49 monthly base fee, for annual US Core and Pro plans; fees vary by business size. Best fit: hourly teams that need forecasting. Limitations: every manager counts as a user, monthly plans carry a $30 minimum monthly spend per invoice, and US text messages cost 1 cent per 160 characters.
When I Work
When I Work lists Essentials at $2.50, Pro at $5 and Premium at $8 per user per month. Essentials includes unlimited users, auto-scheduling, multi-week and multi-location scheduling, forecast tools, messaging, open shifts and swaps. Pro adds scheduling rules, role permissions and custom reporting. Premium adds API access, webhooks and SAML/SSO.
Each plan card shows an “Add Time Tracking & Attendance” toggle, and the page text does not state its cost. The FAQ says the 14-day trial needs no credit card, and that $2.50 applies to single-location teams and $5 to multi-location businesses. Best fit: teams wanting a low per-user scheduling entry price. Limitations: the unclear time tracking price. Confirm it before you buy.
Connecteam
Connecteam sells hubs. Its Operations Hub includes Time Clock, Job Scheduling, Forms and Quick Tasks. Basic lists $29 per month billed annually or $35 billed monthly for the first 30 users; the page offers a yearly option that saves 18%. Advanced is $49 per month billed annually or $59 billed monthly, Expert is $99 per month billed annually or $119 billed monthly, and Enterprise is custom.
Basic lists GPS clock-in, payroll integration and scheduling with open shifts. Advanced adds auto clock-out, up to 10 geofence sites and repeating shifts. Expert adds auto-assigned shifts, API access and webhooks. A Small Business plan is free for up to 10 users, including active and archived users. Best fit: mobile teams that want forms and chat alongside scheduling. Limitations: the Communications and HR hubs are priced separately.
Sling
Sling’s page says shift scheduling is free for up to 30 users and offers a 15-day trial. Free includes scheduling, time-off requests and messaging. Premium is $1.70 per user per month annual ($2.00 monthly) and adds mobile time tracking, labor cost management and overtime tracking. Business is $3.40 annual ($4.00 monthly) and adds kiosk time tracking, reports, no-show tracking and PTO management.
Best fit: small teams that want free scheduling now and time tracking later. Limitations: the free plan has no time clock.
Clockify
Clockify starts from time tracking. Free is listed for up to 5 users. Basic is $3.99 per seat per month annual ($4.99 monthly), Standard is $5.49 ($6.99) with time off, approvals and attendance reports, and Pro is $7.99 ($9.99) with scheduling, forecasting and GPS tracking.
Best fit: teams that bill by the hour. Limitations: scheduling means planning projects on a timeline and sits in Pro. Every active or invited user, including owners, takes a paid seat on a paid plan.
What to Look for in Scheduling and Time Tracking Software
- Time clock tier: Sling keeps its clock in paid tiers, while Homebase, Connecteam and Clockify list tracking in free or entry tiers.
- Pricing unit: count locations for Homebase, hubs and users for Connecteam, and users for the rest. Deputy counts every admin as a user.
- Compliance and payroll: Deputy lists labor law compliance from Lite. Homebase and Deputy sell payroll add-ons with base fees.
- Shifts or rosters: for shift planning see our employee scheduling software list.
As arithmetic from published prices, ten users on Deputy Core with annual billing pay $65 per month, ten on Sling Business with annual billing pay $34, and ten on When I Work Pro pay $50 before any time tracking add-on. On a tighter budget, see staff scheduling software free options.
FAQ
What is the best employee scheduling and time tracking software?
There is no single winner. On documented features and price, Homebase and Sling suit small teams that want free scheduling, Deputy suits hourly teams that need forecasting, When I Work lists a low per-user scheduling entry price and Connecteam suits mobile field teams. Match the tool to your locations and payroll setup.
Is there free employee scheduling and time tracking software?
Yes, with limits. Homebase Basic is free for one location and up to 10 employees. Sling is free for up to 30 users but puts time tracking in paid plans. Connecteam’s Small Business plan is free for up to 10 users, including active and archived users. Clockify is free for up to 5 users. Check each cap before you commit.
Can a scheduling app also track time and attendance?
Most of these do. Homebase, Deputy, Connecteam and Clockify list a time clock on their plans, Sling adds mobile time tracking in Premium, and When I Work shows a Time Tracking & Attendance toggle. Compare tiers before choosing a plan.
How much does employee scheduling software cost?
For example, Sling Premium is $1.70 per user per month on annual billing and Deputy Pro is $9 on annual billing ($10 monthly). Homebase charges $24 to $120 per location per month, depending on plan and billing term. Payroll, text messages and minimum-spend rules can raise the bill, so total the add-ons for your headcount.
Sources
- Homebase pricing (checked November 7, 2026)
- Deputy pricing (checked November 7, 2026)
- When I Work pricing (checked November 7, 2026)
- Connecteam pricing (checked November 7, 2026)
- Sling pricing (checked November 7, 2026)
- Clockify pricing (checked November 7, 2026)
- Homebase free time clock and paid-plan controls (checked November 7, 2026)
- Homebase published annual and monthly plan prices (checked November 7, 2026)
- When I Work time and attendance upgrade documentation (checked November 7, 2026)
- Connecteam yearly and monthly plan pricing (checked November 7, 2026)
- Connecteam user limits (checked November 7, 2026)
- Sling time clock plan requirements (checked November 7, 2026)
- Clockify subscription plan documentation (checked November 7, 2026)
Mehmet Değirmenci is the founder and editor of BusinessSoftwareAtlas. He runs a law office in Istanbul, Türkiye, where he has spent years choosing, setting up and running the practice-management, scheduling and automation software his own team works with every day, including an in-house case-management system. He decides what this site covers and is responsible for everything it publishes.