Best Free Employee Scheduling Apps (2024) for work schedules

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I know that using free tools to schedule workers has made it much easier to manage our staff. It’s easy for managers to make and change plans for our hourly and shift-based teams with this new digital tool. It has helped me a lot as a team leader to plan breaks, set up shifts, and make sure that the changes between shifts go easily. The advanced features of this software make it stand out.

It lets workers trade shifts, schedule themselves automatically based on parameters that have already been set, and get timely reminders about their shifts sent straight to their phones. The program has also helped a lot with managing temporary workers, making quick changes to schedules, and keeping an eye on how much it costs to hire people.

Making the plan process more efficient not only saves time but also makes the best use of resources. This gives managers more time to work on other important tasks. The fact that our teams can talk to each other and work together better is one of the best things I’ve seen. It’s easier for people to work together because the software makes plans clear and can be accessed on a phone from anywhere.

This helps everyone stay up to date and on the same page. People who work for the company are also happy because it’s easier for them to find their schedules. They like how clear and convenient it is. You should know that these helpful features are free, either in the form of a permanent free version or a trial time that the software companies offer. Organizations that don’t have a lot of money can still get benefits from managing their workers well. This is good news for both bosses and workers.

Best Free Employee Scheduling Apps Comparison Table

Free scheduling apps for workers are digital tools that make it easier and faster to establish, manage, and keep track of worker schedules without spending additional money. If you are asking what free employee scheduling software is, the response is very simple: free scheduling apps for employees are digital tools.

Feature	Homebase	7shifts	mHelpDesk	Shiftboard	Connecteam
Focus	All hourly workforces	Restaurants	Multi-industry (deskless)	Multi-industry (desk & deskless)	Multi-industry (non-desk)
Time & Attendance	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scheduling	Yes, drag-and-drop, auto-scheduling	Yes, drag-and-drop, open shifts, availability	Yes, shift templates, shift swaps	Yes, drag-and-drop, availability-based, open shifts	Yes, drag-and-drop, shift templates, individual preferences
Payroll & Taxes	Integrations with payroll providers	Integrations with payroll providers	Yes, built-in payroll & tax filing (US & Canada)	Yes, built-in payroll & tax filing (US & Canada)	Integrations with payroll providers
Team Communication	Yes, messaging, announcements	Yes, messaging, group chat, task management	Yes, messaging, task management, knowledge base	Yes, messaging, task management, polls	Yes, messaging, chat groups, employee handbook
Integrations	Payroll, POS, accounting, etc.	Payroll, POS, delivery platforms, etc.	Many, including CRM, helpdesk, project management	Many, including payroll, accounting, HRIS	Many, including payroll, communication, training
Ease of Use	Easy to learn and use	Easy to learn and use	Moderate learning curve	Moderate learning curve	Easy to learn and use

Best Free Employee Scheduling Apps

Improving efficiency, reducing scheduling errors, saving money, and automatically monitoring compliance with labour standards are just a few of the many benefits of employing staff scheduling software. Organisations can also increase their openness and provide a better experience for employees by using modern features like mobile accessibility and communication tools.

Homebase

Feature	Description
Scheduling	Flexible scheduling with drag-and-drop functionality
Time Clock	Clock in/out with GPS and photo verification
Team Communication	Messaging and announcements for team updates
Reporting	Insights into labor costs, sales, and more
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Additionally, Homebase’s contributions have been extremely beneficial to our small business operations. Schedule automation, time tracking, and corporate update dissemination are all made easier with this user-friendly system. You may schedule meetings and communicate with your staff using this free tool. An ideal choice for effective team management that doesn’t break the bank due to its low price and user-friendliness.

7shifts

Feature	Description
Shift Planning	Create and manage shifts effortlessly
Labor Compliance	Ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations
Communication	Team messaging and notification features
Performance Tracking	Monitor employee performance and attendance

We feel like 7shifts has changed the game for us. This is the perfect answer for our needs because it only deals with scheduling and communication. Employee availability management, drag-and-drop scheduling, and team messaging are just a few of the features that have helped us get our staff to work together better and streamline processes in ways that were not possible before.

mHelpDesk

Feature	Description
Work Orders	Create, assign, and track work orders
Scheduling	Schedule appointments and dispatch technicians
Invoicing	Generate invoices and accept payments
Mobile App	Access features on the go with mobile app

mHelpDesk has been our backbone. Thanks to its mobile-first design, we can stay connected and organised even when we’re on the go. Work order management, GPS tracking, and live chat features have all contributed to more efficient operations in assigning jobs, monitoring technicians’ position and progress, and engaging with clients.

Shiftboard

Feature	Description
Shift Management	Easily manage shifts and availability
Compliance	Ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations
Communication	Team messaging and notification features
Reporting	Generate reports on scheduling and labor costs

Thanks to Shiftboard, we now have access to a highly functional and visually beautiful scheduling tool. Its configurable scheduling options and drag-and-drop interface have made workforce administration a breeze for any industry, be it retail, healthcare, or everything in between. The seamless and effective execution of our scheduling procedures is ensured by Shiftboard, which efficiently manages human availability and keeps track of labour expenses.

Connecteam

Feature	Description
Scheduling	Easily create and manage employee schedules
Communication	Chat, announcements, and feedback in one platform
Task Management	Assign and track tasks efficiently
Time Tracking	Accurate time tracking for better payroll

There is no other company that can compare to Connecteam when it comes to management tools. Because it makes it easier for our staff to communicate with one another, schedule their work, and keep track of their time, this all-in-one solution has completely transformed our productivity. The introduction of features such as shift coordination, digital timesheets, and real-time reports has resulted in a significant increase in both efficiency and production across the board.

How to Choose the Right Employee Scheduling App for Your Business

You must consider numerous elements when choosing an employee scheduling tool for your organisation to fulfil your demands. Follow this step-by-step process to make an informed choice:

1. Determine Your Needs: Identify your company’s personnel scheduling needs and issues. Consider the number of personnel, schedule complexity, shift patterns, labour rules, budget limits, and industry-specific scheduling issues.
2. Must-Have Features: List the important features and functionality of your ideal scheduling tool. This may include shift scheduling, staff availability management, time tracking, communication tools, mobile access, reporting and analytics, software integration, and labour law compliance.
3. Explore employee scheduling apps: Research them thoroughly. Find trusted companies with good reviews and a track record. Consider individual scheduling apps and comprehensive workforce management suites with additional functionality.
4. Assess Ease of Use: Choose a scheduling app with an easy-to-use interface for managers and staff. To simplify scheduling, look for apps with customisable dashboards, drag-and-drop scheduling, and clear communication channels.
5. Check Compatibility: Make sure the scheduling app works with your business’s hardware, operating systems, and other software. If the app is mobile-friendly, managers and employees may view and amend schedules on the go.
6. Review Flexibility and Customisation: Find scheduling apps that can be customised to meet your needs. Check if the software supports your company’s shift patterns, employee preferences, time-off requests, and scheduling restrictions.
7. Check Integration Capabilities: If your company uses payroll, time tracking, or HR management software, see if the scheduling app interfaces well. Integration simplifies data exchange, eliminates manual entry, and boosts efficiency.
8. Compliance Features: Choose a scheduling app that assists with labour regulations, union agreements, and company policies. Automatic overtime, rest break, and scheduling conflict notifications, compliance reports, and audit trails are desirable.

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