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Alternatives · Reviewed September 15, 2026

The best When I Work alternatives in 2026

When I Work is a straightforward scheduler with a friendly staff app, and at $2.50 a user it's hard to undercut on price. Teams usually move on when they need more than the rota: rules and reports that sit on higher plans, payroll that lives in another product, or several locations to run together. Here's what else to consider.

GetUp is our product. It appears on this list where it fits, with its limits spelled out. Every price was read from the vendor's own pricing page on September 15, 2026.

At a glance

When I Work alternatives at a glance
ToolBest forStarting price
1. GetUpSeveral locations that want wages and paperwork with the rota$108 / €99 a month
2. HomebaseSingle-location US businessesFree for 1 location
3. SlingKeeping costs at zeroFree for up to 30 users
4. DeputyScheduling depth and forecasting$5 per user / month
5. ConnecteamField and deskless crewsFree for up to 10 users
6. 7shiftsRestaurantsFree for 1 location

Why people look for When I Work alternatives

Useful features sit on Pro
Scheduling rules, role permissions and custom reporting start on Pro at $5 a user, which doubles the entry price.
Payroll lives somewhere else
Hours go out to a connected payroll product, so wages are worked out in a second system.
More than one site to run
Operators with several locations often want wages, invoices and an accountant's view next to the schedule rather than in separate apps.

How to choose

  1. 01

    Price the plan you'd really use

    Compare the tier that has the rules and reports you need, not the entry price.

  2. 02

    Check where wages are calculated

    If pay comes from a separate system, count that subscription and the time spent moving hours between them.

  3. 03

    Look closely at the staff side

    Your team uses the app every shift. Try clock-in and messaging during the trial, with real staff.

The alternatives, in detail

  1. 01

    GetUp

    Our product

    Best for: Several locations that want wages and paperwork with the rota

    Shifts, check-in and wages calculated from real hours sit in one account with an invoice archive, accountant logins and an AI assistant, on a flat plan with up to 25 employees on Core. GetUp doesn't file payroll taxes.

    Where it's strong

    • Several brands and locations under one account and one login
    • Wages calculated from each person's real check-in and check-out times
    • An invoice and receipt archive with the original files, plus sales invoices in the Stock module on Scale
    • Accountants get their own login with per-feature access, without taking an employee seat
    • An AI assistant that answers from your own shifts, wages and invoices

    Watch out for

    • It doesn't withhold or file payroll taxes, so US and UK teams still finish payroll with a provider or accountant
    • One account is one company: separate legal entities need separate accounts
    • No free plan, and no billing in GBP
    • Staff check in by entering a code shown on the location's tablet, so everyone needs their own login

    $108 / €99 a month

    Flat monthly plans. Core is $108 for up to 25 employees, 3 locations and 2 brands; Growth is $173 (60 employees, 6 locations); Scale is $282 (100 employees, 10 locations). Extra employees on Core cost $7 each a month. Billed in USD, EUR or PLN.

    Source: getup.dev pricing, checked September 15, 2026

    Start free trialGetUp vs When I Work, side by side
  2. 02

    Homebase

    Best for: Single-location US businesses

    Free for one location and 10 employees, then priced per location with unlimited employees.

    Where it's strong

    • A free plan for a single small location
    • Unlimited employees on paid plans, priced per location
    • Payroll, tip management and hiring add-ons in the same product
    • A 14-day free trial of All-in-One with no card

    Watch out for

    • Each extra location is another full plan fee
    • Pricing is in USD and the product is built around US small businesses
    • Payroll and tip management cost extra

    Free for 1 location

    Basic is free for one location and up to 10 employees. Paid plans are per location a month, billed annually: Essentials $24, Plus $56, All-in-One $96 ($30, $70 and $120 monthly). Payroll is $39 a month plus $6 per employee paid.

    Source: joinhomebase.com pricing, checked September 15, 2026

    GetUp vs Homebase, side by side
  3. 03

    Sling

    Best for: Keeping costs at zero

    Scheduling and messaging are free for up to 30 users, and paid plans start at $2 per user.

    Where it's strong

    • Free scheduling and messaging for up to 30 users
    • Labor cost and overtime tracking from Premium
    • You pay only for active users, prorated when someone leaves

    Watch out for

    • Kiosk clock-in and reports need the Business plan
    • Per-user pricing once you pass the free plan
    • No invoicing features

    Free for up to 30 users

    Free for up to 30 users. Premium is $2 per user a month ($1.70 annually) and adds mobile time tracking, labor cost and overtime tracking. Business is $4 ($3.40 annually) and adds kiosk time tracking, reports and PTO management.

    Source: getsling.com pricing, checked September 15, 2026

    GetUp vs Sling, side by side
  4. 04

    Deputy

    Best for: Scheduling depth and forecasting

    Demand forecasting and biometric clocking on Core at $6.50 a user, with payroll as an add-on.

    Where it's strong

    • Demand forecasting and advanced scheduling on the Core plan
    • Biometric time clocking and automatic timesheet approval on Core
    • Labor law compliance tools from the entry plan
    • Deputy AI included on every plan

    Watch out for

    • Every plan is priced per user, so cost rises with each hire
    • Payroll and HR are paid add-ons on top of scheduling
    • No customer invoicing

    $5 per user / month

    Per user a month: Lite $5, Core $6.50, Pro $9, with 10% off annual billing and a $30 monthly minimum (£20 in the UK). Deputy Payroll is $8 per user plus a $49 monthly base fee; HR is $2 per user.

    Source: deputy.com pricing, checked September 15, 2026

    GetUp vs Deputy, side by side
  5. 05

    Connecteam

    Best for: Field and deskless crews

    One staff app for scheduling, clock-in, chat and checklists, free for up to 10 users.

    Where it's strong

    • A free plan across all hubs for teams of up to 10
    • Scheduling, time clock, chat, forms and training in one staff app
    • A flat hub price for the first 30 users

    Watch out for

    • Scheduling, communication and HR tools are bought as separate hubs
    • Per-user fees apply beyond 30 users
    • No invoicing or accounting features

    Free for up to 10 users

    The free plan covers every hub for up to 10 users. Paid hubs start at $29 a month for the first 30 users (Basic), then $49 (Advanced) and $99 (Expert), plus a per-user fee past 30. Each hub is a separate subscription.

    Source: connecteam.com pricing, checked September 15, 2026

    GetUp vs Connecteam, side by side
  6. 06

    7shifts

    Best for: Restaurants

    Restaurant-specific scheduling, with tip management and payroll available in the same product.

    Where it's strong

    • Built around restaurant scheduling
    • Tip management and payroll in the same product, included on Premium
    • A free plan for one small location

    Watch out for

    • Employee caps on Essentials (30) and Pro (60)
    • Each location is billed separately
    • Designed for restaurants, so less natural for retail or services

    Free for 1 location

    Comp is free for one location and up to 15 employees. Paid plans are per location a month, billed annually: Essentials $39.99 (up to 30 employees), Pro $79.99 (up to 60), Premium $134.99 (unlimited). Payroll is $39.99 per location plus $6 per employee paid, and payroll and tip management are both included on Premium.

    Source: 7shifts.com pricing, checked September 15, 2026

    GetUp vs 7shifts, side by side

Questions people ask

What's a cheaper alternative to When I Work?

Sling is free for up to 30 users and Homebase is free for one location with up to 10 employees. Past that, Sling's paid plans start at $2 per user a month, below When I Work's $2.50.

Which When I Work alternatives handle payroll?

Homebase and 7shifts both offer payroll add-ons, and Deputy sells payroll per user. GetUp calculates gross wages from check-in hours but doesn't file payroll taxes.

Does When I Work include payroll?

Payroll is available through integrations on every When I Work plan, rather than inside When I Work itself.

Is GetUp a When I Work alternative?

Yes, if you run several locations and want wages, an invoice archive and your accountant in the same account as the schedule. If you only need a simple rota for one site, When I Work or Sling will cost less.

See whether GetUp fits your locations.

Add your locations and staff, build a week of shifts and check people in at the door. You'll know within a pay period whether it replaces what you use today.

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More alternatives guides

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