What’s the best employee scheduling software for modern business? Depending on the size and goals of your company, you may require something unique and fitting for your business sphere. However, some options provided by software developers are more or less versatile. Designed for tasks like task scheduling, HR management, and time tracking, such apps may be useful for any small and medium business. But what is the best choice out of the numerous options available? In today’s post, we’ll try to help you find the answer ot this question by providing a look at 12 software platforms designed for the abovementioned tasks.
Before we begin, here are the top 3 solutions we recommend checking out right away to increase the efficiency of your business.
| Name | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Appointment Booking | Free or from $49/year | Service-based businesses |
| Clockify | Free or from $5.49/seat per month | Time tracking and project hour logging |
| Rippling | Quote-based | Workforce & HR management |
4 Best Staff Scheduling Apps for Salons, Clinics, and Gyms
Managing your staff and planning their tasks is one of the key factors of choosing proper employee scheduling software. From appointment booking solutions for WordPress to reliable platforms and SaaS tools, there is a variety of software you may choose from. In this category, we’ve picked 4 of such solutions to show their benefits, functionality, and where they can be applied to improve your business efficiency.
Appointment Booking
The first among the best employee scheduling software on our list is Appointment Booking. Developed by MotoPress, this plugin can drastically improve your task scheduling automation if you own a booking WordPress website for service-based businesses. From a centralized booking calendar to support of individual schedules for your employees, this solution is an affordable and feature-rich tool for any kind of planning – from appointments to services. Additionally, the plugin supports online payment integrations and is available as free and premium software for employee scheduling, depending on your needs and budget.
Key features:
- Step-by-step booking wizard optimized for Gutenberg;
- Automated email notifications;
- User roles & customer accounts;
- Group scheduling and customizable appointment capacity;
- Integrated analytics dashboard.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appointment Booking | MotoPress | Free or from $49/year | None (free plugin version is available) |
Vagaro
Vagaro is an all-in-one platform designed for spas, beauty salons, and fitness businesses. With its help, even a small salon can easily plan its work and daily tasks while staying within its budget. By supporting multiple locations and providing high-quality hardware for all the mentioned businesses, this platform makes hourly scheduling easy for both you and your team.
Key features:
- Easy-to-use and flexible calendar dashboard;
- Integrated AI content generation & chatbot;
- Detailed client tracking;
- Inventory management and analytics;
- Built-in online store & marketplace functionality.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vagaro | Vagaro, Inc. | From £20/mo | 1 month |
Homebase
The next best employee scheduling software on our list is Homebase. It is designed for multiple industries whose work is based on appointments and planning, such as hospitality, medical, beauty, education, and other business sectors. The tools provided by this healthcare employee scheduling software allow employers to plan time, manage their employees’ schedules, and provide timely payments, among many other features. A free trial is also provided for those entrepreneurs who want to test how the platform works before committing financially.
Key features:
- Flexible schedule management;
- Labor cost tracking;
- Team messaging;
- AI payroll & scheduling assistance;
- PTO and time-off controls.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homebase | Pioneer Works, Inc. | Free or from $24/mo | 6 months (only for payroll plans) |
Mindbody
Another online employee scheduling software to mention is Mindbody. Unlike previous ones, it is mostly designed for fitness and wellness establishments. If you own a gym, massage salon, or yoga studio, this solution may be a perfect pick for your business. Thanks to secure payment support, a well-designed calendar, as well as financing and reporting for your brand, Mindbody provides some first-class tools for any beauty and fitness business.
Key features:
- Automated staff management;
- Secure payment tracking and processing;
- Customizable website widgets;
- Integrated marketing tools;
- Mobile app for iOS and Android.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindbody | Mindbody, Inc. | Quote-based (from $99/mo per location) | Not available |
Top 4 Time Tracking & Attendance Systems
Another important task for any business management is time tracking. Making sure all projects are completed correctly and on time can greatly benefit any company, making such solutions multipurpose. With the best employee scheduling software and accurate time tracking that improves productivity and reduces labor costs, businesses can easily eliminate any unwanted errors and make better decisions. These 4 best payroll software for employee scheduling are recommended to be integrated into your workflow for better results.
Clockify
Clockify is a professional & free employee scheduling software designed for tracking productivity and attendance. Available not just as an online solution but also as a separate app for mobiles, kiosks, and desktops, it allows you to manage your employees’ schedules, approve time-offs, create invoices, and more. With affordable and varied pricing and a wide choice of features, Clockify is one of the top-notch platforms for ensuring your team has improved productivity and better time management.
Key features:
- Visual timetracking calendar;
- Detailed timesheets for every team member;
- User-friendly reporting dashboard;
- Employee rate management tools;
- Numerous integrations.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clockify | CAKE.com Inc. | Free or from $5.49/seat per month | 1 week |
TimeTracker
One of the best employee scheduling software on our list is TimeTracker. Designed for smarter and user-friendly time management, this solution allows small businesses to do more than just manage time. It also helps with billing, reporting, and tracking projects. The time tracker employee scheduling software also includes AI Time Entry Assistant, a tool that is built to make time tracking more efficient and simple. Additionally, the platform supports multiple integrations, making work with it easier and more varied.
Key features:
- Easy-to-use schedule for employees;
- Branded invoices;
- Real-time GPS tracking;
- Multiple integrations with payroll and accounting software;
- Free mobile app for Android and iOS.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| TimeTracker | eBility | From $11.20/user per month (+base fee) | 2 weeks |
Deputy
For those looking for a professional and truly feature-rich time tracker employee scheduling software, we recommend Deputy. This platform covers the needs of a variety of businesses, from the hospitality industry to healthcare and security. It also serves as a retail employee scheduling software. Its functionality includes benefits for scheduling, payroll, communication between employees and employer, as well as other advantages. Deputy software for employee scheduling also includes detailed reporting and HR management tools, helping you solve multiple tasks at once.
Key features:
- Automated scheduling;
- AI labor forecasting;
- New hire onboarding;
- Messaging & tasking;
- Performance management tools.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy | Deputechnologies Pty Ltd. | From $5/mo per user | 1 month |
TogglTrack
As one of the best employee scheduling software, TogglTrack is also worth a mention. This solution delivers the most asked-for features by many businesses when it comes to time tracking. Additionally, this free employee scheduling software allows for custom reporting and is perfect for creative businesses, software developers, lawyers, and accountants. It also comes equipped with numerous integrations to provide a smooth time management expereince combined with other apps and tools.
Key features:
- Accurate time tracking;
- One-click timers;
- Fully customizable data reports;
- Built-in project dashboard;
- Team member audits.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| TogglTrack | Toggl | Free or from $9/mo per user | 1 month |
4 Best HR & Workforce Software Picks
One more category we’d like to take a closer look at is connected with software designed for HR & workforce management. As an integral part of any company, no matter how big, such online employee scheduling software options make sure key HR processes are performed smoothly and properly. By applying task automation and centralizing appointments and the work of your employees through accessible interfaces, such applications allow you to create an employee-friendly and reliable environment.
Rippling
The first solution among the best employee scheduling software for HR management is Rippling. Built to streamline employee-related operations and payroll, this platform offers a comprehensive range of features, complemented by a well-designed interface. As a top-notch HR management tool for modern businesses, the provided solution enables you to hire and pay employees worldwide while automating core workforce management processes and eliminating unnecessary manual work.
Key features:
- Role-based policies;
- Custom reporting;
- Recruiting & headcount planning;
- Scheduling & communication;
- Time & attendance management.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rippling | Rippling People Center Inc. | Quote-based | Not available |
Workday
The next solution on our list of employee shift scheduling software is Workday. Suitable for many industries and businesses, from legal to IT and finance, the offered construction employee scheduling software takes care of talent & workforce management and planning. Additionally, it delivers AI-powered features to boost your team’s productivity and introduce innovations where necessary. As a result, you get a flexible and dependable solution for managing human resources at any scale without having to invest in custom software development.
Key features:
- Strategic workforce planning tools;
- Drag-and-drop report builder;
- AI-powered operational planning;
- Role-based access.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workday | Workday, Inc. | Quote-based | 1 month |
UKG
UKG is often listed among the best employee scheduling software for workforce management. It was developed to help you make informed decisions on HR and positively transform your business. The platform delivers top-notch products for managing your team and payroll, making sure the level of employee satisfaction is high and necessary results are aсhieved.
Key features:
- AI-enabled performance management;
- Preboarding and onboarding tools;
- Real-time labor visibility;
- NFC clocking;
- Automated payroll compliance.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKG | UKG Inc. | Quote-based | None (free demos are available) |
Shiftboard
Shiftboard is a well-known online employee scheduling software designed for smarter workforce management. Previously known as SchedulePro – workforce employee scheduling software, it was acquired by Shiftboard in 2020 to continue providing key HR management and schedule automation features, while integrating with other platforms, like UKG. Today, this online employee scheduling software workforce management delivers not just efficient scheduling options but also tools for optimizing workforce capacity and employee retention alongside other benefits.
Key features:
- Automated schedule management and generation;
- Employee preferences tracking;
- Secure schedule access for employees;
- Job assignment rotation;
- Labor demand forecasting.
| Name | Developer | Price | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiftboard | Shiftboard, Inc. | Quote-based | None (a free demo is available) |
Conclusion
We hope this overview of the best employee scheduling software has helped you choose a platform that perfectly fits your business and its needs (including secure payment support with Stripe). From automating simple tasks to making every process run smoothly, these solutions can improve various aspects of your work. Besides, they are designed for centralized employee and time management and provide ready-made tools for helping your business and team members stay organized. If you’re still unsure whether or not to apply these apps to your company’s workflow, here are some extra benefits that may convince you:
- Improved productivity: By applying automation and reducing manual scheduling, solutions like Appointment Booking, Deputy, and Rippling allow you to increase your employees’ productivity without introducing unwanted complexity or additional workload.
- Better workforce visibility: Thanks to the real-time schedules and management of attendance and availability, you, as an employer, can better see and understand the current activity of your employees. Modern employee shift scheduling software can help your staff achieve more in less time by optimizing their task and performance, too.
- Fewer errors and conflicts: With smart shift planning and notifications, your team members can easily avoid common errors and not rely just on manual work when planning upcoming tasks using an integrated calendar. Automated employee scheduling software and related tools can also make it easier for your team to avoid conflicts that prevent them from completing necessary work.
- Higher employee satisfaction: Apps like those mentioned above can be used at any stage of work planning. They ensure fair scheduling and easy schedule access, and as a result, these platforms provide higher employee satisfaction due to improved work-life balance and smarter time management.
