11 Best Shift Schedule Makers for Better Workforce Planning

Managing work schedules can feel like a constantly shifting puzzle. With changing availability and team preferences, it’s a time-consuming task.

A work schedule generator simplifies this chore by automating the process, saving time, reducing errors, and creating balanced schedules. If you’re tired of manual scheduling processes, these tools can streamline your workflow for a smoother, more efficient process.

Let’s explore the top 11 best shift schedule makers! 🎯

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What Should You Look for In a Shift Schedule Maker?

Finding the right shift schedule maker can make your life much easier—no more last-minute scrambles, mix-ups, or manual scheduling nightmares. But with so many options, how do you choose the best one?

Here are the must-have features to look for when picking a shift scheduling tool:

• Customizable scheduling: Every business is different, so your scheduling tool should let you tailor shifts, break times, and rotations to fit your team’s needs
• Real-time updates and notifications: Plans change; when they do, everyone should know immediately. Look for tools that send instant alerts for shift information, changes, swaps, and approvals
• Calendar integrations: A great scheduling tool should sync with popular calendar apps so employees can access their schedules from anywhere
• Built-in communication: Messaging features help keep everyone informed about their upcoming shifts and any last-minute updates
• Analytics and reporting: Built-in reports and insights help you keep track of labor costs, attendance trends, and scheduling efficiency
• Drag-and-drop simplicity: Scheduling should be easy. A tool with drag-and-drop functionality makes adjusting multiple shifts a breeze

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The Best Shift Schedule Makers

Managing employee schedules can be a complex and time-consuming task, but the right scheduling tool can make all the difference.

Whether you need AI-powered automation, seamless shift swapping, or integrated payroll and compliance tracking, the best work schedule makers help businesses save time, reduce errors, and improve workforce efficiency.

Let’s look at the top 11 shift schedule makers. 👀

1. ClickUp (Best for AI-driven scheduling and task management)

Work today is broken. Our projects, knowledge, and communication are scattered across disconnected tools that slow us down. But scheduling shifts for your organization should not leave you drowning in spreadsheets.

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ClickUp, the everything app for work, easily fixes this chaos. It combines projects, knowledge, and chat in one place—all powered by AI that helps you work faster and smarter.

ClickUp Brain

AI takes things a step further. Think about never having to manually juggle schedules, find the best time for meetings, or deal with last-minute conflicts. That’s where ClickUp Brain comes in. It makes shift scheduling smarter and more efficient. You won’t have to spend hours adjusting timelines and prioritizing tasks anymore; this AI-powered assistant will do it for you.

It analyzes workloads, suggests optimal meeting times, and automatically shifts schedules based on changing project needs.

Plus, since it integrates with Google Calendar, Outlook, and other external calendars, you never have to worry about missing an update—everything stays in sync.

Beyond scheduling, ClickUp’s AI-driven insights help teams manage their workloads by prioritizing urgent tasks, summarizing project updates, and even drafting meeting notes.

ClickUp Calendar

If you’re looking for a smart, flexible calendar beyond basic scheduling, the ClickUp Calendar is built for you.

Designed to consolidate tasks, events, and team availability in one place, ClickUp Calendar makes it easy to plan, update, and stay ahead without switching between tools.

Whether you’re coordinating team schedules, managing project timelines, or planning launches, ClickUp Calendar lets you drag, drop, reschedule, and reassign with zero friction. Everything stays synced across your workspace, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Need to adjust an event or reassign a task? Just move it—ClickUp Calendar updates it instantly, no manual edits needed.

ClickUp scheduling templates

ClickUp’s multiple pre-built templates help you hit the ground running when it comes to scheduling shifts for a large team.

For example, the ClickUp Schedule Blocking Template is an excellent tool to stay on top of your tasks and finish projects. Plan out accurate schedules, understand task dependencies, and organize task blocks intuitively, all in one template.

The ClickUp Team Schedule Template is a powerful and flexible tool for managing work schedules efficiently. From coordinating shifts and assigning tasks to tracking team availability, this template provides a centralized view of your entire workforce.

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Users can modify schedules to fit their specific workflows, whether managing rotating shifts, remote teams, or project-based work.

And if organizing and managing your staff gets too overwhelming? The ClickUp Staff Roster Template helps with leave management and ensures everyone is available when needed.

ClickUp best features

• Integrate with workforce tools: Connect ClickUp with payroll, HR, and communication platforms to align shift schedules with employee availability and company policies
• Track work hours effortlessly: Use time-tracking and time-blocking features to monitor shift durations, prevent over-scheduling, and ensure compliance with labor regulations
• Automate shift planning: Set up recurring schedules, assign shifts automatically, and adjust for time-off requests with ClickUp Automations
• Sync with employee availability: Align shift schedules with real-time availability and PTO requests to prevent conflicts and last-minute changes
• Enable mobile access: Allow employees to check schedules, swap shifts, and receive updates from anywhere using ClickUp’s mobile app
• Centralize communication: Keep all shift-related messages, updates, and feedback in one place using ClickUp Chat

ClickUp limitations

• Steep learning curve
• Its customization features can be overwhelming for beginners

ClickUp pricing

ClickUp rating and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (10,040+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)

2. Deputy (Best for AI-powered auto-scheduling and workforce management)

Let AI handle your workforce scheduling with Deputy’s advanced auto-scheduling feature. With one click, Deputy builds optimized employee schedules by analyzing demand forecasts, sales data, and labor costs, ensuring the right staff are in the right place at the right time. 

Plus, the platform also enhances flexibility for employees, allowing them to sync their shifts with personal calendars, swap shifts, and request time off through the mobile app. Real-time updates and notifications keep everyone informed, reducing no-shows and last-minute scheduling conflicts. 

Deputy best features

• Create shifts using drag-and-drop tools or roster templates based on employee availability to prevent errors
• Track work hours effortlessly with real-time attendance monitoring, ensuring accurate payroll and labor compliance
• Forecast labor needs accurately by predicting staffing requirements based on demand to control costs and optimize employee schedules
• Empower employees with self-service tools to view schedules, submit requests, and set availability preferences for better flexibility

Deputy limitations

• You can’t use a normal spreadsheet via Excel or Google Sheets to upload shifts
• The mobile app can occasionally be glitchy, causing delays in clocking in or accessing schedules

Deputy pricing

• Premium: $6/month per user
• Scheduling: $4.50/month per user
• Time & Attendance: $4.50/month per user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Deputy rating and reviews

• G2: 4.6/5 (300+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (700+ reviews)

3. Homebase (Best for simple, user-friendly scheduling and time tracking)

For businesses that need an easy-to-use scheduling tool without unnecessary complexity, Homebase is a good fit. It offers a simple yet powerful scheduling interface that lets managers create shifts in minutes, track employee hours, and manage availability effortlessly. Automatic shift reminders and notifications ensure that employees always know when and where to be.

Plus, this shift management software’s time tracking feature integrates seamlessly with payroll, reducing manual errors and making paydays stress-free.

Homebase best features

• Turn any device into a time clock with easy clock-in/out features, including GPS tracking for accurate time tracking
• Hire and onboard effortlessly with built-in job posting, applicant tracking, and streamlined onboarding tools
• Simplify payroll processing by converting timesheet templates into payroll reports and integrating seamlessly with payroll providers

Homebase limitations

• The calendar integration is slow and may create multiple instances on the same day for a single shift
• It isn’t easy to request a day off after working overnight or an extra shift

Homebase pricing

• Basic: Free
• Essential: $24.95/location
• Plus: $59.95/location
• All-In-One: $99.95/location

Homebase rating and reviews

• G2: 4.2/5 (100+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (1,000+ reviews)

4. ZoomShift (Best for customizable scheduling templates and real-time labor cost tracking)

ZoomShift is designed for businesses that need flexible, customized scheduling options. Unlike rigid scheduling tools, it allows managers to create and reuse work schedule templates, making it easy to plan schedules tailored to specific needs. This is especially useful for companies with rotating shifts, contract employees, or non-traditional work patterns.

Plus, real-time labor cost tracking helps businesses stay within budget by monitoring payroll expenses as employee schedules are built.

ZoomShift best features

• Track labor costs in real time with forecasting tools and payroll integration to stay within budget
• Simplify time tracking with web and mobile time clocks, GPS verification, and automated clock-in management
• Enhance team communication with in-app messaging, group chats, and read receipts for better coordination
• Boost accountability through automated shift reminders, reducing absenteeism and last-minute scheduling issues

ZoomShift limitations

• Lacks offline functionality 
• You can’t automatically approve shift coverage requests 

ZoomShift pricing

• Essential: Free
• Starter: $2.50/month per user
• Premium: $5/month per user

ZoomShift rating and reviews

• G2: 4.9/5 (20+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (100+ reviews)

5. Sling (Best for intuitive scheduling and team communication) 

Sling makes scheduling easy while prioritizing clear communication within teams. Managers can create, adjust, and assign shifts while keeping everyone in the loop with built-in messaging and alerts. Employees can request time off, swap shifts, and receive instant updates on any schedule changes.

A key differentiator of Sling is its task management feature, which allows managers to assign specific tasks to employees during their shifts. This ensures that team members know their responsibilities in advance, leading to smoother operations and fewer misunderstandings.

Sling best features

• Empower employees with shift trading, self-service scheduling, and automated shift reminders to reduce last-minute changes and improve workload distribution
• Ensure compliance by managing time-off requests and adhering to labor laws with built-in scheduling safeguards
• Enhance performance reviews using 360-degree feedback tools to evaluate employees and support professional growth
• Monitor activity with an activity dashboard for instant updates on attendance, productivity, and entire team’s performance

Sling limitations

• It’s difficult to integrate Sling with other software, including payroll systems like Gusto 
• The tool lacks advanced options like detailed reporting for more complex organizations

Sling pricing

• Free
• Premium: $2/month per user
• Business: $4/month per user

Sling rating and reviews

• G2: 4.6/5 (80+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (150+ reviews)

6. When I Work (Best for robust scheduling features for employee availability and shift swapping)

When I Work focuses on creating schedules for businesses and employees. The platform allows employees to set their availability and preferences, giving managers better insight into who is available before assigning shifts.

This feature helps reduce scheduling conflicts and improves employee satisfaction by ensuring that shifts align with staff preferences whenever possible. Plus, it includes shift-swapping, where employees can trade shifts with coworkers, reducing the stress of last-minute coverage issues.

When I Work best features

• Visualize employee schedules clearly with color-coded calendars that help managers organize shifts and spot conflicts at a glance for better resource scheduling
• Track time with a digital time clock that supports photo clock-ins and automated reminders to ensure accurate attendance
• Streamline payroll processing with integrations for ADP, Gusto, and Paychex, ensuring seamless payroll calculations

When I Work limitations

• The chat option is slow 
• It’s not compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

When I Work pricing

• Single Location or Schedule: $2.50/month per user
• Multiple Locations or Schedules: $4/month per user

When I Work rating and reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 (290+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (1,000+ reviews)

7. Planday (Best for complex shift schedules with integrated payroll and HR tools)

For businesses with complex scheduling needs, Planday offers a powerful solution that integrates workforce scheduling with payroll and HR management. The platform makes it easy to manage intricate shift patterns, including variable shifts, overtime, and compliance with labor regulations.

It also includes HR tools to track employee data, manage time-off requests, and monitor performance metrics. 

Planday best features

• Manage HR tasks efficiently by storing contracts, timesheets, and employee records
• Leverage data-driven insights with advanced reporting on labor costs, revenue, and workforce trends to optimize staffing decisions
• Oversee multiple locations from a single dashboard, ensuring smooth operations across different sites
• Simplify time tracking with mobile clock-ins, shared kiosks, and geofencing to ensure accurate attendance records and calculate hours worked

Planday limitations

• Changing the summertime clock is a manual task that requires additional effort
• You can’t view holiday accounts set up for staff without altering date ranges

Planday pricing

• Starter: €2.99/month per user (approximately $3.76/month per user)
• Plus: €4.99/month per user (approximately $6.28/month per user)
• Pro: Custom pricing

Planday rating and reviews

• G2: 4.5/5 (80+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.3/5 (50+ reviews)

8. 7shifts (Best for labor cost optimization and scheduling based on sales forecasts)

7shifts takes workforce optimization to the next level by using sales forecasts and customer traffic data to predict labor demand. It analyzes historical sales and foot traffic patterns to help managers create employee schedules that align staffing with business needs. This feature covers peak hours while avoiding unnecessary labor costs during slower periods.

The platform integrates with point-of-sale (POS) systems to gather real-time sales data, offering accurate insights into staffing requirements. Automated scheduling, labor forecasting, and employee shift preferences ensure that schedules are cost-effective and fair.

7shifts best features

• Control labor expenses with real-time analytics that provide insights into staffing levels and cost optimization
• Integrate seamlessly with POS systems like Square and Toast to align sales data with payroll and staffing needs
• Track daily operations with a centralized Manager Log Book to record important events, notes, and tasks
• Adapt to weather conditions by using forecasting tools to adjust staffing levels based on expected foot traffic

7shifts limitations

• The application won’t save changes until you close the browser, which causes issues when multiple people are editing a schedule 
• The tip feature doesn’t work with points per shift, only hourly 

7shifts pricing

• Free
• Entree: $31.99/month per location
• The Works: $69.99/month per location
• Gourmet: $135/month per location

7shifts rating and reviews

• G2: 4.5/5 (100+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (1,100+ reviews)

9. Factorial (Best for integrated scheduling, time-off tracking, and performance monitoring)

Factorial offers an all-in-one HR and workforce management solution that goes beyond just scheduling. Managers can create and manage shifts while tracking employee availability and time-off requests, ensuring balanced and compliant schedules.

One of Factorial’s most valuable features is its performance monitoring tool. This tool allows businesses to track employee productivity and engagement alongside scheduling data. It helps managers identify trends and make data-driven staffing decisions.

Factorial best features

• Streamline document management by storing HR files securely and enabling electronic signatures for legal documents
• Track time and attendance with QR code clock-ins, geolocation tracking, and overtime management for accurate payroll
• Optimize recruitment and onboarding using an applicant tracking system (ATS) that automates CV screening and document collection
• Scale with ease using a centralized HR platform that integrates scheduling, performance management, and document storage, adapting as your business grows

Factorial limitations

• Limited reporting and customization options 
• The initial setup is overwhelming
• Integration with third-party applications is slow

Factorial pricing

• Custom pricing 

Factorial rating and reviews

• G2: 4.4/5 (90+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.4/5 (250+ reviews)

10. Shiftbase (Best for flexible scheduling options for employee engagement and feedback)

Shiftbase is built for businesses that want to offer employees more flexibility while maintaining operational efficiency. Employees can set their availability and preferences, making it easier for managers to create employee schedules that work for both the business and the workforce.

The tool also encourages two-way communication by allowing employees to provide schedule feedback, giving managers valuable insights into employee needs and preferences.

Shiftbase best features

• Manage HR tasks with employee profiles, document storage, and integration with HoorayHR for onboarding and capacity planning
• Track employee time accurately using punch clocks, mobile clock-ins, and location-based tracking to prevent discrepancies
• Create weekly schedules on the go with a mobile-friendly app that allows employees to track hours, request time off, and manage availability

Shiftbase limitations

• The mobile application doesn’t offer the same features as the web version
• It doesn’t have built-in options for managing part-time employees’ off days, requiring manual management through availability settings

Shiftbase pricing

• Free
• Basic: $4.25/month per user
• Premium: $5.25/month per user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Shiftbase rating and reviews

• G2: Not enough reviews
• Capterra: 4.4/5 (190+ reviews)

11. Humanity (Best for advanced scheduling with AI-driven insights and compliance support)

Humanity combines AI-driven scheduling with compliance tools to create a powerful workforce management solution.

The platform leverages machine learning to analyze labor demand and automatically generate cost-effective, compliant schedules. This helps businesses avoid scheduling conflicts, overstaffing, and understaffing while ensuring adherence to labor laws and union agreements.

Humanity best features

• Automate dynamic scheduling and shift planning to eliminate staffing errors, optimize labor costs, and create a stress-free experience for managers and employees 
• Unify your workforce systems by integrating Humanity Schedule with major payroll providers and ERP/HCM vendors like ADP, Oracle, Workday, and more
• Use the Staffing Checker to identify and resolve coverage gaps by hour and position, ensuring optimal staffing levels

Humanity limitations

• It doesn’t integrate with pay systems like Dayforce and Ceridian 
• It lags with shift drops and requires a learning curve 

Humanity pricing

• Custom pricing

Humanity rating and reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 (1,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.3/5 (290+ reviews)

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Shift Your Scheduling Toward Success With ClickUp 

Creating the perfect shift schedule doesn’t have to be a constant battle of availability, swaps, and last-minute changes. With the right tools, you can build a smoother, more efficient scheduling system that keeps your team happy and your business running seamlessly.

ClickUp, the everything app for work, is the perfect tool for AI-powered scheduling, seamless integrations, and real-time updates. Ditch the scheduling stress and focus on your team’s success!

Sign up for ClickUp for free today! ✅

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