Running a restaurant is no easy feat—between managing staff schedules, controlling labor costs, and ensuring smooth operations, restaurant owners and managers face constant challenges. That’s where restaurant scheduling software comes in, transforming the way you handle employee shifts, time tracking, and team communication.
With 65% of restaurant owners citing staffing as their top concern (per 7shifts data), the right scheduling tool can save time, reduce costs, and keep your team happy. In this guide, we compare the 12 best scheduling software tools for restaurants in 2026, including our own Clock Commander, to help you find the perfect fit for your business.
Whether you’re running a small café or a multi-location chain, restaurant scheduling software streamlines shift planning, automates payroll, and ensures compliance with labor laws. From AI-driven scheduling to seamless POS integrations, these tools address pain points like overstaffing, shift conflicts, and manual processes. We’ve evaluated 12 top platforms—Clock Commander, 7shifts, Homebase, When I Work, ScheduleFly, Push Operations, Planday, ZoomShift, Buddy Punch, Sling, Deputy, and Connecteam—based on features, pricing, ease of use, and restaurant-specific capabilities. Our goal? To help you choose a solution that boosts efficiency and fits your budget.
In this article, you’ll find detailed comparisons, a handy feature table, and answers to common questions about restaurant scheduling software. Whether you prioritize affordability, mobile access, or advanced labor forecasting, we’ve got you covered. Ready to simplify your restaurant’s scheduling? Discover why Clock Commander and other top tools stand out, and take the first step toward smarter workforce management today.
| Best for | Pricing | |
| Clock Commander | Best restaurant scheduling software | Starts at just €20 / month for up to 25 users |
| When I Work | Good for flexible scheduling | Starts at $3 / user / month |
| Schedulefly | Simple and intuitive but bad UI | Starts at $30 / month for up to 19 users |
| Push Operations | All-in-one solution (HR) | Starts at $5 / user / month |
| Planday | Good option for multi-location chains | Starts at €3 / user / month |
| Homebase | Popular option for affordability | Starts at $25 / location / month |
| ZoomShift | Straightforward scheduling | Starts at $2 / user / month |
| 7shifts | POS integration | Starts at $30 / location / month for up to 30 users |
| Buddy Punch | Robust time tracking | Starts at $4.50 / user / month + $19 base fee / month |
| Sling | Good for simplified team communication | Starts at $1.70 / user / month |
| Deputy | Good but expensive option for scheduling and time tracking | Starts at $4.50 / user / month |
| Connecteam | Good for big teams and complex projects | Starts at $29 / month for up to 30 users |
Our Top Picks
Best restaurant scheduling software
Good for flexible scheduling
Simple and intuitive but bad UI
Why Employee Schedule Management Software Matters
Usually manual tracking is prone to errors and time-consuming. A dedicated scheduling app helps:
- Track work hours accurately - prevent mistakes, by having a request-approve mechanism.
- Improve team communication - chat with your team and keep your members informed about shifts and updates.dasdasdsadas
- Handle work hours and holidays smoothly - approve or deny requests in one platform.
How We Evaluated the Best Employee Schedule Management Software
In order to identify the best employee schedule management system for 2026, we evaluated and checked a wide range of apps based on different criteria, such as:
- features;
- ease of use;
- scalability;
- pricing;
- target industry & type of business
Our goal was to find solutions that enhance team communication, boost productivity and improve operational efficiency. Below are the key features we considered to select the best tools, focusing on core functionalities that address common pain points.
Key Features To Look For
The 7 Best Employee Scheduling Apps in 2026
Clock Commander
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
When I Work
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Pricing
Free Trial: 30 days for all plans
Free Tier: No
Time Premium: $20 / month base fee + $8 / user / month
Time Elite: $40/ month base fee + $10 / user / month
Time Premium + Payroll Premium: $85/ month base fee + $9 / user / month
Time Elite + Payroll Elite: $130 / month base fee + $11 / user / month
Schedulefly
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Push Operations
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Planday
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Homebase
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
ZoomShift
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
7shifts
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Buddy Punch
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Sling
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Deputy
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Connecteam
Why Clock Commander Stands Out
Clock Commander stands out for small to medium businesses that want a simple solution to manage employee hours and schedules without breaking the bank. Unlike Sling, Homebase or Connecteam, which can overwhelm users with their multitude of features, many of them unnecessary for most businesses, Clock Commander offers a clean and intuitive platform with consistent features across all plans. For Clock Commander you don’t need a free trial, because you have access to it forever for free for up to 5 users. If you have more employees, you have to pay a fixed price for up to 25, up to 100 or up to 500 users. But, what we think differentiates Clock Commander from other platforms is that the price is fixed, and you don’t have to pay per user per month. This is a huge advantage for most businesses, especially smaller ones that don’t want to spend a lot of money on such a tool.
Compare All
| Try for free |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starts at just €20 / month for up to 25 users | Starts at $20 / month + $8 / user / month | Starts at $40/month + $9 / user / month | Starts at $25 / location / month | Starts at $1.70 / user / month | Starts at $4.5 / user / month | Starts at $29 / month up to 30 users |
| Free Trial | No need (all features available for free) | 30 days | 14 days | 14 days | 15 days | 31 days | 14 days |
| Free Plan | Yes (all features included) | No | No | Yes (limited features) | Yes (limited features) | No | Yes (limited features) |
| Use Cases | Best employee time tracking tool | Good for seamless payroll integration | Good for field service and construction time tracking | Good option for hospitality industry | Good for simplified team communication | Good but expensive option for scheduling and time tracking | Good for big teams and complex projects |
FAQ
What is an employee scheduling app?
An employee scheduling app is a digital tool designed to streamline workforce management by organizing employee shifts, tracking work hours, and facilitating team communication. These apps allow managers to create, edit, and share schedules efficiently, often with features like drag-and-drop calendars, time-off request systems, and real-time notifications. Employees can view their schedules, submit availability, or clock in/out via mobile or web platforms, reducing manual errors and miscommunication. Many apps, like Clock Commander, offer role-based access for owners, admins, and workers, ensuring clear oversight and accountability. Some include advanced features like GPS tracking or payroll integration, while others prioritize simplicity and affordability for small businesses. By automating scheduling tasks and centralizing communication, employee scheduling apps save time, boost productivity, and enhance employee satisfaction, making them essential for industries like retail, hospitality, and field services.