Deputy vs HotSchedules

Deputy9.0Visit HotSchedules8.7Visit

Higher score Deputy #3 in Restaurant Scheduling Software 9.0/10 31-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Deputy

vs

HotSchedules #6 in Restaurant Scheduling Software 8.7/10 Pricing on request ✓ 5 of 5 features Visit HotSchedules

• Deputy fits best

  Restaurants wanting low-cost, mature scheduling

• HotSchedules fits best

  Restaurant groups needing compliance and forecasting

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Side by side

Feature	Deputy 9.0/10 Visit ↗	HotSchedules 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.7
Ranking	#3 in Restaurant Scheduling Software	#6 in Restaurant Scheduling Software
Best for	Restaurants wanting low-cost, mature scheduling	Restaurant groups needing compliance and forecasting
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$5/user/mo	Pricing on request
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	31 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Live chat, Tickets, Docs · 24/7	Email, Phone · 24/7
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, 2FA	GDPR
Integrations	11 integrations	4 integrations
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Deputy 3/5 · HotSchedules 5/5
Availability management	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Shift swaps	✓	✓
Labor coverage tracking	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Mobile apps	✓	✓
Auto-scheduling	✓	✓
Specs
Employee limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Location limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Paid plans start at $5 per user per month Auto-scheduling, open shifts, and shift swaps support daily staffing Web, iOS, Android, API, payroll, HR, and POS integrations	Automated scheduling combines templates with sales and labor demand forecasting Compliance alerts cover overtime, Fair Workweek, and labor rules POS integrations connect sales, guest, and labor data
Cons	There is no free plan Auto-scheduling and demand forecasting start with the Core plan Single sign-on and custom access levels require the Pro plan	Pricing requires contacting sales rather than comparing published prices Plan differences between Essentials and Plus require clarification Its forecasting and compliance focus may exceed smaller teams’ needs
Our verdict	Deputy is workforce management software for restaurants and other businesses with shift-based teams. It combines employee scheduling, availability and time-off workflows, open shifts, shift swaps, time tracking, timesheets, compliance… Read the review →	HotSchedules is workforce management software for restaurants and hospitality operators. It brings together employee scheduling, availability and time-off management, shift swaps, mobile messaging, time and attendance, compliance alerts,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Deputy — where it wins

  • Paid plans start at $5 per user per month
  • Auto-scheduling, open shifts, and shift swaps support daily staffing
  • Web, iOS, Android, API, payroll, HR, and POS integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • There is no free plan
  • Auto-scheduling and demand forecasting start with the Core plan
  • Single sign-on and custom access levels require the Pro plan

• HotSchedules — where it wins

  • Automated scheduling combines templates with sales and labor demand forecasting
  • Compliance alerts cover overtime, Fair Workweek, and labor rules
  • POS integrations connect sales, guest, and labor data

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales rather than comparing published prices
  • Plan differences between Essentials and Plus require clarification
  • Its forecasting and compliance focus may exceed smaller teams’ needs

• Deputy9.0/10 · 31-day trial

  A low-cost scheduling platform with auto-scheduling, shift swaps, and mobile apps.

  Visit DeputyFull verdict →
• HotSchedules8.7/10 · Pricing on request

  A compliance-focused scheduling platform for restaurant groups, with contact-sales pricing.

  Visit HotSchedulesFull verdict →