Best Deputy Alternatives in 2026
The top Deputy alternatives are Homebase, 7shifts and Humanity Schedule: 15 employee scheduling software our editors would look at instead of Deputy, in our ranking order.
Deputy: A comprehensive scheduler for shift-based teams that need automation, compliance, and integrations. Where it falls short: no free plan is available.
Switching from Deputy? For most employee scheduling software buyers the best Deputy alternative is Homebase, built for small businesses wanting a free plan. On a budget, When I Work starts at $2.50/user/mo, against $5/user/mo for Deputy. Humanity Schedule offers the most employee limit (250 employees).
Why People Look for a Deputy Alternative
- No free plan is available
- Advanced scheduling and auto-scheduling start with the Core plan
- Pricing and availability may vary by country
- No free plan — 5 of the alternatives below have it
- Paid from $5/user/mo — When I Work is $2.50/user/mo
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallHomebase9.2
Small businesses wanting a free plan
Visit Homebase - Lowest priceWhen I Work8.9
Paid plans from $2.50/user/mo
Visit When I Work - Best free optionHomebase9.2
Has a free plan (Deputy has none)
Visit Homebase - Most employee limitHumanity Schedule9.1
250 employees
Visit Humanity Schedule
All 15 Deputy Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forSmall businesses wanting a free plan
- Better than Deputy:
- Free plan
A capable scheduling and workforce platform with a useful free plan for small businesses.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Homebase -
Best forRestaurants with up to 30 employees
- Better than Deputy:
- Free plan
A restaurant-focused scheduler with free entry and deeper labor tools on paid plans.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
9.2/10★★★★★Visit 7shifts -
Best forLarge teams needing enterprise scheduling
- Better than Deputy:
- Paid from: $2.75/user/mo vs $5/user/mo
A flexible scheduling platform for large, hourly workforces with enterprise controls.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
9.1/10★★★★★Visit site -
Best forLow-cost scheduling with unlimited users
- Better than Deputy:
- Paid from: $2.50/user/mo vs $5/user/mo
A low-cost scheduling platform with unlimited users and broad shift-management tools.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit When I Work -
Best forComplex, compliance-focused workforce scheduling
A strong fit for complex scheduling, compliance, and labour-cost control.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Humanforce -
Best forEnterprise workforce operations
A broad workforce platform for enterprise teams managing complex hourly operations.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Workforce.com -
Best forEnterprise teams optimizing labor with AI
A broad AI scheduling and labor platform for complex hourly operations.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Legion -
Best forHospitality teams needing forecasting
A hospitality-focused scheduling suite with forecasting, compliance checks and multi-site visibility.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Rotaready Evo -
Best forSmall businesses needing free operations tools
- Better than Deputy:
- Free plan
A flexible scheduling and operations platform with free plans for smaller teams.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Connecteam -
Best forGrowing teams wanting affordable scheduling
Affordable scheduling with automation, mobile access, and workforce management features.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Agendrix -
Best forLarge organizations needing advanced planning
Advanced scheduling and workforce planning for complex frontline operations.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Quinyx -
Best forTeams already using Zoho or calendars
- Better than Deputy:
- Free plan
A practical scheduling option for teams already using Zoho or major calendars.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Zoho Shifts -
Best forSmall teams wanting free AI scheduling
- Better than Deputy:
- Free plan
A flexible scheduling workspace with a free tier, mobile apps, and AI-assisted planning.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Shiftbase -
Best forEuropean location-based scheduling
A broad scheduling and workforce platform with tiered per-location pricing.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit tamigo -
Best forAustralian businesses needing payroll-linked rosters
A payroll-linked rostering system for Australian hourly-workforce businesses.
- Auto-scheduling
- Shift swaps
- Open-shift management
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Tanda
Deputy Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Deputy?
Homebase: #2 in our Employee Scheduling Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A capable scheduling and workforce platform with a useful free plan for small businesses.
Is there a free alternative to Deputy?
Yes. Homebase, 7shifts, Connecteam, Zoho Shifts and Shiftbase have a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Deputy?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, When I Work starts lowest, at $2.50/user/mo.
Why do people look for Deputy alternatives?
No free plan is available; Advanced scheduling and auto-scheduling start with the Core plan; Pricing and availability may vary by country.
Which Deputy alternative has the most employee limit?
Humanity Schedule, with 250 employees.
How do I switch from Deputy?
Export your data from Deputy (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Deputy.
How to Switch from Deputy
- Export your data from Deputy (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Deputy.
Deputy vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Auto-scheduling | Availability collection | Time-off management | Open-shift management | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deputy | No | $5/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 |
| 1 | Homebase | Yes | $30/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 |
| 2 | 7shifts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 3 | Humanity Schedule | No | $2.75/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 4 | When I Work | No | $2.50/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.9 |
| 5 | Humanforce | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 6 | Workforce.com | No | CA$12.80/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 7 | Legion Workforce Management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 8 | Rotaready Evo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | ||
| 9 | Connecteam | Yes | $348/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 |
| 10 | Agendrix | No | CA$2.93/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.2 |
| 11 | Quinyx Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.1 | ||
| 12 | Zoho Shifts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 13 | Shiftbase | Yes | €30/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.9 |
| 14 | tamigo | No | €15/site/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.8 |
| 15 | Tanda | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 |
Head-to-Head
- Deputy vs Homebase
- Deputy vs Humanity Schedule
- Deputy vs When I Work
- Deputy vs Humanforce
- Deputy vs Workforce.com
- Deputy vs Legion Workforce Management
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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