OpenSimSim review
A free scheduling core for small hourly teams, with paid workforce and payroll add-ons.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
OpenSimSim is a workforce management platform for hourly businesses, including restaurants, retail, hospitality, and multi-location operations. Its scheduling offering, presented as SocialSchedules, supports employee schedule creation and publishing, templates, availability management, time-off requests, open shifts, shift swaps, labor-cost tracking, overtime alerts, time tracking, and payroll connectivity. Managers and employees can access the platform through web, iOS, and Android apps. It is a strong fit for small teams that need free shift scheduling without limiting employee count.
The free plan includes scheduling, availability, leave, open shifts, swaps, labor costs, overtime alerts, and time tracking, with unlimited employees. The published plans also show Free with team messaging and time-off requests; Starter adds unlimited workers, manager logbooks, and overtime tracking; and Premium adds on-demand pay, time and attendance, and labor compliance. Pricing information lists a starting price of 15.99, while paid pricing is location-based. A Payroll add-on automates payroll from schedules and timecards, and a Tip Manager add-on supports tip pooling and distribution.
OpenSimSim’s main strength is breadth around shift operations rather than a narrow scheduling calendar. Employees can view shifts, update availability, request time off, claim open shifts, and swap shifts when enabled by their employer. Support is available through email, phone, and documentation, and deployment covers cloud and mobile use. Teams needing a free scheduling foundation should consider it first. Businesses seeking a simple, transparent per-employee price or payroll and tip functionality included in the core plans may prefer a more consolidated alternative.
OpenSimSim pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free scheduling includes availability, leave, open shifts, swaps, and time tracking
- Web, iOS, and Android access for managers and employees
- Labor-cost tracking and overtime alerts support workforce oversight
- Where it doesn't
- Paid pricing is location-based rather than a simple per-employee rate
- Payroll and tip pooling require separate add-ons
- The scheduling product is presented under the SocialSchedules brand
OpenSimSim fact sheet, pricing and score →
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