# What Claude (Anthropic) with web search answered for workforce scheduling software (small businesses) on 2026-09-11

## In short

On 2026-09-11, Claude (Anthropic) with web search was asked "best workforce scheduling software for small businesses". It named 7 brands, in this order: Homebase, 7shifts, Sling, Deputy, Toast, Square.

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Question | best workforce scheduling software for small businesses |
| Asked on | 2026-09-11 |
| Engine | Claude (Anthropic) with web search |
| Model | claude-opus-5 |
| Brands named | 7 |
| Sources cited | 12 |
| Audience | small businesses |
| Coverage | Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-11 |

Page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/workforce-scheduling-software-small-businesses-2026-09-11
Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.

## The answer, as recorded

Asked on 2026-09-11 through Claude (Anthropic) with web search (model claude-opus-5).

> For most small businesses I'd start with **Homebase** if you have 10 or fewer staff, or **When I Work** if you have more. If you run a restaurant, go with **7shifts**.
> 
> 1. **Homebase**: best starting point for small teams of hourly workers. Scheduling, time clock and team messaging come in one app, and the Basic plan is free for up to 10 employees at one location. Note that the limit dropped from 20 to 10 in July 2026. Paid plans cost $30, $70 or $120/month (less if billed yearly) for unlimited employees. Payroll is extra: $39/month plus $6 per employee. Because it charges a flat monthly fee rather than per person, it gets relatively cheaper as you hire. ([costbench](https://costbench.com/software/employee-scheduling/homebase/free-plan/), [costbench plans](https://costbench.com/software/employee-scheduling/homebase/))
> 
> 2. **When I Work**: best general choice for a single location. It's simple shift scheduling with good balance between features and price, and it's popular with retail shops and cafés that don't need restaurant-specific tools. It charges per user, from about $2.50 to $4.50/user/month; sources disagree on the exact starting price. ([itqlick](https://www.itqlick.com/com

## Brands named, in the order the engine gave

| Position | Brand | How it was named |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homebase | recommended |
| 2 | 7shifts | recommended |
| 3 | Sling | mentioned |
| 4 | Deputy | mentioned |
| 5 | Toast | mentioned |
| 6 | Square | mentioned |
| 7 | Connecteam | recommended |

## Sources the engine cited

- https://costbench.com/software/employee-scheduling/homebase/free-plan/ (other)
- https://costbench.com/software/employee-scheduling/homebase/ (other)
- https://www.itqlick.com/compare/deputy/when-i-work (other)
- https://www.g2.com/compare/deputy-vs-when-i-work (review)
- https://turnozo.com/blog/sling-scheduling-review (other)
- https://www.getapp.com/operations-management-software/a/sling/ (review)
- https://www.xpay.sh/saas-pricing/deputy/ (other)
- https://www.itqlick.com/deputy/pricing (other)
- https://www.selecthub.com/employee-scheduling-software/homebase-vs-7shifts/ (other)
- https://www.joinhomebase.com/blog/7shifts-alternatives (other)
- https://connecteam.com/scheduling-software-small-business/ (vendor)
- https://peoplemanagingpeople.com/tools/best-employee-scheduling-software-for-small-business/ (other)

The question page: https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/workforce-scheduling-software/small-businesses

Answer Watch records what one AI answer engine said on one date, nothing more. Each page names the engine and the model, carries the date the question was asked, and lists the brands that appeared in the answer in the order the engine gave them, with the sources it cited. It is a measurement, not a ranking, not a recommendation and not a claim about the world. Brands that did not appear in an answer are not named on any public page. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.