{"question": "best workforce scheduling software for small businesses", "category": "workforce-scheduling-software", "category_name": "workforce scheduling software", "audience": "small-businesses", "audience_name": "small businesses", "engine": "Claude (Anthropic) with web search", "model": "claude-opus-5", "asked_at": "2026-10-28T23:56:44Z", "permalink": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/s/workforce-scheduling-software-small-businesses-2026-10-28", "question_page": "https://bikoosh.com/answers/q/workforce-scheduling-software/small-businesses", "brands_named": [{"position": 1, "brand": "Homebase", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 2, "brand": "Connecteam", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 3, "brand": "Sling", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 4, "brand": "7shifts", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 5, "brand": "Deputy", "label": "recommended"}, {"position": 6, "brand": "UK", "label": "mentioned"}, {"position": 7, "brand": "G2", "label": "compared"}], "sources_cited": [{"url": "https://www.capterra.com/compare/121248-153076/When-I-Work-vs-Homebase", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://capterra.com/compare/121248-167811/When-I-Work-vs-Deputy", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://getzelos.com/ca/sling-alternatives-deskless-workforce", "domain": "getzelos.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://www.selecthub.com/employee-scheduling-software/7shifts-vs-sling/", "domain": "selecthub.com", "source_type": "other"}, {"url": "https://capterra.com/compare/153076-167811/Homebase-vs-Deputy", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}, {"url": "https://www.capterra.com/p/142542/Sling/pricing/", "domain": "capterra.com", "source_type": "review"}], "answer_text": "## My picks, in order\n\n**1. Homebase - best default for most US small businesses**\nScheduling + time clock + team messaging + hiring and basic HR in one app, and the free Basic tier covers one location with up to ~10 employees. Key quirk: core paid plans are priced *per location*, not per employee, so hiring your 15th person doesn't raise your base cost - great if you're one busy site, less great if you run many small locations. Payroll is an add-on (~$39/mo + $6/employee paid). ([Capterra comparison](https://www.capterra.com/compare/121248-153076/When-I-Work-vs-Homebase))\n\n**2. When I Work - best if you just want scheduling, cheap and simple**\nStarts around $2.50/user/mo, which makes it the cheapest credible option at small headcounts. Clean scheduling, shift swaps, availability, light time tracking. Pick this over Homebase if you don't need the HR/hiring extras and your team is small enough that per-user beats per-location. ([Capterra](https://capterra.com/compare/121248-167811/When-I-Work-vs-Deputy))\n\n**3. Connecteam - best for deskless/field teams**\nScheduling plus GPS clock-in, task checklists, forms, and internal comms in one mobile app. Free for up to 10 users, ~$29/mo for 3", "answer_truncated": true, "measurement": "One answer from one engine on one date. Not a ranking and not a claim about the world; brands the engine did not name are not recorded.", "limitation": "Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included.", "alerts": {"name": "Answer Watch Pro", "price_usd": 79, "period": "month", "gets": "daily change alerts for up to 5 brands in what one AI answer engine says, history, CSV export. Coverage: Claude (Anthropic) with web search. Other engines not included", "url": "https://bikoosh.com/answers"}}