6 Best Schedule Making Apps for Small Businesses (In-Depth Look)

6 Best Schedule Making Apps for Small Businesses (In-Depth Look)

What factors should your business consider when choosing a scheduling making app? In our experience, there are 4 key factors:

  • Factor #1: It should offer a vast array of scheduling features.
  • Factor #2: It should expand beyond scheduling and offer accountability and payroll-related features.
  • Factor #3: It should be easy to use for both employers and employees.
  • Factor #4: There should be an outstanding customer service experience.

In this post, we’ll detail how Buddy Punch (our solution) shines in the above areas. Then, to help your business make a more informed decision, we’ll list five other schedule making apps.

Note: If you feel that Buddy Punch is the right choice for your company, sign up for a free trial or request a 1-on-1 demo.

Best Schedule Making Apps

  1. Buddy Punch
  2. When I Work
  3. Sling
  4. Connecteam
  5. Homebase
  6. Hubstaff

1. Buddy Punch

Wide Array of Scheduling Features

Buddy Punch offers a wide array of scheduling features. No matter what your needs are, we likely have you covered!

Creating a Schedule for Your Team Is Easy and Intuitive (via Drag and Drop Functionality)

To create a schedule with Buddy Punch, simply:

1. Click on an empty area in the schedule:

Example of drag and drop scheduling interface.

2. Enter the relevant shift details (i.e., Assign to Jim Iverson every weekday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM).

Shift details include employee, date, time, breaks, location and more.

3. Use our easy and intuitive drag and drop functionality to move shifts around (until you’re satisfied with the schedule).

4. Click on “Publish”.

What Happens Once the Schedule Is Published?

Once an employee’s shift is published, they can automatically receive an email and/or mobile push notification (however, you also have the option of publishing without notifications).

This is what an email notification would look like:

Example of an email notification.

This is what a mobile push notification would look like:

Example of mobile alerts.

Set Repeating Shifts

Buddy Punch makes it easy to set repeating shifts (rather than re-creating schedules from scratch each time).

Choose if and when the shift or schedule repeats.

For example:

  • Linda’s shift will repeat every weekday from 9 AM to 3 PM.
  • Bob’s shift will repeat once a week on Monday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
  • Jordan’s shift will repeat on the first Tuesday of each month from 9 AM to 5 PM.  
  • And so on.

Employees Can Set Their Scheduling Availability

Our app makes it extremely easy and intuitive for staff to enter their available working hours.

Per the below image, this comes in handy when employers are planning the schedule.  

Employees can enter their availability in an easy to use drag and drop format.

Shift Trade Requests

Employees can request shift trades right from the scheduling interface.

Buddy Punch makes it easy for employees to send shift trade requests to one another (and if accepted, it can optionally be sent to an administrator for review).

Scheduling Alerts & Reminders

Buddy Punch offers several scheduling alerts & reminders (click here to see the full list).

For example, team members who didn’t punch in within X minutes of their shift start could receive a mobile or email alert (which ensures greater accuracy come payroll time).

Example of how to add an alert.

Other Scheduling Features

This is just the tip of the iceberg — discover the full range of scheduling features here. Again, no matter what your needs are, we likely have you covered!  

Increase Employee Accountability & Make the Payroll Process More Efficient  

Buddy Punch expands beyond scheduling. We also offer accountability and payroll-related features.

In terms of employee accountability, here’s a small sampling of what Buddy Punch offers:

In terms of payroll, here’s a small sampling of what Buddy Punch offers: 

Customers Love Buddy Punch’s Ease-of-Use and Outstanding Customer Service

As of writing, Buddy Punch has received 4.8 out of 5 stars on Capterra (based on 646 reviews).

Buddy Punch Reviews show we're the emerging favorite and top performer in 2021.

We’re thankful that a common theme is Buddy Punch’s ease-of-use and outstanding customer service. These are areas that we place a major emphasis on.

"Absolutely stellar customer support, works exactly as advertised."
"Simple and easy to use time tracking product"

Click here to see all of our Buddy Punch reviews on Capterra.

Sign Up for a Free Trial or Request a 1-on-1 Demo

If you feel that Buddy Punch is the right choice for your business, sign up for a free trial or request a 1-on-1 demo.

2. When I Work

As of writing, When I Work has received 4.5 out of 5 stars on Capterra (based on 886 reviews).

They offer a wide array of features, including but not limited to:

Here’s a review showcasing why they offer a solid schedule making app:

"Scheduling made simple."

Click here to see all of When I Work’s Capterra reviews.

3. Sling

As of writing, Sling has received 4.6 out 5 stars on Capterra (based on 102 reviews).

They offer a wide array of functionality, including but not limited to:

Here’s a review showcasing why it’s one of the best schedule making apps:

"This app is a game changer."

Click here to see all of Sling’s Capterra reviews.

4. Connecteam

As of writing, Connecteam has received 4.8 out of 5 stars on Capterra (based on 131 reviews).

They offer a wide array of features, including but not limited to:

Here’s a review showcasing why it could be a great schedule making app for your business:

"Small business."

Click here to see all of Connecteam’s Capterra reviews.

5. Homebase

As of writing, Homebase has received 4.6 out of 5 stars on Capterra (based on 803 reviews).

They offer a wide array of features, including but not limited to:

Here’s a review showcasing why it’s one of the best employee scheduling apps:

"Scheduling and labor costing."

Click here to see all of Homebase’s Capterra reviews.

6. Hubstaff

As of writing, Hubstaff has received 4.6 out of 5 stars on Capterra (based on 1192 reviews).

They offer a wide array of features, including but not limited to:

Here’s a review showing why it’s a great employee schedule making app:

"Simplicity and easy management - all you need."

Click here to see all of Hubstaff’s Capterra reviews.

Sign Up for a Free Trial of Buddy Punch or Request a 1-on-1 Demo

If you feel that Buddy Punch is the right choice for your business, sign up for a free trial or request a 1-on-1 demo.

You May Also Like…

Similar Posts